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, April 10, 2009

Topics: Politics
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State lawmakers spent the week on spring break. But one legislator sprung a surprise on the governor – Republican Rep. Seth Morgan of suburban Dayton went to court to get Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland to comply with his public record requests for more information on the development of Strickland's school-funding plan. The state is picking up the pace of its capital punishment cases, as the Ohio Supreme Court set execution dates for two more condemned killers.

The Supreme Court also delivered a ruling that is sure to generate a lot of interest - the court declared unconstitutional a law that said that unclaimed funds owners aren’t entitled to interest.

The $9.2 billion transportation budget passed last week, and the spending will soon begin. The Ohio Department of Transportation will launching and continuing more than 650 projects this construction, including 36 interstate and 125 bridge projects. ODOT will spend $2.8 billion over the next 15 months on projects the agency says will create or preserve 70,000 jobs.

The idea of bringing passenger rail service to Ohio has gained a lot of steam recently. In the ODOT budget passed last week, lawmakers gave the state the green light to apply $250 million in federal stimulus funds to start work toward bringing conventional speed trains to the 3-C Corridor from Cleveland to Cincinnati, for the first time since Amtrak shut down passenger train service in Ohio’s major cities 40 years ago. For advocates who’ve been pushing for passenger train service for years, this may feel like a critical crossing. Matt Dietrich, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission and Jack Shaner from the Ohio Environmental Council talk about what’s next in keeping trains on track in Ohio.

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