FREMONT, Ohio (March 13, 2003) - You're taxed when you buy something. You're taxed when you pump gas in your vehicle. You're taxed when you eat, drink, smoke and even to sleep in a hotel. You're family is even taxed when you die. Now, if the Ohio Legislature and Gov. Bob Taft have their way, you'll even be taxed when you try to escape the stress in your life by attending an entertainment event.
 
The State of Ohio is facing a budget deficit after years of unprecedented budget growth. The Ohio Legislature is attempting to close that deficit by increasing some taxes and creating new taxes in other areas such as entertainment.
 
The current tax proposal reads: "All transactions by which admission is or is to be granted to a theater, auditorium, arena, stadium or similar facility to view a motion picture or attend a professional sporting event, concert, theatrical production, circus or other entertainment event where the athletes or performers receive compensation that qualifies as taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code for their performances. All transactions by which admission to a zoo, amusement park, museum or similar place of amusement is or is to be granted."
 
Race tracks across Ohio are encouraging their fans to write to the Ohio Legislature and express their views on this new tax. Fans are being urged to encourage the legislature to curtail state spending and live within their budget...just like families have to.
 
Following is a list of state representatives and their addresses and phone numbers: 
 
* The Ohio House of Representatives, 77 South High St., Columbus, Ohio 43266-0603
* Speaker of the House Larry Householder, 3825 Township Rd., Glenford, Ohio 43739 (home); 614-466-2500 (office)
* Representative Sally Conway Kilbane, Chairperson of the House Ways & Means Committee, 22800 Lake Rd., Rocky River, Ohio 44116; 614-466-0961 (office)
* Representative Charles Calvert, Chairman Ohio House Finance Committee, 23 Public Square, Suite 220, Medina, Ohio 44256; 614-466-8140
* Representative Jim Hoops, 195 Old Creek Dr., Napoleon, Ohio 43545; 614-466-3760.
* Representative Tim Grendell, 7413 Tattersall Dr., Chesterland, Ohio 44026; 614-644-5088
* Representative Gary Cates, 6542 Seminold Dr., West Chester, Ohio 45069; 614-466-8550
* Representative John Husted, 148 Sherbrooke Dr., Kettering, Ohio 45429; 614-644-6008
* Representative Chris Redfern, House Minority Leader, 3750 North Roger Drive, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452; 614-644-6011
* Representative Ed Jerse, Ranking Minority Member, House Finance Committee, 614-466-8012.
 
Following is a list of state senators and their addresses and phone numbers:
 
*Ohio Senate, Senate Office Building, Columbus, Ohio 43215-4276
*Senator Doug White, Senate President, 3830 Old Dutch Rd., Manchester, Ohio 45144; 614-466-8082
*Senator Bill Harris, Chairman Senate Finance and Financial Institutions, 1238 TR 1506 Ashland, Ohio 44805; 614-466-8086.
*Senator Jeff Jacobson, Senate Majority Whip, 211 S. Main St., Suite 610, Dayton, Ohio 45402; 614-466-4538
*Senator Ron Amstutz, Chairman Senate Ways & Means Committee, 4456 Woods Lake Trail, Wooster, Ohio 44691; 614-466-7505
*Senator Randy Gardner, President Pro Tempore (#2 man in the Senate), 14900 Mitchell Rd., Bowling Green, Ohio 43402; 614-466-8060
*Senator Greg DiDonato, Minority Leader, P.O. Box 30, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663; 614-466-6508
*Senator Eric Fingerhut, Ranking Minority Member Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, 22675 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland, ohio 44118; 614-466-4583