September 30

Late map change splits black legislators

Apportionment board meets today to tweak Cleveland lines

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Friday September 30, 2011 8:11 AM

The state Apportionment Board called an unexpected meeting for this afternoon to change two Senate districts in Cuyahoga County as requested by the president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

But there are some disputes brewing among black lawmakers over those changes.

And Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, said he has asked House Speaker William G. Batchelder to take the lead on efforts to change the process of redrawing congressional and legislative maps for 2021.

Batchelder, R-Medina, asked for today’s Apportionment Board meeting after Black Caucus President Rep. Sandra Williams, D-Cleveland, issued a statement yesterday saying she supported changes to a pair of Senate districts in Cuyahoga County that were offered, but not accepted, during the board’s meeting on Wednesday.

Wait until next decade

Published: September 29, 2011 - 07:17 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

Ohio now has new congressional and legislative districts, the lines drawn by Republicans to adjust to population changes and, in the process, expand their control of the Ohio General Assembly and the state’s delegation on Capitol Hill. Democrats, shut out of significant participation, are pursuing furiously the remaining alternatives: the courts and the ballot box.

All of which was completely predictable. In today’s highly partisan atmosphere, the practice of carving out advantageous districts, known as gerrymandering, proved all too tempting. Republicans pushed to the extremes, creating lopsided districts at odds with the competitiveness of the two parties statewide. Term limits worked against moderation. Why fear retaliation a decade later?
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/wait-until-next-decade-1.237706

 

Ohio board OKs controversial legislative-district map

Publication Date: September 28, 2011 - 11:04pm
Updated: September 28, 2011 - 11:22pm

By Will Drabold

The Post – Ohio University

The Ohio Apportionment Board voted 4-1 along party lines yesterday to approve a new set of Ohio House and Senate districts that have been called “highly gerrymandered” by state Democrats but “fair and constitutional” by state Republicans.
The board — comprising Gov. John Kasich; Auditor of State David Yost; Secretary of State Jon Husted; Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus; and Democratic Leader of the House Armond Budish — approved the map submitted by the board’s secretaries.
http://thepost.ohiou.edu/content/ohio-board-oks-controversial-legislative-district-map

Apportionment Board Has More Work; Smith, Turner Blast Plans to Change Senate Districts

Hannah Report 9/29/11

The Ohio Apportionment Board is reconvening once more after having just approved new House and Senate legislative maps on Wednesday -- this time to work out a concern involving Senate districts in Cuyahoga County.

Gov. John Kasich scheduled a meeting for 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30 shortly after a request was made by House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina). Much of the meeting is expected to focus on the new 21^st and 25^th Senate Districts in Cuyahoga and Lake counties in response to concerns raised by Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), the head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

During Wednesday's meeting, an amendment to the DiRossi-Mann plan would have switched around which House districts would be contained in the two Senate districts. Ray DiRossi, a secretary to the board and co-author of the plan, said that the changes were at the request of Williams.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187271

 

ELECTIONS OVERHAUL OPPONENTS FILE SIGNATURES FOR REFERENDUM EFFORT

Gongwer 9/29/11

Opponents of an elections overhaul bill on Thursday delivered 318,460 signatures to the Secretary of State that, if certified, could lead to a referendum on the legislation.
Although the petition signature count exceeds the 231,147 required to get an issue on the ballot, members of Fair Elections Ohio said they will continue to collect more names to ensure enough are valid - an effort the legislation (HB 194 ) they seek to block would not allow if it becomes law.
"Because we actually made it to this point, we've actually protected the ability of other citizens in Ohio to petition their government because this bill even contained restrictions on the ability to continue circulating to make sure that we can get something to the voters that they can speak in the best way they know how to speak, which is through their vote," Fair Elections Chairwoman Jennifer Brunner said at a Statehouse press conference.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801890201&newsedition_id=8018902&locid=2

