Ohio Dem senators urge governor to veto portion of $7B transportation bill

COLUMBUS (AP) — Democratic state senators are urging Gov. John Kasich to veto a portion of the state’s transportation budget they claim would discourage out-of-state college students in Ohio from voting in the swing state.

The two-year, $7 billion spending plan was expected to head to the Republican governor today after a scheduled afternoon vote in the House. The governor’s office plans to review it.

At issue is a provision in the budget requiring that new residents who register to vote or file their taxes under an Ohio address obtain a driver’s license and register their vehicles here within 30 days. Drivers in violation could face a minor misdemeanor.

GOP supporters say the requirement has nothing to do with elections, but simply defines a deadline in state law for what’s already existing practice for new residents.

Senate Democrats told Kasich in a letter Wednesday that the provision failed to get appropriate vetting and could have unintended consequences for college students from other states and active military personnel stationed in Ohio.