Updated: 6:21 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 | Posted: 6:21 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012
Backer of 'heartbeat' bill wants to force vote
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
The chief advocate of a blocked Ohio bill that would impose the tightest abortion restriction in the nation vowed Wednesday to use a legislative maneuver to try to force a vote before year's end despite the Senate president's opposition.
A host of practical and political obstacles quickly arose that seemed destined to derail the effort.
Janet Folger Porter, president of the conservative action group Faith2Action, said she'll work to collect 17 Republican signatures on a discharge petition, which can be used to force the so-called "heartbeat bill" out of a committee.
"We've got three weeks to find 17 people with the courage to sign and say, 'Yeah, we're going to end abortion now,'" Porter said. "That's what they ran on, that's what they won on, and now we're just asking them to make good on their word."
Updated: 3:26 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 | Posted: 3:25 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012
GOP chooses Faber as next Ohio Senate president
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Republicans in the Ohio Senate have picked a new leader to replace their term-limited president.
State Sen. Keith Faber (FAY'-bur) will take over in January for current Senate President Tom Niehaus (NEE'-hows), who leaves his seat at the end of the year. Faber, of Celina (suh-LEYE'-nuh), has been in the Senate since 2007. He currently holds the chamber's No. 2 leadership position.
Other Republicans elected to leadership roles include Sen. Chris Widener of Springfield, Sen. Tom Patton of Strongsville and Sen. Larry Obhof (OHB'-hawf) of Medina.
Ohio Senate: Republicans select Faber as new leader
By Jim Siegel
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday November 29, 2012 5:50 AM
Sen. Keith Faber was elected yesterday by his GOP colleagues as the next president of the Ohio Senate.
Faber, a lawyer from Celina who joined the Ohio House in 2000 before moving to the Senate in 2007, has long been considered the front-runner to replace current President Tom Niehaus, who is term-limited at the end of the year. Faber, the current No. 2 GOP leader, will take over in January and can oversee the chamber for four years.
“We’re going to need to work on growing the economy and strengthening Ohio’s jobs environment,” he said of the focus next session.
Sen. Chris Widener of Springfield was chosen as the next president pro tempore, while Sens. Tom Patton of Strongsville and Larry Obhof Jr. of Medina will round out the Republican leadership team.
Meanwhile, House Republicans this week re-elected Speaker William G. Batchelder of Medina to his leadership post. The longest-serving member of the legislature has one term remaining.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/11/29/republicans-select-faber-as-new-leader.html
Niehaus draws a line
Published: November 28, 2012 - 07:12 PM
Tom Niehaus already had signaled his concerns about the “heartbeat bill.” On Tuesday, the Senate president shared his decision that the chamber would not take up the legislation banning abortion after the heartbeat of a fetus becomes detectable. Neither will the Senate use the lame-duck session to strike a funding blow against Planned Parenthood that would all but deny the organization federal money in Ohio.
Niehaus understands that the heartbeat bill would not pass the test of constitutionality, placing, as it does, an undue burden on abortion rights. He also explained that he looks “at the entirety of the work that’s done by Planned Parenthood” and rightly finds that it offers “much needed services that are not available other places.”
Here is an example of legislative leadership as it should be practiced, drawing lines with the interests of the whole foremost in mind. Unfortunately, Niehaus won’t return for the next legislative session. The next Senate president, Keith Faber, has made plain he won’t be so unfavorably inclined toward the “heartbeat bill” or to reducing funding for Planned Parenthood, and he will have a partner in a House led by Speaker William Batchelder.
So the Niehaus decision may amount to little more than a postponement.
Worth noting is that Niehaus did remind his colleagues that “we have been the most pro-life legislature in my memory.” The Republican majorities have moved to restrict the right to choose, government playing a more intrusive role in the private decisions of women. How much further will they go? The question is apt for John Kasich. The governor has joined his legislative allies so far. Is he ready to sign such an extreme measure as the “heartbeat bill”? Does he think it is wise policy to strip Planned Parenthood of federal money?
State GOP now has 2 leaders from Medina County
Filed by David Knox November 29th, 2012 in News.
Medina County Gazette
Medina County now has two state legislators among the Republican leadership in the General Assembly.
State Sen. Larry J. Obhof Jr., R-Montville Township, was selected Wednesday to serve as majority whip in the Senate.
Obhof joins William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, who was renamed speaker of the House, among the top GOP officials in the Legislature.
“I am honored to have received the support of my colleagues in joining our leadership team,” Obhof said. “I look forward to working with all members of the Senate as we look to build on the progress made during this General Assembly in growing our economy and creating more job opportunities for Ohioans.”
Faber Tapped as Next Senate President
Hannah Report 11/27/12
Hannah Report 11/27/12
Members of the Senate Republican Caucus Wednesday elected Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) as Senate president for the 130th General Assembly. Faber will replace Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), who is term-limited.
Faber will be the first legislator from Mercer County to serve as Senate president. The current Senate president pro tempore was first elected to the chamber in 2007 and he has been serving in leadership since 2009, starting as the majority floor leader.
"I'm humbled and honored to have the confidence of my colleagues in leading one of the most respected legislative institutions in the nation," said Faber in a statement. "I look forward to building on the progress we've already made in revitalizing our economy and getting Ohioans back to work. That will continue to be priority number one in the next General Assembly." http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191283
Faber will be the first legislator from Mercer County to serve as Senate president. The current Senate president pro tempore was first elected to the chamber in 2007 and he has been serving in leadership since 2009, starting as the majority floor leader.
"I'm humbled and honored to have the confidence of my colleagues in leading one of the most respected legislative institutions in the nation," said Faber in a statement. "I look forward to building on the progress we've already made in revitalizing our economy and getting Ohioans back to work. That will continue to be priority number one in the next General Assembly." http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191283
Gongwer 11/28/12
Supporters of a proposal to ban abortion at the point a fetal heartbeat becomes detectable asked senators Wednesday to override Senate President Tom Niehaus's opposition to the bill.
Faith2Action, which has lobbied aggressively for the so-called "heartbeat bill," (HB 125 ), is working to get 17 Republican senators to sign a discharge petition, which would bring the measure to a floor vote despite Sen. Niehaus's decision to block the bill. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, November 27, 2012)
"What the outgoing Senate president has to say isn't nearly as significant as what the Senate president and the 21 other Republican senators can do about it," Faith2Action President Janet Porter said in a statement.
Ms. Porter said she circulated the state's first successful discharge petition in 1994, which led to the passage of the nation's first partial-birth abortion ban.
No comments:
Post a Comment