COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Governor Ted Strickland has yet to sign the state budget featuring slot machines at Ohio's seven race tracks, but already a legal challenge is in the works.
The Ohio Council of Churches is among the groups planning to file a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the plan to put video lottery terminals at the tracks.
The council argues the terminals are programmed as slot machines and will partially benefit race tracks and horse racing purses, not public education.
Reverend John Edgar says this would go against what voters intended when they approved of the state lottery.
"We're going to stop it by filing suit in court. And we are going to argue successfully that this proposal violates the Ohio Constitution in two key places," Edgar said.
"It is impossible to argue in court that giving money from an activity conducted by the lottery to increase the winnings for a horse is part of funding public education... They have manipulated language in a way that violates the Constitution."
Edgar says the council and other groups preparing a legal fight could file paperwork as early as later this week.
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