January 17

Jobless benefits at risk for thousands of Ohioans

State must modify laws to remain eligible for extended federal aid.

By Randy Tucker, Staff Writer Updated 12:14 AM Saturday, January 14, 2012

DAYTON — Thousands of Ohioans will lose long-term jobless benefits this month if state lawmakers fail to amend eligibility requirements for the program.

Congress reauthorized federal jobless benefits in December for two months. But some states — including Ohio — must modify their laws to remain eligible for the final 20 weeks of those benefits.

Federally funded extended unemployment insurance benefits would end this month for about 20,000 Ohioans if state legislators don’t amend one of two prerequisites tied to the state’s declining unemployment rate.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/jobless-benefits-at-risk-for-thousands-of-ohioans-1312677.html

Ohio Constitution could cover legislative redistricting

Husted looking for amendment to be put on November ballot.

By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau 11:56 PM Friday, January 13, 2012

COLUMBUS — Although lawmakers agreed last month on a bill that carves out 16 congressional districts, the arguing over how Ohio should draw legislative and congressional maps is not dying down.

This week, Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican who has been pushing for reform for seven years, urged House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, to consider revamping the process as part of an overall update of the Ohio Constitution.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/ohio-constitution-could-cover-legislative-redistricting-1312676.html

Lawmakers want college athletes paid

Legislation may put Ohio schools at risk with NCAA

8:07 PM, Jan. 13, 2012  

Written by

Paul E. Kostyu

Three Democratic lawmakers, including one from Southwest Ohio, want college athletes to get paid up to $8,000 a year, but their legislation doesn’t have a constitutional prayer, according to a Cleveland attorney who was the first to beat the NCAA in court.

At stake are hundreds of millions of dollars that university athletic departments receive in receipts from tickets, concessions, merchandise license fees and other sources, the bulk of the money coming from TV contracts. In 2010, the Big Ten athletic conference raked in $905 million, second to the more than $1 billion the Southeastern Conference obtained.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120113/NEWS010801/301130168/Lawmakers-want-athletes-get-8-000-stipend?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Hannah Report 1/13/12

Week In Review

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) sent a critical letter to Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) to object to Batchelder's decision to appoint two Republican House members to the Ohio Housing Study Committee, in contrast to the bipartisan appointments by Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond).

REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT

Secretary of State Jon Husted Wednesday sent a letter to House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina), pledging to work with the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission on redistricting and reapportionment reform. He said if state leaders don't act, "outside groups" will seek their own reforms.

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188278