October 31

Legislative Black Caucus holds leverage in redistricting fight

Sunday October 30, 2011 6:57 AM

Tom Suddes

The late Dayton Democrat C.J. McLin surely smiles from afar at the Ohio Statehouse, where his fellow black Democrats are sitting pretty.

McLin, who died in 1988, quarterbacked the political circumstances that helped make that happen. (Former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin is his daughter.)

Today, almost a quarter-century after McLin’s death, half of the Democrats in the state Senate are black Democrats. And almost one-third of the Democratic representatives in Ohio’s House are black Democrats.

Those who read the cover, not the book, will say correctly that Republicans run the Statehouse. So a Democrat, black or white, can’t broker power.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2011/10/30/legislative-black-caucus-holds-leverage-in-redistricting-fight.html

Drawing the map isn’t as easy as it looks

Sunday October 30, 2011 6:55 AM

Robert T. Bennett

Columbus Dispatch

If drawing Ohio’s congressional district lines were as simple as many of the state’s editorial writers have claimed, the job would be finished when majority Republicans produced a map that made minority Democrats smile. Follow that smile up with a strong cup of coffee and a firm handshake, and even the editorial writers would be happy.

I disagree with that view from the ivory tower. However, where the editorial writers, Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder and I are in absolute agreement is that the threatened redistricting referendum and resulting need for two separate statewide primary elections is to be avoided if at all possible.

But, before we can avoid the expense of two primaries, all interested parties must recognize that the problem goes well beyond normal partisan bickering.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2011/10/30/drawing-the-map-isnt-as-easy-as-it-looks.html

Friday, October 28, 2011
Lawmakers continue redistricting talks behind closed doors
House Republicans will need to get at least seven Democrats to back a new congressional map
by WKSU's STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT JO INGLES

Ohio’s legislative leaders are working behind closed doors, to create a new congressional redistricting map. In order to pass a replacement map that would go into effect immediately, two thirds of lawmakers, or at least seven Democrats in the House, will have to vote for it.

Mike Dittoe is spokesman for Republican Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder. He says they hope to avoid a referendum or a long court battle. If they’re successful, Dittoe says there would still be time to move the presidential and congressional primaries, now scheduled for June, back to March in a single primary.

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/29775

October 29

Republicans may be ready to draw new congressional lines unifying cities

Published: Thursday, October 27, 2011, 6:25 PM     Updated: Thursday, October 27, 2011, 7:37 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio House Republicans are considering drawing an alternative congressional map unifying the state's urban areas instead of splitting them into multiple districts, according to a key local Democratic lawmaker.
State Rep. Sandra Williams, head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said Thursday that House Speaker William G. Batchelder, a Medina Republican, indicated Wednesday during a meeting with black caucus members that Republicans were willing to redraw congressional lines to keep black urban voters together.
Keeping Ohio's major cities intact when possible has been atop the wish list for the black caucus as it negotiates with House Republicans on possible changes to Ohio's congressional map.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/republicans_may_be_ready_to_dr.html

House Tweaks Schedules for Remainder of Year; Senate Keeps Original Dates

Hannah Report 10/27/11

The House Clerk's Office said Thursday that House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) changed the session calendar for the rest of 2011.

Batchelder revised the second-half calendar announced in June by dropping planned sessions for Nov. 9 and 30. However, according to Senate spokesman John McClelland, the upper chamber has not yet dropped these two dates.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187550

Supreme Court Denies Motion to Restart Redistricting Referendum Clock

In a one-sentence order, the Ohio Supreme Court Thursday denied a motion from Democrats to restart the time-period to collect signatures on a referendum on HB319 (Huffman), the new congressional map.

The motion from Ohioans for Fair Districts, which includes Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, legislative Democrats and former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin, had sought to restart the 90-day period that opponents of a bill have to collect signatures for a referendum. The clock is started on the day the governor signs the bill. Gov. John Kasich signed HB319 on Sept. 26.

It was the latest development in the battle between Democrats and Republicans over the new 16-seat congressional district map contained in HB319. Democrats sought to hold a referendum on the map after it was passed, claiming it contained unfair districts that favor Republicans. Republicans responded that the map will meet constitutional muster and are fair.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187552

October 27

Latest talks on congressional redistricting foster some hope

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday October 27, 2011 4:05 AM

House Speaker William G. Batchelder met yesterday with a handful of members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, including the president, Rep. Sandra Williams, and some expressed optimism that a deal on a new congressional map could be reached.

