The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. Award-winning host Karen Kasler presents viewers with unique analysis and thoughtful perspective on important issues of statewide interest through interviews with political leaders, newsmakers, experts and Ohio citizens. The State of Ohio is the only TV show to bring to Ohioans the latest news about taxes, voting, education and other critical matters from where it all happens -- Capitol Square.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Topics: Politics, Economy, Other
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The massive capital bill is speeding through the Statehouse - the House passed it and it now goes to the Senate. But Gov. Strickland has said he will use his line item veto power to strike out the House’s six-month moratorium on the closing of the mental health facilities. And the one and a half billion dollar jobs package is a step closer to the ballot, now that House lawmakers have approved it.

There was some emotional debate in the House on a bill that would require the state do all its official business in English. Sponsoring Republican Rep. Robert Mecklenborg says it’s not an “English only” bill, but would make sure Ohio doesn’t become an “English optional” state. Many opponents said they feared the measure could be used to discriminate against immigrants and that it sends the wrong message to the global marketplace. House Democrats have a new member in their caucus – Thomas Heydinger was sworn in this week to replace Matthew Barrett of Amherst, who resigned after an image of a topless woman appeared on his computer during a presentation to a high school class. Outspoken northeast Ohio Sen. Tim Grendell has agreed to back the Great Lakes compact, now that lawmakers are supporting his constitutional amendment to strengthen private property rights. The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld a 134-year prison sentence against a 24-year-old Columbus man convicted of three home invasions, saying the sentence wasn’t cruel and unusual punishment. The justices have also thrown down a first of its kind reprimand against a judge, saying Sandusky County Judge Harry Sargeant Junior took too long before ruling on cases.

Some mixed news for the Democratic candidates for president in the latest Quinnipiac University poll - Sen. Barack Obama, would lose in a head-to-head race with likely Republican nominee John McCain, but Sen. Hillary Clinton beats McCain by a wide margin.

Bob Taft was the first Ohio governor convicted in office because of ethics charges related to the Coingate scandal. One of his loudest critics then was state senator Marc Dann, who’s now the ex-attorney general, having resigned over a sex scandal in his office. So what does Taft think about what happened at the AG’s office?

There’s still debate on whether the U.S. economy is in a recession. But many Ohioans say the economic situation isn’t good. Next week activists who work on behalf of the poor will release their annual update on poverty in Ohio. Bobbie Garber with Community Research Partners, which prepared the report, and Phil Cole with the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, which deal with the effects of poverty at the local level, talk about the issue.

This Memorial Day week began at the Statehouse with a wreath laying ceremony, honoring the twenty-seven Ohioans died in military service from April 2007 to last month. Keynote speaker Glenn Minney was a Marine with Lima Company, the Columbus based battalion hit with a mortar blast near Haditha, Iraq in 2005. And for Carolyn Maupin, this is the first Memorial Day knowing that her son, Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, was killed in Iraq – he’d been missing for nearly four years.

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