The Ohio Senate has approved the state budget on a mostly party line vote. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports it's now headed to the House for a vote Friday.
The budget includes a 6.3% across the board income tax cut, with tax cuts for small businesses as well. Sen. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) was among the Democrats who opposed it.
"It is a budget written for the very wealthy in this state but leaves so many behind," Skindell said.
The budget also includes a 35-cent per pack cigarette tax increase, $930 million more for schools, a college tuition freeze, and, as Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville) said, Medicaid coverage for more pregnant women.
"I look to the bill that's before us today befuddled…by certain individuals who say you didn't do this or you didn't do that," said Burke.
A late addition is a requirement that abortion clinics have transfer agreements with hospitals no more than 30 miles away, which could result in the closure of Toledo's only remaining clinic.