“I believe people are really trying to bring this thing to a close,” said Williams, D-Cleveland. “I am optimistic that things are going in a positive fashion.”

Democrats say they are moving forward with an effort to overturn the new GOP-drawn congressional map, which gives Republicans a solid chance at holding 12 of the 16 seats. The challenge to the map prompted Republicans last week to split Ohio’s 2012 primary, holding state, local and U.S. Senate races in March and presidential and U.S. House races in June. That buys more time to work out a deal on a map.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/27/latest-map-talks-foster-some-hope.html

Ohio GOP's double-primary plan is raising cost concerns locally

By David DeWitt

The Athens News

10/26/11

A Republican plan for Ohio to hold two primaries next year has raised some concerns about costs here in Athens County but also confidence that the task can be pulled off if that's the final plan.

The double primary – one for presidential and congressional candidates, and the other for all other candidates – was created by GOP state legislators and signed by Gov. John Kasich Friday night. The impetus for the plan was a ruling by the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court giving Democrats the opportunity to petition for the recently drawn redistricting maps to be put to Ohio voters on next year's November ballot.

Because Democrats want to put this on the ballot, currently there is no map to show the boundaries of the districts as Democrats gather signatures for the petition. The GOP plan is to move the presidential and congressional primaries to June and hold all other primaries, including the state legislative, county offices and U.S. Senate primaries, in March. This would solve the problem of the upcoming December primary filing deadline.
http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35175-ohio-gops-double-primary-plan-is-raising-cost-concerns-locally.html

Nearly 70 Ohio School Districts Oppose Expanding Private School Vouchers State-Wide

October 27, 2011 | 1:13 PM

By Molly Bloom

State Impact - NPR

Ohio school districts and boards of education are lobbying against a bill (HB 136) that would expand Ohio’s school voucher program from urban areas to the entire state.
To date, the boards of at least 69 of Ohio’s more than 600 school districts and educational service centers have approved resolutions formally opposing the bill, according to news reports and the Ohio School Boards Association. Several other boards and superintendents’ associations have issued letters opposing the bill.
Currently, only students assigned to schools rated “D” or “F” for two of the last three years can get vouchers worth up to $5,000 that they can use to pay tuition at private schools. (Cleveland has a separate voucher program.) HB 136 would allow students to get vouchers for private school tuition no matter how their schools performed.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2011/10/27/nearly-70-ohio-school-districts-oppose-expanding-private-school-vouchers-state-wide/

POLITICS NOTEBOOK: OLBC PRESIDENT, SPEAKER MEET ON REDISTRICTING; ROMNEY BACKS ISSUE 2; GROUP URGES ISSUE 3 DEFEAT; TURNPIKE LEASE RIPPED

Gongwer 10/26/11

Talks between Republican and Democratic legislative leaders over a compromise on congressional redistricting appear stalled, but the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus president met with the Speaker Bill Batchelder on the issue Wednesday.
Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said she met with Speaker Batchelder (R-Medina) to discuss potential revisions to the Republican-drawn map (HB 319 ), which favors GOP candidates over Democrats 12-4.
"We did meet today. We did not accomplish anything. I think it was productive," she said in a brief interview.
The Ohio Supreme Court's decision to allow Democrats' referendum effort to proceed has prompted House Republicans to seek support from enough minority members to pass a referendum-proof emergency measure.
Earlier this week, Rep. Williams said she might be willing to broker a deal with Republicans if Democrats were unable to reach an agreement working through legislative and party leaders. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, October 24, 2011)
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802070207&newsedition_id=8020702&locid=2

October 25

REDISTRICTING TALKS STALL; BLACK CAUCUS DEAL WITH GOP STILL POSSIBLE

Gongwer 10/24/11

Negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on revising congressional maps were frozen as of Monday, but black lawmakers still might be willing to deal directly with the GOP majority.
Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said in an interview that she still hopes to be able to bring Republican and Democratic General Assembly leaders together to hash out a compromise on new congressional district boundaries.
"But if we can't get our two groups together, and we can achieve the same thing, we'd be willing to entertain that," she said about dealing directly with GOP leaders on new maps.
 "They know that we're willing to work with them. I think the longer we wait, the less likely black caucus members are willing to step out away from the party. So the sooner, the better," she said.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802050201&newsedition_id=8020502&locid=2

October 24

Kasich signs measure for two Ohio primaries

By Andy Brownfield
Associated Press

Published: October 21, 2011 - 11:12 PM

COLUMBUS: Ohio voters can prepare for two primaries in 2012 after the governor signed a bill on Friday night to hold most national contests in June with local primaries still taking place in March.

