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, January 23, 2009

Topics: Education, Economy, Politics
Short URL  Share Leave a Comment

The two women whose sexual harassment complaints led to the resignation of former Attorney General Marc Dann have settled with the state for around a quarter of a million dollars each. A woman is now behind the wheel at ODOT - assistant ODOT director Jolene Molitoris takes over for James Beasley, who's retiring after less than two years. The Ohio Supreme Court will decide a critical issue to city employees, especially police officers, firefighters and other safety workers - if they have to live within the city limits, a requirement overturned by a 2006 state law. Ohioans watched Barack Obama become the nation's first black president gathered in movie theaters, museums, classrooms and churches, and a few dozen gathered at the Statehouse to watch history with a distinguished group – members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Next week Gov. Ted Strickland will deliver his third State of the State speech, and he's expected to reveal at least some of what he plans to do about the gaping $7 billion hole in the next budget cycle. Two experts have different ideas on what they think needs to be done. Jon Honeck is with Policy Matters Ohio, and says part of the state’s budget problems can be blamed on the 2005 income and business tax reforms started by Gov. Bob Taft. Rick Yocum is with the Ohio Public Expenditure Council, an independent, nonprofit research organization. Yocum believes, as he writes in his monthly newsletter, “the magic word is ‘cut’”.

One of the surprises from last year’s State of the State speech was an announcement from Governor Strickland that he wanted to take over the Department of Education, and assign oversight of it to a cabinet-level education director, reducing the state school board and the superintendent it hires to advisory roles. Not surprisingly, superintendent Susan Zelman left office a few months later. She's been replaced by Deborah Delisle, the former superintendent of the Cleveland Heights University Heights schools district. Delisle talks about arriving at a difficult time for the state in terms of the economy, and at a time of great anticipation, as the governor is likely to soon reveal his plans for reforming Ohio’s public education system.

Leave a Comment

Please note that all comments must adhere to ideastream's discussion rules and terms of use. Name:

Email:

Comment:

Please enter the word you see in the image below:

Send questions and comments to kkasler@statehousenews.org.