In Columbus, is the legislative Ohio General Assembly committed immediately to discussing and voting on umpteen ideas that could become bills to upbeat the economy?

Based on not one such vote yet cast in this new session in the Democrat-majority Ohio House of Representatives and Republican slim-majority Ohio Senate, it doesn’t see as if the legislative wing is committee by vote to anything.

Hey, the election was over months ago on Nov. 4, they were all sworn into office an old New Year ago, and nobody’s even been assigned to such task forces as the Finance Committee or Appropriations Committee.

The whole Ohio General Assembly might not even fill committee seats and name chairs until February or March.

Not even in all their committees seats, much less voting, are such as state Reps. Lorraine Fende, D-Willlowick; Mark Schneider, D-Mentor; Matt Dolan, R-Russell Township; and Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights; or state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township.

Not that Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, has yet managed this year to propose, reject or sign into law any significant bill on the economy.

In the Democrat-majority Congress in D.C., committee seats are already being filled, including the House Appropriations Committee now including U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township. President-elect Barack Obama wants packages like his economic stimulus bills passed and signed into law now, this month, starting any hour, way before members of Congress go on their February break.

-- David W. Jones