Government and Politics
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Key Ohio senators have changed their minds and support an internet cafe ban
The shift follows raids in Cuyahoga County
by WKSU's STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT BILL COHEN |
Reporter
Bill Cohen | | |
 | | Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty and Attorney General Mike DeWine announcing the raids. |
After weeks of balking at a House-passed bill to shut down Ohio's nearly 800 internet cafes, key Ohio senators now say they will quickly pass the crackdown. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports on the turnaround. |
Key senators now say they'll ban internet cafesOther options:  MP3 Download (1:14)
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In the past few months, the Ohio House has twice passed bills to shut down the state's internet cafes. Both times, the Senate took no action.
Now, the bill is being fast-tracked because Senate President Keith Faber says he's been convinced that the storefront operations are a ruse for illegal gambling.
The news comes on the heels of a series of raids in Cuyahoga County by law enforcement in conjunction with Attorney General Mike DeWine, and court rulings against the businesses.
Faber has directed his fellow GOP senators to return campaign contributions from the industry.
But a lawyer for the operators says the ban would cut off an important source of tax revenue for "struggling local governments," and would throw out the good operators with the bad. |
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