The incoming Speaker of the House says work will start right away on some of the reforms that Republican Gov.-elect John Kasich wants to push through. Current minority leader Bill Batchelder of Medina tells Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler that the first order of business will be to move forward Kasich's plans for the Department of Development.
Kasich has said he wants to move out of the Department of Development programs that aren't related to job creation - such as those that offer assistance to help lower-income people pay utility bills or weatherize their homes. Kasich has said he would head the Development Department by serving as chairman of a 12-member board of current and former business executives. Incoming speaker Batchelder made his comments in a year-end interview alongside outgoing Democratic Speaker Armond Budish of suburban Cleveland. You can see that interview on "The State of Ohio" on PBS stations this weekend.