Ohio lawmakers plan vote on sweeping $56B budget

COLUMBUS (AP) — State senators are scheduled to vote today on Ohio’s nearly $56 billion, two-year state budget bill, a far-reaching collection of policy changes that would privatize state operations, overhaul Medicaid, limit unions, ban abortions at public hospitals and provide tax breaks on investments, income and estates.

The sweeping spending blueprint, strongly influenced by new Republican Gov. John Kasich, emerged from compromise talks between the GOP-controlled House and Senate shortly before midnight Monday. In last-minute changes, lawmakers voted to allow private oversight of the Ohio Turnpike but not the Ohio Lottery and added provisions tying pay for teachers to a new evaluation system to be developed by the state Education Department.

A House rule requiring the bill to lay over for two calendar days will push that chamber’s vote to later in the week. Kasich must sign it by Thursday, the final day of the fiscal year.

Kasich has dubbed the legislation his “jobs budget” and touts the fact that it cuts taxes while closing a budget gap estimated at $8 billion when he took office in January. Improved state revenues have put the gap closer to $6 billion.