The Ohio House of Representatives today voted to reject Senate amendments to House Bill 153, the state operating budget. In response to the action taken by the House, Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“The House’s decision to go to conference committee is a crucial step in the process toward crafting and passing a cohesive, collaborative budget that will benefit all Ohioans. I appreciate the hard work the Ohio Senate put into this important bill. As the House Republicans did unanimously in May when the budget left the House, there is no doubt we will balance this budget without raising taxes. My fellow House colleagues and I look forward to working with the Senate and ironing out the details of this budget to find a compromise that will bring about a brighter future for Ohio.”