August 28

Ohio delegation attracting top speakers

08/28/12 at 9:22am

Written by pkostyu

Enquirer

TAMPA, Fla. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry revved up the Ohio delegation late Monday night at a reception hosted by the Ohio Legisture’s two leaders — Senate president Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, and House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina

Perry, a former presidential candidate who battled Romney in the primaries, is just one of the headliners to make pitches to the folks from Ohio, indicating the importance of the state in the Nov. 6 election — though Perry mistakenly said Nov. 7 during his speech which drew applause and cheers repeatedly. One person at the reception said Perry was better in person than was seen on television during the primary campaign.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/28/ohio-delegation-attracting-top-speakers/

Storm delay doesn't stop the convention politicking as Ohio GOP delegation waits out Isaac

Published: Monday, August 27, 2012, 8:00 PM     Updated: Monday, August 27, 2012, 8:56 PM

By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

TAMPA, Fla. — On the afternoon they were supposed to award 66 delegates to Mitt Romney, Ohioans assembled here for the Republican National Convention instead were treated to a visit from one-time Romney rival Newt Gingrich and a brief tornado warning.

Of the two, Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker, roared loader.

His remarks on energy independence helped Romney's presidential campaign and the state GOP fill time on a day that could have been a waste for the swing state delegates. One after another Monday at the delegation's hotel complex, high-profile surrogates criticized President Barack Obama and reinforced Romney's economic themes.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/storm_delay_doesnt_stop_the_co.html

August 20

Ohio, beware legislating on the ballot: editorial

Published: Saturday, August 18, 2012, 4:15 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

Ohio isn't California, where voters, via the ballot box, seemingly enact almost as many laws as their legislature. But the pace of Ohio voter-initiated constitutional amendments seems to be quickening.

In the last 100 years, Ohioans have proposed 71 constitutional amendments (including one, on legislative districts, on November's ballot).

From around the Korean War until Ronald Reagan's first presidency began, Ohioans proposed 14 constitutional amendments. In statewide elections, voters rejected all but two. That's a batting average of 0.143.

In the next 30 years, beginning in 1981, voters proposed more than twice as many amendments -- 30, including this November's. Of the 29 that the voters have judged so far, they passed nine. That's a batting average of 0.310.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/08/ohio_beware_legislating_on_the.html

Groups Say Documents Prove ALEC's Improper Influence With GOP; Rep. Adams Claims ‘Witch Hunt'

Gongwer 8/17/12

A coalition of progressive groups issued a report Friday criticizing the influence the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council has with Ohio's Republican lawmakers.

ProgressOhio, the Center for Media and Democracy, Common Cause and People for the American Way reviewed thousands of pages of public documents from lawmakers that the groups say prove ALEC wields too much power in Ohio.

Listed as the report's key findings are:

·         Speaker Bill Batchelder's (R-Medina) director of scheduling was asked to rearrange the 2012 session dates around ALEC events.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=811600203

August 15

Constitutional Panel To Seat Public Members Next Month

Gongwer 8/14/12

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission will meet next month to formally seat the 20 at-large public members, Speaker Bill Batchelder and co-chairman Rep. Vernon Sykes announced Tuesday.

The commission will meet 10 a.m. Sept. 13 in Statehouse Room 212. The initial term of Commission members ends Dec. 31, 2012, after which they may be reappointed to two-year terms. The 12 legislative members of the panel have already been appointed.

"I am so pleased that we have been able to move forward with the selection of these twenty Ohioans," Rep. Sykes (D-Akron) said in a release. "It is a daunting task to review all the applications and resumes from so many qualified people who have a real passion and interest in their government and state constitution. There is no doubt that having twenty diverse voices speak out through this process is much needed."

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=811570204

Constitutional Modernization Commission Sets Meeting to Appoint Public Members

Hannah Report 8/14/12
The Constitutional Modernization Commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13 to appoint the 20 at-large members of the commission, according to an announcement from commission co-chairs, Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron). It will meet in House Hearing Room 121.

“I am so pleased that we have been able to move forward with the selection of these 20 Ohioans,” Sykes said in a release. “It is a daunting task to review all the applications and resumes from so many qualified people who have a real passion and interest in their government and state constitution. There is no doubt that having 20 diverse voices speak out through this process is much needed.”
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190281

August 13

Ohio campaign to overhaul redistricting process will be hard fought

Published: Saturday, August 11, 2012, 6:00 PM     Updated: Sunday, August 12, 2012, 10:58 AM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio – When Republicans who control Ohio government got together last year to draw the state's congressional boundaries -- a process that would affect elections for the next decade -- they holed up in a Columbus hotel room out of public view, taking cues from an aide to powerful U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

The result? A collection of oddly shaped districts that seemed to guarantee overwhelming electoral success for the GOP.

Democrats and good-government advocates cried foul, but there wasn't much to be done.

Now Ohio voters can dramatically change the system. But would the new process be any better?

Some potent arguments -- and likely tens of millions of dollars -- will go toward trying to sway voters one way or the other.

A proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot, backed by a group called Voters First Ohio, would replace elected officials now in charge of drawing the lines with a 12-member commission that would exclude state and federal politicians whose districts are at stake.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/08/ohio_campaign_to_overhaul_redi.html

Pass bill to bring Ohio puppy mills to heel: editorial

Published: Saturday, August 11, 2012, 7:13 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

In February, Ohio's Senate unanimously passed a bill to regulate so-called puppy mills, but the House has kept this long-overdue measure bottled up in committee. That's wrong. Ohio has become a haven for high-volume breeders, adding another doleful distinction to the state's terrible reputation for indifference to animal welfare.

The House and its Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee must approve this long-overdue measure so the House can send the bill to Gov. John Kasich. The bill, sponsored by Columbus Republican Sen. Jim Hughes, would require the state Agriculture Department to regulate high-volume dog breeders -- establishments with "adult breeding dogs that produce at least nine litters of puppies in any given calendar year" and sell "60 or more adult dogs or puppies per calendar year."

The committee's chair, Rep. Dave Hall, a Millersburg Republican, said he'll probably hold hearings on the bill when the House returns to session in September. In fairness, Hall's committee has had a hefty agenda. Example: Ohio's new exotic-animal law. Workload aside, though, there's nothing complex about Hughes' bill, and it is clearly needed. Hall's committee and the House should pass it in September. If that requires a nudge from House Speaker William Batchelder, a Medina Republican, so be it. Hughes has worked steadily and constructively to get this completely nonpartisan bill to Kasich. The House should do the same.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/08/pass_bill_to_bring_ohio_puppy.html

Manufacturing Task Force Holds Public Hearing

Hannah Report 8/10/12

In an effort to learn more about what the state can do to encourage growth in the manufacturing industry, the Ohio House held its first 21^st Century Manufacturing Task Force public hearing Thursday.

The Timken Company hosted the task force at its Canton office. Members of the group welcomed a panel of manufacturing executives from the steel, polymer, ceramic and paint and coatings industry.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190258

August 10

Panel assesses Ohio industry

By Robert Wang

CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted Aug 10, 2012 @ 01:00 AM

CANTON — The Ohio House’s 21st Century Manufacturing Task Force held its first hearing Thursday at Timken Co. headquarters, where an expert and manufacturing executives said that Northeast Ohio manufacturing has experienced a recovery since 2009 after a deep, long decline; enjoys some advantages such as location and a weak dollar, but faces challenges such as the rising cost of electricity, the burden of regulations, a deteriorating infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers.

“We heard a lot of different stories from a wide variety of manufacturers about the good things that are happening in manufacturing,” the task force’s chairman, State Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, said after the hearing. “Also, they were very clear about talking about the challenges, so what we’re trying to do is an assessment, an honest assessment of where we’re at in Ohio with manufacturing, and how we can as public policy makers with the manufacturing community enhance Ohio’s manufacturing competitiveness.”

Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, this summer appointed Schuring to head the nine-member, bipartisan task force, which would hold five hearings around Ohio to assess the state of Ohio manufacturing.

http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x521655147/Panel-assesses-Ohio-industry

August 9

Timid House stalls pension bills: editorial

Published: Wednesday, August 08, 2012, 9:00 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

In a gross display of irresponsibility, the Republican-run Ohio House has dawdled all summer over five bipartisan state Senate measures to reform and strengthen Ohio's public retirement systems.

The unconscionable delays have kept the public pension plans from long-overdue reforms to, in some cases, increase public employee contributions and reduce benefits, that will save money for the retirement plans and, in the long run, for taxpayers.

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/08/timid_house_stalls_pension_bil.html

August 1

Seville woman honored for rescuing man from burning car

NewsNet5.com

Posted: 07/26/2012

 By: Shay Harris, newsnet5.com

MEDINA, Ohio - The Ohio State Highway Patrol honors 52 year old Medina County woman for her brave act that saved a man's life.

On March 25, 52 year old Debra Stitt put her life on the line when she saw someone trapped in a burning car. Her immediate reaction was to help.

The 18-year-old driver lost control of his KIA Spectra on Seville Road in Westfield Township. Authorities said he drove off the road and hit a large rock.

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_medina/seville-woman-honored-for-rescuing-man-from-burning-car

 

 

Woman honored by police for rescue of driver

Filed by Michelle Sprehe July 27th, 2012 in News.
The Medina-Gazette

MEDINA TWP. — Driving along Seville Road on a Sunday morning in March, Debra Stitt was on her way to the grocery store when she saw a sight she described as “surreal” — a compact car had crashed into a boulder nearly the size of the vehicle, trapping the driver inside as the car began to catch fire.

“I just stopped my car, jumped out and did what I had to do,” Stitt said.

After an unsuccessful attempt to open the passenger-side door, Stitt was able to pry open the driver’s door and pull the 18-year-old man out of his 2006 Kia Spectra.

http://medinagazette.northcoastnow.com/2012/07/27/woman-honored-by-police-for-rescue-of-driver/