Politics

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A state lawmaker says he plans to introduce a bill that would require all Ohioans on public aid pass drug testing - and foot the bill.

Sen. Tim Grendell (grehn-DEL') says taxpayers shouldn't have to finance the illegal habits of people receiving public dollars.

His proposed legislation would require people to pay for their own testing. They would be reimbursed if they pass. If they fail, they could keep their aid by attending state-approved treatment services.

The left-leaning group Progress Ohio says 24 million dollars in public money will go from the high-tech job creating Third Frontier program to local chambers of commerce. Brian Rothenberg says many of them support Ohio’s collective bargaining reform law.

“This is now a laundering scheme that allows for public money to flow into organizations that will be compromised in their decision-making over issues like Senate Bill 5 in the future,” says Rothenberg.

Emily McCord speaks to Jo Ingles for this week's edition of PoliticsOhio. Secretary of State Jon Husted issued directives this week, telling local boards of elections they are not allowed to send out absentee voter request forms. This comes ahead of a newly passed election reform law that is not effective yet. But some Ohioans want to put that law up for a referendum on the ballot. Ingles reports that they're unhappy with Husted's directives, saying it suppresses the rights of voters, while Husted counters that it's only fair to keep county election rules uniform.