COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There is a new obstacle in the push to bring a casino to the west side of Columbus. A Youngstown lawmaker tells NBC 4 he expects his constituents to vote against a relocation of the Columbus casino if lawmakers do not help Youngstown get its own casino.
Representative Robert Hagan of Youngstown said he will fight to include a Youngstown casino as part of the constitutional amendment that would allow for a Columbus casino move from the Arena District to the former Delphi plant site on the west side.
Local lawmakers want to keep the constitutional amendment as simple as possible so that voters only need to approve a casino address change in May.
The House Rules Committee voted unanimously Thursday to support the casino relocation, a day after a Senate committee did the same.
"The entire state has to vote on it and pass it. There's nothing in this resolution right now that gives anyone from any other part of the state a reason to vote for it," said Representative Lou Blessing, a Cincinnati Republican.
Blessing does not support adding a casino to Youngstown, but he has concerns about earning the rest of the state's support. Blessing wants the constitutional amendment to specify that charitable bingo by churches and non-profits remains legal and THAT untaxed cash wagering will not take place at the Ohio casinos.
Penn national has dismissed Blessing's concerns as non-issues.
Hagan, a Democrat, says his constituents are being ignored in their quest for a casino and they may take it out on Columbus if they continue to be overlooked.
By phone Thursday, Hagan told NBC 4, "It will be a hard sell for people in the Mahoning Valley to say they agree Columbus should be allowed to move a casino when Youngstown and Warren need more help."
"I think there's a general suspicion of Columbus... I don't think people will want to help Columbus when they see Columbus getting more money out of the state budget."
Other lawmakers say adding a Youngstown casino to the constitutional amendment will not fly.
"I think at this point an amendment like that would be a poison pill and kill the bill. We just don't have enough time," said Representative Kevin Bacon, a Franklin County Republican.
Sixty percent of the House and Senate must approve a constitutional amendment by February 3 in order for voters to weigh in on the Columbus casino relocation in May.
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