Ohio House leader: Abortion issue in budget rare

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Republican leader in the Ohio House says he can’t recall a time in his more than 30 years in the state Legislature that an abortion-related provision has been inserted into the state budget.

House Speaker William Batchelder told reporters today that he was unaware the state Senate was considering a proposed budget revision that would ban abortions in most publicly funded facilities.

The Senate Finance Committee was to meet this afternoon to review proposed amendments to the $55.7 billion two-year spending blueprint and is likely to vote on the measure.

Batchelder also said he has not discussed with his GOP caucus a Senate plan to cut state lawmakers’ base salaries by 5 percent. He said he personally believes House members earn their pay.