BUDGET BILL--Sen. Mark Mallory, left, D-Cincinnati, Sen. Tim Ryan, center, D-Niles, and Sen. Leigh Herington, D-Ravenna, gesture as they listen to debate on the latest version of the state budget bill, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, May 30, 2002. The bill passed 18-15.

LANDFILL SHOWDOWN--Sen. Kevin Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, right, debates a landfill bill with Sen. Gary DiDonato, D-New Philadelphia, during session, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002. (Photoj.com/Jack Kustron)

SENATE BUDGET HEARINGS--Sen. Leigh Herington, D-Ravenna, center, laughs as Senate Finance Committee members Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, left, and Bob Hagan, D-Youngstown, plot strategy during a hearing on the budget, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 1, 2002. The Republican controlled legislature is faced with solving a $1.25 billion shortfall in revenue and is looking at a possible fifty-cent-a-pack tax increase on cigarettes. The Democrates are withholding their support for the time being. (Jack Kustron/Photoj.com)

NEW SENATE LEADER--Senate President-elect Doug White, R-Manchester, speaks on the floor on the Senate during session, on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002. Sen. White, who will replace the term-limited Sen. Richard Finan, R-Cincinnati, will be sworn-in when the 125th General Assembly begins in Jan. of 2003. Also seen is Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, who will be assistant president pro tempore. (Jack Kustron/Photoj.com)

SENATE GETS WIRED--Sen. Robert Hagan, D-Youngstown, gets a run-thru on a lap top from Senate clerk Matthew Schuler, left and Legislative Information System (LIS) director George Yeager, prior to session, on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2002. Sen. Hagan is part of a test group in the House and Senate that will use the LIS intranet to elimanate the piles of paper used by the legislature. (Jack Kustron/Photoj.com)

SOMETIMES THEY AGREE--Senate President Richard Finan, R-Cincinnati, left, and Senate Minority Leader Greg DiDonato, D-New Philadelphia, share a laugh during session, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002. (Jack Kustron/Photoj.com)