Posted: 9:27 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012
Payday lenders' political contributions top $270K
By Jeremy P. Kelley
Dayton Daily News
Payday lenders, who operate under rules established by lawmakers, have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to the campaigns of Ohio politicians.
Five companies – CheckSmart, Cash America, Ace Cash Express, Advance America and QC Holdings (Quik Cash) – had donated $272,813 from 2010 through mid-October, according to a Dayton Daily News examination.
The political action committee of Gov. John Kasich was the top recipient, at $27,500. The next five, all receiving at least $15,000, are members of the Republican leadership of the Ohio House and Ohio Senate.
That includes Sen. Chris Widener, who actually introduced the 2008 law that cracked down on payday lenders, plus Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder, who voted in support of a 2010 bill that would have closed the loopholes that allow payday lenders to keep charging annual percentage rates of almost 400 percent.
Pugnacious or pragmatic? Social issues could decide which Gov. John Kasich emerges in 2013: Analysis
By Henry J. Gomez, Plain Dealer Politics Writer
on December 15, 2012 at 6:00 PM, updated December 15, 2012 at 7:53 PM
on December 15, 2012 at 6:00 PM, updated December 15, 2012 at 7:53 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohioans will see one of two John Kasichs next year.
It could be the pugnacious governor of 2011 -- the guy who bullied people to get on his bus or get run over.
More likely it will be the chastened governor of 2012 -- the kinder soul who emerged as Kasich softened his image.
But at times he might be tempted to be a little bit of both, and therein lies his dilemma.
A Republican believed by many to harbor White House ambitions, Kasich will have far fewer prospects on the national stage if he fails to win a second term in 2014. So the last thing he wants on his desk is legislation governing women's reproductive rights. Vetoing a bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected might earn him re-election points from independents but estrange him from voters key to winning GOP presidential primaries.
It could be the pugnacious governor of 2011 -- the guy who bullied people to get on his bus or get run over.
More likely it will be the chastened governor of 2012 -- the kinder soul who emerged as Kasich softened his image.
But at times he might be tempted to be a little bit of both, and therein lies his dilemma.
A Republican believed by many to harbor White House ambitions, Kasich will have far fewer prospects on the national stage if he fails to win a second term in 2014. So the last thing he wants on his desk is legislation governing women's reproductive rights. Vetoing a bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected might earn him re-election points from independents but estrange him from voters key to winning GOP presidential primaries.
Gongwer 12/14/12
A day after Gov. John Kasich unveiled a plan to fund state highway projects through $1.5 billion in Ohio Turnpike Commission bonds, legislators, local and state officials, and industry groups continued to line up behind the proposal.
A number of Democrats, meanwhile, have condemned the plan (see Gongwer Ohio Report, December 13, 2012) as a politically motivated raid on the toll road that could hurt businesses and local residents.
Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said after session Thursday that he had not had any "lengthy briefings" on the plan to raise money for Ohio Department of Transportation infrastructure improvements because of the lame duck workload so he couldn't speak to all the specifics.
"I've had a brief briefing. Obviously some of the things reflect the fact that they were very careful" in vetting the proposals, he said. "There are no employment losses as a result of this change. There will be a very significant amount of money available for construction - that's important. They also are making allowance for people living within (the turnpike area) to travel on the turnpike if it's how they go to work and so forth."
Politics Notebook: Landis Wins By 8 Votes; Tiberi Denounces ‘Hidden Tax' In ACA; ‘Santa,' Lawmakers Praise New EPA Rules
Gongwer 12/14/12
An Ohio House race came down to just eight votes in Tuscarawas County, according to local elections officials who certified the win for incumbent Rep. Al Landis (R-Dover) late Thursday.
Squaring-off against former Democratic Rep. Josh O'Farrell in the November general election, early results put the Republican 270 votes ahead of his challenger, with more than an estimated 2,000 uncounted provisional and absentee ballots. A review of these ballots gave Rep. Landis a 14-vote lead, triggering a recount.
The Republican filed his certificate of election with the House Clerk Friday morning, spokesman for House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) Mike Dittoe said.
"The speaker is very grateful that the board came to a unanimous, bipartisan result in this election contest and is looking forward to serving with Rep. Landis for a second term," he said of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections' 4-0 certification.
The victor was jokingly dubbed "Landslide Landis" this week by a Republican colleague.
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