No showdown for lawmakers and Kasich|Dayton, OH news

A dramatic showdown between state lawmakers and Ohio Gov. John Kasich fizzled Wednesday when Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger canceled plans to call legislators back to Columbus to override the governor’s vetoes.

The House and Senate had scheduled "if needed" sessions for Wednesday and Thursday — in case they whipped enough votes to override vetoes. Kasich rejected controversial bills that would ban abortions once fetal heartbeats are detected, let the General Assembly determine whether state departments should exist and water-down clean energy and efficiency rules.

But Rosenberger on Wednesday canceled those House sessions, ending the two-year legislative cycle.

When the 132nd General Assembly starts in January, lawmakers could re-introduce the measures vetoed by Kasich.

Republicans will hold 24 seats in the 33-member Senate and 66 seats in the 99-member House — giving the GOP a super majority in each chamber large enough to allow them to add an emergency clause to any bill without Democratic votes. Bills with emergency clauses are ineligible for referendum votes by Ohioans who want to block a law from taking effect.

The new session begins Jan. 3 with the swearing-in of new members and Kasich will introduce his two-year state budget plan at the end of the month. It’ll be Kasich’s last budget — term limits prohibit him from seeking a third four-year term in 2018.

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About the Author

Laura A. Bischoff

Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.