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Republican legislators seek reform in lawmaking process

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July 19, 2009

by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau Chief

Columbus -- Republican state lawmakers are calling for reforms to the legislative process for resolving differences between the Ohio House and Senate on budgets and other bills.

House Minority Leaders Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), and Republican Rep. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), plan to introduce legislation requiring a two-day delay before the House can vote on future conference committee reports. The new rule could be waived on a vote of two-thirds of the members of the chamber.

The move comes after House Republicans complained publicly about the lack of time to review the biennial operating budget, which was passed earlier this week hours after the conference committee members received copies of the final legislation.

Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster), who served on the conference committee, listed the lack of review time among reasons for his opposition vote to the conference report and final budget.

"Essentially, this rule respects the rights of House members and the public to know what is in budget bills," Gardner said in a released statement. "Majority legislators were complaining as well that the final outcome of the budget bill and conference report was kept from them until Monday afternoon."

Batchelder added, "The budget is the most important piece of legislation to move through state government and the lack of transparency that accompanied it is truly disheartening. This measure would ensure that the integrity of the legislative process is maintained for the people of Ohio."

Gardner and Batchelder said all 46 House Republicans have signed onto the bill as co-sponsors. It will be formally introduced later this month.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Capital Bureau Chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.




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