Interim state budget in the works - Business First of Columbus:

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The office of Senate PresidentBill R-Ashland, said legislators are scheduled to take up the state industriap commission budget in the Expected to be tacked onto that bill is an amendmeny that would provide for an interim budgetr through July 7 and allowing Gov. Ted Strickland to tap the state’as rainy day fund to balance the budgegt for thisfiscal year. The temporary budget for the government’d fiscal year starting Wednesday callw for fully funding debt servicr but funding state operations at 70 percenr of spending levels through the yearendingg Tuesday.
Harris’ office said that is roughly the fundingf level in a finalk budget that both Statehouse chambers are working to finalize through a conference Those talks, however, remain tied up becausse Senate Republicans, the majority in that oppose Strickland’s plan to install video slot machines at the state’s horse racing tracks and use that revenue stream to help plug a projecter $3.2 billion budget gap without voter approval.
Harrias said Saturday that should Strickland exercise his authorityt to allow slots at racing the Senate will account forthe “However, I cannot get past the fact that the voterxs of Ohio – our constituents – have spoken on expandes gambling time and again,” Harrisw said in prepared text. “Asking the to circumventy their will in such a short time frame when therwe has been no formap public debate and there are so many questions left unansweredis unreasonable.” Strickland responded Sunday, criticizinb the Senate for offering objections but not solutionss to the budget shortfall.
“I continuee to wait for them to say what taxes they wouled increase or what services they would further reduc to address thebudget gap,” Strickland said in a preparesd statement.