School Finance Plan Fails by 2 Votes in Ohio

By Mark Walsh

Ohio lawmakers are struggling to meet a mandate from the state supreme court to devise a new school finance system by next month.

Last week, a plan that would have placed a 1-cent sales-tax hike before voters in May died when it fell two votes short of the supermajority needed in the House.

The Feb. 4 vote came on the deadline day for the legislature to approve placing a state constitutional amendment on the May 5 election ballot. It was preceded by a two-week flurry of debate and backroom dealing over various proposals for...