Bipartisan panel ready to meet on Ohio budget

COLUMBUS (AP) — Republicans and Democrats who are on a panel to find solutions to Ohio’s looming state budget deficit finally appear ready to meet, nearly a year after the group was formed.

Sen. Shannon Jones, a Republican from Springboro, sent a letter Wednesday to fellow commission members proposing that the six-member committee meet June 29, with a second meeting July 7.

Key Democrats, including state Sen. Dale Miller of Cleveland, say the dates are doable.

Catherine Turcer of the government watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action blames election-year politics for the 11-month delay.

Ohio faces an estimated $8 billion hole in the 2012-2013 budget. Filling the hole won’t be easy because the state can’t count on federal stimulus funds and other one-time state money that was used to balance the current $50.5 billion budget.