Monday, February 27, 2012

February 27

3 Republicans, 2 Democrats vie for Ohio House seat

Two-term incumbent Martin has two primary challengers.

By Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer Updated 11:01 PM Saturday, February 25, 2012
The race for the 73rd Ohio House seat has become the most expensive local contest on the March 6 ballot, at least on the GOP side.
Three Republicans and two Democrats are vying for the seat in a race with several subplots and a clashing of various GOP power bases.
Two-term incumbent Jarrod Martin, R-Beavercreek, faces fellow GOP rivals Greene County Commissioner Rick Perales and Greene County sheriff’s Capt. Eric Spicer in the primary.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/3-republicans-2-democrats-vie-for-ohio-house-seat-1334435.html

Cleveland kids' fate rests in legislators' shaky hands: Brent Larkin
Published: Saturday, February 25, 2012, 9:00 AM     Updated: Saturday, February 25, 2012, 12:19 PM

When it comes to Cleveland's future, Mayor Frank Jackson's plan to save the schools isn't a matter of pass or perish.
But it's awfully close.
As Democrats and Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly begin to marshal their feeble excuses not to give Jackson the legislation he needs to implement his plan -- and they're already busy doing just that -- they should keep this in mind:
A "no" vote is essentially a vote in favor of Cleveland's demise. It's a vote in favor of keeping Cleveland's children mired in a life of poverty. http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_kids_fate_rests_in_l.html

Ohio GOP primary is referendum on future: Thomas Suddes
Published: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 5:10 AM

On March 6, Ohio conservatives -- for maybe the first time since 1976's Gerald Ford-Ronald Reagan delegate war -- are finally getting real choices, not just echoes (to borrow Phyllis Schlafly's phrase).
That's when the Ohio primary will help sort out rival contenders for the GOP's White House nomination. For bystanders, what a delightful statewide donnybrook that has become. It's also a marketplace of new ideas, as Newt Gingrich -- like him or not -- demonstrates daily.
Till now, Ohio conservatives could well label their 40-year diaries with a gloss on the title of Richard Farina's novel: Been down so long that almost anything looks like up to me. They were denied Reagan in 1976. And America got Jimmy Carter. And conservatives had to swallow the Bushes -- and see big government get even bigger. For statewide office, the Republican right boosted an up-and-coming conservative, suburban Dayton Republican Seth Morgan. The right was told, in so many words, not to rock the boat.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/ohio_gop_primary_is_referendum.html

State lawmakers to unveil proposal for drastic changes to redistricting process
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers will unveil a proposal today calling for drastic changes to the way Ohio redraws state and congressional districts every 10 years.
The recommendations include the possibility of voters deciding the lines and nonpartisan primaries for state legislative and congressional races if Democratic and Republican lawmakers can’t compromise on redistricting.
The current winner-take-all redistricting process needs substantial reform and is the cause of political dysfunction within the state, said Sen. Frank LaRose, R-Copley Township.
LaRose; Sen. Tom Sawyer, D-Akron; Rep. Ted Celeste, D-Grandview Heights; and Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, have been working together since last year to come up with a more balanced approach and prevent one party’s ability to railroad through its own district maps.


Editorial memos: Jay Leno he's not
7:45 AM, Feb. 24, 2012
We think Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder’s refusal to apologize for a “joke” – using that word loosely – about putting President Obama in jail calls the speaker’s judgment and leadership quality into question.
The Washington Post reported that during the Summit County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday, Batchelder told the crowd, “The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a great start.” Yuk, yuk.
Rep. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, demanded that Batchelder, R-Medina, apologize for the “absolutely deplorable” remark, which he said shows an “unprecedented disrespect” for Obama. Batchelder’s odd response Wednesday: he’d apologize to Sykes, “who apparently considered it more than a joke,” but he wouldn’t apologize for the “harmless” joke itself.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120224/EDIT01/302230165/Editorial-memos-Jay-Leno-he-s-not

Ohio House speaker Batchelder says 'Obama in jail' quip based on Jay Leno joke
Columbus Government Examiner

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - Driven by presidential election year politics that in many ways seems more partisan, ideological, bitter and personal than previous contests, it causes some to wonder why Ohio's Republican House Speaker William G. Batchelder would tell a miscued joke about President Obama spending time in jail, when he knows every word he says will be forced through a political prisms not to his liking, which will only fan the flames of a political bonfire already burning red hot.

At issue is what speaker Batchelder said about the president when he introduced Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who was in Ohio, a key battleground state the Republican candidate for the White House must win to beat the incumbent president, in advance of the important Super Tuesday primaries on March 6. 



City: State shouldn't collect local income tax


February 26, 2012
by Laura Freeman | Reporter
Hudson Hub Times
Hudson -- City officials are concerned that $4 billion in local income tax would be too tempting for the state to touch.
Council members could soon vote on a resolution opposing any effort by the state to take over collection of local income taxes. Hudson receives more than $12 million in income tax receipts per year.
http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/5160668

Week in Review for Friday, February 24, 2012

Hannah Report

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) called for an apology after reports that House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said at a Republican dinner that "liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a good start." Batchelder responded that he has "deep" respect for the office of the presidency but was speaking in jest, making a joke similar to one late-night host Jay Leno has delivered.http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188675

In Contested Primary, Rep. Martin Says Focus On Voters, Not Endorsements; Challengers Lead In Fundraising
Incumbent Rep. Jarrod Martin says he is focused on serving constituents rather than being endorsed by his caucus in the March 6 primary, but his opponents offer differing views on his situation.
Mr. Martin (R-Beavercreek) was cited over the summer for drunken driving and child endangerment after he was pulled over in Jackson County. After refusing calls from Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) to resign, the lawmaker eventually saw those charges dropped.
Nevertheless, Rep. Martin, 32, never regained the chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee he was stripped of in September. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, September 7, 2012) And a spokesman for the speaker said the House Republican Caucus is treating the primary in the 73rd District, which covers western Greene County, as an open race and will not endorse a candidate.
While the House leadership isn't picking sides, political donors in the race have favored Rep. Martin's opponents - Greene County Commissioner Rick Perales and Eric Spicer, a sheriff's captain in the county - at least in terms of cumulative fundraising leading up to the primary.


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