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By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau Updated 12:51 AM Tuesday, January 4, 2011

COLUMBUS — The new Ohio House speaker on Monday pledged to reduce regulations on small businesses, reform the workers’ compensation system, root out government waste and abolish the estate tax.

Speaker William G. Batchelder III, R-Medina, said economic recovery and job creation are the top priorities.

“We will not stop until Ohio begins to flourish once again,” said Batchelder.

Batchelder, 67, a former Court of Appeals judge who has served in the Legislature for 34 years, said he favors doing away with the estate tax, which generates about $330 million a year — 80 percent of which goes to local governments.

Ohio has had an estate or inheritance tax since 1893. The current tax is 6 percent on estates worth between $338,333 and $500,000 and 7 percent on values above $500,000.

Batchelder said he plans to introduce the estate tax abolishment bill within two weeks. He noted that House Republicans have 107 bills drafted and ready to go, though he declined to say which ones would be among the top 10 priority bills.

Republicans control the 99-member House, holding 59 seats. In the Ohio Senate, the GOP has 23 of 33 seats, which is its largest majority since 1968.

Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, pledged that the Senate would be a place where all voices will be heard.

Two new lawmakers from Dayton area sworn in

Members of the 99-seat House took the oath of office on Monday. Thirty-one new lawmakers took their seats in the House, including state Rep. Mike Henne, R-Clayton. Henne said he plans to work on bills that will make it easier to do business in Ohio, including one that reduces the burden of filing multiple municipal tax returns.

Ten new members joined the Ohio Senate, including state Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City.

Beagle, a former Tipp City council member who beat incumbent Democrat Fred Strahorn, said, “I think it’s very exciting to be here.”

Beagle is the first Republican to represent the district in decades. Recently the seat was held by Democrats Tom Roberts and former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin. The 5th District covers almost all of the city of Dayton, Riverside, Huber Heights and Miami County and part of Darke County.

Dayton-area legislators will hold two of the top four GOP Senate leadership spots.

Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, was elected president pro tem, the No. 2 spot and Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., was chosen majority whip, the No. 4 spot.

Although Ohio voters approved term limits of eight consecutive years on the House and Senate in 1992, many of the names and faces in the chambers are familiar.

At least two-dozen lawmakers have served in both chambers, five have followed a family member who previously served, and at least four have returned to the General Assembly after a hiatus.

“I think it’s a good mixture. It’s good to have new blood but also to have the experienced members,” said state Rep. John Carey, R-Wellston, who left the Senate where he chaired the budget committee and rejoined the House.

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