February 1

Democrats unveil battle plan for campaign

Focus will be on jobs, foreclosures and voters’ rights

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday February 1, 2012 4:00 AM

Arguing that Ohio House Republicans last year pushed through a “destructive, divisive, disastrous agenda,” House Democrats said they will push legislation this year that focuses on jobs, foreclosures, voting rights and education.

Democrats foreshadowed themes that are likely to arise during the campaign season as they work to cut into the House GOP’s 59-40 majority. Minority Leader Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, sharply criticized the lack of bipartisanship in the Statehouse, the new two-year budget and some of the enacted laws, including one to weaken collective bargaining for public workers that voters struck down in November.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/01/democrats-unveil-battle-plan-for-campaign.html

Ohio House Democrats set legislative goals while GOP establishes significant fundraising edge

Published: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 6:23 PM     Updated: Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 11:55 PM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Democrats in the Ohio House of Representatives said on Tuesday they will continue fighting for the middle class this year with a legislative agenda focused on job creation and rebuilding communities.
A new state fund for local communities and increased funding for film tax credits, historic tax credits and other economic development initiatives were among the proposals Democrats announced at a Statehouse news conference.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/01/ohio_house_democrats_set_legis.html

Published: 1/31/2012 - Updated: 27 minutes ago

 “Pit bull” bill step closer to passage

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS — After years of being kept in the legislative doghouse, a bill ending Ohio’s distinction as the only state that automatically deems a breed of dog to be inherently vicious cleared a major hurdle Tuesday.

The Ohio Senate, previously reluctant to take up the measure, voted 27-5 to send the revised bill back to the House. The House has twice passed such a measure, but will not consider Senate amendments until Feb. 8 at the earliest.
http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2012/01/31/Pit-bull-bill-step-closer-to-passage.html

Batchelder: ODNR may grow in drilling legislation

By MARC KOVAC
Ashland Times Gazette
Dix Capital Bureau
COLUMBUS -- The Republican leader of the Ohio House expects lawmakers to act in coming months on yet-to-be-introduced legislation affecting gas and oil drilling in the state.
Speaker Bill Batchelder told reporters Tuesday that a bill could be introduced in the next few weeks and finalized by the time lawmakers leave Columbus for the busy summer campaign season.
http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article_no_comments/5152664

House, Senate GOP Flush with Money in January Filing
Hannah Report 1/31/12

The House and Senate Republican caucuses have refilled their campaign coffers going into the 2012 campaign, with a large advantage over their Democratic counterparts.

House Republicans reported raising $2.7 million over the second half of 2011, and more than $5 million through the first year of the 129^th General Assembly. The caucus committee now has $4.1 million in its campaign fund.

In comparison, House Democrats reported having $410,657 on hand after raising $416,524 in the second half of 2011. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188426

House Approves Cyber Fraud Bill, Seats Temporary Member
Hannah Report 1/31/12

The House Tuesday approved SB223 (Bacon) by a vote of 83-10, which will give the attorney general authority to crack down on cyber fraud -- a form of telecommunications fraud -- by subpoenaing phone records, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and payment information in suspected cyber fraud cases and preparing them for criminal prosecution. The bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence with House amendments.

Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) told the lower chamber that "there is much to support in the bill." However, he went on to object to the increased sentencing provisions for scammers, noting the Legislature "just four months ago" passed HB86, cleaning up the state's sentencing provisions. He told the House, "We should trust the judges."http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188436

House Democrats Announce Legislative Priorities, Attack GOP Agenda

Gongwer 1/31/12

House Democrats unveiled their "priorities to strengthen the middle class" Tuesday, in the meantime pillorying what they described as Republicans' "extremist partisan agenda."

Some of the proposals House Democrats touted during the Statehouse news conference resemble bills that members introduced last session to address issues such as foreclosure and economic development incentives, charter school accountability, and human trafficking.

House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said the measures grew out of the caucus's "compact with the middle class" that focuses on expanding employment, rebuilding communities, protecting rights, and improving public education.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=810200201

Casino/Slots Measure Delayed Over Race Day Dispute, Amendments; House Seats Temp Member

Gongwer 1/31/12

House Session: Ina relatively short session, the length of which was exceeded by time spent on presentations, the House seated a temporary member and took action on two bills.

Rep. Philip Rose, in a rare circumstance, was appointed to serve until after the results of the contested March 6 primary election in the GOP-leaning 87^th House District. The attorney with Oths, Heiser & Miller, LLC in Wellston previously served as Vinton County Court of Common Pleas judge.

Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) decided to fill the slot on a temporary basis so the district would not be without representation for the next month, he said. The speaker wanted the district's voters through the primary results to decide who would fill most of the unexpired term of John Carey, who resigned to join the staff of Shawnee State University.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=810200203

Finance Reports Detail 2011 Fundraising Efforts; Majority Caucuses Extend Gaps

Gongwer 1/31/12

State officials, lawmakers and legislative caucuses kicked off the 2012 election year Tuesday by reporting millions of dollars they raised over the course of 2011.

Seven public officials reported raising more than $200,000 last year, and one - Attorney General Mike DeWine - brought in more than $574,000.

 Mr. DeWine topped the list of individual fundraisers for the year, which also included large off-year takes for Secretary of State Jon Husted ($353,775), House Speaker Bill Batchelder ($340,013), Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown ($212,813), House Minority Leader Armond Budish ($203,949), Sen. Thomas Patton ($203,568) and Gov. John Kasich ($201,324).

In terms of cash on hand, Secretary Husted leads the pack with $423,000, followed by Gov. Kasich ($360,000) and Speaker Batchelder ($359,000).

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=810200205