Ohio's political leaders want voters to know they listened.
Democratic Governor Strickland stood side-by-side with Republican legislative leaders to celebrate the historically harmonious passage of a two-year state budget.
The $52.3 billion package was enacted with just a single no vote cast during the entire process.
GOP House Speaker Jon Husted says the state's critical economic troubles helped fuel the cooperative spirit.
He says voters wanted lawmakers to put aside politics to deal with Ohio's challenges.
Husted also says Strickland's initial budget proposal reflected many of his own priorities, so there was no need to fight.