APPORTIONMENT BOARD TO REVISIT CLEVELAND-AREA CHANGES; LOCAL LAWMAKERS AT ODDS

Gongwer 9/29/11

The Apportionment Board, thought to be finished with its work on redrawing Ohio's legislative maps, plans an emergency hearing on Friday to adjust a northeast Ohio district that is the subject of concerns over minority representation.
The board meeting, set for 3:30 p.m. in the Senate Finance Hearing Room, is expected to focus mainly on changes that the board scrapped Wednesday over Democratic concerns.
The proposed realignment impacting the Cuyahoga County Senate district is supported by Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), who issued a statement to that effect Thursday morning.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801890202&newsedition_id=8018902&locid=2

September 29

Anti-SB 5 group sees hypocrisy in Statehouse

Kasich, legislators get benefits, perks that workers don’t, critics say

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch

Thursday September 29, 2011 8:41 AM

A liberal research group says that although the governor and legislative leaders ask public workers to sacrifice through the provisions in Senate Bill 5, they are not doing the same.

Innovation Ohio said Gov. John Kasich’s salary, currently $148,165, automatically increases up to 3 percent a year under current law. The governor’s cabinet directors earn an average base pay of $131,000 a year, and most also get a $6,600 car allowance. Seven, according to the group, also are drawing public pensions.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/29/anti-sb-5-group-sees-hypocrisy-in-statehouse.html

Husted, Republicans open to better process — next time

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 29, 2011 5:45 AM

As the state Apportionment Board finished new state legislative maps yesterday, Secretary of State Jon Husted announced that he and Republican legislative leaders have agreed to consider a constitutional amendment that could end the hyperpartisan process of drawing political districts in 2021 and beyond.

Husted for years has advocated changing the system of drawing political boundaries, which, he says, produces maps that lead to sharply divided, partisan government.

“I am not naive about this,” Husted said. “There are plenty of partisans who will say they are for it and then figure out a way to throw marbles under the feet of the people that are trying to change this. But I think people are tired of the way government works.”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/29/redistricting-revamp.html

District maps prompt calls for reform

Republican Jon Husted among those calling for less partisan approach to redistricting process.

By William Hershey, Columbus Bureau 12:11 AM Thursday, September 29, 2011

COLUMBUS — Before casting a vote to approve new maps for Ohio House and Senate districts that could lock Republicans into power for a decade, Secretary of State Jon Husted declared that the partisan mapmaking system is flawed and should be replaced.

“I am hoping we can prove to the people of Ohio that we can work together on something worthwhile,” Husted said Wednesday before the Apportionment Board voted 4-1 for the new districts.

It’s not the first time Husted, a former House Speaker, has suggested changing the state’s system for redrawing political boundaries every 10 years. As a state senator representing a mostly suburban Dayton district in the last session of the General Assembly, Husted proposed a plan to require bipartisan approval for new districts.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/district-maps-prompt-calls-for-reform-1261173.html

Apportionment Board OKs new legislative districts - Husted urges new effort at redistricting reform

By William Hershey | Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 10:50 AM

The Republican-controlled Apportionment Board Wednesday voted 4-1 for 99 new Ohio House and 33 new Ohio Senate districts, based on the 2010 Census.

Even House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, has said the new districts favor Republicans, although he said they were “fair and equitable.”

House Minority Leader Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, cast the only “no” vote. Voting yes were four Republicans: Gov. John Kasich; Secretary of State Jon Husted, Auditor Dave Yost and Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond.,

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/09/28/husted_urges_new_effort_at_red.html?cxtype=feedbot

Anti-Kasich bloodhounds sniff out executive, legislative pay, perks hypocrisy

John Michael Spinelli

Columbus Government Examiner

September 28, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - Entering his 10th month as governor, Republican Gov. John Kasich, who won his seat by fewer than 78,000 votes statewide, is getting a taste of the same lash of criticism he whipped former Gov. Ted Strickland with last year. The whip this time is being wielded by Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus, that Wednesday charged Gov. John Kasich and legislators who voted for Senate Bill 5 (Issue 2 on the November ballot) with "gross hypocrisy."  Innovation Ohio, run by political bloodhounds who have long been associated with Gov. Strickland and the Ohio Democratic Party, say the Governor and his allies have not only exempted themselves from many of the sacrifices they are demanding of other public employees, but also enjoy salaries, perks and privileges that far exceed those available to regular working Ohioans.

http://www.examiner.com/government-in-columbus/anti-kasich-bloodhounds-sniff-out-executive-legislative-pay-perks-hypocrisy

Apportionment Board OKs New House/Senate Maps; Husted Announces New Reform Push

Hannah Report 9/28/11

In a 4-1 vote, the Ohio Apportionment Board adopted the House and Senate maps drawn by Ray DiRossi and Heather Mann after making a few changes to districts, while Secretary of State Jon Husted announced that he has an agreement with House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) and Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) to hold new hearings on apportionment reform.

The panel, made up of Gov. John Kasich, Husted, Auditor Dave Yost, Niehaus and House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), added two amendments to the plan. The first was described as technical in nature, cleaning up language and clarifying precincts in the plan originally introduced on Friday. (See The Hannah Report, 9/23/11.)

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187255

Issue 2 Battle Continues with Think Tank Accusing Republicans of Hypocrisy

Hannah Report 9/28/11

Progressive think tank Innovation Ohio revived criticisms Wednesday about political leaders not sharing in the pay and benefit sacrifices of public employees under collective bargaining changes in SB5 (Jones).

Meanwhile, more commercials have hit the airwaves in the referendum campaign on SB5, Issue 2.

Innovation Ohio sought to contrast pro-SB5 cost-savings rhetoric with the pay and benefits for those in Gov. John Kasich's administration and the General Assembly.

The think tank noted that while SB5 eliminates automatic pay increases for government workers, by law Kasich's salary increases yearly by the lesser of three percent or the growth in the consumer price index.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187258

HUSTED RENEWS PUSH TO REVAMP REDISTRICTING PROCESS

Gongwer 9/28/11

Before voting in favor of Republicans' controversial new General Assembly maps Wednesday, Secretary of State Jon Husted said legislative leaders agreed to reconsider a plan to overhaul the mapmaking process.
The former Republican senator, who pushed for a constitutional amendment last session to change the way congressional and General Assembly maps are approved, said his proposal would have given minority Democrats more influence in the reapportionment process. (See Separate Story)
"If any of these plans would have been passed, the process today would have been dramatically different," he said about Democratic and Republican redistricting proposals he brought to the House floor as speaker in 2006 and the plan he later pushed in the Senate (SJR5, 128^th General Assembly).
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801880204&newsedition_id=8018802&locid=2

GROUP CLAIMS ‘HYPOCRISY' AMONG SB5 BACKERS; BUILDING A BETTER OHIO REBUKES CLAIM

Gongwer 9/28/11

Innovation Ohio said Wednesday that lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich exempted themselves from the shared sacrifice proposed in legislation that restricts collective bargaining for public employees.
Representatives from the progressive think tank decried at a news conference what they called the "hypocrisy" of the enactors of the measure (SB 5 ), which faces a statewide referendum Nov. 8 in the form of State Issue 2.
The group gathered data showing Gov. Kasich's annual salary of $148,165 is more than $10,000 higher than his predecessor and he is exempt from performance pay requirements outlined in the law. Despite wishing to eliminate automatic annual "step increases" in pay for public workers under SB 5, Mr. Kasich remains eligible for an automatic annual 3% raise, Innovation Ohio said.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801880206&newsedition_id=8018802&locid=2

Ad likens elections law, SB 5 to Jim Crow

By  Joe Vardon

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday September 28, 2011 4:15 AM

As Democrats work to place Ohio’s Republican-backed elections law on hold through a referendum, they’r e arguing that the measure is akin to poll taxes, grandfather clauses and other footnotes from America’s Jim Crow past.

But does the same argument apply to Senate Bill 5, the GOP-sponsored limits on collective bargaining for public employees that is currently subject to a referendum as state Issue 2 on the November ballot?

Democratic, labor and African-American leaders say yes.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/28/ad-likens-elections-law-sb5-to-jim-crow.html

New districts favor GOP

Republicans redrew the maps and say they followed the law.

