Repeal now, replace later
Published: February 11, 2012 - 06:30 PM
Akron Beacon Journal
Senate Republicans last week fast-tracked legislation to repeal a controversial election law they pushed through last year. Passage of the repeal measure would be a welcome step. It would avoid a divisive and confusing campaign this fall, Democrats and their allies having put the elections bill on the ballot for a referendum.
Jon Husted raised the issue of voter confusion in a recent conference with elections officials — and he urged repeal. The secretary of state, a Republican, correctly saw the potential turbulence in waging a presidential election under one set of rules while debate rages on many complicated changes, put on hold by the referendum.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/repeal-now-replace-later-1.264398
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/repeal-now-replace-later-1.264398
Letson’s personal issues may have attracted large field of opponents
Published: Sun, February 12, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Democrat Tom Letson of Warren, 64th District state representative for five years, may have invited the large field of opponents in this year’s race because of personal issues he faced a year ago.
In addition to Republican Albert J. Haberstroh Jr. of Southington, who lost to Letson during the general election of 2010, two other Republicans are running in the March 6 primary: Randy Law of Warren, who held the seat before Letson; and Roger Peterson Jr. of North Bloomfield.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/12/letsons-personal-issues-may-have-attract/
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/12/letsons-personal-issues-may-have-attract/
Legislature Prepares for More Legislative Proposals on Workforce Development
Hannah Report 2/10/12
House members heard the first of six recommendations Thursday from the recently concluded Workforce Development Study Committee and are set to learn more in the coming weeks about the legislative proposals of Speaker Bill Batchelder’s (R-Medina) specially convened body for workforce training reform.
Sponsor testimony for HCR33 (Derickson-Newbold) was the first of several actions targeted by the Legislative Study Committee on Workforce Development report issued by the ad hoc panel in keeping with its year-end deadline. (See The Hannah Report, 2/9/12.) Many more recommendations await legislative action.http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188539
House members heard the first of six recommendations Thursday from the recently concluded Workforce Development Study Committee and are set to learn more in the coming weeks about the legislative proposals of Speaker Bill Batchelder’s (R-Medina) specially convened body for workforce training reform.
Sponsor testimony for HCR33 (Derickson-Newbold) was the first of several actions targeted by the Legislative Study Committee on Workforce Development report issued by the ad hoc panel in keeping with its year-end deadline. (See The Hannah Report, 2/9/12.) Many more recommendations await legislative action.http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188539
Hannah Report 2/10/12
ELECTIONS
Controversy continued to swirl around what to do about Ohio's election law reform law, HB194 (Blessing-Mecklenborg), which faces a referendum vote in November. Sen. Bill Coley (R-West Chester) introduced legislation to repeal HB194 and said he'd like to see bipartisan efforts to craft a replacement in time for the November election in a separate bill. Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said he'd like to start with the compromise framework from the previous General Assembly. Former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a leader of the referendum on HB194, said she welcomes news of repeal but is leery of talk about replacing the bill. A spokesman for Secretary of State Jon Husted said he'd prefer any replacement law not go into effect until after the November election. Meanwhile, House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said he was surprised by the Senate's plans for repeal, raising questions of whether Coley's bill, SB295, is constitutional. Senate Minority Leader Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) said lawmakers should put off any efforts to change Ohio voting laws until the next General Assembly.
Controversy continued to swirl around what to do about Ohio's election law reform law, HB194 (Blessing-Mecklenborg), which faces a referendum vote in November. Sen. Bill Coley (R-West Chester) introduced legislation to repeal HB194 and said he'd like to see bipartisan efforts to craft a replacement in time for the November election in a separate bill. Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said he'd like to start with the compromise framework from the previous General Assembly. Former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a leader of the referendum on HB194, said she welcomes news of repeal but is leery of talk about replacing the bill. A spokesman for Secretary of State Jon Husted said he'd prefer any replacement law not go into effect until after the November election. Meanwhile, House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said he was surprised by the Senate's plans for repeal, raising questions of whether Coley's bill, SB295, is constitutional. Senate Minority Leader Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) said lawmakers should put off any efforts to change Ohio voting laws until the next General Assembly.
GOVERNOR
The governor signed three bills into law: HB48 (Mecklenborg), which addresses Ohio Corporation Law; HB66 (McGregor), which codifies a reporting mechanism for Ohio citizens and public employees to report the fraud, waste and abuse of tax dollars; and HB116 (Barnes), the "Jessica Logan Act," which addresses bullying in schools.
