November 23

Speaker Batchelder Clips

November 23, 2011

Democrats File More Signatures For Elections Law Referendum

Gongwer 11/22/11

Democrats set the stage Tuesday for a presidential election year referendum on election law changes that at minimum will delay by a year the implementation of the GOP-backed legislation.

Joined by a representative of President Barack Obama's campaign at the Ohio Democratic Party headquarters in Columbus, opponents of the bill (HB 194 ) said an additional 166,481 signatures were filed with the secretary of state's office.

The Fair Elections Ohio coalition had come up about 10,000 valid signatures short of the required 231,150 on its initial submission. Ohio law allows petitioners an additional 10 days to collect signatures after the initial submission deadline.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=802250201

Politics Notebook: More Anti-Redistricting Signatures In; Right-To-Work Summary Rejected; O'Neill Plans Third High Court Run

Gongwer 11/22/11

More than 100,000 signatures have been collected for a referendum on the Republican-drawn congressional districts, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern told reporters Tuesday.

A referendum would require 231,147 signatures to allow voters the final say on the legislation (HB 319 ). Mr. Redfern said efforts will focus on "high-visibility areas" to garner support during Black Friday shopping events following Thanksgiving.

Although House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) has the GOP redistricting point man Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) discussing a compromise with Minority Leaders Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), that will not stop Democrats from working to meet the Dec. 25 filing deadline, Chairman Redfern said.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=802250206