January 16

Ohio lawmaker wants Kasich speech at Statehouse

By JULIE CARR SMYTH

The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

A Youngstown-area lawmaker raised objections Tuesday to Gov. John Kasich's plans to deliver his State of the State speech outside Columbus again this year.

In a letter, state Rep. Ronald Gerberry, D-Austintown, asked House Speaker William Batchelder to reject any request by Kasich to change the speech's venue. The legislator also asked Batchelder to encourage new Senate President Keith Faber to do the same.

"The moving of this address significantly destroys a historical tradition of Ohio and needs to be stopped before another tradition is lost," Gerberry wrote. "As long serving members it is our responsibility to educate newer members in Ohio legislative history and tradition so future generations will enjoy them as we have."

http://www.daytondailynews.com/ap/ap/legislative/ohio-lawmaker-wants-kasich-speech-at-statehouse/nTxKD/

 

 

State Government Roundup: Gerberry on State of the State

Hannah Report 1/15/13

Gerberry Wants Kasich's Speech Back in Statehouse

Rep. Ron Gerberry (D-Canfield) is asking House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) to deny Gov. John Kasich's expected request to take his State of the State address on the road again this year.

Kasich made the speech in Steubenville last year and had to get express approval of the General Assembly to do so. The House voted narrowly to approve that move, with bipartisan opposition.

Gerberry said in a letter to Batchelder that Kasich should honor tradition and maintain the speech as an address to a joint session of the Legislature in Columbus. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191647

 

Politics Notebook: State Of State Objection Aired; Labor, Greens Decry AEP Move; Portman Reveals Debt Bills; Dem Chairs Elected

The anticipated grumbling over Gov. John Kasich's plan to again take his State of the State Address on the road began in earnest Tuesday, with a Democratic lawmaker lodging a preemptive objection with GOP legislative leaders.

"As a strong believer in tradition and institutional respect, I was upset when the Governor requested and received permission to move this event away from the Ohio House Chamber to Steubenville last year," Rep. Ron Gerberry (D-Austintown) said in a letter to Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina).

"It is important to include various areas of the state in as many events as possible; however it is not appropriate to move the annual "State of the State" address. The moving of this address significantly destroys a historical tradition of Ohio and needs to be stopped before another tradition is lost," he said.

Some Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition to the move last year when the Steubenville trip was approved in the House by a 52-42 vote. Mr. Kasich's speech, which was largely devoid of any major announcements of new initiatives, subsequently received mixed reviews.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=820100211