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, February 20, 2009

Topics: Education, Economy, Politics
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Ohio will get less federal stimulus money than officials were hoping for. But the governor says some tinkering with funding formulas means he won’t need to cut more from his budget. Republican U.S. Senator George Voinovich announced he wouldn’t run for re-election. And this week there was a sudden scramble by two of the state’s highest ranking Democrats to run for his seat - both Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher say they are running.

In other news this week, state agencies plan to compare notes in hopes of stopping employers who pay their workers "off the books" or improperly call them independent contractors. Meanwhile, the state’s insurance fund for injured workers has collected only a fraction of the millions it's owed by employers after a six-month crack down. A third execution date has been set this year in Ohio - 39-year-old Daniel Wilson of Lorain is set to die June 3 for kidnapping a female friend, locking her in the trunk of his car and burning her alive. Last week Gov. Strickland canceled the execution of 44-yea-old Jeffrey Hill, who was set to die March 3 for killing his mother in a drug-fueled rampage in 1991. Hundreds of payday lenders closed up shop after last year’s ballot issue capped the interest rates they can charge at 28 percent. But some officials say Ohio's payday loan law needs reworking to close loopholes they say are allowing lenders to continue charging triple-digit interest.

Whenever the subject of education comes up, the topic of money isn’t far behind. Governor Strickland has proposed big changes in the way Ohioans pay for public education, while also saying he wants to pour more than $900 million more into public schools. But he also says that schools will reach what he calls an unprecedented level of accountability and transparency. Governor Strickland’s education policy adviser John Stanford talks about accountability and charter schools.

And a trio of leaders representing three important facets of education in Ohio are back to discuss the governor’s education and funding plans. Bill Leibensperger is the vice president of the Ohio Education Association. Rob Delane is the deputy executive director of the Ohio School Boards Association. And Catherine West is the Director of Governmental Relations and Advocacy for the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

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