Ohio legislator files suit against Gov. Strickland

State Representative Seth Morgan, CPA, an OSCPA member, has filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court against Gov. Strickland seeking correspondence regarding how the administration developed its new evidence-based school funding plan.

The lawsuit stems from two public records requests that Rep. Morgan filed with the Governor’s office which resulted in a draft bibliography that was submitted to the finance committee. This result was unsatisfactory to Rep. Morgan.

"If there's not really evidence behind this plan, frankly that's OK, too, it doesn't stop the Governor's prerogative for providing for an education plan," Morgan said. "But obviously that will change the debate because now what we're doing is having a debate of opinions and what we need to get to is what's the right public policy for children and taxpayers of Ohio."

The Governor's office has 20 days to respond to the lawsuit. After that, the Supreme Court can either force the Governor's office to turn over the evidence, dismiss the suit, or give both parties more time to provide additional evidence.

The Governor’s evidence-based education plan is currently part of House Bill 1, the state’s 2010-2011 state budget. House Hearings on the bill are expected to wrap up later this month, with a vote on the House floor expected by the end of April. The bill has already begun hearings in the Ohio Senate, with a constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline for enactment.

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