Gov. John Kasich signed the bill Friday, in order for it to go into effect before the Jan. 21 deadline for local boards of election to ship ballots to members of the military overseas.

Less than an hour earlier, the Ohio House approved a Senate move to hold state, local and U.S. Senate primaries in March, while presidential and U.S. House primaries would take place in June.
http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/kasich-signs-measure-for-two-ohio-primaries-1.241438

Ohio House Republicans finalize $15 million plan to push back presidential primary to June 12

Published: Friday, October 21, 2011, 8:15 PM     Updated: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 5:56 AM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio voters will have a reduced role in picking the Republican presidential candidate next year because GOP lawmakers finalized a plan Friday to push back the presidential primary election to June 12.

The June primary, which will cost up to $15 million, will be solely for candidates for president and the U.S. House of Representatives. All other races, including local contests and the U.S. Senate, will be held March 6, the previously scheduled date set under Ohio law.
Republican legislators in the House of Representatives said the June date was necessary to avoid a chaotic congressional primary on March 6.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/ohio_house_republicans_finaliz.html

Double primary is a pricey Republican gambit: editorial

Published: Sunday, October 23, 2011, 8:36 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

Ohio had been scheduled to nominate congressional candidates in March. But the state's no-new-taxes Republican legislature now aims to schedule two 2012 primaries. And that amounts to a one-time $15 million levy on Ohio taxpayers.
The Republicans' goal, simply stated, is to buy time so they can draw Ohio congressional districts to their liking. They thought they had done that in September, when Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that divides Ohio into 16 congressional districts, with 12 favoring the GOP.
But Democrats -- with legal clearance from the Republican-run state Supreme Court -- are launching a referendum drive to put the September map (Substitute House Bill 319) up for a statewide vote. And because of how Ohio's referendum procedure works, that vote couldn't be held until November 2012.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/10/double_primary_is_a_pricey_rep.html

Published: 10/22/2011 - Updated: 1 day ago

2 Ohio primary dates OK'd; district maps still disputed

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS -- The Republican-controlled Ohio House last night ratified a plan to hold two primary elections next year in March and June, but did not strike a deal with Democrats to resolve a Statehouse stalemate over congressional district lines.

Democratic leaders met to establish a united front in their demands to the Republican majority. Those include reuniting cities such as Toledo that are divided among multiple districts, bolstering minority voting clout in urban areas, and keeping more counties wholly intact than the current GOP map does.

The pressure increased on the talks Friday as Attorney General Mike DeWine approved the petition language that Democrats plan to show registered voters as they gather signatures to subject the GOP-passed map to a referendum on the November, 2012, ballot.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/10/22/2-Ohio-primary-dates-OK-d-district-maps-still-disputed.html

Monday, October 24, 2011
Ohio will have two primaries
The Republican decision to split the state's primary will cost Ohio about $15 million
by WKSU's STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF KAREN KASLER

Ohio will have two primaries next year, thanks to a law signed over the weekend. Ohio Public Radio' Karen Kasler reports nobody' happy about it, and perhaps that could mean that will change in the next few weeks.

The double primary deal was created by Republicans to handle a timeline situation. Democrats want to put the GOP-drawn map of Ohio’s 16 new Congressional districts before voters next year, so as of right now there’s no map to show the boundaries of those districts because Democrats are still gathering signatures for the ballot. Moving the Congressional and presidential primary to June while leaving all other primaries, including the state legislative and US Senate primary in March solves the problem of an upcoming filing deadline in December – when it’s possible Ohio still won’t have a Congressional district map. But no one’s pleased – not Democratic state representative Connie Pillich of Cincinnati.
http://www.wksu.org/news/story/29726

House Agrees to Second Primary; Governor Signs Bill Friday Night

Hannah Report 10/21/11

What's done may not be.

