Ohio Report for Wednesday, May 16, 2012 Senate Report
House Report

Senate Passes Mid-Biennium Budget; Welfare Drug Testing Removed, Clean Ohio Funds Added

Senators boosted Clean Ohio Fund spending by $42 million Wednesday and scrapped a controversial plan to start a drug-testing program for Ohio Works First benefit recipients before advancing Gov. John Kasich's main mid-biennium review budget bill, which is headed for conference committee talks next week.

Sen. Chris Widener (R-Springfield), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the revised bill, which passed the Senate 25-8, sticks with the overarching goals of the legislation to remove unnecessary statutory barriers, streamline service delivery and prioritize funding.