Medal of Distinction honors Ohioans
Families of 28 killed in action in 2011 share their pride, grief at Statehouse
By Jeb Phillips
The Columbus Dispatch Friday November 16, 2012 7:03 AM
The Hall of the House of Representatives was full of lawmakers and guests. But it was quiet enough during the reading of names to hear the heating system.
The names were alphabetical, so it was near the end when the clerk of the Senate said: “Cpl. Jacob A. Tate, United States Marine Corps.”
A brass bell rang. Jim and Janice Tate of Columbus showed brave smiles to each other. He grabbed her hand. Then they walked to the front of the chamber to receive the Medal of Distinction, which bears a gold star.
Ohio presents the medal to the families of the fallen.
State lawmakers honor fallen soldiers
Published: Fri, November 16, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
With 28 tolls of a bell and a somber reading of names, state lawmakers on Thursday honored Ohio’s fallen military men and women.
Senators and representatives left behind their debates over abortion, election reform and other issues for the special joint session, focusing their attention instead on the families and friends of those who gave their lives in service over the past year.
“We are proud of every one of these brave individuals and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to hear your stories and memories of them,” said Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond. “Those of us remaining behind must dedicate ourselves to their memory by completing the work they so nobly advanced.”
Elections Panel Reaffirms McFaul Decision, Drawing Heat from Husted
Hannah Report 11/15/12
Hannah Report 11/15/12
A split Ohio Elections Commission declined Thursday to change its decision on an earlier ruling that former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul can use campaign money to pay restitution in a criminal case related to campaign fundraising improprieties.
Secretary of State Jon Husted immediately decried the decision, issuing a statement saying it "exposes our campaign finance system as nothing more than a paper tiger."
“The fact that McFaul was guilty of illegally raising campaign funds and was allowed by the Ohio Elections Commission to use the same illegally raised funds to pay his fine has troubling implications for our campaign finance system," Husted said. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191185
Secretary of State Jon Husted immediately decried the decision, issuing a statement saying it "exposes our campaign finance system as nothing more than a paper tiger."
“The fact that McFaul was guilty of illegally raising campaign funds and was allowed by the Ohio Elections Commission to use the same illegally raised funds to pay his fine has troubling implications for our campaign finance system," Husted said. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191185
Batchelder Says Family Planning Bill Not Definite In Lame Duck, But Ethics and Election Law Bills Could Surface
Gongwer 11/15/12
One day after the House Health & Aging Committee passed a contentious bill, which has been labeled as an effort to "defund" Planned Parenthood, Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters that the legislation won't necessarily see immediate floor action during the lame duck session.
Asked after Thursday's House session when the full chamber will take up the measure following the Thanksgiving Day holiday, he said, "We at this point don't have any position on that bill, due to the fact that we have not had a rules committee meeting or a leadership meeting subsequent to the vote of the committee."
Speaker Batchelder said House leaders are "thinking about" bringing the substitute bill to the floor, but said he is unsure of whether there is enough caucus support to pass it out of the chamber. He also made reference to the changes made to the bill in committee, saying the legislation is now more similar to those adopted in other states.
Gongwer 11/15/12
Secretary of State Jon Husted cited an Ohio Elections Commission decision Thursday in questioning the effectiveness of the state's campaign finance system.
OEC voted 4-3 to uphold its previous finding earlier this year to dismiss a complaint against disgraced Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul, who used campaign funds to pay restitution in his criminal case.
"This ruling exposes our campaign finance system as nothing more than a paper tiger," Secretary Husted said in a statement.
"The fact that McFaul was guilty of illegally raising campaign funds and was allowed by the Ohio Elections Commission to use the same illegally raised funds to pay his fine has troubling implications for our campaign finance system," he said.
In 2010, Mr. McFaul pleaded guilty to improperly using the influence his office to require employees to sell tickets to his annual fundraiser clambake, which funded his campaign, according to his attorney John Climaco's legal brief.
Gongwer 11/15/12
State lawmakers honored the lives of nearly 30 fallen soldiers Thursday at the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction Ceremony at the Statehouse.
Members of the General Assembly, wearing yellow ribbons, convened in joint session for the morning remembrance. They were joined by the family members of the fallen service men and women.
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) opened the ceremony by thanking the military members and their family for their service and sacrifices. He told relatives that he hopes the medals will provide a "deeper sense of comfort" for their losses.
"These service members volunteered to go into harm's way to defend the freedoms and liberties we are blessed to have, and we cannot thank them enough for putting their love of country before all else," the speaker said.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) expressed pride and gratitude for the "ultimate sacrifice" military members make for the country. He reassured that the deaths of these Ohio soldiers were "not in vain."
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