Ohio governor talks winter storm preps, legislative priorities
Fresh from a whopping re-election victory, Ohio’s Governor has some big decisions coming up before he is sworn-in for a second term on Jan. 9.But before talking with us about them and his priorities for the next four years, Mike DeWine was focused on getting Ohio through the next four days.Like many Ohioans right now, DeWine has family traveling in for the holiday weekend.He anticipates it might become an hour-by-hour judgment call for some. “It’s a time to be very, very cautious,” he said during a wide-ranging interview at the governor’s mansion. “Everybody wants to be with their families on Christmas. But maybe making that trip, make sure you make it during the day, maybe even postpone that trip or maybe making that trip earlier.”As a grandparent, DeWine said he worries that a family with little kids, maybe even a baby, skids off a roadway and gets stuck.Although he stopped short of saying don’t travel, the concern in his voice was evident.”We have the same situation. We have a son who lives in the Cleveland area, his two children, his wife. We have kids in Cincinnati. We have grandkids all over the place. So, we hope all of them are coming here, but you got to monitor that weather and not take any chances.”He has forty bills to review over the holiday and a state budget to prepare for consideration by the next legislature right after the first of the year.We are told that budget will address the state’s lack of affordable housing.According to DeWine, that might involve state money and how tax laws are written.Other priorities in his second term will involve more resources for early childhood education and mental health.”We’re working to get more people into that field because we don’t have enough,” DeWine explained.He referenced President John F. Kennedy’s pledge to have a comprehensive mental health center in every community of the country.That was sixty years ago.DeWine said it’s high time Ohio lives up to that commitment.He’s also weighing whether to veto House Bill 513, which would prohibit municipalities from banning flavored tobacco products.DeWine has a long history battling Big Tobacco, but he’s not ready to make any announcement about that particular bill just yet.He also has shoes to fill on the State Supreme Court, confirming Wednesday that the local Hamilton County Prosecutor is under serious consideration.Whoever he chooses for the one open seat will tip the balance, determine the political orientation of the court.”Joe Deters is certainly high in the running,” said DeWine. “We’ve interviewed a lot of very, very qualified people.”DeWine said wouldn’t be surprised if some who are not selected file to run for the Supreme Court in a couple of years.Although a courtroom veteran with a deep legal background, Deters has never worn a judicial robe.As far as DeWine is concerned, a lack of judicial experience is not a disqualifier.”I think you look at the totality of the person’s background,” said DeWine. “And so, sitting on the bench is certainly one set of experiences. But there are other ways to have experience as well.”He intends to decide sometime next week.He expects the Ohio Legislature to take up the abortion issue again in January and has cautioned lawmakers about the need to present a sustainable bill.DeWine has said he is anti-abortion.He’s also pragmatic about what can and cannot be accomplished.He has conveyed that sentiment to state lawmakers.”I think it’s important as we debate this to do it in a civil way,” DeWine said. “We have good people on both sides of this issue. We have people in, sometimes in our families, sometimes our neighbors who are on the other side of this issue. So, I think we need to keep that in mind as a legislature works on this.”DeWine wants to see more input from doctors and greater clarity in whatever is presented.”It doesn’t do anybody any good to pass a law and have people overturn it,” he stated in reference to what could occur through a citizen initiative.The Republican Party didn’t experience the red wave it expected on Nov. 8.DeWine, however, won by a million votes.He said Wednesday the Republicans who did well were focused on issues that directly impact people’s lives.He intends to keep that focus for the next four years.
Fresh from a whopping re-election victory, Ohio’s Governor has some big decisions coming up before he is sworn-in for a second term on Jan. 9.
But before talking with us about them and his priorities for the next four years, Mike DeWine was focused on getting Ohio through the next four days.
Like many Ohioans right now, DeWine has family traveling in for the holiday weekend.
He anticipates it might become an hour-by-hour judgment call for some.
“It’s a time to be very, very cautious,” he said during a wide-ranging interview at the governor’s mansion. “Everybody wants to be with their families on Christmas. But maybe making that trip, make sure you make it during the day, maybe even postpone that trip or maybe making that trip earlier.”
As a grandparent, DeWine said he worries that a family with little kids, maybe even a baby, skids off a roadway and gets stuck.
Although he stopped short of saying don’t travel, the concern in his voice was evident.
“We have the same situation. We have a son who lives in the Cleveland area, his two children, his wife. We have kids in Cincinnati. We have grandkids all over the place. So, we hope all of them are coming here, but you got to monitor that weather and not take any chances.”
He has forty bills to review over the holiday and a state budget to prepare for consideration by the next legislature right after the first of the year.
We are told that budget will address the state’s lack of affordable housing.
According to DeWine, that might involve state money and how tax laws are written.
Other priorities in his second term will involve more resources for early childhood education and mental health.
“We’re working to get more people into that field because we don’t have enough,” DeWine explained.
He referenced President John F. Kennedy’s pledge to have a comprehensive mental health center in every community of the country.
That was sixty years ago.
DeWine said it’s high time Ohio lives up to that commitment.
He’s also weighing whether to veto House Bill 513, which would prohibit municipalities from banning flavored tobacco products.
DeWine has a long history battling Big Tobacco, but he’s not ready to make any announcement about that particular bill just yet.
He also has shoes to fill on the State Supreme Court, confirming Wednesday that the local Hamilton County Prosecutor is under serious consideration.
Whoever he chooses for the one open seat will tip the balance, determine the political orientation of the court.
“Joe Deters is certainly high in the running,” said DeWine. “We’ve interviewed a lot of very, very qualified people.”
DeWine said wouldn’t be surprised if some who are not selected file to run for the Supreme Court in a couple of years.
Although a courtroom veteran with a deep legal background, Deters has never worn a judicial robe.
As far as DeWine is concerned, a lack of judicial experience is not a disqualifier.
“I think you look at the totality of the person’s background,” said DeWine. “And so, sitting on the bench is certainly one set of experiences. But there are other ways to have experience as well.”
He intends to decide sometime next week.
He expects the Ohio Legislature to take up the abortion issue again in January and has cautioned lawmakers about the need to present a sustainable bill.
DeWine has said he is anti-abortion.
He’s also pragmatic about what can and cannot be accomplished.
He has conveyed that sentiment to state lawmakers.
“I think it’s important as we debate this to do it in a civil way,” DeWine said. “We have good people on both sides of this issue. We have people in, sometimes in our families, sometimes our neighbors who are on the other side of this issue. So, I think we need to keep that in mind as a legislature works on this.”
DeWine wants to see more input from doctors and greater clarity in whatever is presented.
“It doesn’t do anybody any good to pass a law and have people overturn it,” he stated in reference to what could occur through a citizen initiative.
The Republican Party didn’t experience the red wave it expected on Nov. 8.
DeWine, however, won by a million votes.
He said Wednesday the Republicans who did well were focused on issues that directly impact people’s lives.
He intends to keep that focus for the next four years.
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