Union law draws contenders into Ohio primaries
By Ann Sanner
Associated Press
Associated Press
Published: February 20, 2012 - 05:49 PM
COLUMBUS: The successful campaign to repeal Ohio’s collective bargaining law last fall has drawn teachers and other public workers into Democratic primary races across the state as the party tries to regain seats in the Republican-dominated Legislature that passed the measure.
At least one GOP candidate also is using his opposition to the union-limiting bill to distinguish himself in a three-way contest that includes an incumbent state representative who voted for the legislation.
The measure would have affected more than 350,000 teachers, police, firefighters and other government employees. After an almost $41 million campaign, 62 percent of voters rejected it in November.http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/union-law-draws-contenders-into-ohio-primaries-1.265854
Rick Santorum calls Ohio 'ground zero' in Republican effort to unseat President Barack Obama
Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 11:59 PM Updated: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 11:59 PM
Santorum told the audience at the Summit County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner that President Barack Obama is undermining those ideals and weakening the country's finances and security.
He likened Obama to King George III and said the president was taking too much control and trying to make people dependent on government.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/02/rick_santorum_calls_ohio_groun.html
Ohio redistricting ballot drive launches while Speaker Batchelder pushes in different direction
Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 9:04 PM Updated: Sunday, February 19, 2012, 2:15 AM
Known as Voters First Ohio, the coalition's ballot drive will push a plan to create the Ohio Independent Redistricting Commission to draw up new districts, starting with the 2014 election.
Meanwhile, other discussions about revamping redistricting are sprouting up. Republican House Speaker William Batchelder is talking about using a constitutional modernization commission as a way to bring a plan before voters for approval. And a bipartisan legislative task force has a June 30 deadline to present a redistricting reform blueprint to lawmakers.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/02/redistricting_ballot_drive_lau.html
Santorum asks Akron crowd: ‘Who do you believe in?’
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published: February 19, 2012 - 12:18 AM | Updated: February 19, 2012 - 05:21 PM
In 2008, with the economy struggling and markets crashing, people needed someone to believe in for president, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum told an Akron crowd Saturday night.
This year, he said, the country needs something different.
“America doesn’t need a president it can believe in,” Santorum told a record crowd of more than 1,350 people at the Summit County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner. “We’ve always succeeded when we have a president who believes in them.”
http://www.ohio.com/news/local/santorum-asks-akron-crowd-who-do-you-believe-in-1.265749
http://www.ohio.com/news/local/santorum-asks-akron-crowd-who-do-you-believe-in-1.265749
Santorum wins straw poll at Akron GOP dinner
02/19/12 at 1:02am
Written by pkostyu
AKRON — Speaking to his largest crowd yet in his two-day swing through Ohio, presidential candidate Rick Santorum captured 74 percent of the vote at the annual Lincoln Day dinner of the Summit County Republican Party — and that was before people heard what he had to say.
At the evening event at the University of Akron, Santorum picked up the endorsement of the county party’s powerful chairman, Alex R. Arshinkoff. And though he hasn’t officially said he was endorsing Santorum, Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, led audiences in Akron and Columbus to believe he had done just that through his introductory remarks.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/19/santorum-wins-straw-poll-at-akron-gop-dinner/
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/19/santorum-wins-straw-poll-at-akron-gop-dinner/
Published: 2/21/2012
Remap reform
BLADE STAFF
With the primary election in two weeks, the Ohio Supreme Court had little choice but to allow the state's gerrymandered legislative districts to stand this year. But by agreeing to hear arguments about the constitutionality of the maps for elections after 2012, the justices gave hope to voters who would like to see politics taken out of redistricting.
The Ohio Constitution requires that legislative districts be compact and contiguous, and that counties and municipalities should not be split unnecessarily to create them. It is a widely held belief -- among voters, if not politicians -- that competitive elections serve the public interest by making elected officials more accountable to voters and by forcing them to govern from the political center.
Yet every 10 years, when state House and Senate boundaries are revised to account for population shifts, whichever party has a majority on the state Apportionment Board largely ignores the interests of voters. Instead, it seeks to redraw the lines to give maximum advantage to lawmakers of its party.http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorials/2012/02/21/Remap-reform.html
In the 64th District primaries: Tom Letson and Randy Law
Published: Mon, February 20, 2012 @ 12:00 a.m.
