Legislature Recesses for the Year

The Ohio Legislature wound-up its 2007-08 legislative session last week, passing a slew of bills before recessing until next year.  There were concerns that the diabetes mandate bill would be amended into another bill that was set to pass but that ultimately did not materialize.

Also, the House and Senate have released their Legislative Session schedule for the first half of 2009.  January 5th will be the opening day of the next session of the Legislature.  Much of January will be organizational in nature with committee assignments being made.  The first committee hearings are scheduled to begin on February 3rd.  The Governor’s proposed budget will also be introduced around this time. The Legislature is expected to be very active from February through June, with the only break occurring during the weeks beginning on April 6 and 13.

 

Governor Strickland Announces more Budget Cuts

Last Friday Governor Strickland announced an additional 5.75% in targeted budget cuts that should cut about $180 million of a total of $640 million hole that needs to be addressed to balance the fiscal year 2009 books by June 30, 2009.  In addition to the $180 million in cuts, the remainder of the gap is to be addressed through Medicaid spending adjustments and various cash management strategies.  The Strickland Administration anticipates a 6% increase in federal Medicaid matching funds early next year to supplement the current 60% federal Medicaid match.

 

Lumpkin named ODJFS Director

Due to the resignation of Helen Jones-Kelley last week as Director of the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS), Governor Strickland has appointed Douglas Lumpkin as the new Director of ODJFS.  Mr. Lumpkin is currently the Director of the Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services and has previously worked for 20 years at the Attorney General’s office and the State Auditor’s office. Director Jones-Kelley and two top deputies resigned last week because of their roles in searches of Samuel Wurzelbacher’s (Joe the Plumber) background.

 

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The next issue of the Legislative Week in Review will be sent when the Legislature convenes in January.

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