The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

State lawmakers hold noses, approve budget

Gov. Strickland is to sign the bill, which includes video slots, by Wednesday.

New pool at 'The Heights' opens
5/27/12
Huber Heights suing consultant for more than $50,000
5/26/12
4 arrested for OVI at Kettering checkpoint
5/26/12
Man found dead at bar; police seek suspect
5/26/12
Turner adopts role for Romney campaign
5/26/12
> More headlines

By Laura A. Bischoff  and William Hershey, Staff Writers Updated 7:51 AM Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The slumping economy and a political loathing of tax increases led state lawmakers to pass a $50.5 billion, two-year operating budget that opens the doors to slot machines, increases college tuition, lays off workers, and cuts social services.

Lawmakers held their noses and voted for it.

“I’m not happy because this budget is the worst we’ve seen in almost 80 years,” said state Rep. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, conference committee chairman.

On Monday, July 13, the Democratic-controlled House approved the budget 54-44, with all Democrats and one Republican — state Rep. Scott Oelslager of North Canton — voting in favor. The Republican-controlled Senate followed in the evening with a 17-15 vote, with five Republicans joining all 12 Senate Democrats in support.

The budget now goes to Gov. Ted Strickland for his signature. He’s expected to sign it by Wednesday.

“I had a lot of problems with many of the cuts. The real nail in the coffin was the gambling,” said state Rep. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, who voted against the bill.

Lehner complained that lawmakers only received the 3,400-page bill at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10. “I voted on a bill I hadn’t read.”

State Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, voted “yes” and defended the budget, saying it would improve education in Ohio. He acknowledged the spending plan’s limitations.

“We’re just holding our own,” he said. “This is a hard budget. We had to do what we had to do.”

State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, a “no” vote, blasted the budget.

Years from now people will look back at the budget and recognize it “as the foundation” of Ohio’s long-term problems. He singled out the budget’s dependence on gambling and one-time revenue as a major weakness.

All five Senate Republican “yes” votes came from GOP leaders including Keith Faber of Celina, the majority floor leader.

“Overall, it was important that we be able to come to conclusion to govern Ohio,” said Faber.

Earlier Monday, Strickland, a Democrat, signed an order telling the Ohio Lottery to take action to install 17,500 video lottery slot machines at the state’s seven horse racetracks.

The slots are expected to generate $933 million over two years for K-12 education in Ohio, with about half coming from $65 million licensing fees paid up front by each of the tracks. The licenses will be good for 10 years.

Ohio has been operating on interim budgets since the state’s fiscal year started July 1. Lawmakers on Monday passed a third temporary budget to give them time to tie up loose ends on the budget bill.

Details were sketchy on how many of the state’s 60,000 workers may receive pink slips because of the budget cuts.

Sykes said he estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 state workers would be laid off. The Strickland administration said that its early estimates pegged the number at 1,000 to 1,800. Ohio Civil Service Employees Association spokeswoman Sally Meckling said she did not yet have details.

Advocates for the poor, elderly and disabled blasted the budget bill as failing the most vulnerable Ohioans.

“Our state leaders did not create the economic problem we face, but they are responsible for dealing with it in the best way possible,” said Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, co-chairwoman of the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future, a coalition of human services groups.

“I’m disappointed for Ohio today,” she said.

AARP Ohio State Director Jane Taylor said cuts in Medicaid short programs that allow the elderly to receive services at home or move to assisted living facilities. The $30 million funding cut means 10,000 Ohioans will wait for in-home services or be forced into nursing homes, which cost three times as much, Taylor said.

“This is wrong for elderly Ohioans who need long-term care services and it is wrong for Ohio taxpayers, who deserve to see Medicaid dollars used in the most effective and efficient manner,” she said. “We are taking a very expensive step backward at a very high cost to our eldest citizens.”

Contact this reporter at (614)224-1624 or lbischoff @DaytonDailyNews.com.

DaytonDailyNews.com/go/ohiopolitics

»Read the latest on the video slots issue, and share your comments on the controversial cuts included in the state budget.

Share this article