January 10

Charges against Beavercreek Rep. Jarrod Martin dropped

By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau Updated 10:56 AM Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Prosecutors in Jackson County dropped drunken driving and child endangerment charges against state Rep. Jarrod Martin involving a July traffic stop, but the Beavercreek Republican will plead guilty to a traffic violation and his driving privileges are restricted for now, according to Martin’s attorney, Charles Rowland II.

The Ohio Highway Patrol stopped Martin for a traffic lane violation when his pickup truck drifted left of center. His trailer didn’t have taillights. During the traffic stop, Martin refused to submit to sobriety tests, which resulted in an automatic one-year license suspension. Rowland said the Jackson County Municipal Court judge granted Martin work driving privileges. Rowland said he is asking the court to restore Martin’s driver’s license.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/charges-against-beavercreek-rep-jarrod-martin-dropped-1310173.html

Trouble with term limits

Published: January 9, 2012 - 06:56 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

Trouble with term limits January 09,2012 11:56 PM GMT Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Copyright � 2012 Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Inc and Black Press. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of the Akron Beacon Journal is expressly prohibited.

William Batchelder proposed a promising vehicle for making changes to the Ohio Constitution, the House speaker successfully pushing for a bipartisan commission to recommend amendments. As the commission’s work began, he also raised what should be a most important priority — changing the eight-year legislative term limits approved by the voters in 1992.

Those familiar with how the legislature works long have realized how deeply term limits have hobbled its ability to take effective action on complicated issues by decreasing the number of experienced members in leadership positions.

What’s more, term-limited legislators usually are on the lookout for their next office, thus gravitating too often toward easy answers. In such an environment, lobbyists, the governor’s office and long-time staffers exert a heavy influence.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/trouble-with-term-limits-1.254319

Students may register for YMCA Youth in Government

Jan. 10, 2012  |  

Written by

Marion Star staffrReport

COLUMBUS - Ohio high school students can now register for the State YMCA Student Legislature and Supreme Court at the Statehouse.

Teens will present legislation on issues they believe will improve our state while student justices will consider cases appealed to the Supreme Court.

Lois Nelson, state YMCA director, said, "It is important for students to register now. Student legislators write legislative proposals and student justices prepare their appeal to the Supreme Court."

http://www.marionstar.com/article/20120110/NEWS01/201100315