At least that's what Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) indicated to reporters following the unusual Friday session of the House that saw the lower chamber agree to Senate changes to HB318 (Blessing-O'Brien) setting up two primaries in 2012.

The "why" of acting today, Oct. 21, both Batchelder and Rep. Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) stressed dealt with "process" issues around military ballots -- that they must be sent out no later than Jan. 21, 2012 and if the bill were not passed and signed today, the state would miss that deadline because of the 90-day period before a bill becomes effective.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187504

HOUSE CLEARS JUNE PRIMARY, ABORTION MEASURES; NO DEAL ON REDISTRICTING

Gongwer 10/21/11

House caucus leaders met late Friday to discuss revising the new GOP-drawn congressional map, but reached no agreement as Republicans moved to finalize a second primary election in June for most federal candidates.
Democrats blasted Republicans for voting to create a separate primary for U.S. House and presidential candidates that would cost an estimated $15 million, while the GOP blamed the minority for sowing confusion in the elections process with their attempt to repeal the congressional maps.
The Ohio Supreme Court's unanimous decision last week to allow Democrats to proceed with the referendum placed the GOP-drawn congressional maps on hold, casting uncertainty over which districts U.S. House and presidential candidates must file their petitions for the March primary ballot.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802040201&newsedition_id=8020402&locid=2

HUSTED, DEWINE CERTIFY DEMOCRATS' REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM

Gongwer 10/21/11

Democrats' effort to repeal GOP-drawn congressional maps cleared another hurdle Friday even as legislators discussed ways to stave off the referendum effort.
Secretary of State Jon Husted said Democrats submitted 1,444 valid signatures out of the 2,451 his office received earlier this week. Petitioners must collect at least 1,000 legitimate names before they can begin the second round of circulating petitions.
Attorney General Mike DeWine also certified the petition summary language as a "fair and truthful" statement of the measure, clearing petitioners to begin collecting the 231,150 signatures required to place the referendum on the 2012 ballot.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802040203&newsedition_id=8020402&locid=2

October 21

Failure to compromise by Ohio legislators keeps three new state laws in limbo: Analysis

Published: Friday, October 21, 2011, 6:00 AM     Updated: Friday, October 21, 2011, 9:48 AM

By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — These days in Columbus, lawmakers have their heels dug in so deep that they -- and their constituents -- are stuck.

With Republicans firmly in control, an aggressive agenda has dominated the legislature since Gov. John Kasich took office in January. Democrats in the minority have responded with petition drives and threats to outmaneuver their counterparts at the polls with referendums.
As a result, three controversial laws are in limbo, the latest a congressional redistricting that many believe will throw next year's primaries into chaos if a deal is not struck soon. The Ohio Supreme Court, in a 7-0 decision last week, ruled that Secretary of State Jon Husted must accept a referendum petition that a group opposing the new map hopes to submit.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/failure_to_compromise_keeps_th.html

Black Statehouse Democrats say they will work within party on congressional mapping

Published: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 8:00 PM     Updated: Friday, October 21, 2011, 4:02 AM

By Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Black Democratic legislators will meet Friday morning with Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and other key members of their party to outline their wish list in the ongoing saga over congressional mapping.

The meeting means the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus will not immediately attempt to strike a side deal with Republicans, who control the General Assembly, in a bid to draw up an alternative redistricting map, said OLBC head and state Rep. Sandra Williams, of Cleveland. Instead, the caucus plans to work through the Democratic Party to try to get what it wants.

The black Democrats will call for a map that does not divide urban cities between two or more districts. The current map, approved last month to stand through 2020 elections, divides each of Ohio's largest cities into several districts.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/black_statehouse_democrats_say.html

 

REDISTRICTING NEGOTIATIONS ‘NASCENT'; SENATE SETS SATURDAY, MONDAY SESSIONS

Gongwer 10/20/11

Senate Republicans said a plan to create a second primary election in June will allow more time to negotiate with Democrats over potential changes to congressional maps, but it appears little actual progress has been made on that front.
Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) said part of the reason Republicans decided to set a June primary was to give the two parties more "breathing room" to reach a deal on revising district lines since Democrats have threatened to repeal GOP-drawn maps through a referendum.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802030202&newsedition_id=8020302&locid=2

