Ohio lawmakers begin budget debate

By Marc Kovac | February 2, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

The Republican heads of the legislative panels that will spearhead deliberations on the biennial state budget mostly are reserving public comment on Gov. John Kasich’s two-year spending plan.

Rep. Ryan Smith of Bidwell, chairman of the House Finance Committee, and Sen. Scott Oelslager of North Canton, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, told reporters Wednesday it’s too early in the legislative process, and lawmakers still are digesting what the governor has proposed.

“It’s a tight budget, I think everybody realizes that,” Smith said. “There’s no rosy revenue projections, I don’t think, at this point. ... We’ve got to get creative and innovative.”

Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, meanwhile, voiced many of the same priorities as Republicans, but he slammed the governor’s budget for proposing an income-tax cut with a sales-tax hike rather than investing more in schools and local governments.

“All I saw was tax shifting,” Schiavoni said, adding he was reassured to hear both finance chairmen “really want to work [education and other priority issues]. We need to do that first.”

House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton, added, “Just because the governor sends us a budget that looks one way, we certainly have the opportunity to shape it and mold it, and that’s what we’re there for.”

The four legislative leaders offered opening comments during the Ohio Associated Press’ 2017 Legislative and Political Preview in Columbus. The day included question-and-answer sessions with Kasich and other statewide officeholders, as well as Ohio Republican and Democratic party leaders.

The House Finance Committee began its deliberations on the main biennial budget Wednesday afternoon, with plans for the introduction of separate transportation and other budgets in coming days.