Kasich touts latest reforms
Legislation hits education, energy, government
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch Friday June 15, 2012 5:53 AM
He honored those who helped save two girls this weekend near Bowling Green from an apparent human-trafficking situation and offered strong words for Ohio universities that resist reforms while their costs explode.
In between, Gov. John Kasich touted the latest chapter of what he called the “most-aggressive reform agenda in modern Ohio history.”
After a whirlwind three months of legislative action, prompted largely by a wide-ranging package of policy changes that he called the mid-biennium review, Kasich gathered with legislative leaders at the governor’s residence yesterday to highlight the passage of a variety of education, energy, criminal-justice and government overhauls.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/15/kasich-touts-reforms-of-latest-legislative-session.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/06/15/kasich-touts-reforms-of-latest-legislative-session.html
State GOP touts bipartisanship; Dems don’t quite see it that way
Published: Fri, June 15, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
A year ago, Gov. John Kasich and the Republican leaders of the Ohio House and Senate greeted reporters at the governor’s residence to tout a budget bill that received no Democratic support.
The wrap-up followed a contentious first six months and a battle royal of partisanship, with the majority GOP grappling with the minority party over public employee collective bargaining, election laws and other legislation that brought little agreement between the two controlling political parties.
On Thursday, Kasich, House Speaker Bill Batchelder and Senate President Tom Niehaus again gathered at the governor’s residence to talk about their accomplishments year to date.http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/jun/15/state-gop-touts-bipartisanship-dems-dont/
Published: 6/15/2012 - Updated: 1 hour ago
Kasich lauds rescuers who thwarted kidnap of 2 teen girls
BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS -- Using Saturday's rescue of two possible kidnapping victims as one victory in Ohio's war against human trafficking, Gov. John Kasich Thursday praised the Ohio Highway Patrol and a Wood County truck stop employee for their quick actions.
"It's easy for people to stand on the sidelines, and not take the heat, and not stick their noses out there into the people's business sometimes," Mr. Kasich told Enrique Vento, state terminal travel counselor at the I-75 rest stop in Bowling Green.
"Without you, we have two girls who may have lost their lives," the governor said.
Mr. Vento was approached by a 17-year-old Kentucky girl who allegedly had been kidnapped and then forced out of a commercial truck at the rest stop.
Split House Passes Education MBR; Speaker Hints at Fall Sessions
Hannah Report 6/13/12
Hannah Report 6/13/12
A House chamber divided along mostly party lines passed the Gov. John Kasich education plan, SB316 (Lehner), and sent human trafficking legislation to the governor for his signature. Considering Kasich's personal appearances advocating on the latter bill, including to a House Republican Caucus and before the Ohio Senate during a recess Wednesday, it won't be long before the bill gets that signature.
Meanwhile, House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters after session that it is likely the House will return around Labor Day to address pension reform. He indicated that there will be hearings over the summer on the pension bills, starting around July 11 when the consultant’s report is due. He does plan to finish work on the bills, calling the House back into session to vote on the bills.
He also indicated that Reps. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) and Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster) will be having hearings over the summer on the school funding issue. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189708
Meanwhile, House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters after session that it is likely the House will return around Labor Day to address pension reform. He indicated that there will be hearings over the summer on the pension bills, starting around July 11 when the consultant’s report is due. He does plan to finish work on the bills, calling the House back into session to vote on the bills.
He also indicated that Reps. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) and Gerald Stebelton (R-Lancaster) will be having hearings over the summer on the school funding issue. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189708
Kasich, Leaders Laud MBR, Governor Says 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet'
Hannah Report 6/14/12
Hannah Report 6/14/12
Gov. John Kasich and lead GOP lawmakers celebrated the scope, weight and pace of the busy spring session Thursday during an event at the official governor's residence in Bexley.
Kasich described the Mid-Biennium Review and other high-priority legislation passed in recent weeks as "the most aggressive reform agenda in modern Ohio history" while also casting the actions as modest compared to the budgets and administration initiatives to come.
"I have to say, as much as has been accomplished in the budget and the Mid-Biennium Review, you ain't seen nothing yet," the governor. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189709
Kasich described the Mid-Biennium Review and other high-priority legislation passed in recent weeks as "the most aggressive reform agenda in modern Ohio history" while also casting the actions as modest compared to the budgets and administration initiatives to come.
"I have to say, as much as has been accomplished in the budget and the Mid-Biennium Review, you ain't seen nothing yet," the governor. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189709
Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of JobsOhio Lawsuit
Hannah Report 6/14/12
Hannah Report 6/14/12
The Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals Thursday upheld the dismissal of lawsuit brought by ProgressOhio and two state legislators challenging the constitutionality of Gov. John Kasich's private economic development entity, JobsOhio.
