Mike DeWine favors proposed clean water bond issue, lawmakers say

SANDUSKY — Mike DeWine's election — and John Kasich's exit — may give new life to a proposal by two area lawmakers for a big bond issue to aid water quality in Lake Erie. During the first half of 2019, "we'll be doing some important work on the clean water bond issue," said state Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green.Gardner and state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, authored two bills this year affecting Lake Erie that had very different fates.One measure, the Cleans Lakes 2020 bill, will spend about $36 million on measures designed to fight harmful algal blooms and help Lake Erie. It was approved by the Ohio General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Kasich signed it into law.The pair also introduced a bill to enact a $1 billion clean water bond issue. The 10-year program would have earmarked half of the money on measures to help the Western Basin of Lake Erie, the part of the lake that has the biggest problem with algal blooms. Kasich never endorsed the measure, which failed to advance.DeWine, however, endorsed the clean water bond issue and won his race for governor of Ohio.It made a big difference that Kasich didn't get on board, and it's also expected to be a big deal that the two lawmakers will have the governor's support this time, Arndt said."It was something we helped DeWine understand the importance of," Arndt said. "We made sure even prior to the election we had that discussion."Arndt recently gave testimony in a committee hearing to promote the bond issue and clear the way for action in early 2019.Gardner has known DeWine for many years.He said recently, "I've known Mike DeWine since 1990. I have several statewide officials that I'm on a cell phone texting basis, and he's been one of those."Gardner has been re-elected a majority leader in the Ohio Senate, a position that should help him advance the proposed bond issue. Mike DeWineState Sen. Randy Gardner talks during a segment of "Between the Lines" on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018.Arndt, Steve