Ohio Senate Approves Budget

Negotiations between the Ohio House and Senate are the next step for state budget talks after the Senate approved its version of a new spending plan last night after an almost six-hour debate. House lawmakers later rejected the changes, clearing the way for reconciliation. The Senate measure sends more money to high-performing schools and outlaws abortions at hospitals that get state funding. The House version includes the so-called "Heartbeat Bill," which would ban abortion after the first medically-detectable heartbeat. Lawmakers have to pass a final budget by June 30th.