Updated: 6:22 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 | Posted: 3:03 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
Public pension changes clear Ohio Legislature
By ANN SANNER
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A package of bills aimed at shoring up Ohio's five public pension funds with increased contributions among some workers and higher retirement ages cleared the state Legislature on Wednesday in a rare showing of bipartisanship during an election year.
The legislation will affect almost 1.8 million Ohioans who are covered by the five funds: Ohio Public Employee Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System, Ohio Highway Patrol Retirement System and the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.
Republican Gov. John Kasich will sign the package into law, his office said.
Updated: 7:56 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 | Posted: 7:56 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
State rep in Ohio agrees to skip votes amid probe
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A Democratic lawmaker in Ohio has missed votes this week amid a prosecutor's investigation into his conduct.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said state Rep. Clayton Luckie of Dayton agreed to sit out a Tuesday meeting of the powerful Controlling Board on which he sits and to skip Wednesday's House session. O'Brien said the arrangement was negotiated with Luckie's attorney, Lloyd Pierre-Louis (pee-AYR' loo-EE').
Luckie has not been charged with a crime. In an earlier statement, he said the probe involved alleged report errors. A day after the investigation became public, he announced he wouldn't seek a fourth term.
House Speaker William Batchelder said Wednesday that he understands the probe to involve campaign finance matters.
Updated: 4:48 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012 | Posted: 4:47 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012
Ohio leader questions $3.5M for exotics housing
By ANN SANNER
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
The Republican leader of the Ohio House is questioning the state's move to spend up to $3.5 million on a facility to temporarily hold dozens of exotic animals confiscated under a new state law.
House Speaker William Batchelder told reporters Wednesday he wasn't sure it's the best solution for the state. He said the House could hold hearings on it.
A state panel has approved money to build the warehouse-type facility in Reynoldsburg, east of Columbus. Ohio's agriculture director told the panel it's critical to start the construction process quickly.
Pension changes get final approval
Legislators: Measures will stabilize systems — for now
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 13, 2012 7:12 AM
The long-awaited and yet still-dreaded changes to Ohio’s five public pension systems got nearly unanimous final approval yesterday from Ohio legislators.
“Make no mistake about it, these measures, as painful as they might be, will stabilize the systems and preserve valuable retirement benefits for public retirees and active members that look to retire in the future,” said Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, before the House vote.
The five bills are designed so the plans can pay off their unfunded liabilities within 30 years, as required by state law.
Lawmaker doesn’t show up for vote
House speaker concerned he would
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 13, 2012 8:32 AM
House Speaker William G. Batchelder said yesterday that he was concerned about what he might have to do if Rep. Clayton Luckie, a Dayton Democrat who is under criminal investigation, showed up for the House session to vote.
As part of an FBI investigation into Statehouse corruption, authorities have been considering criminal charges against Luckie for several weeks. Though law enforcement has declined to comment on the nature of the investigation, Batchelder said it relates to improperly converting campaign money for personal use, though he said he didn’t know details of the matter.
Batchelder, R-Medina, said the Franklin County prosecutor and law-enforcement officials were outside the chamber door in case Luckie showed up, but Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said later that he did not have anyone there because he had heard yesterday that Luckie would not appear.
Ohio’s animal facility a first for U.S.
House members question the cost, Batchelder says
The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 13, 2012 6:25 AM
Ohio is one of 19 states with a ban on exotic animals but the only one building its own facility to handle seized or surrendered animals.
The other 18 states, plus 13 with partial bans, handle animals locally, on an as-needed basis, according to Nicole Paquette, head of programs and policy for the Humane Society of the U.S.
“A good approach is to have one state agency overseeing this issue. There’s one permitting agency, there’s one process in place,” she said. “The problem is a lot of states are unable to place authority in a state department.
Ohio lawmakers give final OK to public pension reforms
Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2012, 6:30 PM Updated: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 11:47 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Beginning in January, many Ohio public workers will face increased pension contribution rates and higher retirement-age requirements -- changes included in a package of public pension reforms Ohio lawmakers approved Wednesday with bipartisan support.
The pension reform legislation -- a package of five bills, one for each retirement system -- is headed to Gov. John Kasich for his signature. A spokesman for Kasich, a Republican, said the governor will sign the bills.
All five bills received unanimous support in the Senate, and only one "no" vote was cast in the House of Representatives. Rep. Danny Bubp, a Republican from Adams County, voted against the bill affecting the State Teachers Retirement System.
Senate President Tom Niehaus said the changes are needed to ensure workers get the benefits they were promised.
Defining contribution
Published: September 13, 2012 - 10:43 PM
Akron Beacon Journal
Three years ago, the state’s five public pension funds proposed to Ohio lawmakers a package of changes designed to bolster their financial positions. On Wednesday, lawmakers finally got the job done, both the House and Senate giving their approval with just one “no” vote. The task should not have taken so long to complete. Still, the bills now are headed to the governor’s desk represent a marked achievement, the pension funds intact and stronger.
Give credit to Tom Niehaus, the Senate president, for the progress. Weary of the delay, the New Richmond Republican pushed senators to act in May. He held to the bright idea of listening to the pension funds, their members, boards and administrators eager to take responsibility and move forward. He rightly made the point that the longer lawmakers waited the larger the problem became.
The concern was that if the Senate did not act, the House would feel little pressure. Pretty soon, another election would pass, passage put off until sometime next year.
