Kasich, GOP forging ahead

COLUMBUS

Say what you want about Gov. John Kasich and his Republican colleagues who control the state Legislature.

But one thing is evident through 100 days of the term: They’re getting things done.

Whether you agree with their policy decisions or not, the administration and lawmakers are humming like a finely tuned engine.

Lawmakers are having lengthy committee hearings and weekly voting sessions, moving bills through the legislative process.

And Kasich has a growing list of campaign promises kept — small business regulatory reform, a new private nonprofit to handle economic development programs and collective bargaining reform (though the jury’s still out on whether those changes ever take effect).

Income tax cut preserved? Check.

Eight billion dollar budget gap addressed? Check.

Two more snow days? Check.

No more all-day kindergarten? Check.

Teach for America in Ohio? Check.

The list goes on and on, and it’s only April.

It’s quite a contrast to last session, when partisan bickering kept lawmakers and the governor from getting much done, other than biennial budgets that had to be passed by certain deadlines.

“We’ve done a lot,” Kasich told reporters last week. “And we just have to keep going. ... We’re not going to slow down. Are you kidding? We haven’t even hit third gear yet.”

Of course, Republicans’ entire agenda could crumble apart if voters overwhelmingly reject collective bargaining reform in November and the other changes supported by the GOP don’t put Ohioans back to work.

Angry?

One of the surprises of the new term is the fiery rhetoric being employed by House Minority Leader Armond Budish.

Here’s what the Cleveland-area Democrat had to say last week, in a released statement about the first 100 days of the General Assembly:

“The Republicans’ agenda to divide Ohioans with politically motivated legislation continues to amaze me and goes to show how out of touch they are with Ohioans. ... Republicans promised job creation and have delivered something entirely different. It is disappointing that the voices of thousands of Ohioans can be heard so clearly yet ignored so easily. The GOP’s partisan agenda is out of touch and, if it continues, it will place us on the path towards destruction of our local communities, school districts and an erosion of the middle class in our state.”

Budish has been even more pointed in person. During one session, his comments during a debate on the House floor brought the Republican object of his scorn to his feet for a brief shouting match.

All of which leaves me wondering where this Budish was during the last two years.

Spring Break

Lawmakers have left the Statehouse for a two-week spring break, leaving many bills unfinished and setting the stage for a busy two months of budget deliberations when they return.

Left in limbo are a handful of abortion-related bills, including the controversial legislation that would ban procedure within weeks of conception.

The Heartbeat Bill has about 50 co-sponsors, seemingly enough to ensure its passage.

It moved out of committee late last month, but Republicans have been reluctant to put it on the floor for a vote.

Which prompts one to ask, why bother co-sponsoring a bill if you’re not willing to vote “yes” on it on the floor?

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.