Check your firearm at the door

Senate President Bill Harris joined House Speaker Jon Husted Thursday in telling hundreds of government workers and lobbyists that they expect a positive, productive working relationship with Gov.-elect Ted Strickland, a Democrat.

Harris, a Republican from Ashland and former career officer in the U.S. Marine Corps., said one great thing about our democracy is elected leaders can disagree and not worry about people shooting them.

"I don't plan to get shot," Harris joked during the 12th biennial Impact Ohio conference at the Columbus Convention Center.

Husted, a Republican from Kettering, said he was relieved to lose only seven seats in the 99-member Ohio House. That's because his internal polling showed Republicans could lose as many as 11 seats, threatening the GOP lock on a majority. There were other Republican-controlled Houses around the nation, including Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, that suffered more serious losses to the Democratic Party, Redfern said.

"I see Chris Redfern down here, and I tell you, I cannot hug him," Husted joked about the state Democratic Party chairman.

Because of term limits, there will be about 40 new House members in the 127th session of the General Assembly which begins in January, Husted said.