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, August 1, 2008

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With just a few days to go before the deadline to file petitions for the ballot, the call for a compromise on a requirement that businesses with more than 25 employees provide seven paid sick days is growing louder. But such a deal is looking very unlikely. Gov. Ted Strickland says he’s trying to work with both sides to reach a compromise, but neither side is talking to David Zanotti with Ohio Roundtable, which set up the website PlaySickOhio.com, to counter the supporters’ site sickdaysohio.org. State officials have kicked off the campaign to get voters to pass the non-controversial renewal of the Clean Ohio Fund, part of the state's $1 and a half billion economic stimulus plan. One bill that remains stalled at the Statehouse is running out of time to have an impact this year – a measure that would give the state authority to enforce background checks on employees at residential camps across Ohio, sponsored by Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus).

It’s getting more and more difficult to make ends meet without outside help, according to a study prepared for and paid for by Ohio’s 52 community action agencies, the non-profit local groups that work with low-income people. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Ohio hopes to show how much it costs to live without public or private assistance in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, and how that differs from the federal poverty guidelines. And as one might expect, it is more expensive to be self-sufficient in the urban areas of Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati than in the rural areas, though the state’s highest unemployment rates are in those counties. Dr. Diana Pearce from the University of Washington talks about the study, along with Phil Cole from the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, which commissioned it.

The 155th Ohio State Fair is open for business. The fair features livestock shows, crafts and food exhibits and traditional rides and games on the midway. The fair runs through August 10.

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