Youngstown Vindicator
Both Republicans and Democrats will have choices to make in the primary election for the 64th Ohio House District, which covers much of Trumbull County.
The district is represented by Democrat Tom Letson, 61, of Warren, who is seeking his fourth term. He’s being challenged by Sheila Calko, 31, of Warren and David C. Cook, 66, of Warren.
Three Republicans are seeking their party’s endorsement: Randy Law, 50, of Warren, who represented the district for one term; Albert J. Haberstroh Jr., 54, of Southington, the party’s nominee in 2010, and Roger Peterson Jr., 35, of North Bloomfield.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/20/in-the-th-district-primaries-tom-letson-/?newswatch
http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/20/in-the-th-district-primaries-tom-letson-/?newswatch
W.Va. Facing New Challenge
February 18, 2012
By MIKE MYER , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
During the past eight months, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and West Virginia legislators have piled up an impressive list of accomplishments. They came up with a fair redistricting plan for the Legislature and U.S. House of Representatives districts. They got past two years of bickering and enacted new rules for the gas and oil drilling industry. They even came up with a plan to pay down a $5 billion unfunded liability. That's just the big stuff. And by the way, they agreed to plans for modest tax relief.
But they haven't touched the elephant in the room.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/565965/W-Va--Facing-New-Challenge.html?nav=509
Posted at 09:15 PM ET, 02/18/2012
Ohio state House speaker jokes that Obama should be sent to jail
WashingtonPost.com
AKRON, Ohio — State House speaker William Batchelder (R) joked to a crowd of Republicans here Saturday night that President Obama shouldn’t just be denied four more years in office — he should be sent to jail.
“The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. And I think 25-to-life would be a good start,” Batchelder told a crowd of more than 1,000 people at the Summit County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner. He made the remarks as he was introducing former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who has been spending the past two days campaigning in the Buckeye State.
Ohio Digest: Lehner; USDA Minority Farm Register; OLAF Partners with Financial Institutions
Hannah Report 2/20/12
Senate Ed Leader Extols Bipartisanship, Says More K-12 Changes in Store
Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) ranks bipartisanship among her leadership successes in new comments to school choice advocates. Citing Rep. John Barnes’ (D-Cleveland) anti-bullying legislation HB116 -- a bill co-sponsored by Republicans and Democrats including House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), Lehner, and current and former Senate minority leaders -- she described her philosophy in an interview with Ohio Coalition for Quality Education (OCQE).
“Education should not be a partisan issue,” Lehner told OCQE. “We all have a stake in educating our children, and if my Democratic colleagues have a good idea that improves the lives of children or enhances education ... we should work together. Looking at education reform efforts across the country, it is a very bi-partisan movement.” http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188624
Senate Ed Leader Extols Bipartisanship, Says More K-12 Changes in Store
Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) ranks bipartisanship among her leadership successes in new comments to school choice advocates. Citing Rep. John Barnes’ (D-Cleveland) anti-bullying legislation HB116 -- a bill co-sponsored by Republicans and Democrats including House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina), Lehner, and current and former Senate minority leaders -- she described her philosophy in an interview with Ohio Coalition for Quality Education (OCQE).
“Education should not be a partisan issue,” Lehner told OCQE. “We all have a stake in educating our children, and if my Democratic colleagues have a good idea that improves the lives of children or enhances education ... we should work together. Looking at education reform efforts across the country, it is a very bi-partisan movement.” http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188624
Week in Review
Hannah Report 2/17/12
Hannah Report 2/17/12
CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION COMMISSION
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission held its second meeting Thursday, discussing next steps, which include the process for picking the 20 public members and a colloquium to be held later in March. One commission co-chair, Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina), noted that the deadline for public applicants had been extended from the end of January until the end of February. A total of 180 individuals have applied so far. Reading like a "who's who" of Capitol Square, the list includes lawyers, current and former legislators and judges, lobbyists, academics, business people, local government officials, a former governor and a former chief justice.
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission held its second meeting Thursday, discussing next steps, which include the process for picking the 20 public members and a colloquium to be held later in March. One commission co-chair, Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina), noted that the deadline for public applicants had been extended from the end of January until the end of February. A total of 180 individuals have applied so far. Reading like a "who's who" of Capitol Square, the list includes lawyers, current and former legislators and judges, lobbyists, academics, business people, local government officials, a former governor and a former chief justice.
WORKFORCE
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.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188615
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.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188615
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