The most popular guessing game on Capitol Square this week has been – what’s in Gov. John Kasich’s third budget? It’ll be released on Monday, but the governor himself dropped some hints on Thursday - including plans to cut all income taxes for small businesses bringing in up to $2 million in gross receipts. He also wants to double the personal income tax exemption for low-income Ohioans, and make free childcare available for people up to 300% of the federal poverty level. As he was speaking, the four leaders of the two major party caucuses in the House and Senate were speaking on a panel arranged by the Associated Press. And the concerns of Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina), Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) and House Minority Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) were primarily in how Kasich wants to pay for them.
Before that panel, Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and Minority Leader Fred Strahorn sat down together for a wide-ranging conversation about the priorities that both Republicans and Democrats in the House released this week.