The Republican governor told reporters Wednesday that he’s being patient with state lawmakers as they continue to review the federal-state health care program for the poor and disabled.

House Republicans dropped Medicaid expansion from the state’s two-year budget before sending it to the state Senate last month. The Senate’s leader has said his chamber’s version of the spending plan won’t include expansion.

Still, a group of lawmakers is studying possible changes to the Medicaid program.

Supporters of extending Medicaid coverage are exploring whether the issue could be put to a statewide vote.

Kasich says he’s for “whatever it takes” to get Medicaid expansion in Ohio.

Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday announced the appointment of John Carey as chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, effective April 29. The appointment to lead one of the largest higher education networks in the country is subject to the Ohio Senate’s approval.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Ohio State University President Gordon Gee said, “Having left the legislature to work closely with Shawnee State, our new chancellor understands our universities as well as our Statehouse. I look forward to partnering with him as we work toward our shared goal of making Ohio’s system of higher education the finest in the country.”

Carey most recently lobbied on behalf of Shawnee State University in Portsmouth. The Ohio University graduate previously served nine years in the Ohio House and eight years in the Senate after working as mayor in Wellston, about 65 miles south of Columbus.

Dr. Stephanie Davidson has been interim chancellor since Jim Petro retired in that role Feb. 1.

A top Republican in the Ohio Legislature says the Senate’s version of the state budget won’t include the governor’s proposed Medicaid expansion.

Senate President Keith Faber said Wednesday that he’s pushing for changes to the Medicaid program instead of the wide-ranging expansion plan.

Lawmakers in the Ohio House already had stripped the Medicaid proposal that’s a key element of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

Kasich proposed going forward with the expansion in his two-year state budget plan. He says it’s a way for the state to recapture Ohio taxpayers’ federal money.

Just over 350,000 Ohio residents would be up for coverage if Medicaid expansion goes into place in 2014.

JobsOhio attorney Aneca Lasley said in an Ohio Supreme Court filing this week that arguments made by a lawyer ousted from the case by ProgressOhio show “a pattern of disregard for settled law and procedure.”

Lasley refers to a complaint filed by former ProgressOhio lawyer Victoria Ullmann seeking a restored lead role in the case.

Ullmann questioned the liberal group’s decision to align with the conservative 1851 Center for Constitutional Law and to make its director the lead lawyer.

She has alleged that the two politically opposed think tanks have formed a suspicious alliance that may be designed to undermine the lawsuit’s chances.

Opportunity Ohio‘s three-day series began Tuesday, as state representatives are preparing changes to Kasich’s $63.2 billion, two-year state budget. The effort proceeded despite indications the House won’t include the plan in its version of the budget.

Tuesday’s spot suggests that directing proceeds of a drilling-tax hike toward income-tax reductions, as Kasich proposes, is unfair to farmers. It features residents from Ohio’s poor areas with “My Property, My Opportunity” signs.

Opportunity Ohio president Matt Mayer says the 9-month-old group believes in protecting Ohioans’ property from unnecessary taxation.

Kasich argues Ohio’s severance tax is lower than other states and proceeds from an increase can benefit the entire state’s economy.

A private audit of JobsOhio indicates Schmenk signed two contracts for a grant with then-JobsOhio chief Mark Kvamme for at least $6.5 million to flow to a JobsOhio subsidiary — that’s above the $1 million lawmakers appropriated to cover JobsOhio start-up costs. The extension did not go through the State Controlling board raising questions of legality among Democrats.

Goodman takes over March 18th.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel tells a meeting of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association he believes the governor’s proposal to increase the severance tax stands to scare away Ohio oil and gas investment at a critical time.

Mandel’s remarks Thursday mark the second time in under a month he has bucked the governor on a major policy issue.

In February, Mandel sent a letter to state legislators urging them to reject Kasich’s proposal to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law. He argued the plan’s long-term harm outweighed its short-term benefits.

Both the tax increase and the Medicaid expansion are part of Kasich’s two-year state budget.

Many Republicans are averse to Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature health care law and resistant to expanding government programs. Medicaid expansion is one of the law’s key components.

Ohio lawmakers are reviewing Medicaid expansion in state budget hearings. The GOP holds the majority in each legislative chamber.

Speaking at an event organized by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, Kasich said he sees a link in their missions to help those less fortunate. He told the audience that he needed their help in reaching the hearts of GOP lawmakers leery of the Medicaid proposal.

Kasich said rejecting expansion was unacceptable.

The governor scheduled the speech to follow his major budget, tax reform and school funding proposals tomorrow in Lima.

It’s the second consecutive year Kasich has taken the speech outside of Columbus.

While that appears to be a contradiction in terms for a conservative governor who’s rejected federal stimulus money, it’s on point with the matter-of-fact approach of Gov. John Kasich.

Kasich proposed expanding Medicaid under the federal law in his two-year budget plan Monday. He’s framed the decision as recapturing Ohio taxpayers’ federal money.

Many Republicans are averse to President Barack Obama’s signature health care law and resistant to expanding government programs.

But Kasich says taking advantage of federal tax dollars would help maintain the state’s competitive edge by creating a healthier workforce.

He’s rejected federal dollars before. In 2010, he declared dead a project that would have created passenger train service between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland.