Voter’s lawsuit could play role in Ohio map spat
By Julie Carr Smyth and Andy Brownfield
Associated Press
Associated Press
Published: November 4, 2011 - 11:23 PM
COLUMBUS: A Republican Ohio voter has filed suit against the governor, state elections chief and legislature alleging the state’s lack of a congressional map will make the 2012 election unconstitutional, and she wants the judge in her county — one of Ohio’s GOP strongholds — to draw a new map.
The lawsuit by Belinda Ward of Batavia was filed Oct. 17 in Clermont County. A hearing is expected this month.
The suit asks Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Jerry McBride to redraw the congressional districts and retain jurisdiction over future redistricting plans — a factor that could rob Democrats opposed to the GOP-approved map of an opportunity to fight it in federal court.
http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/state/voter-s-lawsuit-could-play-role-in-ohio-map-spat-1.243793
http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/state/voter-s-lawsuit-could-play-role-in-ohio-map-spat-1.243793
Issue 2 campaign still hot in last days
Backers enlist Pat Boone, Sarah Palin; absentee vote heavy
By Joe Vardon
With everyone from the Obama campaign to Pat Boone trying to mobilize voters, the fight over collective bargaining in Ohio — or at least this round of it — is at its climax.
On Tuesday, voters across the state will head to the polls to cast judgment on Issue 2, the ballot measure for the Republican-backed limits to collective bargaining for about 360,000 public employees introduced through Senate Bill 5. Polling places across the state will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/07/issue-2-campaign-still-hot-in-last-days.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/07/issue-2-campaign-still-hot-in-last-days.html
As elections near, intraparty fight brews between Gov. John Kasich and GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine
Published: Saturday, November 05, 2011, 8:00 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A year after their statewide triumph, Ohio Republicans find themselves on the threshold of a defining moment.
But beyond the obvious battle over a new labor law, which polls show headed for defeat at the ballot box Tuesday, a behind-the-scenes power struggle is percolating within the party. Few who know the most intimate details of the feud will talk on the record, but it is hardly a secret that Gov. John Kasich is no fan of Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine. The friction, more apparent in recent weeks than ever before, was punctuated last month when a top Kasich donor asked for DeWine's resignation in an email obtained by The Plain Dealer.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/as_elections_near_intraparty_f.html
Ohio Legislative Black Caucus becomes relevant again, but will it last? Analysis
Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 7:00 PM Updated: Saturday, November 05, 2011, 3:37 AM
"People are surprised that the black caucus is in this position," said state Rep. Sandra Williams, president of the caucus.
Indeed, over the past decade or more the group has been known more for trying to keep itself organized amid infighting over policy and leadership.
Yet last month when Republicans, who control the General Assembly, found themselves needing Democratic support to pass a new congressional map, they reached out to the 15-member black caucus and bypassed the recognized Democratic leaders in the Ohio House, Senate and state party.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/ohio_legislative_black_caucus_1.html
Competitive edge
Published: November 5, 2011 - 08:52 PM
Akron Beacon Journal
Ohio Republicans went too far in drawing new congressional districts, inviting a backlash in much they same way they did in passing Senate Bill 5, Issue 2 on Tuesday’s ballot. In going from 18 districts to 16 districts, reflecting Ohio’s slower population growth, Republican majorities in the legislature pushed a redistricting bill that gave their party a heavy advantage in 12.
Democrats mounted a petition drive, putting the map on hold. They plan to subject the Republican effort to a referendum in November of next year. Meanwhile, pressure builds at the Statehouse. If Ohio wants a single primary in March, a compromise on a new redistricting plan must be reached, the Dec. 7 filing deadline requiring an emergency measure and that means attracting enough Democratic votes to win passage.