By Ken McCall and William Hershey
Staff Writers Updated 8:51 AM Wednesday, September 28, 2011

By packing as many Democrats into as few of the state’s House and Senate districts as possible, Ohio Republicans have created enough safe GOP seats to likely ensure domination of the Statehouse in the next decade, a Dayton Daily News analysis shows.

Round two of redrawing political boundaries — the Legislature approved the new congressional map last week — had a similar result.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/new-districts-favor-gop-1260449.html

Rep. McGregor unveils bill to protect gay rights in housing, employment

By William Hershey | Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 03:26 PM

Dayton Daily News

State Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, Tuesday joined forces with Rep. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, to introduce legislation that would ban discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identify.

House Bill 335 is identical to legislation the House, then controlled by Democrats, approved in the last General Assembly, House Bill 176.

That bill died in the Senate, controlled then as now by the Republicans.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/09/27/rep_mcgregor_unveils_bill_to_p.html

House Passes Nonprofit, Probate Code Updates; Batchelder Defends Legislative Map

Hannah Report 9/27/11

The House passed four bills with little opposition Tuesday updating Ohio's nonprofit corporation laws and probate code, among other moves.

HB267 (McKenney) adopts the Revised Uniform Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act, while SB124 (Bacon) makes changes relative to the state's probate code. The chamber added an amendment introduced by Rep. Richard Hollington (R-Chagrin Falls) that removes an obligation for a fiduciary authority to invest in foreign governments.

Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) opposed the amendment, saying it "institutionalizes and codifies xenophobia." He said there is a time and a place for such transactions and that he doesn't think it is appropriate to tie the hands of those investing.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187244

SPEAKER SAYS NEW DISTRICTS CONSTITUTIONALLY FAVOR GOP; HOUSE PASSES PROBATE UPDATE

Gongwer 9/27/11

Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) defended the Apportionment Board's favored revisions to House and Senate districts Tuesday, maintaining the result of the Republican-controlled process was no different than when Democrats ran the show a few decades ago.
Asked during a break in session if he thought the new maps were fair, the speaker acknowledged they were drawn up to favor the GOP's continued dominance of the two chambers while stating that former House Speaker Vern Riffe engineered a similar strategy for Democrats to keep them in power for more than two decades.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801870201&newsedition_id=8018702&locid=2

September 27

Speaker Batchelder Clips

September 27, 2011

GOP-drawn legislative map makes Republicans a virtual lock to hold Ohio's legislature

Published: Monday, September 26, 2011, 6:00 PM     Updated: Monday, September 26, 2011, 8:29 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio --House Republicans will be a virtual lock to control the Ohio House for the next decade under GOP-drawn lines that are expected to be finalized Wednesday, according to a non-partisan analysis. 
Under calculations done by Jim Slagle, head of the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting, 51 of 99 House districts will be "solidly" Republican with recent voting histories favoring GOP candidates. Another 10 districts would lean Republican, and only 20 House seats would feature "competitive" races, according to Slagle. 
"They made it as close to a lock as they could," Slagle said. "You'd need a real major, major shift" to Democrats beyond what was seen in 2008 when President Barack Obama was elected to tip the Ohio House into Democratic hands, he said. He said the Ohio Senate map features 17 solid GOP seats and four that are GOP-leaning among the 33 districts in the chamber controlled 23-10 by Republicans. 
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/09/gop-drawn_legislative_map_make.html

New map squeezes state Dems

Republicans redraw Ohio House, Senate districts to their liking

5:46 AM, Sep. 24, 2011

Written by

Paul E. Kostyu

Cincinnati Enquirer

COLUMBUS - A Republican-controlled board released its proposed map of new state House and Senate districts - and it could spell trouble for Democrats.

Similar to what they did with congressional redistricting earlier this month, Republicans reconfigured state districts to help the party keep control of both chambers of the Ohio Legislature for the next 10 years. The districts are redrawn to reflect changes in population after each census.

It will be tougher for Democrats to get elected beginning in 2012. The Senate has had a Republican majority since 1985 and by the looks of the map, the House, which the GOP regained control of in 2010, solidified its hold there, too.

