WASHINGTON — With a former Republican governor in the White House and Ohio lawmakers in charge of key committees in Congress, the state should have a much greater voice on federal issues in the next few years, Gov. Bob Taft said Friday.

        Mr. Taft, visiting for the inauguration of George W. Bush, said the state is concerned immediately about special-education money; natural-gas prices; financial turmoil in the steel industry; and more flexibility over Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for the poor.

        The governor also welcomed the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to release $161 million for a pilot uranium-processing project and other aid for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, which will stop producing uranium this year but will be kept on stand-by.

        Mr. Taft said he would have an opportunity to speak with Energy Secretary-designate Spencer Abraham about Portsmouth and gas prices at a reception late Friday, and that he hopes to talk with other Republican governors here this weekend for the Bush celebration.

        Mr. Taft, who is preparing his State of the State speech, said he would advise the former Texas governor to use the inaugural address today to reach out to people who did not vote for him in November.

        “I think he has to demonstrate that, as president, he represents all people in the country,” Mr. Taft said.

        The governor and his wife, Hope, will be hosts at a breakfast reception today at an Arlington, Va., hotel for people from Ohio here for the inauguration.

        On Capitol Hill, Ohio Republican Reps. Rob Portman, John Boehner and David Hobson will treat visitors to coffee and doughnuts at a Rayburn House Office Building gathering. Ohio Republican Sens. Mike DeWine and George Voinovich will have a catered open house in the Russell Senate Office Building after the swearing-in ceremony.

        The Ohio inaugural ball tonight at the Washington Convention Center, with Cleveland-born comedian Drew Carey as host, is expected to draw 4,500 people.

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