Ohio General Assembly Unanimous budget

[Padfoot]

The Ohio General Assembly voted 129-1 to pass the compromise two-year state operating budget.  This unprecedented unity can be attributed to the great co-operation between Gov. Strickland and the majority leaders in the House and Senate.  The governor is even preparing to take a statewide victory lap to celebrate the event over the next two days.  This will only serve to increase his popularity and further shift Ohio towards the Democrats in 2008.

[Padfoot]

Follow up, We have actual hugs being exchanged between the Governor and Republican leaders in the GA.  I am not joking.  There was even a picture on the front page of the Columbus Dispatch yesterday.  I think there are a lot of Ohioans with their jaws on the floor right now.  After so many years of bitterness in Columbus it seems like people are actually starting to get along!  Keep up the love Gov. Strickland.

[Padfoot]

Who was the one single jackass who prevented it from being completely unanimous?

It was Republican Representative Diana Fessler.  Rep. Fessler adamantly opposed the funding for 5 new science focused high schools called STEM schools.  She called them "charter schools on steroids."  Ironically it is actually the Republican House Speaker who is promoting STEM schools so Rep. Fessler is in opposition to her own party on this one.