For voters who are neighbors, this means they could be voting in different districts and choosing between people they don't yet know. And it's more likely Democratic voters may be represented by a Republican or at least live in a district that leans more Republican than they are used to. Statewide, some Democrats will be pitted against fellow Democrats.

http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110923/NEWS0108/309230062/New-map-squeezes-state-Dems?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Referendum Campaigns Target Valley

Sept. 26, 2011 7:02 a.m.
By George Nelson

Youngstown Business Journal
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The campaign to overturn Senate Bill 5 picks up steam this week as Trumbull County office of We Are Ohio officially opens, giving organized efforts to repeal modifications to collective bargaining law for public employees a more visible presence in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

The Mahoning County office of We are Ohio opened last month in Struthers, the Columbiana County office last week. Phone banks have been taking place at the Trumbull office, 208 N. State St. in Girard, for about two weeks, reported Maggie Henderson, local We Are Ohio spokeswoman.

Meantime, another campaign nears its deadline to place a separate referendum on the 2012 ballot to revoke changes made to Ohio's voting system under House Bill 194 and preserve a wider window for early voting, among other provisions tightening identification requirements.
http://business-journal.com/referendum-campaigns-target-valley-p20050-1.htm

Republicans Unveil Redrawn General Assembly Districts

Hannah Report 9/23/11

Republican-drawn General Assembly districts were unveiled Friday in advance of Monday's meeting of the Apportionment Board, which has the authority to finalize the lines for the next decade. Maps must be published by Wednesday, Oct. 5.

The response from the minority leaders in both chambers was quick.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said, in a prepared statement, “The new state legislative districts turn the Ohio Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act on their heads and take partisan gerrymandering to a new extreme. These new districts divide communities more than 250 times and disenfranchise voters throughout the state. Democratic voters have been quarantined into a third of these new House districts, despite the fact that they represent 50 percent of Ohio’s voters. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187211

REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT

Hannah Report 9/23/11

As with the House, the Senate wasted little time hearing and passing HB319 (Huffman), the bill redrawing Ohio congressional districts. The final version, also agreed to by the House this week, includes an appropriation of $2.75 million in General Revenue Funds to inoculate it against a possible referendum and ostensibly to help county boards of elections to prepare for the new districts and deal with a certain March 6 primary -- a provision also added to HB319.

However, a March primary may not be that certain given comments by Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), who told reporters he prefers a May primary and said Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) does also. He went on to suggest they may be looking for a vehicle to attach an amendment to.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187224

Lottery VLT Contract, Ballot Issue Advertising Funding Clear Controlling Board

Hannah Report 9/26/11

The Controlling Board approved Monday the Ohio Lottery Commission's request for nearly $17 million to pay for a central system to manage video lottery terminals (VLT) at Ohio's racetracks, as well as payments to gambling consultants hired by the Kasich administration.

The state also is set to pay about $2.1 million to print information on three ballot issues in newspapers throughout Ohio after the board released $1.6 million from its emergency-purposes fund to supplement the $475,000 the state budget allotted to Secretary of State Jon Husted for ballot advertising.

The board approved $9.1 million for Intralot Inc., the contractor who runs lottery games now, to add installation of the VLT central system to its current contract. An additional $7.6 million is to go toward paying the consultants, although Lottery Commission Interim Director Dennis Berg said some of that money will be reimbursed to the commission by the Casino Control Commission.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187227

Joint Conference Aims for Factions to Put 'Good Public Policy' Ahead of 'Winning'

Hannah Report 9/26/11

Jumping off their joint proposal for an overhaul of Ohio's tax code, three policy organizations with often disparate philosophies are planning a conference in search of agreement on how to address the state's broader problems.

The conference, titled "Across the Spectrum: The Future of Ohio and the Path to Prosperity," will run all day Dec. 8 at the Renaissance in downtown Columbus, 50 N. Third St. It is sponsored by the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, the Greater Ohio Policy Center and the Center for Community Solutions. The three groups came together during budget season to urge a comprehensive review of state tax expenditures to determine which are still effective and necessary, a task the Senate Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee plans to begin in November. (See The Hannah Report, 5/18/11, 9/19/11.)

