Public pension reforms in state are designed to shore up funds
Published: Tue, September 18, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
Youngstown Vindicator
In an rare act of bipartisanship, Re- publicans and Democrats in the Ohio General Assembly have approved a package of bills that should improve the financial health of the five public pension funds and keep them solvent.
While most Ohioans will not be affected by what the legislators did last week, they can take comfort in the fact that no taxpayer dollars will be used to prop up the funds. The insolvency of public pension systems has become a national epidemic, and in many states lawmakers have opted to deal with the crisis by tapping into their operating funds.
THURBER: OH House speaker caught off guard by costs of bill – imagine that!
By Watchdog Staff / September 17, 2012 / No Comments
By Maggie Thurber l Special to Ohio Watchdog
In a conversation with reporters Wednesday, House Speaker William Batchelder admitted to being caught off guard by the costs of Ohio‘s revised exotic animals law.
In a move to “do something” after a troubled man released his collection of exotic animals and then committed suicide, the General Assembly revised its law requiring permits, fees and inspections for anyone housing any defined exotic animal. The new law also called for animals to be confiscated under certain conditions.
Apparently, lawmakers, including Batchelder, R-Medina, failed to realize that taking possession of such animals would result in the need to house and feed them until such time that they could be returned to the owners or otherwise transferred out of the control of the state.
Batchelder, Strickland Anchor Constitutional Panel
Hannah Report 9/14/12
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) followed Thursday’s pivotal meeting of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission in a broader discussion Friday at the Ohio Historical Society, where former Gov. Ted Strickland joined him in addressing the question: “Shall there be a convention to revise, alter or amend the Ohio Constitution?”
Batchelder and Strickland agreed the short answer is “no.” They said a convention could easily deteriorate into a political stalemate between more entrenched elements of either party.
“I have to say that I do not believe a Constitutional Convention would be helpful,” Batchelder said. “You might find those who dominated the convention would be people with intolerant attitudes -- and even bad judgment.” http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190584
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) followed Thursday’s pivotal meeting of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission in a broader discussion Friday at the Ohio Historical Society, where former Gov. Ted Strickland joined him in addressing the question: “Shall there be a convention to revise, alter or amend the Ohio Constitution?”
Batchelder and Strickland agreed the short answer is “no.” They said a convention could easily deteriorate into a political stalemate between more entrenched elements of either party.
“I have to say that I do not believe a Constitutional Convention would be helpful,” Batchelder said. “You might find those who dominated the convention would be people with intolerant attitudes -- and even bad judgment.” http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190584
Hannah Report 9/14/12
CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION COMMISSION
Two former House speakers, two sitting appellate judges and former Gov. Bob Taft are among the 20 public members appointed by lawmakers Thursday to fill out membership on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission. The 12 legislators originally seated on the commission, co-chaired by House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), pared down a list of more than 250 applicants.
Two former House speakers, two sitting appellate judges and former Gov. Bob Taft are among the 20 public members appointed by lawmakers Thursday to fill out membership on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission. The 12 legislators originally seated on the commission, co-chaired by House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), pared down a list of more than 250 applicants.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Wednesday he has some doubts about the wisdom of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's plans to build an exotic animal holding facility in Reynoldsburg, saying there might be other locations available at less cost. But Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said he supports the move, saying lawmaker knew when they passed new exotic animal regulations that they might have to seize some animals.
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Wednesday he has some doubts about the wisdom of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's plans to build an exotic animal holding facility in Reynoldsburg, saying there might be other locations available at less cost. But Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said he supports the move, saying lawmaker knew when they passed new exotic animal regulations that they might have to seize some animals.
ELECTIONS 2012
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Wednesday individual Statehouse candidates will need to work harder because the performance of the ticket-topping presidential candidates appears unlikely to be strong enough to swing many down-ticket races.
Former Governor, Judge Want Constitutional Panel To Scrap Judicial Elections; Batchelder Targets Term Limits, Home Rule, Private Investment
Gongwer 9/14/12
Former Gov. Ted Strickland and Judge Peggy Bryant said Friday that a panel studying constitutional revisions should try to rein in Ohio's judicial elections, but Speaker Bill Batchelder, who co-chairs the commission, offered several priorities of his own.
During a panel discussion on constitutional law hosted by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Speaker Batchelder (R-Medina) said he wanted the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission to consider changes to legislative term limits.
The speaker also said he anticipated the commission would review language in the constitution regarding bonded indebtedness, home rule, the ballot issue process, and limits on using public funds for private investment.
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