With near unanimous approval, Governor Ted Strickland’s 2008-2009 budget passed the Ohio House and Senate and awaits his signature. The $52 billion state budget provides for a two-year freeze in state public university tuition, access to healthcare coverage for children living below the federal poverty level, and securitization of tobacco settlement money towards new schools and towards a reduction in property taxes for the elderly. Governor Strickland does reserve the right to use a line-item veto on specific measures within the budget.