GOP could block Strickland’s appointments

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Some top Republican Ohio senators are threatening to block the outgoing Democratic governor’s selection of people who help choose textbooks, set tuitions, oversee millions of dollars in investments or hand out state money.

Gov. Ted Strickland’s party was swept out of power Nov. 2, but he remains on the job until Jan. 10, when GOP Gov.-elect John Kasich takes the helm.

The Senate, led by Kasich’s fellow Republicans, is considering wholesale rejection of Strickland’s appointments to dozens of state boards and commissions — taking away a key power traditionally allowed lame duck governors.

The move could affect about 200 appointments the governor is authorized to make before leaving office and some made before the election that are not yet confirmed.

Term-limited Republican Senate President Bill Harris and his heir apparent to lead the chamber, Tom Niehaus, say a final decision hasn’t been made. But they said the chamber wants Kasich to have maximum flexibility for filling the positions.

Harris said some of Strickland’s appointees may have different perspectives on policy than Kasich — and the Senate would be looking at other nominees who would have influence in policy decisions.

“I think the new governor deserves the right to have people that understand him and understand what he wants to do as governor to be in those critical policy positions,” Harris said.

At least three other Republicans in the GOP-led Senate go further, saying they would vote to reject unconfirmed Strickland appointees who don’t resign. The three — Keith Faber, David Goodman and Jim Hughes — made their statements in interviews with Gongwer News Service and The Columbus Dispatch. Republicans hold 21 of 33 Senate seats.

“The new governor should have the opportunity to appoint those people,” Hughes told the newspaper. “If those people chose to resign, they could always apply to the new governor. If not, the Senate should respect the voters’ will and reject them.”

But Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Republican who made a brief bid to challenge Strickland’s re-election, said that would disrespect the governor’s role and the Senate’s integrity.

“Unless there is an extraordinary problem with a governor’s appointment — an ethical breach or a legal problem — I don’t believe it’s our place to deny those appointments,” Coughlin told the newspaper.