Ohio Midterm Budget Bill Set To Get Final Votes

The governor's sweeping midterm budget bill is slated for final votes in the state Senate and House Wednesday. A joint legislative panel hashed out differences in the proposal this week. Changes include an agreement over how to spend certain funding for mental health and addiction treatment services. The conference committee also added a provision to create an evaluation system for caseworkers at county Job and Family Services agencies. The bill includes a package of tax cuts backed by Gov. John Kasich. It would double Ohio's earned income tax credit from 5 percent to 10 percent for low-income taxpayers and increase personal income-tax exemptions for residents making under $80,000 a year. Democrats say the legislation is a missed opportunity to invest additional money in schools and communities, not tax cuts.