January 9

Extra jobless benefits in peril

By  Catherine Candisky

The Columbus Dispatch Saturday January 7, 2012 6:33 AM

More than 20,000 long-term unemployed Ohioans will lose up to 20 weeks of jobless benefits unless state lawmakers agree to take advantage of a more-favorable formula for determining which states qualify for the federal aid.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is urging legislators to make the fix, which will cost the state nothing because the benefits are funded entirely by the federal government, said Benjamin Johnson, spokesman for the state agency which oversees unemployment benefits.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/01/07/extra-jobless-benefits-in-peril.html

Republicans seem to have it all their own way in Ohio: Thomas Suddes

Published: Saturday, January 07, 2012, 8:25 PM

By Thomas Suddes, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

With the usual ifs and buts, Ohio Republicans are sitting pretty as 2012 opens.
First, Republicans redrew Ohio General Assembly districts to guarantee Republican rule of the state legislature through 2022. True, the Ohio Supreme Court (6-1 Republican) could veto those districts.
Don't bet on it.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/01/republicans_seem_to_have_it_al.html

It's time to rewrite our state constitution

Every 20 years (and this is the year) Ohio voters can call for a review

6:23 PM, Jan. 7, 2012  |  

Written by

Paul E. Kostyu

Move the state capital?

Lower or raise legislators’ salaries? Or how often they should meet – if at all?

Change how public schools are funded? Allow same-sex marriage?

Ohioans will get a rare chance to make all those changes, if they want.

Once every 20 years, under the state constitution, Ohioans have the chance to rewrite the state constitution through a constitutional convention.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120107/NEWS/301080015/It-s-time-rewrite-our-state-constitution?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Ban Double Dipping By State Employees

January 8, 2012

The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

In many states, including West Virginia, state employees who retire and collect pensions are not permitted to "double dip." Should they decide to go back to work in the public sector, their pension benefits are reduced.

That is not the case in Ohio. There, retirees - including some very well compensated ones - are not penalized if they get back on the public payroll.
http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/564073/Ban-Double-Dipping-By-State-Employees.html?nav=511

Hannah Report  1/6/12

CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION COMMISSION

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission met for the first time Dec. 28, naming as co-chairs House Speaker

William Batchelder (R-Medina), sponsor of the legislation creating the commission, and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron). The

first 12 legislative commission members voted to set a deadline of Jan. 31 for applications to fill the additional 20

commission seats.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said he expects gambling omnibus HB386 (Blessing) to be the top priority for

the House in January, with hopes of passing it during the month. He also said follow-up JobsOhio legislation is likely to be

introduced.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188202