A three-judge panel unanimously ruled that ProgressOhio, Sen. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) all lack standing to bring their lawsuit.
The legislators and ProgressOhio filed the lawsuit last year, claiming that the legislation creating JobsOhio is unconstitutional because it confers corporate powers and take an equity stake in a private corporation, among other arguments. (See The Hannah Report, 8/30/11.)
Franklin County Judge Laurel Beatty dismissed the case last December, saying that while there may be concerns with provisions in the law creating JobsOhio, she could not let the lawsuit go forward because the plaintiffs lacked standing. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189710
A three-judge panel unanimously ruled that ProgressOhio, Sen. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) all lack standing to bring their lawsuit.
The legislators and ProgressOhio filed the lawsuit last year, claiming that the legislation creating JobsOhio is unconstitutional because it confers corporate powers and take an equity stake in a private corporation, among other arguments. (See The Hannah Report, 8/30/11.)
Franklin County Judge Laurel Beatty dismissed the case last December, saying that while there may be concerns with provisions in the law creating JobsOhio, she could not let the lawsuit go forward because the plaintiffs lacked standing. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189710
Gongwer 6/14/12
A Franklin County appeals court on Thursday upheld a lower court's ruling that plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the constitutionality of the privatized economic development entity JobsOhio.
The 10th District Court of Appeals ruling dismisses claims by ProgressOhio, Sen. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood), and Rep. Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky) that the private, non-profit entity created last year (HB 1
The ruling clears the way for the Kasich Administration to transfer the state's liquor operations to JobsOhio to lease the revenue stream to fund operations. The transaction has been on ice while the lawsuit worked its way through the courts. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, April 20, 2012)
Part of the complex deal entails a one-time $500 million transfer to the general revenue fund for the fiscal year 2012 budget, which had also been stalled by the lawsuit. JobsOhio was supposed to issue long-term bonds backed by future revenue from the liquor franchise to raise the funds needed to pay the state.
Gongwer 6/14/12
On the first day of summer recess Thursday, Gov. John Kasich and legislative leaders celebrated the mountain of bills approved over the last few months and the bipartisanship that took place.
The governor, Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) and House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) highlighted the provisions of the mid-biennium review bills and other priority measures during a news event at the governor's residence in Bexley.
Speaker Batchelder said in the 19 sessions he has been in the legislature, "there has never been a session like this session."
The Kasich administration presented lawmakers with three MBR bills in the spring that were packed with policy on education, energy and other aspects of state government. The main MBR was later divided into 10 bills, most of which were enacted.
"This has been an absolutely incredible session," Rep. Batchelder said. "This is without question the most meaningful, the most reform-minded, the most enthused that I have seen the legislature and the legislative process. I think it has something to do with the man that is our governor."
Gov. Kasich said the work of the legislature this spring to pass so many bills - including 16 mid-biennium review bills - in a short time span is evidence of a change in culture.
"Instead of waiting two years to fix things, we're fixing them on a daily basis," he said.
Gongwer 6/14/12
Despite the multitude of bill topics passed by the General Assembly this month, when Gov. John Kasich spoke of them Thursday, education issues rose to the surface.
The governor, Senate President and House Speaker held a summary press conference at the governor's residence (see separate story) to discuss the legislative work during the spring, which included an education mid-biennium review package (SB 316 ) and the Cleveland schools plan (HB 525 ).
Gov. Kasich said the majority of legislation he backed for enactment this spring is about people and children and allowing them to realize their talents. He described the third-grade reading guarantee contained in the MBR as reasonable, enforceable "and something that's going to really give our young people an opportunity to be successful."
Provisions that define and permit blended education will allow students to get credit for taking online courses, he said. "So kids can learn at their own speed using the modern technology of the 21st Century."
Legislature Completes Work On Human Trafficking, Collateral Sanctions, MBR Bills Before Summer Recess
Gongwer 6/14/12
Lawmakers completed an unusually lengthy and action-packed election-year session on Wednesday evening, sending several proposals - including plans to crack down on human trafficking and relieve ex-prisoners of post-incarceration burdens - to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.
The votes on the measures were among numerous taken in the House and Senate as the chambers traded bills back and forth before finishing work for the summer. Neither chamber is expected to return to full session for a couple of months, although some work is expected to progress at the committee level on retirement fund legislation and studies of the municipal tax system and school finance.
Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said he anticipated the House would hold hearings starting in July on the handful of retirement system bills that already cleared the Senate and expects to have the full House act on the measures in early September.
The passage of the human trafficking measure (HB 262 ) marked a rare success for a Democrat-sponsored bill and was hailed by the governor and other officials as a landmark, bipartisan effort.
No comments:
Post a Comment