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Dayton Daily News
Wednesday, June 6, 2001

YOU UNDOUBTEDLY ARE AWARE that Senate President Richard Finan is going to take it personally if you veto the proposed rules saying the work of certain legislative staffers isn't public and that the staffers don't have to explain themselves if called to do so in court.

You know the proposed rules are bad public policy, and that public records are central to the functioning of democracy.

You know Sen. Finan is being prickly, and that he gets this way now and again. So what if he's hot that critics of Ohio's school-funding plan uncovered legislative documents that undercut the state's side of the case, and he wants to ensure that doesn't happen again? He'll get over it.

But, Governor, Sen. Finan can't have his way on this one. He's just throwing too much heavy weight around. He's daring you. He doesn't think you'll do the right thing.

You know the lawmakers who finalized the budget were too chicken to say, Hold up, Mr. President, you're overreacting with these rules.

Now you have to stand up for principle. You have to tell the good gentleman from Cincinnati that you forgive his descent into pettiness, that, in truth, you're doing him a favor by extracting him from his tantrum.