SENATE Grendell dropped from agency review panel

He was removed for opposing parks fees and Medicaid changes.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A Northeast Ohio senator's vocal opposition to new parks fees and a change in services for the developmentally disabled led to his removal from a panel that reviews rules proposed by state agencies.
Senate President Bill Harris removed fellow Republican Sen. Timothy Grendell from the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, saying his line of questioning to stop the new rules Monday overstepped the bounds of the House-Senate panel.
The panel only can invalidate rules that exceed legal authority, violate the intent of the law or conflict with another rule.
"He really wasn't grasping the criteria for that committee, as opposed to other committees," said Harris, of Ashland.
Although most lawmakers are angry about the fees, Harris said, the committee couldn't legally stop them.
Grendell, of Geauga County, said he found conflicts in the Department of Natural Resources' proposal to start charging park visitors $5 daily or $25 yearly to park vehicles. The law creating the agency says it has the authority to set entrance fees, but he said the parking fees conflict with other rules such as creating free fishing days.
"If I'm being punished for protecting my constituents, I'm more than willing to take the punishment," he said.
Others not removed
Grendell and Democratic Sens. Kimberly Zurz and Charles Wilson voted to invalidate the fees.
Harris did not remove the Democrats. He said he heeds the committee recommendations of Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss, who doesn't object to their votes.
Grendell also objected to a Job and Family Services rule to end its program for providing some services to people with developmental disabilities because it doesn't comply with federal requirements.
The department would shift how it pays for services to other Medicaid programs, but school districts would lose money that covered some special education expenses.