House Democrats reject Senate Republican budget 97 to 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The Ohio House has voted overwhelmingly to
reject changes in the state's budget plan made by the Senate,
setting up difficult negotiations between Republicans and
Democrats.
The Democratic-controlled House voted 97-1 Wednesday against the
Senate version, sending the two-year, $54 billion plan into
negotiations.
Republicans who control the Senate cut about $600 million in
state money from the House plan and stripped out Gov. Ted
Strickland's school-funding proposal.
House members from both parties said Wednesday they expect the
budget negotiations to be extremely difficult.
New revenue forecasts out Thursday will likely show further
declines, and lawmakers say that will force them to cut a few
billion dollars from the spending plan. House and Senate
negotiators are trying to get the budget to Strickland before July
1, when the new fiscal year begins.