Published: 2/9/2012
Ohio Senate moves to repeal election law before Nov. 6 vote
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS — Ohio lawmakers in the Senate introduced a bill Thursday that would repeal a new law overhauling the state’s election process, ignoring warnings of a backlash from a coalition that wants to put the repeal question to a popular vote in November.
The law targeted for referendum by Fair Elections Ohio would shorten the early voting period in the presidential battleground state and make a host of other election changes. It has been on hold since September, pending the referendum vote this fall.
The coalition of labor, clergy and some Democrats said at a news conference earlier Thursday that they will oppose any parts of the law that the legislature moves to preserve between now and the Nov. 6 election. The group threatened to mount a second signature drive against any replacement bill and to pursue litigation.
http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2012/02/09/Ohio-Senate-moves-to-repeal-election-law-before-Nov-6-vote.html’
http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2012/02/09/Ohio-Senate-moves-to-repeal-election-law-before-Nov-6-vote.html’
GOP can’t agree on repealing voting law
Democrats vow to oppose even a revised version
By Jim Siegel
Senate Republicans want to repeal a package of election law changes that is facing a referendum on the November ballot and then work out a bipartisan agreement on a new batch of revisions.
However, at this point, House Republicans aren’t even on board, much less the Democrats.
Senate Republicans rolled out a bill yesterday that would repeal House Bill 194, the broad package of election-law changes that is facing a referendum on the November ballot. After a repeal — which would knock the referendum from the general election — the goal would be to craft a new elections bill that deals with some of the less-controversial elements of House Bill 194 and some agreed-upon provisions from a bill worked on last session.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/10/gop-cant-agree-on-repealing-voting-law.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/10/gop-cant-agree-on-repealing-voting-law.html
Ohio Senate Republicans plan to repeal controversial elections law
Published: Thursday, February 09, 2012, 12:30 PM Updated: Friday, February 10, 2012, 5:10 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Senate Republicans on Thursday set into motion a plan to repeal a controversial election law and replace it with new changes that would take effect before the November election.
But the House Speaker isn't yet on board with the plan, and a group of voting rights advocates have vowed to seek a referendum -- with the backing of President Barack Obama's campaign -- if Ohio lawmakers pass a new elections law.
A bill was introduced Thursday to repeal House Bill 194 -- the election law overhaul package GOP lawmakers passed last year that restricted opportunities for early voting and made other changes that opponents said amounted to voter suppression. Democrats and others have gathered enough signatures to put the law up for a vote this November. Until then, the law remains on hold. If the law is repealed, the referendum issue would be moot, although it still might be on the ballot.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/02/ohio_senate_republicans_plan_t.html
Hearings to begin on bill to repeal Ohio election reforms
Published: Fri, February 10, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Republicans in the Ohio Senate hope to begin hearings next week on legislation that would repeal controversial GOP election reforms set to be decided by voters in November.
If passed by the Ohio House and Senate and signed by Gov. John Kasich, the new bill would eliminate House Bill 194 from the general-election ballot.
“We passed that bill in an effort to provide local elections officials with the clear guidelines they needed to fairly and effectively manage the upcoming presidential contest,” Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus said Thursday.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/10/hearings-to-begin-on-bill-to-repeal-ohio/
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/10/hearings-to-begin-on-bill-to-repeal-ohio/
Who is protecting Ohioans in the fracking debate?
10:15 AM, Feb 10, 2012
Written by
CLEVELAND -- Natural gas and oil companies are buying up big tracts of Ohio land on top of natural gas and oil-rich shale.
The process of "fracking" uses horizontal drilling, pumping water and chemicals into the ground to get the fossil fuel.
And some are concerned the process is moving too fast and may jeopardize the environment and nearby residents.
http://www.wkyc.com/news/state/article/229464/23/Who-is-protecting-Ohioans-in-the-fracking-debate
http://www.wkyc.com/news/state/article/229464/23/Who-is-protecting-Ohioans-in-the-fracking-debate
Taking a step back Hearings to begin on repeal of election reform bill
By MARC KOVACWooster Daily Record
Dix Capital Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Republicans in the Ohio Senate hope to begin hearings next week on legislation that would repeal a controversial GOP election reform package set to be decided by voters in November.
If passed by the Ohio House and Senate and signed by Gov. John Kasich, the new bill would eliminate House Bill 194 from the general election ballot.
http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5155638
Coley Introduces Bill to Repeal HB194; Reactions Abound
Hannah Report 2/9/12
If he had his way, Sen. Bill Coley (R-West Chester) told Hannah News Thursday, the Legislature would pass his bill, SB295, which only repeals HB194 (Mecklenborg-Blessing), the election law reform that faces a referendum on the ballot in November. A bipartisan effort would then produce needed changes in time for the November election -- in a separate bill.
Arguing that SB295 in actuality does what those Ohioans said they wanted done when they signed the HB194 referendum petitions, Coley said, "I would rather do that sooner than later" and work on a bipartisan bill for the November election now, referencing work that the Senate (including now Secretary of State Jon Husted) and former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner had begun two years ago.
If that second bill were not forthcoming, Coley said they would be in the same place they would be in November should the referendum vote negate HB194 -- "back at square one."
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188527
Legislature Doubles-Up on Workforce Development
Hannah Report 2/9/12
The Legislature as well as the Governor’s Office is zeroing in on workforce training as a major policy agenda in the new year, releasing a special committee report in recent weeks and introducing a concurrent resolution that exhorts Congress to reauthorize the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
Rep. Tim Derickson (R-Springboro) chaired House Speaker William Batchelder’s (R-Medina) Workforce Development Study Committee, one of several ad hoc panels convened by Republicans in 2011 (see The Hannah Report, 8/17/11), and has now joined with Rep. Craig Newbold (R-Columbiana) in introducing HCR33, which urges Congress to take action on WIA and give states more flexibility to address current training needs. Derickson and Newbold delivered sponsor testimony on the resolution Thursday before the House Economic Development and Small Business Committee.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188529
Senate GOP Introduces Elections Overhaul Repeal; Referendum Campaign Vows Fight; Speaker Raises Doubts
Gongwer 2/9/12
Senate Republicans on Thursday introduced and fast-tracked legislation to repeal the divisive elections overhaul bill scheduled for a referendum vote in November.
The moves came on the same day opponents of the GOP's original bill (HB 194
The Senate's plan also appears to be far from a done deal in the House, where Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) offered up a tepid response in which he reiterated concerns that the Senate proposal could be unconstitutional.
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