Ohio Senate’s new leader brings aggressive style
GOP president known for his aggressiveness, unlike laid-back chiefs
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch Sunday January 6, 2013 11:29 AM
Senate President-elect Keith Faber was a public backer of Senate Bill 5, wants to see a lower, flatter state income tax, and says he “chafes” when people talk about Ohio’s school-funding problem. “We’ve increased school funding dramatically in the time I’ve been in the legislature, and it never seems to be good enough.”
He added: “I believe you compromise on policy, but you don’t compromise on principle. You have to draw that fine line.”The Celina Republican will draw on his experience as a 12-year legislator, lawyer and 16-year mediator as he takes over as one of state government’s most-powerful leaders.
Considered smart and tenacious, Faber positioned himself for the Senate presidency last session when he was elected to the No. 2 leadership post. Term limits meant that Senate President Tom Niehaus could serve only one two-year term in that post.
Ohio's high-risk legislative to-do list: editorial
By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board
on January 05, 2013 at 7:01 PM, updated January 05, 2013 at 7:02 PM
on January 05, 2013 at 7:01 PM, updated January 05, 2013 at 7:02 PM
Ohio's 130th General Assembly, Republican-ruled, convenes on Monday with what pomp the state can muster. And the 132 members face daunting tasks. For the next six months, their major assignment will be to pass a balanced 2013-15 state budget.
Republican Gov. John Kasich is expected to propose one on Feb. 4. From then until June 30, when the current budget expires, finance will be the main event at the Statehouse.
There's a powerful additional factor this time. As part of his budget, Kasich is likely to pose even more tough policy questions than Ohio budgets typically do. For example, the governor is expected to propose a new state school-funding plan in the budget, rather than in a separate bill. Last session, legislators junked an "evidence-based" system devised by Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, whom Kasich unseated in 2010.
Sen. Keith Faber, the Senate president-elect, on Friday announced a new committee setup that balloons the number of panels to review legislation and the biennial budget.
The changes will increase the number of standing committees in the Senate from 13 to 17 and add three new budget subcommittees for a total of 20. By comparison, the House, which has three times as many members, had 25 panels last session, including eight subcommittees.
House Republican spokesman Mike Dittoe said Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) anticipates having roughly the same number of committees this session as last General Assembly. The speaker will announce committee names and members in "the near future," he added.
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