Outgoing speaker will keep leading Ohio House Dems

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio House Democrats will stick with their current leader as they give up control of the chamber.

Democratic lawmakers voted Wednesday night to make Rep. Armond Budish of suburban Cleveland their minority leader in the Ohio Legislature’s new term.

Budish has served as House speaker while his party had the majority in the chamber during the past two years.

In a statement, Budish says he looks forward to continuing Democratic efforts to create jobs, improve schools and protect those hardest hit by the national recession.

Republicans won back the House in the Nov. 2 elections. The GOP last week chose Rep. William Batchelder to be the new speaker.