Big-name speakers lined up for the event include well-know supply-side economist Arthur Laffer, Clinton-era federal budget director Alice Rivlin and foreign policy scholar Walter Russell Mead, who will the deliver the dinner keynote address.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187231

GOP-DRAWN MAP COMBINES SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY SEATS

Gongwer 9/23/11

The Apportionment Board's proposed General Assembly map released Friday would set up three potential primary contests among incumbent Democrats and pit three Democratic House members against Republicans in GOP-leaning districts.
The Republican-drawn plan drew a stiff rebuke from the legislature's top Democrats, who suggested it would violate the state constitution and federal law that prohibits restrictions to minority voting rights.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801850201&newsedition_id=8018502&locid=2

POLICY GROUPS SAY CONFERENCE'S APOLITICAL DEBATE AN EXAMPLE FOR LAWMAKERS

Gongwer 9/26/11

Three policy groups with different political perspectives said Monday they aim to put partisan discourse aside in exchange for substantiate policy discussion during a planned December conference.
The conservative Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, left-leaning Center for Community Solutions, and the non-partisan Greater Ohio Policy Center are collaborating to entice elected officials to attend a daylong conference in Columbus Dec. 8 where panel discussions will target numerous hot topics.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801860207&newsedition_id=8018602&locid=2&link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801860207%26newsedition_id=8018602%26locid=2

September 23

An independent voice

Published: September 22, 2011 - 07:20 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

John Kasich insists that he doesn’t talk about policy matters with friends and former advisers who have set up lobby shops around the Statehouse. That is, except for one time, the governor telling the Columbus Dispatch in May about Don Thibaut sharing his disdain for the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

The office did not fare well in the new budget that took effect in July, Republican majorities in the legislature following the lead of the governor, essentially cutting the office’s budget in half. Dozens of positions have been eliminated, resulting in layoffs, and on Wednesday, Janine Migden-Ostrander, the consumers’ counsel, announced she has had enough, stepping down after seven years in the position.

Her departing words were sharp. Most stinging was her relaying that she sought to talk about the proposed budget cuts, but the governor and Bill Batchelder, the House speaker, refused to meet. She noted the governor’s early talk about getting on the bus. She said she tried to get on board, but since has learned that she doesn’t “like where it is going,” adding: “The bus is running over consumers and has no brakes.”
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/an-independent-voice-1.236382

September 22

Ohio utility watchdog quits in face of budget cuts

By Doug Whiteman
Associated Press

Published: September 21, 2011 - 03:22 PM

COLUMBUS: The state’s consumer advocate for Ohio utility customers is leaving to take a job with a nonprofit utility think tank after criticizing state budget cuts that are reducing funding for her office by more than half.

Janine Migden-Ostrander announced Wednesday that she would step down as Ohio Consumers’ Counsel effective Oct. 15 to become principal consultant for the Regulatory Assistance Project, based in Montpelier, Vt.

“I am leaving because I felt that the office could benefit from new leadership that can hopefully get the budget restored in the future,” Migden-Ostrander told The Associated Press.

She said she found it very disappointing that annual funding for her office was dropping from $8.5 million to $4.1 million under the two-year budget signed this summer by Gov. John Kasich. The loss of state money has prompted the agency to eliminate more than 30 jobs, reduce its involvement in cases before regulators and trim its outreach and educational efforts.
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-utility-watchdog-quits-in-face-of-budget-cuts-1.236183

Utility consumers’ watchdog quits over budget

She blasts Kasich, House speaker for slashing her office

By  Mark Williams

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 22, 2011 7:40 AM

The state’s consumer watchdog resigned yesterday, fed up with state budget cuts that she says have hampered her ability to protect consumers in fights over proposed rate hikes by utilities.

