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Majority Republicans Choose State Legislative Leaders

Ohio Public Radio

Majority Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly have elected their slate of leaders for next year's legislative session. Keith Faber stays on as Ohio Senate President.  State Representative Cliff Rosenberger will succeed House Speaker Bill Batchelder.  Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow  reports.

Cliff Rosenberger will be Ohio’s first Asian American Speaker of the House. The 33-year-old Republican from Clarksville—in southwest Ohio—won the vote of the Republican caucus during a morning election in the Statehouse.  
 
Rosenberger says the Republican members of the House come from a diverse group of professions, but says they need to work as one family.  
 
Rosenberger: “What we want to do is to move in the next direction and get into a place where when we look at legislation in the future—we don’t want to just think every two years we want to think more long term so how do we move forward in the right plan together as a caucus to do that and that’s what we’re going to work together as a caucus on.”  
 
Rosenberger and Republican Representative Ron Amstutz of Wooster were the two frontrunners vying for the speaker position earlier this year. Amstutz—who spent 30 years serving in the House and Senate—made a deal with Rosenberger in July.  
 
When it was determined that Rosenberger had more votes—Amstutz bowed out, threw his support behind Rosenberger—and now is Speaker Pro Tempore - essentially the second in command.  
 
Amstutz: “I think overarching all the issues set will be—how—whatever it is that is our priority set helps our citizens across the state to be more successful in their lives than would otherwise be the case if we hadn’t applied our shoulder to the work.”  
 
Republican Representative Jim Butler of Dayton emerged as a Tea Party challenger to Rosenberger. Those supporting Butler were unhappy about the process leading up to the speakership vote and the idea that a winner was essentially picked months before the November elections. The leadership vote was anonymous. Rosenberger says it’s now time for the GOP members to unite.  
 
Rosenberger: “Our caucus is going to be strong. We’re going to continue doing the right things to put Ohio in the right direction make sure the quality of life is strong and make sure our number one task as we go forward is to make sure we continue to find ways to create jobs for our state and to keep our citizens employed moving forward. And we’re gonna do it together.”  
 
Rosenberger will take over for Speaker Bill Batchelder of Medina. Because of term limits—Batchelder is leaving office after serving in the General Assembly—off and on—for nearly four decades.  
 
Rosenberger: “You’ve got big shoes to fill and I’m not looking to fill Bill Batchelder’s shoes—I’m looking to continue on his legacy and what he’s built. A fair and open process for caucus—a caucus that’s strong and independent and one that can continue to do the right things for our members as we continue to come together as one. Bill Batchelder has done a lot to set the tone for the future.”  
 
The House Democrats are expected to hold their leadership vote next week.  
 
 

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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