Ohio Budget Watch

Kasich capital bill not as small as advertised, but local governments still lose (1)

3/21/12 •

The capital bill, up for a vote in the House tomorrow, lacks funding for community projects, not because the money isn’t there, but because the Governor decided he didn’t want to fund them. Kasich’s budget director claims their capital bill is smaller than any in a decade, an assertion not backed up by facts. In 2009, Governor Strickland passed a capital bill that was smaller than Kasich’s, but that funded community projects.

Budget hearings this week (0)

3/20/12 •

It’s going to be another busy week of budget hearings – we have the details.

Kasich failure to reach out to GOP colleagues puts tax plan in jeopardy (7)

3/19/12 •

Legislative Outreach 101: Governor Kasich leaked his plan to cut the state’s income tax by raising taxes on oil companies to any newspaper that would print it. What he didn’t do was reach out to lawmakers who promptly responded by dumping his plan from the budget. Oops.

News: Floor Vote on Capital bill expected Thursday (0)

3/15/12 •

The state capital budget is on the fast-track to passage, at least in the House. Speaker Batchelder indicates a floor vote is possible next Thursday in a newly-scheduled 1 p.m. session. Meanwhile, hearings on the MBR, scheduled for today, have been cancelled and will be rescheduled next week.

Meanwhile, the MBR, which Governor Kasich unveiled at a press conference yesterday, still remains to be introduced, and a hearing with testimony from OBM Director Keen set for this morning has been cancelled. Hearings are expected to begin in the House Finance committee next week.