October 20

Ohio Republicans plan to delay 2012 primaries for congress, president

Published: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 6:00 AM     Updated: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 6:17 AM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Senate Republicans are expected to pass legislation today delaying next March's federal primaries as they try to buy time to work out of a congressional redistricting quagmire.
But it isn't clear whether they also will delay state and local primaries, meaning Ohio could end up with two sets of primaries in 2012.
"Something is going to happen tomorrow," John McClelland, spokesman for Senate President Tom Niehaus, a New Richmond Republican, said Wednesday. "It's hard to say what right now because there are a lot of moving pieces. It's something we are going to be working on through the evening."
Mike Dittoe, spokesman for House Speaker William Batchelder, said the two-primary idea is "one option on the table right now."
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/republicans_planning_to_push_b.html

Ohio court ruling on GOP-drawn lawmaker maps sets stage for 2012 SNAFU

John Michael Spinelli

Columbus Government Examiner

October 19, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - The repercussions from the Ohio Supreme Court's unanimous ruling last Friday, requiring Buckeye Secretary of State Jon Husted to accept a ballot initiative to overturn the gerrymandered Republican plan to draw Federal Congressional districts, sets the stage for a SNAFU of historic proportions, given the presidential race next year that is already proving to be an expensive battle royal.

In the wake of the 7-0 ruling by a court with only one Democrat on it, candidates for Congress, be they incumbents or challengers, will be forced to wait and see when to file, and if the districts they planned to file for will even exist. 

It now appears, the Cincinnati Enquirer said, that congressional candidates will file petitions by the Dec. 7 deadline for districts that may no longer exist by the planned March 6 primary. Alternatively, candidates may be forced to run in a statewide primary election for Ohio's now-16 U.S. House seats (down from 18 due to Census figures), where the top 16 Republicans face the top 16 finishing Democrats in the November 2012 election. 

http://www.examiner.com/government-in-columbus/ohio-court-ruling-on-gop-drawn-lawmaker-maps-sets-stage-for-2012-snafu

October 19

Ohio Republicans make overture to black Democrats on congressional remap

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 11:00 PM     Updated: Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 12:48 AM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Statehouse Republicans have reached out to black Democrats to see if they might break from their party colleagues to begin talks about a deal on an alternative congressional redistricting map.

"Can we contact you about the maps? That was the message that I got," said Rep. Sandra Williams, a Cleveland Democrat who heads the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.
Williams said the message came from "a third party" on Tuesday and that she had not responded to the overture. Instead, she said she was contacting OLBC members to let them know about the interest from Republicans.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/post_32.html

Published: 10/19/2011

GOP back at work to try to solve map feud

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS -- With Ohio's congressional district map under the threat of voter referendum, Ohio Republicans will return to the Statehouse Wednesday to at least try to buy themselves some time.

Lawmakers had not planned to return to session until after the Nov. 8 election, but a shelved bill to postpone the 2012 presidential primary election is suddenly back on for votes in both the Senate and House this week.

"It gives us more time to figure out what we're going to do," said Rep. Louis Blessing (R., Cincinnati), one of the chief sponsors of House Bill 318, the primary election date bill.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/10/19/GOP-back-at-work-to-try-to-solve-map-feud.html

People in the News: Lindner, Grimes Die; Right to Life Board Member Resigns

Hannah Report 10/18/11

Cincinnati Icon Carl Lindner Dies at 92
Cincinnati business leader Carl Lindner Jr., who founded American Financial Group and United Dairy Farmers and invested in a slew of other high profile businesses, died late Monday at age 92, the financial company announced in a statement Tuesday.

Lindner owned or had controlling interests in such companies as Chiquita, The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Cincinnati Reds, and he contributed to numerous community organizations and philanthropic causes.

