Will they finish the job? Legislators about to return to Columbus.

FLASHBACK: Senate President Doug White (R – 14th District) speaking at a March 2003 US Sportsmen Alliance legislative reception said:

"I am a strong proponent of the right to carry. I do not own a gun. I served in Uncle Sam’s Army where I used a sidearm and the M-14. I understand the proper use of a firearm and the power of a firearm. I absolutely and totally, to the bottom of my soul, understand the rights of law-abiding citizens. I do not care how big a gun is or how fast it will fire; if it is in the hands of a law-abiding citizen it does not intimidate me. I cannot understand those in our society who are intimidated by law-abiding citizens."

TODAY: Senator White's statements on a potential veto override in the Senate have been quite varied in the past few weeks.

On November 27, Senate President Doug White told Dan Williamson of Columbus' The Other Paper "his most recent survey of senators revealed 'a very, very thin ability to override a veto on the bill.'"

On December 10, in the hours before the final House and Senate vote, White told the Lee Leonard of the Columbus Dispatch he "absolutely does not have enough override votes."

On December 12, White was quoted as saying he was unsure if the votes are there, because he had not ever officially polled the Republican Caucus on the matter.

On December 27, according to the Columbus Dispatch, White was back to saying he has the votes to override a veto on the Conference Committee version of the bill, seemingly negating any reason for further negotiations with Gov. Taft on a compromises to avoid a veto.

The Ohio General Assembly is scheduled to return to session next week.

If the Dispatch quote is correct in saying White has confirmed (again) having enough votes to override, President White should firmly announce his chamber's intention to override a veto to the media, to Governor Taft and Speaker Householder, and call for the end of considerations of further compromise to avoid a veto.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for the January session schedule.

align="right">
Ohio General Assembly
Session Dates
January 2004

January 6 - House
January 7 - House/ Senate
January 14 - Senate
January 14 - Senate
January 20 - House
January 21 - House/ Senate
January 27 - House
January 28 - House/ Senate

We're into the new year, but it doesn't seem too late to weigh in on this 2003 poll question: Would the Gen. Assembly's failure to pass CCW in '03 effect your vote in '04??