Ohio budget receives bipartisan support
Whatever a voter thinks of Ohio’s new budget (House Bill 166) or the customer bailout of FirstEnergy Solutions’ nuclear power plants, they became law with backing from both Republicans and Democrats.
True, one reason for cross-aisle deals in Ohio’s House is because Republican Larry Householder, of Perry County’s Glenford, was elected speaker in January over Republican former Speaker Ryan Smith, of Gallia County’s Bidwell, thanks to votes from Democrats
Householder won 52-46. Of his 52 backers, 26 were Republicans, 26, Democrats. Of Smith’s backers, 34 were Republicans, 12, Democrats. Bottom line: Householder wouldn’t be sitting in the Ohio House’s so-called Lincoln chair (the speaker’s seat) if Democrats hadn’t supported him.
The story’s a little different in the Senate, which is 24-9 Republican. The GOP’s run the Sen
ate, now led by President Larry Obhof, of Medina, since January 1985. (At the time, the Billboard Hot 100’s No. 1 single, Wikipedia reports, was “Like a Virgin” by Madonna; she’ll be 61 next month.) In the Senate, Democrats have had to bargain with Republicans for 34 years.
Sure, Republicans could have passed the 2,602page, $69.8 billion budget without Democratic votes. (For every $1 in the budget, about 47 cents will pay for Medicaid.) The Senate’s budget vote was 29-1; the only “no” was Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Toledo Democrat. The significance of “yes” votes from other Senate Democrats is this: Most obviously found parts of the budget, if not congenial, then at least helpful to their districts. The contrast with Mitch McConnell’s U.S. Senate couldn’t be starker.
The Ohio House’s budget vote, 75-17, was also cross-party; 20 of the House’s 38 Democrats joined 55 of the 61 Republicans in voting “yes.” Among Democratic “yeses” were House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, of Akron; former House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn, of Dayton; and Rep. Jessica Miranda, of Forest Park. As in the Senate, the budget could have passed without Democrats. But more than half the House’s Democrats evidently didn’t have huge problems with the budget, perhaps because
of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s big push for more and better services for children.
But the FirstEnergy Solutions bailout — which Ohio electricity customers will pay for — passed only because of Democratic “yes” votes. The bailout required 50 House votes; it got 51: Republicans provided 42 votes, Democrats, nine. (Among the nine, one is a southwest Ohioan: Rep. Catherine D. Ingram, of Cincinnati.)
Miami Valley Republicans who voted “yes” on the Ohio House’s nuclear bailout roll-call were Reps. Niraj Antani, of Miamisburg; Jim Butler, of Oakwood; Sarah Carruthers, of Hamilton; George Lang,
of West Chester; Scott Lipps, of Franklin; Rick Perales, of Beavercreek; Phil Plummer, of Dayton; Todd Smith, of Germantown; Nino Vitale, of Urbana; Shane Wilkin, of Hillsboro (co-sponsor of the bailout); and Paul Zeltwanger, of Mason.
The bailout required at least 17 Senate votes. It drew “yeses” from 16 Senate Republicans (including Sens. Bob Hackett, of London; Matt Huffman, of Lima; Peggy Lehner, of Kettering; Bob Peterson, of Washington Court House; and Steve Wilson, of Maineville). But three Democrats voted “yes,” making the tally 19-12 — and passing the bailout. Democratic “yeses” were Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, of suburban Cleve
land’s Richmond Heights; Sen. Teresa Fedor, of Toledo; and Sen. Sandra Williams, of Cleveland.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reported last year on why some state’s legislatures — unlike Congress — negotiate policy differences rather than go into gridlock. One factor discouraging confrontation in state capitols: “A determination (by state legislators) to get things done,
often expressed as ‘We’re not D.C.’”
No, the Statehouse isn’t.
And for that, Ohioans should thank their lucky stars.
The significance of ‘yes’ votes from other Senate Democrats is this: Most obviously found parts of the budget, if not congenial, then at least helpful to their districts.