A tug-of-war has developed between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland over control and oversight of Ohio's $8.2 billion share of federal stimulus money, and over additional federal money the state is competing for.

A story from the AP says, the feud is occurring on multiple fronts. Republicans are trying to make the most of their diminished influence to check Strickland's power, while the governor is maximizing his executive reach in an effort to spend stimulus money quickly.

The back-and-forth in the decisions about spending billions of dollars has raised questions about checks and balances.

Republicans are concerned about a sentence tucked deep within Strickland's two-year budget proposal. The language gives Strickland's budget director, Pari Sabety, the authority to spend, as she sees fit, additional stimulus money the state may win through competitive grants.

Republicans say that might violate the state Constitution because it tramples on the Legislature's traditional authority to decide spending.

"The budget director is the implementer," state Rep. Matthew Dolan, a Novelty Republican, said Monday. "They don't have the luxury of appropriating themselves."

The GOP-controlled Senate, however, will have the power to remove that sentence from the budget.

"It's nothing against the director, we just don't want to put that much power in one person's hands," said state Sen. John Carey, a Wellston Republican.