Posted on 12/20/2003 6:43:18 PM PST by Shooter 2.5
Senate Veto-Override Outlook Date: Wednesday, December 17 @ 09:47:58 EST Topic: Ohio Legislation
On November 27, Senate President Doug White told Dan Williamson of Columbus' The Other Paper "his most recent survey of senators revealed 'a very, very thin ability to override a veto on the bill.'"
On December 10, in the hours before the final House and Senate vote, White told the Lee Leonard of the Columbus Dispatch he "absolutely does not have enough override votes."
By December 12, White was back to saying he is unsure if the votes are there, indicating that he has not officially polled the Republican Caucus on the matter.
Earlier in the year, Senator Jim Carnes indicated he and certain other Senators would be unwilling to override Taft due to Republican "party solidarity."
Now that the House and Senate are preparing to override Taft on an unrelated bill, they no longer have that excuse.
Of the MR/DD bill, State Sen. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, said there are enough votes in the House and Senate to override the veto.
"That's exactly what we intend to do," said Austria, predicting action almost as soon as the legislature returns in January.
"These are individuals who are severely handicapped . . . we're talking about human lives here," Austria said.
HB12 is about protecting human lives too. And the bottom line is, 25 Senators voted to pass HB12. In order for a veto override to fail, six Senators would have to be unwilling to stick with their votes in an override scenario.
Do the six exist? Who are they if so?
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.
The following Senators voted YES for the HB12 Conference Committee Report, and have already committed, either verbally or in writing, to voting YES on a veto override.
Ron Amstutz (R) 22nd District
Marc Dann (D) 32nd District
Robert F. Hagan (D) 33rd District
Bill Harris (R) 19th District
Jay Hottinger (R) 31st District
Randy Gardner (R) 2nd District
Jim Jordan (R) 12th District
Larry A. Mumper (R) 26th District
Robert Schuler (R) 7th District
J. Kirk Schuring (R) 29th District
Lynn R. Wachtmann (R) 1st District
The following Senators voted YES for the HB12 Conference Committee Report. OFCC is working to obtain their public position on a veto override.
Steve Austria (R) 10th District - Up for re-election in 2004
Louis W. Blessing (R) 8th District - 2004 term-limited
John Carey (R) 17th District
Kevin Coughlin (R) 27th District
Gregory L. DiDonato (D) 30th District - 2004 term-limited
Teresa Fedor (D) 11th District
Jeff Jacobson (R) 6th District - Up for re-election in 2004
The following Senators voted YES for the HB12 Conference Committee Report, but have informed OFCC they are not willing to commit to a veto override. Sen. White admitted to Ohio Public Radio on December 17 to the existence of HB12 vote trading for Taft job appointments.
Jeffry J. Armbruster (R) 13th District
James E. Carnes (R) 20th District - Carnes was 2004 term-limited, and took a Taft appointment, effective next month. OFCC has learned his replacement will be former House Rep. Joy Padgett.
Robert A. Gardner (R) 18th District - 2004 term-limited
Scott R. Nein (R) 4th District - 2004 term-limited
Steve Stivers (R) 16th District - Up for re-election in 2004
Doug White (R) - 14th District - 2004 term-limited
Kimberly A. Zurz (D) - 28th - Up for re-election 2004
This one is mine, and I am glad to see he will vote for an override.
He also met with us Defense Walkers. I certainly will call his office and thank him.
I wish you and yours, a great Holiday!
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