COLUMBUS - Despite calls from Democrats for a veto, Gov. Bob Taft yesterday signed a law exempting some workers from the newly increased minimum wage approved by voters on Nov. 7.
Ohio's wage was increased from the federal minimum of $5.15 to $6.85 as of Monday with annual cost-of-living adjustments promised thereafter.
But Democrats accused Republicans of using the usually routine process of translating a constitutional amendment into law to write out some workers, including home health-care workers, amusement park employees, and agricultural workers at small operations.
The measure was among 10 signed by Mr. Taft yesterday. Among the 10 were bills to:
•Limit those seeking contracts worth $500 from giving more than $1,000 to the state or local official who makes those contract decisions. Democrats objected to a provision that included labor unions among vendors subject to the new limits.
•Increases from four months to six the amount of time someone may reside in Ohio before being presumed to be a state resident for the purposes of income taxation. A provision added to the bill that was proposed by Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D., Toledo) exempts military pay from those stationed outside Ohio from the income tax.•Converts a part-time judgeship on the Erie County Municipal Court to a full-time position as of Jan. 1, 2008, with the election for that seat to take effect this year.
•Makes it a crime to cause a law enforcement officer to come into contact with bodily fluids, particularly when the assailant knows the fluid contains harmful viruses or bacteria.
•Increases the penalties for aggravated vehicular homicide in cases involving repeat drunken-driving offenders. The measure includes a provision proposed by Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) and inspired by the death of Wood County attorney Jodie Stearns.
Ms. Stearns was killed while jogging on Jan. 11, 2006, by a vehicle operated by a man who'd been imprisoned for 11 years following an assault conviction for intentionally striking someone else with a car.
The bill would impose a lifetime license suspension in a similar situation after the driver is released from prison and would impose jail time for any violation of that suspension.
This was the only bill that took effect immediately. The rest will take effect in 90 days.
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