Friday, January 12, 2007
Rumblings About Ratios
Lobbyists, legislators, and Statehouse watchers are quietly talking about now committee ratios may be adjusted to reflect the new partisan make up of the Statehouse.
In the previous 126th Ohio General Assembly there were 39 Democratic members of the Ohio House and 60 Republican members – the Republican majority had roughly 60 percent of the seats. But on the all important Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee they filled 65 percent of the committee seats (21) with Republican members while the Democrats were allotted the remaining 35 percent (11 seats). After last November’s election, Ohio House Republicans now hold roughly 53 percent of the House while Democrats hold the remaining 46 percent. So the question is will committee makeup be adjusted to reflect the change in the partisan make up of the Ohio House
If these ratios were applied to Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee membership the Republicans would see their committee seats drop from 21 to 17 and the Democrats would see their seats increase from 11 to 15. Of course the party in control isn’t required to apply such a strict test, and if the Republican House leadership decides they have to reduce seats their job would be made somewhat easier by the fact that several of their members won’t be returning because they lost their election or because of term limits.
Where ever the number ends up it seems clear that the Republican margin of control will be narrower – a defection of even one or two members (as had happened in the past on key amendments and bills) could change the outcome on critical budget votes. This would seem to mean that both Republican and Democrat leaders in the House will be carefully choosing members to sit on this and other important committees. Partisan loyalty will likely be a key consideration.
The committee ratios in the Ohio Senate are much closer. Democrats held 30 percent of the seats on the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee which more closely reflected the fact that they held 33 percent of the seats in the Ohio Senate as a whole. Their pick up of one seat now means they hold 36 percent of the Ohio Senate so they may also seek another seat on the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee so that the committee’s make up is consistent with the partisan make up of the chamber.
In the previous 126th Ohio General Assembly there were 39 Democratic members of the Ohio House and 60 Republican members – the Republican majority had roughly 60 percent of the seats. But on the all important Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee they filled 65 percent of the committee seats (21) with Republican members while the Democrats were allotted the remaining 35 percent (11 seats). After last November’s election, Ohio House Republicans now hold roughly 53 percent of the House while Democrats hold the remaining 46 percent. So the question is will committee makeup be adjusted to reflect the change in the partisan make up of the Ohio House
If these ratios were applied to Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee membership the Republicans would see their committee seats drop from 21 to 17 and the Democrats would see their seats increase from 11 to 15. Of course the party in control isn’t required to apply such a strict test, and if the Republican House leadership decides they have to reduce seats their job would be made somewhat easier by the fact that several of their members won’t be returning because they lost their election or because of term limits.
Where ever the number ends up it seems clear that the Republican margin of control will be narrower – a defection of even one or two members (as had happened in the past on key amendments and bills) could change the outcome on critical budget votes. This would seem to mean that both Republican and Democrat leaders in the House will be carefully choosing members to sit on this and other important committees. Partisan loyalty will likely be a key consideration.
The committee ratios in the Ohio Senate are much closer. Democrats held 30 percent of the seats on the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee which more closely reflected the fact that they held 33 percent of the seats in the Ohio Senate as a whole. Their pick up of one seat now means they hold 36 percent of the Ohio Senate so they may also seek another seat on the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee so that the committee’s make up is consistent with the partisan make up of the chamber.
