A veto on his first day!

Updated, 6 p.m.

From the Strickland administration:

Governor Strickland Vetoes Senate Bill 117

Columbus, Ohio - Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today vetoed Senate Bill 117, saying it both weakens consumer protections and prevents cities from being able to seek justice on behalf of their citizens on certain key matters.

“This legislation weakens both consumer protections and corporate accountability, and I will not allow it to go into law, in its current form, during my administration,” Strickland said. “Ohio’s consumers must be allowed to hold companies fully responsible if a company has a product that harms Ohioans, especially children.”

Strickland is able to veto this bill because it is within the 10-day period a governor is able to approve or veto a bill.

Below is the text of the statement of reasons for the veto of Senate Bill 117:


Veto Message

STATEMENT OF THE REASONS FOR THE VETO OF AMENDED SUBSITUTE SENATE BILL 117 from the 126th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

January 8, 2007

Under Article II, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution, the Governor may veto any bill. I am vetoing Amended Substitute Senate Bill 117 for the following reasons.

Amended Substitute Senate Bill 117 greatly weakens current protections provided to consumers in the State of Ohio. This effort to amend the Consumer Sales Practices Act and arbitrarily limit awards to victims for noneconomic damages to only $5,000 does not allow consumers defrauded by companies to seek appropriate justice.

While weakening protections for consumers, at the same time the bill strengthens protections for companies that may have been responsible for products that have harmed and even continue to harm children and others in Ohio. This prevents cities from being able to seek justice on behalf of their citizens.

I will not allow this legislation in its current form, which drastically undermines current consumer protections, to go into effect during my administration.

I have signed this veto message on January 8, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio.