September 21

His car can handle miles of redrawn district, says Stivers

GOP-drawn congressional map likely will receive final legislative OK today

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday September 21, 2011 7:47 AM

If someone had told U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers a few weeks ago that his new congressional district would include Athens but not Grandview Heights, “I would not have believed it,” the Upper Arlington Republican said.

“I didn’t draw the lines, but I’m going to work hard to represent them,” he said yesterday of the new congressional map, which could pass the legislature as soon as this afternoon. “It’s not any more diverse than my current district, and you could argue it’s somewhat less diverse, but it’s certainly more geography, which will create challenges of its own.”

Some critics of the new GOP-drawn congressional map have called Stivers’ new 15th district the worst of a batch of gerrymandered seats that set up a potential 12-4 Republican majority in the state’s delegation.

Stivers admits he was surprised by the new lines — 933 miles in circumference across 13 counties, shaped like the open jaws of an alligator.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/21/his-car-can-handle-miles-says-stivers.html

House Approves Measure Offering HSAs to State Employees

Hannah Report 9/20/11

The House on Tuesday wasted little time in passing HB97, Rep. Richard Hollington's (R-Chagrin Falls) bill, which requires the state to make health savings accounts (HSAs) available to state employees and state elected officials.

"Under the bill," Hollington told the House, "the state would provide an option to all employees to elect a high deductible health care plan" which then requires them to set up their own HSAs. "The bill requires employers to deposit 80 percent of the savings to the employee's HSA."

He stressed that "this is an option ... not a mandate," requiring only that the state make the option available.

Once an individual reaches age 65, Hollington said, the HSA becomes "like any pension plan."

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187168

SENATE TO ADD MONEY TO CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING BILL; GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAPS OUT FRIDAY

Gongwer 9/20/11

Republicans' controversial congressional redistricting plan will likely pick up an appropriation before being voted out of committee - and possibly the chamber - on Wednesday.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said Tuesday that he was waiting to see the results of the committee proceedings before deciding if the measures to redraw congressional maps (HB 319 ) and change the primary date (HB 318 ) will be on the floor during Wednesday's session.
"This is a very unpredictable place," he told reporters after session. "I would hope that we can move these expeditiously, but until we get through the committee process, it's just too early to predict."
A Democrat-backed referendum on elections legislation passed earlier this year (HB 194 ) injected a significant amount of uncertainty into the upcoming election schedule, he said, adding that the inclusion of an appropriation to the redistricting plan could help minimize those concerns.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820201&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

SPEAKER SAYS DRILLING LAW UPDATE COULD BE NEAR; HEALTH SAVINGS BILL PASSES

Gongwer 9/20/11

Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said Tuesday an update to drilling regulations and a closer look at related fees could be on the short-term list of chores for the House, which otherwise is looking at a relatively light October in terms of workload.
With the oil and gas industry ramping up efforts to tap into potentially lucrative shale formations that extend into Ohio (see separate story), the speaker told reporters after session that said he'd like to revisit the "very strong regulatory" framework governing the industry that was passed under the prior administration.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820202&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

HEARTBEAT BILL'S POTENTIAL FOR PASSAGE IN SENATE UNCERTAIN; PROPONENTS RALLY

Gongwer 9/20/11

While supporters of legislation banning abortion after a heartbeat can be detected rallied in the he Statehouse Atrium on Tuesday, the president of the Ohio Senate said it is too early to tell whether the bill will move in the chamber.
Supporters of the so-called "heartbeat bill" gathered to continue their push for passage of the legislation (HB 125 ) and were scheduled to deliver mini heart-shaped balloons to legislators Tuesday afternoon.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said his caucus is pro-life, but added that officials are reviewing the split within the pro-life community over the issue.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820204&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2

BATCHELDER, LEHNER HESITANT ON SCHOOL VOUCHER EXPANSION BILL

Gongwer 9/20/11

Legislation allowing students to use state funding to pay for private schools is moving closer to a possible vote by the full House, but both the speaker and the senator chairing the committee that would hear the bill expressed reservations Tuesday about its current form.
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said he would seek input from the administration and the Department of Education before calling a flor vote on Rep. Matt Huffman's (R-Lima) proposal (HB 136 ).
The measure would expand on the concept of the Educational Choice scholarship that allows students in failing district schools to use state funding to pay for tuition at private institutions.
This bill would allow low- and middle-income families - regardless of their home school's academic performance - to use state funding to pay for their child's enrollment in private schools in amounts up to $4,626.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801820205&newsedition_id=8018202&locid=2