Republicans in the Ohio Senate have unveiled a budget that's more than a billion dollars less than the governor's original plan, but includes the same income tax cut as the House budget. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.
Senate President Keith Faber of Celina is happy with his caucus' proposal.
"It spends less than any previous state budget plan introduced to date this year," Faber said.
Like the House plan, the Senate budget includes an income tax cut of 6.3% - way below Gov. John Kasich's proposed 23% tax cut.
But the budget doesn't include Kasich's proposed increases in sales, commercial activity and fracking taxes - though it does hike tobacco products by 40 cents. The budget cuts Medicaid spending by more than a billion dollars, adds $935 million to K-12 education and $240 million for higher ed.
Testimony on the Senate budget starts Tuesday - a vote is likely next week.