Republicans in the Ohio House inched back ever so slightly last week, offering minor modifications to their first map. Summit County would remain a mess, divided among four districts, the country likely represented by members from Warrensville Heights, Wadsworth, Bainbridge Township and Niles. Democrats said no to the plan.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/competitive-edge-1.243950
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/competitive-edge-1.243950
Echo of the Capitol
Published: November 7, 2011 - 06:22 AM
Akron Beacon Journal
Bill Batchelder shared his frustration last week about a minority caucus operating as if it has the juice to get its way at the Statehouse. The House speaker had in mind Democrats standing in the way of Republican plans for drawing new lines for congressional districts across Ohio.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/echo-of-the-capitol-1.244258
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/echo-of-the-capitol-1.244258
Published: 11/5/2011 - Updated: 1 day ago
Kasich plugs Issue 2 to friendly crowd
Governor campaigns to save law on public employee unions
BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
MANSFIELD, Ohio -- The fight over the collective bargaining power of public employees is just one battle in many to come regardless of how Ohioans vote Tuesday, Gov. John Kasich vowed Friday night.
Hoping to prove the polls wrong, the Republican governor took his road show to struggling Mansfield to get out the "yes" vote on Issue 2. He spoke one second about victory, the next about what happens after defeat.
"We've got to win this," he told a friendly group of about 150. "If we do not win it, we will not be discouraged. We'll move on to the next issue to make sure that the people of this state are going to know that we're going to pull them out of this mess."
Despite the huge sign behind him, Mr. Kasich didn't mention Issue 2, the voter referendum that will decide the fate of Senate Bill 5, until 24 minutes into his speech.
Kasich: Issue 2 'a jobs issue'
In Mansfield, governor says he won't cave to 'the squeaky wheel'
1:37 AM, Nov. 5, 2011
Written by
News Journal
MANSFIELD -- Gov. John Kasich admits his stance on State Issue 2 is not popular with everyone.
"It's not my responsibility to make you happy," he said Friday at the R&L Banquet Center. "It's my responsibility to represent 11.5 million people.
"Too many of our legislators respond to the squeaky wheel. That's not the way you should do things."
Kasich stopped in Mansfield for a last-minute campaign push on the public employee collective bargaining referendum. He has said State Issue 2 would give local governments tools to balance their budgets by asking public employees to pay at least 15 percent toward their health insurance and 10 percent toward their guaranteed pensions.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111105/NEWS03/111050305
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111105/NEWS03/111050305
Hannah Report 11/4/11
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters Thursday that he doesn't expect the General Assembly to
immediately re-enact collective bargaining law SB5 (Jones) if it should fail on Tuesday, but suggested that some parts may
be revisited next year. Batchelder said that the polling for the "yes" side of Issue 2, the referendum on SB5, has been very
thorough, and they know which parts of the bill are popular and which are not.
REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern filed a public records request with Auditor Dave Yost's office seeking information on what role former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett played in consulting with Yost on the apportionment process. The request came a day after The Columbus Dispatch published an op-ed from Bennett in which he claimed Redfern opposed new congressional maps because they interfere with his eventual hope to run for Congress. Yost's office responded that Bennett was not a paid consultant to the office, but Redfern said he still suspects public money was spent for Bennett's services.
The Ohio Democratic Party announced the start of its signature-gathering campaign for a referendum on congressional maps in HB319 (Huffman), even as negotiations continued on drawing an alternative map to avert a statewide ballot vote. Meanwhile, Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, released a statement rebutting rumors that a deal for a new map was imminent.
A compromise on congressional redistricting was put in doubt Thursday as Republicans introduced a new congressional map in HB369 (Huffman) and tempers flared on the House floor after the bill failed to clear a procedural vote to begin debate in a specially called House session. The proposal, which Republicans hope will head off the referendum on the previously passed HB319 (Huffman), now heads to committee, where hearings are expected to begin next week in the House Rules and Reference Committee. Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) had said the proposal reflected concerns brought to him by Democrats and members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.
