WKSU News: Key Ohio senators have changed their minds and support an internet cafe ban

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.

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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 cafes

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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.

Listener Comments:

Hi Bill,

Sorry to hear you are retiring, but good for you.

I really appreciate your professional reporting.

I think that everyone is missing on this story is that when AG DeWine did the raids in Cleveland, he was actually on a fishing expedition.

Because what he found was an e-mail that had what contributions where to be given to what Senator.

The senate changed their mind because of black mailing by Mr. Dewine. IMHO.

Posted by: MEL (Girard) on April 26, 2013 12:04PM

This is just another way for the big gambling outfits to close the little guys that the people like to go to without being robbed by the crooks on the outside and inside paying for everything you do in there places.

Posted by: Edmond Price (Cleveland Hts) on April 24, 2013 8:04AM

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