Ohio gov. says he’ll order lawmakers back if they break for holidays without budget deal

Ohio gov. says budget should trump holiday plans

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Ted Strickland says he’ll order state senators back to Columbus if they break this week without a solution to an $850 million gap in the budget for funding schools.

Strickland said Tuesday that addressing the gap should trump any plans lawmakers have made for the holidays.

The Democratic governor says he’s willing to call a legislative session on Christmas Day if necessary.

Strickland and Democrats who control the House support delaying a final round of planned income tax cuts. But Republicans who control the Senate say they can’t get enough votes to support the plan on its own, and they want an overhaul of state construction rules to go with it.

But Strickland says the proposed ruled haven’t been properly vetted.