This week was all about the budget at the Statehouse. The current budget picture got even cloudier with tax collections from April coming in $159 million below estimates - making the shortfall for this fiscal year at nearly $774 million.
And that creates big questions about the upcoming two-year budget, which passed the House this week with support from most Republicans and over arguments from most Democrats. State budget director Tim Keen says by his math, the House cut $632 million of the $800 million that Gov. John Kasich said needed to be trimmed. House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) react to that.
As the budget process marches on, groups that depend on state dollars for various programs are making sure their message is getting through to lawmakers. Andy Chow and Jo Ingles covered two groups this week that rallied at the Statehouse - pro-choice advocates and school choice supporters.
And now we check in with Gov. John Kasich. As his budget was torn apart, put back together again and then voted on, he is ending his multi-state promotional tour for his book “Two Paths: America Divided or United”. He talked about a lot more than just that book, including when he sat down with Statehouse Bureau Chief Karen Kasler for a rare one-on-one interview.