State leaders issued statements Tuesday praising Lindner's life and legacy:

“We’ve lost a giant. Carl Lindner had an uncommonly clear understanding of how to solve problems and nurture the best from the people around him. His unfailing love for Cincinnati made it a better place and those contributions will live on for generations. His story of success from humble roots is a classic American tale from which we can all be inspired. It was my pleasure to know him and I will miss him. Karen, Emma, Reese and I lift up the Lindner family in our prayers and ask that God bless them with His peace and comfort," said Gov. John Kasich.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of my dear friend, Carl Lindner. He was a successful entrepreneur and selfless philanthropist who dedicated his life to giving back to the community. He has certainly left his mark on the great city of Cincinnati, as his legacy of creating jobs and devoting his life to serving others through his charitable contributions will continue to inspire all those who had the privilege of knowing him. Carl was a man of incredible integrity who devoted his time, energy, and livelihood to serving others so that they could live the American dream, just as he did. I know he will be sorely missed by his family and friends, as well as all in the city of Cincinnati -- the city he cherished and called his home," said House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina).

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187457

October 18

Ohio Dems give GOP deadline to deal on new map

Associated Press

Published: October 17, 2011 - 03:31 PM

COLUMBUS: Ohio’s Democratic Party chairman wants to know by the end of the week whether the state’s ruling Republicans are willing to compromise on a new congressional district map.

The current map, drawn by the GOP and signed into law in September, is on hold after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on Friday that it is subject to possible repeal by voters. Senate Republicans had appropriated money to local elections boards in the bill in a move they hoped would make it effective immediately and shield it from repeal.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern told reporters on Monday that he hoped to hear from Republicans leaders by Friday whether they were willing to work on “a fair map with bipartisan support.”
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-dems-give-gop-deadline-to-deal-on-new-map-1.240725

Redistricting future unclear

Timing is everything in fight over GOP drawing of congressional districts

By  Alan Johnson

The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday October 18, 2011 7:27 AM

A Democrat-driven referendum on new congressional-district lines drawn by majority Republicans could throw Ohio’s 2012 primary election into chaos.

The upheaval led to unusual options being batted around yesterday, including the possibility of scheduling different state and federal primary elections, forcing a statewide primary to come up with 16 congressional candidates for each party, or having federal judges draw new districts.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/18/redistricting-future-unclear.html

Dem press conference -Dem chairman calls for talks on new U.S. House map

By William Hershey | Monday, October 17, 2011, 08:45 AM

Dayton Daily News

Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern said Sunday that Democrats are prepared to gather the 231,150 signatures from registered voters to put a referendum on the November 2012 ballot on legislation creating 16 new U.S. House districts.

A better solution would be for Republican and Democratic legislative leaders to work on a new compromise plan for 16 new U.S. House districts, Redfern added.

House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, said in a press release Monday, however, that Republicans “are astounded that Chairman Redfern is not interested in maintaining a fair and legal map, particularly since Democrats in the House and Senate clearly did not participate in the process until it was too late.”
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/10/17/dem_chairman_calls_for_talks_o.html?cxtype=feedbot

Ohio Republicans ponder next move as Democrats vow to take new congressional map to ballot

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 6:00 AM     Updated: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 7:28 AM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With Ohio Democrats vowing to collect signatures to block a new congressional map at the ballot in 2012, Republican legislative leaders holed up Monday to sort through their options.
It seems likely that Republicans will need to present an alternative congressional map that can gain the support of at least seven House Democrats, or take their chances in federal court, where new lines could end up being drawn. GOP lawmakers also could pass an alternative map without Democratic support, but that map would be subject to the same referendum process as the first map.
The possible scenarios emerged in the wake of a unanimous Ohio Supreme Court decision Friday that cleared the way for Democrats to gather signatures to take the recently approved congressional map to the November 2012 ballot. The ruling threw the once-a-decade redistricting process into disarray and left next year's congressional elections in limbo.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/republicans_ponder_next_move_a.html

Democratic chief Chris Redfern calls on Republicans to talk about a new congressional map (poll)

Published: Monday, October 17, 2011, 11:32 AM     Updated: Monday, October 17, 2011, 1:21 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern on Monday urged Republican lawmakers to come to the table to negotiate a new congressional map.
If Republicans refuse to draw a new map with input from Democrats, Redfern said the party is ready to gather signatures to put the map before voters next year.
"Districts must be fair, balanced and competitive all across this state," Redfern said.
Redfern held a news conference to talk about what happens now that the Ohio Supreme Court has cleared the way for a referendum on the congressional redistricting plan that Ohio Republicans pushed through the state legislature in September. The GOP-drawn map created 12 solidly Republican congressional districts and four that would be likely to be won by Democrats.
The court's unanimous decision announced Friday night threw those district lines into confusion and could threaten Ohio's ability to hold its congressional primary in March, as originally planned.
The court agreed that Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted must accept a referendum petition that a group Redfern leads called Ohioans for Fair Districts plans to submit to challenge the redistricting plan.
Redfern said lawmakers could delay next year's March primary until May or June to allow time to compromise on a new map.
Ohioans for Fair Districts said plans to request that the Supreme Court restart the 90-day window to collect signatures to repeal the bill. Ohio law gives petitioners 90 days after a bill is signed into law to collect signatures to replace a repeal of the law on the ballot.
Redfern said the group would give Republicans until Friday to indicate whether they are willing to discuss a compromise.