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander also had strong parting words for Gov. John Kasich and House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina. She said they refused to discuss the cuts, which reduced the agency’s budget by half, and have demonstrated a “profound disinterest and disrespect towards Ohio’s 4.5 million utility households.”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2011/09/22/utility-consumers-watchdog-quits-over-budget.html

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel quits, blasts governor

By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: September 22, 2011 - 12:25 AM

Ohio Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander resigned Wednesday as the state’s top watchdog for utility customers.

Migden-Ostrander, 58, who served seven years and was the agency’s third leader, said drastic budget cuts by the state made it difficult to do her job. She said she was proud of work that saved consumers more than $8 billion, but the “blatant disregard” shown by the legislature earlier this year in slashing her budget was unfair.

“Last January, the governor [John R. Kasich] said to ‘get on the bus or get run over.’ The doors were locked to the OCC and the 4.5 million consumers we represent,” Migden-Ostrander said during a news conference Wednesday morning.
http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ohio-consumers-counsel-quits-blasts-governor-1.236169

Voucher explosion

Published: September 21, 2011 - 06:49 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

Ohio lawmakers and Gov. John Kasich passed a budget bill this year that has burnished their bona fides on school choice programs. Besides a growing charter school program, they quadrupled the size of the Educational Choice Scholarship Program, beefed up scholarships for the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program and created a new voucher program for special needs children. The expansions have increased significantly the stream of students and public funds flowing out of public schools to private schools.

The argument is that low-income children in chronically failing schools deserve options, too. For that reason, the current programs are restricted to clearly specified categories of students, say, autistic students or special needs students with Individual Education Plans or students in schools designated in academic emergency or academic watch for two years or more.

Fair enough. The subpar performance of many schools in low-income neighborhoods offers some justification for vouchers. But legislation proposed by state Rep. Matt Huffman promises to deliver a substantial financial blow to public schools.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/voucher-explosion-1.236234

House Agrees to Senate Amendments on Redistricting Bill, Passes Three Others

Hannah Report 9/21/11

The House wrapped up the legislative work on the redistricting bill, HB319 (Huffman), late in the afternoon, after recessing for an hour to wait for the Senate to finish its work. With a minimum of debate, the Senate amendment adding an appropriation to the bill was agreed to by a vote of 60-35. (See separate story, this issue.)

It now goes to the governor who said today he would sign the bill.

The Ohio House session had opened Wednesday with Consul General of Canada, Roy Norton, addressing the chamber, discussing U.S./Ohio/Canada relations. He touted the value of trade between the two nations and specifically Ohio, telling the representatives that trade between the state and his country account for 300,000 Ohio jobs. He said Canada is the number one export destination and as such his country is very interested in trade, energy and infrastructure proposals in this country.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187197

CONSUMERS' COUNSEL MIGDEN-OSTRANDER RESIGNS CITING BUDGET BATTLE AMONG REASONS

9/21/11

Ohio Consumers' Counsel Jeanine Migden-Ostrander announced her resignation Wednesday, saying the Kasich Administration's treatment of the organization was a key motivator.
Ms. Migden-Ostrander, who will formally step down Oct. 15, will take a position with a non-profit group. The OCC board has appointed deputy OCC and legal director Bruce Weston as interim consumers' counsel.
The consumers' counsel's announcement caps a sometimes-rocky seven-year tenure during which she often butted heads with the GOP majority in the legislature as well as utility industry executives.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801830203&newsedition_id=8018302&locid=2

SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE ON NEAR PARTY-LINE VOTE

9/21/11

A divided House panel voted out legislation Wednesday to expand school choice vouchers that would use state dollars to support private school enrollment.
The bill (HB 136 ) cleared the House Education Committee on a 12-10 nearly party line vote with Rep. Nan Baker (R-Westlake) and Rep. Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) joining Democrats is opposing the measure.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801830208&newsedition_id=8018302&locid=2

September 21

His car can handle miles of redrawn district, says Stivers

GOP-drawn congressional map likely will receive final legislative OK today

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday September 21, 2011 7:47 AM

If someone had told U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers a few weeks ago that his new congressional district would include Athens but not Grandview Heights, “I would not have believed it,” the Upper Arlington Republican said.