Lines on the new map were altered to make some districts more compact, and some urban areas were redrawn to put more of the African American voting population back together. Among the bigger changes: Toledo is split among two districts instead of three, all of Montgomery County is a part of the 10th District, the 4th District now stretches to Lorain County, and the 15th District has become more compact.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187660
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern filed a public records request with Auditor Dave Yost's office seeking information on what role former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett played in consulting with Yost on the apportionment process. The request came a day after The Columbus Dispatch published an op-ed from Bennett in which he claimed Redfern opposed new congressional maps because they interfere with his eventual hope to run for Congress. Yost's office responded that Bennett was not a paid consultant to the office, but Redfern said he still suspects public money was spent for Bennett's services.
The Ohio Democratic Party announced the start of its signature-gathering campaign for a referendum on congressional maps in HB319 (Huffman), even as negotiations continued on drawing an alternative map to avert a statewide ballot vote. Meanwhile, Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, released a statement rebutting rumors that a deal for a new map was imminent.
A compromise on congressional redistricting was put in doubt Thursday as Republicans introduced a new congressional map in HB369 (Huffman) and tempers flared on the House floor after the bill failed to clear a procedural vote to begin debate in a specially called House session. The proposal, which Republicans hope will head off the referendum on the previously passed HB319 (Huffman), now heads to committee, where hearings are expected to begin next week in the House Rules and Reference Committee. Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) had said the proposal reflected concerns brought to him by Democrats and members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.
Lines on the new map were altered to make some districts more compact, and some urban areas were redrawn to put more of the African American voting population back together. Among the bigger changes: Toledo is split among two districts instead of three, all of Montgomery County is a part of the 10th District, the 4th District now stretches to Lorain County, and the 15th District has become more compact.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187660
Redistricting Group Rates New Map Poorly; Talks Continue
Hannah Report 11/7/11
The Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting Monday released its analysis of HB369 (Huffman), the latest congressional redistricting map, ranking it below all submissions the group received as a part of its redistricting contest, but above the previous map created by HB319 (Huffman).
Meanwhile, a spokesman for House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said talks are continuing between legislative Republican leaders and Democrats about coming up with a compromise map, despite a breakdown last week that saw a floor session turn into a shouting match. (See The Hannah Report, 11/3/11.)
Mike Dittoe, a spokesman for Batchelder, said discussions are still underway on a schedule for committee hearings on HB369.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187663
The Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting Monday released its analysis of HB369 (Huffman), the latest congressional redistricting map, ranking it below all submissions the group received as a part of its redistricting contest, but above the previous map created by HB319 (Huffman).
Meanwhile, a spokesman for House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said talks are continuing between legislative Republican leaders and Democrats about coming up with a compromise map, despite a breakdown last week that saw a floor session turn into a shouting match. (See The Hannah Report, 11/3/11.)
Mike Dittoe, a spokesman for Batchelder, said discussions are still underway on a schedule for committee hearings on HB369.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187663
People in the News: Batchelder Honored; Deaf School Interim Superintendent; Mayer Leaving Buckeye Institute
Hannah Report 11/7/11
OACCS Recognizes Batchelder with Governmental Service Award
Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) was honored recently by the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OACCS) with its Distinguished Governmental Service Award.
The group noted that under Batchelder’s leadership, the state reinstated the Ohio College Opportunity Grant for financially needy career college students. "Tuition assistance is vital to non-traditional, working students who comprise the majority of career colleges’ enrollment. Before the current budget, 28,500 career college students working toward associate degrees received $107.6 million in aid. The average grant was $2,252," the group explained in a release.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187668
OACCS Recognizes Batchelder with Governmental Service Award
Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) was honored recently by the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OACCS) with its Distinguished Governmental Service Award.
The group noted that under Batchelder’s leadership, the state reinstated the Ohio College Opportunity Grant for financially needy career college students. "Tuition assistance is vital to non-traditional, working students who comprise the majority of career colleges’ enrollment. Before the current budget, 28,500 career college students working toward associate degrees received $107.6 million in aid. The average grant was $2,252," the group explained in a release.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187668
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