The legislature’s lame duck session is looking more and more like a cooked goose.
Any plans for a capital appropriations measure appeared to officially die after Republican Governor-elect John Kasich said he was opposed to more debt being authorized in the short term for bricks-and-mortar projects until his team has time to fully gauge the state’s finances.
“Decisions made in a capital bill would have a significant impact on the budget Governor-elect Kasich will be putting together, and therefore he believes there should not be a capital bill in the lame duck session,” spokesman Rob Nichols said Tuesday.
“After he assumes office, and after he and his team can assess the overall financial condition of the state, he will then be able to make a determination about a capital bill.”
Tim Kelso, spokesman for Senate Republicans, said the chamber’s majority had the same opinion as the governor-elect.
“Our view on it is it would kind of be irresponsible to do the capital budget without considering it in the context of the next budget,” he said.
Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said through spokesman Keary McCarthy, “The capital budget provides needed resources to local communities throughout Ohio. It would be a tremendous setback for our state if routine investments were being denied or delayed because of politics.”
Separately, House Minority Leader, Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), the presumed speaker-elect, said he saw no reason for a post-election session at all – especially given the results of last Tuesday’s elections, which saw Republicans take the House and governor’s office.