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