JOE BILLS, OHIO—Ohio senators voted on Wednesday to pass a bill that would pay for the state’s farm bill, sending it to Gov.
John Kasich’s desk for his signature.
The bill, Senate Bill 2159, passed the Senate on a vote of 32-3.
It passed the House last month by a vote that was 60-30.
The farm bill has been controversial since it was passed in July, but Kasich, who has been vocal about the need to improve the state economy, has been one of its main proponents.
Under the bill, the state would pay about $1 billion annually for food stamps and food-stamp programs.
The House passed the bill in October but Kasich vetoed it, saying it would cost too much.
Kasich said the state could pay for it by raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture said the farm bill will provide $1.5 billion to the state budget this fiscal year and $2.5 million for next year.
The agricultural department said the bill would pay a combined $3.5-billion for food assistance for families, which it said would be about $600-per-family in the first year.KASICH SAYS HE CAN’T DEFER TO THE STATEFarm bill: Kasich says he can’t defer to the legislature as he prepares to sign bill.
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