Ohio budget deliberations to be broadcast

March 18, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Senate will broadcast its coming Finance Committee deliberations on the biennial state budget.

Senate President Keith Faber, a Celina Republican, and Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, announced the move in a joint statement Tuesday, marking the first time the chamber is allowing streaming access to committee hearings.

Sessions can be watched live via the Ohio Channel (www.ohiochannel.org) and are archived for future viewings.

“Technology gives us the ability to let every Ohioan participate in the legislative process without making a trip to the Statehouse,” Faber said in a statement. “I commend our colleagues in the House for leading the way on this, and we look forward to joining them in providing better access to the people’s work. If this project is successful, I hope we can look for other opportunities to expand live, unedited coverage of the Ohio Senate in action.”

Schiavoni added: “As a strong believer in open government, I am pleased the Ohio Senate has taken this significant step forward in keeping the citizens of Ohio informed. This will be a valuable public service to Ohioans who are unable to travel to the Statehouse to attend budget hearings in person.”

The Ohio House began broadcasting its Finance Committee hearings last session, and House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger has left open the possibility of streaming other committee sessions.

The House Finance Committee expects to complete its work on the biennial budget in about a month, after which the Senate Finance Committee will take up the two-year spending plan.