COLUMBUS - State Representative Barbara R. Sears (R- Sylvania) today
announced the recent passage of House Bill 2 from the Ohio House of
Representatives. House Bill 2 will establish the state's two year
transportation budget.
The legislation passed the House yesterday with a vote of 53-45. The
bill will appropriate approximately $9.5 billion, including more than $2
billion in federal stimulus funds, over the next two years to various
state agencies. Specifically, the transportation budget establishes the
funding for the Departments of Transportation, the Ohio Department of
Public Safety and the Public Works Commission.
Among the various issues that arose during debate in the House were
increases in fees and penalties, which are expected to generate more
than $130 million of new state revenue annually. The fees will increase
costs for consumers who are renewing driver's licenses or shopping for
car insurance, among other activities.
"Certainly, the services provided by the Ohio Department of Public
Safety, the Public Works Commission and Ohio Department of
Transportation are critical to our state," Sears said. "However, this
budget overreaches at a time when our state should not be punitive with
increased fees and assessments."
Legislators also raised concerns regarding portions of the bill which
erode individual liberties and civil rights. Of particular concern were
the inclusion of a pilot project for a construction zone automated speed
enforcement system and the establishment of a primary seatbelt law.
"The Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Caucus was so concerned
that the primary seatbelt law would lead to racial profiling, they
included a 15-month study requiring that police officers gather data on
age, gender and race of anyone they stop for a primary seatbelt law
violation," Sears said. "No one can argue the safety issue of wearing a
seatbelt, but this new permanent law was mandated by the federal
government and passed by the House, not for safety reasons but for
one-time federal stimulus money.
In addition, the bill cedes legislative authority to the governor by
providing the State Controlling Board the ability to approve a passenger
rail system. The Controlling Board is a small quasi-legislative board
that handles the day-to-day financial transactions of the state.
Traditionally, large scale projects that have a great statewide impact
and large public expenditure are subjected to full deliberations of the
General Assembly. This provides ample opportunity for public input
through the committee process, which is now circumvented by House Bill
2. This modification may be the most aggressive change that occurred on
the House floor during the transportation budget proceedings.
Having passed through the House, House Bill 2 will now move to the
Senate where it will undergo further deliberations.