Dems issue ultimatum on redistricting

Published: Tue, October 18, 2011 @ 12:00 a.m.

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

The Ohio Democratic Party has issued an ultimatum to the Republican-controlled state Legislature: Redraw the state’s congressional districts with input from the minority party or face a battle at the ballot box.

Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern also called on the Ohio House and Senate to postpone next year’s primary election, scheduled for March, to allow time to negotiate and implement the new maps.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/oct/18/dems-issue-ultimatum-on-redistricting/

Medina's Batchelder blasts Dem leader in wake of court redistricting decision

Published: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 1:50 PM     Updated: Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 2:12 PM

By Roger Ballas, Sun News cleveland.com

MEDINA Finger pointing and strong words continue after Ohio’s Supreme Court cleared the way Oct. 14 for a referendum on a new congressional redistricting plan Ohio Republicans hurried through the state legislature last month.

The unanimous decision by the justices has thrown the redistricting map back to its creators and places in jeopardy Ohio’s ability to have a congressional primary next March.

Following the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling that the people of Ohio can exercise their right to wage a referendum against the Republicans’ Congressional maps, Ohioans for Fair Districts held a press conference Oct. 17 to call on Republican leaders to sit down with Democrats and redraw the Congressional lines.

http://www.cleveland.com/medina/index.ssf/2011/10/medinas_batchelder_blasts_dem.html

Dems Ask Supreme Court to Restart Referendum Clock, Call for New Map

Hannah Report 10/17/11

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern Monday said that in the wake of Friday's Ohio Supreme Court ruling allowing for a referendum on the new congressional map, Democrats will ask the Court to restart the 90-day clock that opponents would have to collect signatures. (See The Hannah Report, 10/14/11.)

Redfern also called for legislative Republicans to come to the table and negotiate a new map that is more fair, but said those negotiations would need to be held soon.

"This is a great opportunity for Speaker (William) Batchelder and President (Tom) Niehaus to come together with their Democratic colleagues and do the right thing," Redfern said.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187428

REDISTRICTING DECISION SOWS CONFUSION OVER UPCOMING ELECTION; SESSIONS PLANNED IN RESPONSE

Gongwer 10/17/11

Last week's high court ruling that allowed Democrats to proceed with a referendum on new congressional district maps has sown disarray among elections officials and prompted GOP leaders Monday to call lawmakers back to work this week.
In preparation for some sort of legislative response, the Senate has teed up a stalled primary date measure (HB 318 ) for action in the Government Reform & Oversight Committee, which has hearings set for Wednesday and Thursday, if needed.
The Senate has set potential session days for Wednesday and Thursday, and a spokesman for Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said a House session is in the works for Friday.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802000201&newsedition_id=8020002&locid=2

October 17

Both sides offer options in redistricting referendum case

Supreme Court gets redistricting referendum case.

By William Hershey, Columbus Bureau Updated 2:06 PM Friday, October 14, 2011

Dayton Daily News

COLUMBUS — Both sides in the high-stakes legal battle over a referendum on Ohio’s 16 new U.S. House districts Thursday offered the Ohio Supreme Court alternatives to prevent potential electoral chaos.

