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Taft vetoes closure commissions; House lends support for language in SB 4

July 3, 2003 - In a sign of just how strained the relationship between the Legislature and the Executive office is, Governor Taft signed the budget bill, but not before line-item vetoing 29 items, including OCSEA-supported closure commission language.

Several of the Governor’s vetoes had to do with the role of ODJFS and the hot-button issue of Medicaid. But the Governor also vetoed a provision that would give legislative oversight to the process of closing a state facility.

Other states such as Pennsylvania have given power to the legislative branch when making a decision to close a state facility. But Ohio’s Gov. Taft expressed his opposition to the provision early on, stating that it wouldn’t give him the power he needs to balance the budget.

OCSEA leaders say the commission is necessary to get a clear understanding of the costs of facilities and the health and safety issues that can arise when facilities are shuttered.

But all hope is not lost. Before recessing for the summer, the House accepted an amendment to Senate Bill 4 (the Abuse Registry bill) that would include the closure commission language the Governor just vetoed. The bad news is the Senate recessed for the summer before having a chance to concur on the bill. The bill is expected to be taken up again after the summer break.

In spite of the veto on the commission language, OCSEA was able to retain many of the provisions in the final budget bill. Kept in the final bill were: restored funding levels for MH,DYS and ODNR, the elimination of the cap on employment levels, and the elimination of language that would have privatized state Internet services.
Office of Quality shuts door; quality journey to continue.

Although hundreds lobbied to keep the Office of Quality open, unfortunately their efforts were unsuccessful. The 10-year-old office will close its doors July 11.
In a farewell letter to quality coordinators, Director Steve Wall thanked all those who have been involved in quality “for their on-going support and friendship over the years.” His biggest hope is that the quality journey will continue.

And that is exactly what union quality activists intend to do. In fact, on July 1 a committee of labor and management quality coordinators met to plan for the future of quality in Ohio. Labor and management representatives from DAS, BWC, MRDD, Taxation, Public Safety, ODJFS and the BMV have identified 10 action areas so that quality efforts in state government can continue.

The coordinators also developed a transition plan to maintain an agenda of effective practices that involves employees, making government better with a union role.