PRESENT AND FUTURE--House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson, R-Reynoldsburg, and speaker-elect Larry Householder, R-Glenford, confer during session, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

DONE DEAL--Senate President Richard Finan, R-Cincinnati, right, and finance committee chairman Roy Ray, R-Akron, listen to floor debate on the tobacco-spending bill, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2000. The bill passed 21-12. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

ESPY RELINQUISHES LEADERSHIP--Senate Minority Leader Ben Espy, D-Columbus, announces that he will resign his leadership post, during a news conference, in Columbus, Ohio, on March 29, 2000. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

TOBACCO GAP--Rep. Donald Mottley, R-West Carrolliton, gestures as he speaks with fellow joint committe member Rep. Peter Lawson Jones, D-Cleveland, during a break in the hearings, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000. The lawmakers are trying to hash out a way to spend the state's $10.1 billion share of the national tobacco settlement. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

SIGN LANGUAGE--Sen. Eric Fingerhut, D-Cleveland, gestures as he speaks with Sen. Robert Cupp, R-Lima, prior to session, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

MIDRIFF MEETING--Rep. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, left, and Rep. Bob Corbin, R-Dayton, confer during debate on the school funding bill, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2000. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

PARTY OF ONE--Sen. Michael Shoemaker, D-Bourneville, is the lone Democrat in attendance, during a special voting session of the Senate, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000. While many Democrats are in Los Angeles for the Democratic Nation Convention; the GOP leaders appointed and swore-in Bill Harris, R-Ashland, to replace Sen. Richard Schafrath who resigned to take a job in the Taft adminstration. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

WHAT'S THE PLAY?--Senate Minority Leader Rhine McLin, center, D-Dayton, huddles-up with a group from her caucus during a roll-call vote, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, May 25, 2000. Also seen from left, are: Sen. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, Sen. Robert Hagan, D-Youngstown, Minority Whip Mike Shoemaker, D-Bourneville, Sen. McLin, Sen. Dan Brady, D-Cleveland, and seated, Sen. Erik Fingerhut, D-Cleveland. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)