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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
State Senate eases seat belt enforcement; talks with House next
The Republican-controlled state Senate put its stamp on the state transportation budget on Wednesday, March 18.
Two Democrats joined 20 Republicans in approving a budget that removes a provision giving police the authority to pull motorists over solely for failing to use their seat belts. Nine Democrats voted “no” on the budget.
The version passed earlier by the Democrat-controlled House gave police that authority which is in line with Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland’s wishes. Under current law, motorists can be cited for seat belt violations only if they’re pulled over for other offenses.
The Senate version of the budget authorizes $6.18 billion in spending for the transportation department, plus authority for various agencies to spend $2.2 billion in federal economic stimulus funds.
The House and Senate now are expected to form a conference committee to come up with a compromise budget.
The Senate version left intact Strickland’s plan to go after a share of at least $8 billion in federal passenger rail funding for service to Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton. However, the Senate version would require the governor to seek authority from the legislature to spend any of the money the state gets.
The House version would allow the seven-member Controlling Board, controlled by Democrats, to release money for railroad spending.
The Senate also removed spending for the Public Safety Department, which includes the Highway Patrol, from the Transportation Budget. That spending should be part of the main operating budget, which still is before the legislature, the Republicans said.
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Fred Strahorn gets nod for state Senate
Ohio Senate Democrats have picked former state Rep. Fred Strahorn of Dayton to replace Tom Roberts in the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro of Hubbard said on Wednesday, March 18.
Strahorn, 43, was recommended to Senate Democrats by the Montgomery County Democratic Party’s executive committee. Strahorn left the House at the end of last year due to term limits. He is expected to be sworn in to the Senate on Tuesday, March 24.
Roberts resigned from the Senate on Feb. 28 after Gov. Ted Strickland appointed him to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Strahorn will serve out the rest of Roberts’ term which ends in 2010.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Victor A. Harris also was a candidate for the appointment to the 5th District seat. The district includes Miami County and parts of Montgomery and Darke counties. The job pays $60,583 a year.
“I am very impressed with Fred Strahorn’s intellect and his commitment to public service,” Cafaro said in a press release. “I believe he’s going to be a great asset to our caucus as we tackle the challenges facing the state of Ohio.”
Strahorn said he missed being in the legislature.
“It felt funny being away from it and not being able to take part in the process and search for solutions,” he said in a telephone interview.
He said that education will be a priority issue for him, particularly encouraging parental involvement.
He will come back to the legislature after serving as vice president of governmental affairs for the Ohio United Way. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a B.A. degree in aviation management, the release said.
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Poll: Obama’s approval rating drops in Ohio
President Barack Obama’s job approval rating has dropped slightly in Ohio, according to a new poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. Obama, who had a 67 percent approval rating Feb. 6, is now at 57 percent. Thirty-three percent of Ohioans have an unfavorable view of him, according to the newest poll, up from 16 percent Feb. 6.
Ohio voters by a two to one margin say his mortgage rescue plan is unfair, but they still support it and say it’s necessary to solve the housing crisis, which has hit Ohio hard.
Obama’s biggest loss is among independent voters. In February, 72 percent supported him, and 55 percent support him today. He’s also lost support among evangelical protestants.
“During a presidential election, Ohio is the single most important state in the country because of its history of being a decisive barometer. So the 10-point drop in President Obama’s support in the Buckeye State is something that the White House might want to pay attention to,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