Gov. John Kasich delivered his second "State of the State" speech Tuesday in Steubenville, an hour-and-a-half address that recapped his first year in office and featured calls for more bipartisanship, but included few new policy plans. Kasich did announce a 10-fold increase in the speed of the broadband Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet), from 10 gigabytes per second to 100, and vowed to wage a war on human trafficking like he's done on prescription drugs. He also announced the creation of the Governor's Courage Awards, the first three of which went to Jo Anna Krohn, who started the anti-prescription drug abuse support group SOLACE; Theresa Flores, a former human trafficking victim; and the family of Army Spc. Jesse Snow, who posthumously received the Silver Star for valor in combat in Afghanistan.
GOP legislative leaders gave short formal remarks in reaction to the speech, praising the governor's message and vowing to work with him on policies like education and workforce reform and job creation. House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Kasich's address was "one of the best 'State of the State' speeches I've heard."
House and Senate Democrats, however, laid in to Kasich's speech, accusing him of failing to deliver on substance, presenting a "retrospective" that elided key problems of his first year, and taking credit for more than he deserved. They said his talk of balancing the budget and closing the deficit glosses over the fact that local governments are shouldering much of the costs, and his appeals to bipartisanship are belied by his signatures on SB5 (Jones) and HB194 (Blessing-Mecklenborg).
Gov. John Kasich reacted Thursday to the reception his "State of the State" speech received, saying "No one will ever say, I guess, that John Kasich is boring." He said he has little interest in "more high-wire acts" or "fireworks" and will continue to talk about "basic things I think we need to do to improve Ohio." Kasich also said he plans to talk with PUCO Chairman Todd Snitchler about small businesses' concerns about recent AEP Ohio rate increases, but said he doesn't want to "lean on" or micromanage the PUCO.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188544
The governor signed three bills into law: HB48 (Mecklenborg), which addresses Ohio Corporation Law; HB66 (McGregor), which codifies a reporting mechanism for Ohio citizens and public employees to report the fraud, waste and abuse of tax dollars; and HB116 (Barnes), the "Jessica Logan Act," which addresses bullying in schools.
Gov. John Kasich delivered his second "State of the State" speech Tuesday in Steubenville, an hour-and-a-half address that recapped his first year in office and featured calls for more bipartisanship, but included few new policy plans. Kasich did announce a 10-fold increase in the speed of the broadband Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet), from 10 gigabytes per second to 100, and vowed to wage a war on human trafficking like he's done on prescription drugs. He also announced the creation of the Governor's Courage Awards, the first three of which went to Jo Anna Krohn, who started the anti-prescription drug abuse support group SOLACE; Theresa Flores, a former human trafficking victim; and the family of Army Spc. Jesse Snow, who posthumously received the Silver Star for valor in combat in Afghanistan.
GOP legislative leaders gave short formal remarks in reaction to the speech, praising the governor's message and vowing to work with him on policies like education and workforce reform and job creation. House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Kasich's address was "one of the best 'State of the State' speeches I've heard."
House and Senate Democrats, however, laid in to Kasich's speech, accusing him of failing to deliver on substance, presenting a "retrospective" that elided key problems of his first year, and taking credit for more than he deserved. They said his talk of balancing the budget and closing the deficit glosses over the fact that local governments are shouldering much of the costs, and his appeals to bipartisanship are belied by his signatures on SB5 (Jones) and HB194 (Blessing-Mecklenborg).
Gov. John Kasich reacted Thursday to the reception his "State of the State" speech received, saying "No one will ever say, I guess, that John Kasich is boring." He said he has little interest in "more high-wire acts" or "fireworks" and will continue to talk about "basic things I think we need to do to improve Ohio." Kasich also said he plans to talk with PUCO Chairman Todd Snitchler about small businesses' concerns about recent AEP Ohio rate increases, but said he doesn't want to "lean on" or micromanage the PUCO.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188544
Gongwer 2/10/12
Speaker Bill Batchelder has announced a change in committee leadership that Republicans say is tied to the completion of work on congressional redistricting and gambling legislation.
The Medina Republican elevated Rep. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) to chairman of the State Government Committee, where Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), the majority floor leader, has been wielding the gavel. Rep. Maag had been serving as vice chair.
Rep. Huffman had stepped in to oversee the committee after the resignation of former Rep. Robert Mecklenborg. Having reported out an important gambling regulation bill (HB 386 ) this week and finalizing a couple measures on congressional redistricting (HB 319 & HB 369 ) the panel's workload is expected to ease off in the short term.
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