Lawyers for House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, and Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, said that even if the high court permits the issue to go before voters that it should allow the new districts to be in effect for the November 2012 elections.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the Democratic group calling for a referendum said that if the Supreme Court says “yes” to their request the legislature could adopt a new redistricting plan and move back the scheduled March 6, 2012, primary to give candidates and election officials time to adjust.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/politics/both-sides-offer-options-in-redistricting-referendum-case-1268729.html

Early voting at board of elections headquarters will likely be restricted despite pending referendum on GOP-backed election law

Published: Friday, October 14, 2011, 6:00 AM     Updated: Friday, October 14, 2011, 7:54 AM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With a controversial new state election law on hold, Cuyahoga County voters might have thought they could once again visit the Board of Elections the weekend before election day to cast early ballots.
But it looks like they won't get that opportunity.
A little-noticed provision in another new law about to take effect appears to restrict in-person absentee voting.
As a result, boards of election across the state likely will not be able to hold in-person absentee voting during the three days before the Nov. 8 election, officials said. The option available to voters looking to avoid lines and other election day headaches has been especially popular in Cuyahoga County in recent years.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/early_voting_at_board_of_elect.html

Ohio Supreme Court orders secretary of state to consider referendum vote on new Ohio congressional maps

Published: Friday, October 14, 2011, 7:04 PM     Updated: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 2:59 AM

By Sabrina Eaton, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's Supreme Court has cleared the way for a referendum on a new congressional redistricting plan that Ohio Republicans pushed through the state legislature in September.

The unanimous decision announced Friday night throws the state's congressional district lines into confusion and is likely to threaten Ohio's ability to hold its congressional primary in March, as originally planned.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/10/ohio_supreme_court_orders_refe.html

Ohio's redistricting dustup: editorial

Published: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 8:42 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

An Ohio Supreme Court ruling late Friday consigned Ohio's 16 new congressional districts to limbo, setting the stage for what's likely to be widespread electoral confusion in the 2012 elections.

Mulish partisanship in the General Assembly got Ohio into this mess. Only mature leadership in Columbus -- never plentiful -- can get Ohio out of it.
Redistricting was necessary because Ohio in 2012 has the right to elect only 16 U.S. House members, not the current 18. And Republicans in Ohio's House and state Senate drew 16 new districts -- most notably, squeezing Toledo Democrat Marcy Kaptur and Cleveland's Dennis Kucinich into one snakelike district.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/10/ohios_redistricting_dustup_edi.html

Court ruling throws 2012 elections into chaos

5:41 AM, Oct. 16, 2011  |  

Written by

Howard Wilkinson

Cincinnati Enquirer

The Ohio Supreme Court’s decision to allow Democrats to go forward with a petition drive to stop the Republican congressional redistricting plan has thrown the 2012 congressional elections into chaos.

Candidates for Congress – incumbents and challengers, Republicans and Democrats – will have to sit on their hands for a while to see when they should file and if the districts they planned to file in will even exist.

It is not entirely clear yet, but it would appear now that congressional candidates will file petitions by the Dec. 7 deadline for districts that may no longer exist by the planned March 6 primary.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111015/NEWS01/110160322&Ref=AR

Northside woman in SB 5 ad spurs bill

6:27 PM, Oct. 15, 2011  |  

Written by

Paul E. Kostyu

Enquirer

Democrats, upset with what they think is a misappropriation of Cincinnati great-grandmother Marlene Quinn’s image, plan to introduce legislation to prevent the misuse of campaign material.

But state Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard, D-Columbus, didn’t have Quinn’s permission to name her legislation the "Marlene Quinn Protection Act." And after a press conference Friday, it’s clear the legislation is still a draft, so an introduction date is not clear.

After Heard’s press conference today, Democrats scrambled to contact Quinn, who said she wanted the legislation named after her great-grand-daughter, so now it is the "Zoey Protection Act." Democrats didn’t include her last name because they weren’t sure what it was -- it’s Quinn.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111014/NEWS0108/310140056/Northside-woman-SB-5-ad-spurs-bill

REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT PARTIES FILE FINAL ARGUMENTS, AWAIT HIGH COURT RULING ON REFERENDUM BID

Gongwer 10/13/11

The Ohio Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether the new Republican-drawn congressional districts should be subject to a referendum.
Opponents of the new maps (HB 319 ) and representatives of legislative leaders and Secretary of State Jon Husted on Thursday submitted their final arguments to the court, which plans to rule on the lawsuit based on those briefs rather than hold oral arguments.
Secretary Husted on Wednesday refused petitions from Ohioans for Fair Districts to begin the referendum process on the U.S. House and Senate seats reconfigured per the 2010 Census population counts - and the majority GOP's aims.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801980202&newsedition_id=8019802&locid=2