Thankfully, that has been avoided. The House weighed an independent analysis of the pension funds, the conclusions largely echoing earlier findings. House members made some adjustments reflecting the recommendations. State Rep. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican, played a leading role in moving the bills through the chamber.
Teachers to pay more for pensions
By Robert Wang
Posted Sep 13, 2012 @ 11:30 PM
By 2016, local teachers will have to contribute an additional four percent of their pay toward their pensions with the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.
Annual cost-of-living increases will be slashed for retired teachers and future retirees.
And many school employees, whether they’re teachers or members of the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio, will have to work additional years to qualify for pension benefits.
General Assembly Approves Legislation to Bolster Five State Retirement Systems
Hannah Report 9/12/12
The House and Senate gave final approval to five pension reform bills with swift and near-unanimous votes Wednesday, just more than three years after the state retirement systems first proposed plans for bolstering long-term solvency. Gov. John Kasich's office confirmed he will sign them.
The bills, which take effect early next year, boost the systems' funding largely through varying combinations of later retirement ages, requirements for working longer to receive full benefits, higher contribution rates for workers and small cost-of-living increases for retirees.
Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) and Minority Leader Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) sponsored the five bills: SB340 for the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F); SB341 for the School Employees Retirement System (SERS); SB342 for the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS); SB343 for the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS); and SB345 for the Highway Patrol Retirement System (HPRS). http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190544
Batchelder Discusses Fall Races, Plans for Exotic Animal Facility
Hannah Report 9/12/12
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said Wednesday he has some doubts about the wisdom of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's plans to build an exotic animal holding facility in Reynoldsburg as part of its new duties to regulate ownership of such animals in response to last year's incident in Zanesville.
"We do have other big land facilities outside of Reynoldsburg or wherever the heck they're putting this thing, and perhaps that would have been a better place to go and spend less money and so forth," Batchelder said.
"I have an idea that in the session right after the election we might have some hearings," he said. "We're not mad at anybody ... I'm just not sure what we've gotten ourselves into. There are in other states places where you can send a lot of these animals, shelter kind of places."
Batchelder also said Wednesday he thinks more work will fall on individual Statehouse candidates in the fall election because of the dynamics of the presidential contest.
Taft, Former Speakers among Public Members for Constitutional Panel
Hannah Report 9/13/12
Two former House speakers, two sitting appellate judges and former Gov. Bob Taft are among the 20 public members appointed by lawmakers Thursday to fill out membership on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission.
The 12 legislators originally seated on the commission, co-chaired by House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), pared down a list of more than 250 applicants.
"Those applicants very frankly were also remarkable as far as the background, the experience and the previous activity in constitutional areas," said Batchelder. "We were very impressed with the caliber of the people." http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=190561
Taft, Davidson, Kurfess Join Constitutional Revision Panel
Gongwer 9/13/12
The panel charged with recommending updates to Ohio's constitution finalized its membership roster Thursday, adding former Gov. Bob Taft and two former speakers to the list.
Legislators sitting on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission unanimously approved the addition of 20 new public members during the panel's first hearing since February. The 12 legislative members were appointed previously.
Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), who co-chair the commission, expressed satisfaction with the quality of applicants to sit on the commission. The speaker said more than 250 applications were received.
In addition to Gov. Taft, the new members include: former Speaker Jo Ann Davidson; former Speaker Charles Kurfess; Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks; 10th District Court of Appeals Judge Judith French; Ohio State University political science professor Herb Asher; lobbyist Fred Mills; and Joseph Rugola, executive director of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.
Legislature Quickly Wraps Up Pension Bills For Governor's Signature
Gongwer 9/12/12
In an unusual show of bipartisanship in the heat of campaign season, the House and Senate approved legislation on the contentious subject of public employee pensions Wednesday with hardly any opposition.
The five bills, which are aimed at stabilizing the state's retirement systems, passed the House with only one "nay" vote. The Senate then unanimously approved revisions the House previously made to the bills.
Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said the unusual amount of consensus on what is typically a controversial issue was primarily because Ohioans realize that the pension systems needed to change to remain financially solvent.
"As people read the paper, watch the TV, they see these funds that are just blowing up," he told reporters after session. He said constituents were aware that retirement systems in some states like Illinois and California are in serious jeopardy while many private sector pensions have already gone bankrupt. "That will not happen in Ohio."
Batchelder Questions Exotic Animal Facility, Calls Luckie Allegations ‘Embarrassing,' Weighs In On Politics
Gongwer 9/12/12
Speaker Bill Batchelder said Wednesday that he was caught off guard by the Department of Agriculture's plans to build a multi-million dollar complex to house exotic animals near Columbus.
During a wide ranging discussion with reporters after session, the speaker said he never imagined that legislation the General Assembly passed earlier this year (SB 310 ) to ban private ownership of dangerous wild animals would entail construction of a permanent structure to house confiscated animals.
"I'm not sure this is the best solution and I'm not really sure what it means in the long term," he said. "I guess we're counting on this thing going on and on."
Earlier this week, the Controlling Board approved $3.5 million to build a 22,000-30,000 square foot facility in Reynoldsburg to accommodate up to 40-60 caged animals. The state owns land in less expensive parts of Ohio that might have been a better option, Speaker Batchelder suggested. In addition, there are a lot of animal sanctuaries in other parts of the country that could potentially accept the animals.
Some House Finance & Appropriation Committee members are reviewing the issue, he said.
