December 21

State Rep. Hagan calls again for hearings on fracking

Youngstown Vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN — State Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th, said today he plans to send a second open letter to Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder asking for hearings about fracking.

Fracking, the process in which water, chemicals and sand are blasted into rocks thousands of feet below the ground to unlock natural gas and oil, has come under fire because of its potential environmental concerns.

Hagan on Dec. 1 sent a letter to Batchelder — who has collected more than $70,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas drillers the past decade — but said Batchelder has not responded.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/dec/20/state-rep-hagan-calls-again-hearings-fracking/?nw

Ohio Gov. Kasich Signs Bill to Cut Abortion $ in Obmacare

by Steven Ertelt | Columbus, OH | LifeNews.com | 12/21/11 1:11 PM

Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 79 today, a bill that legislation designed to protect pro-life taxpayers from paying for abortion via Obamacare. This is the seventh piece of pro-life legislation Ohio has produced this year that Kasich has backed.

House Bill 79 would exclude abortion coverage from the State Exchange which Ohio must create as required by the new federal health care law. The federal law includes a provision allowing states to opt out, making it possible for this legislation to protect the conscience rights of pro-life taxpayers.
http://www.lifenews.com/2011/12/21/ohio-gov-kasich-signs-bill-to-cut-abortion-in-obmacare/