INCREASED BANK FLEECE--Scott Kozar, of Ohio Public Interest Research Group, gestures during a news conference concerning a report about rising bank fees, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999. The Ohio PIRG report stated that the average annual cost of maintaining a regular checking account has risen to $217. Also see is Sen. Greg DiDonato, D-New Philadelphia. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

SUPPORTS MERGER--Dean Johnson, director of Legislation and Political Action for the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, listens to testimony during a meeting of the joint House-Senate committee concerning the merging of the human-services and employment-services agencies into the Department of Job and Family Services, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999. OCSEA has 3,600 members that will be affected but has been assured by legislative leaders that laid-off workers will be offered other employment. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

BURNING A SMOKE AT BOTH ENDS--Rep. E.J. Thomas, R-Columbus, chairs a meeting of a joint House-Senate committee, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999. Thomas also chairs the House Finance-Appropriations Committee, the panel scheduled to hear a bill that will determine how Ohio spends its tobacco settlement money. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported today that Thomas is negotiating a job with a firm seeking a lucrative state contract funded by the settlement. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)