Associated Press
A vote on Ohio’s spending blueprint for the next two years is nearing in the Ohio Senate.
The $71.3 billion operating budget is expected to pass the Senate on Thursday, after clearing the powerful Senate Finance Committee Wednesday with added regulations on abortion clinics and restrictions on collective bargaining rights for certain home-health and child-care workers.
The sweeping proposal would increase Ohio’s tobacco taxes, boost higher-education funding and eliminate state taxes for certain small business income.
With Senate approval, the bill heads into compromise talks on key sticking points. A conference committee could begin debate as soon as Friday on the size of income tax cuts, state funding for public schools and a host of other areas on which the House, Senate and Gov. John Kasich disagree.