“I didn’t draw the lines, but I’m going to work hard to represent them,” he said yesterday of the new congressional map, which could pass the legislature as soon as this afternoon. “It’s not any more diverse than my current district, and you could argue it’s somewhat less diverse, but it’s certainly more geography, which will create challenges of its own.”

Some critics of the new GOP-drawn congressional map have called Stivers’ new 15th district the worst of a batch of gerrymandered seats that set up a potential 12-4 Republican majority in the state’s delegation.

Stivers admits he was surprised by the new lines — 933 miles in circumference across 13 counties, shaped like the open jaws of an alligator.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/21/his-car-can-handle-miles-says-stivers.html

House Approves Measure Offering HSAs to State Employees

Hannah Report 9/20/11

The House on Tuesday wasted little time in passing HB97, Rep. Richard Hollington's (R-Chagrin Falls) bill, which requires the state to make health savings accounts (HSAs) available to state employees and state elected officials.

"Under the bill," Hollington told the House, "the state would provide an option to all employees to elect a high deductible health care plan" which then requires them to set up their own HSAs. "The bill requires employers to deposit 80 percent of the savings to the employee's HSA."

He stressed that "this is an option ... not a mandate," requiring only that the state make the option available.

Once an individual reaches age 65, Hollington said, the HSA becomes "like any pension plan."

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187168

SENATE TO ADD MONEY TO CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING BILL; GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAPS OUT FRIDAY

Gongwer 9/20/11

Republicans' controversial congressional redistricting plan will likely pick up an appropriation before being voted out of committee - and possibly the chamber - on Wednesday.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said Tuesday that he was waiting to see the results of the committee proceedings before deciding if the measures to redraw congressional maps (HB 319 ) and change the primary date (HB 318 ) will be on the floor during Wednesday's session.
"This is a very unpredictable place," he told reporters after session. "I would hope that we can move these expeditiously, but until we get through the committee process, it's just too early to predict."
A Democrat-backed referendum on elections legislation passed earlier this year (HB 194 ) injected a significant amount of uncertainty into the upcoming election schedule, he said, adding that the inclusion of an appropriation to the redistricting plan could help minimize those concerns.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820201&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

SPEAKER SAYS DRILLING LAW UPDATE COULD BE NEAR; HEALTH SAVINGS BILL PASSES

Gongwer 9/20/11

Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said Tuesday an update to drilling regulations and a closer look at related fees could be on the short-term list of chores for the House, which otherwise is looking at a relatively light October in terms of workload.
With the oil and gas industry ramping up efforts to tap into potentially lucrative shale formations that extend into Ohio (see separate story), the speaker told reporters after session that said he'd like to revisit the "very strong regulatory" framework governing the industry that was passed under the prior administration.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820202&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

HEARTBEAT BILL'S POTENTIAL FOR PASSAGE IN SENATE UNCERTAIN; PROPONENTS RALLY

Gongwer 9/20/11

While supporters of legislation banning abortion after a heartbeat can be detected rallied in the he Statehouse Atrium on Tuesday, the president of the Ohio Senate said it is too early to tell whether the bill will move in the chamber.
Supporters of the so-called "heartbeat bill" gathered to continue their push for passage of the legislation (HB 125 ) and were scheduled to deliver mini heart-shaped balloons to legislators Tuesday afternoon.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said his caucus is pro-life, but added that officials are reviewing the split within the pro-life community over the issue.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820204&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

BATCHELDER, LEHNER HESITANT ON SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION BILL

Gongwer 9/20/11

Legislation allowing students to use state funding to pay for private schools is moving closer to a possible vote by the full House, but both the speaker and the senator chairing the committee that would hear the bill expressed reservations Tuesday about its current form.
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said he would seek input from the administration and the Department of Education before calling a flor vote on Rep. Matt Huffman's (R-Lima) proposal (HB 136 ).
The measure would expand on the concept of the Educational Choice scholarship that allows students in failing district schools to use state funding to pay for tuition at private institutions.
This bill would allow low- and middle-income families - regardless of their home school's academic performance - to use state funding to pay for their child's enrollment in private schools in amounts up to $4,626.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820205&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2