September 14

Ohio Dems criticize GOP's proposed US House map

By ANDY BROWNFIELD, The Associated Press Updated 6:56 PM Tuesday, September 13, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — New U.S. House districts proposed by Ohio Republicans include one that stretches from Toledo to Cleveland and a crescent touching parts of 13 counties from Appalachia to Amish country, and the map would pit six incumbents against each other in contests for three congressional seats.

The map that will affect Ohio congressional politics for the next decade would force face-offs between Republicans Mike Turner and Steve Austria in southern Ohio, and Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur for a district along the Lake Erie shore. The map would squeeze Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton into the district of Republican Jim Renacci.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/ohio-dems-criticize-gops-proposed-us-house-map-1251908.html

 

State Senate gave pay raises to staff members

by JULIE CARR SMYTH | Associated Press
Columbus -- Staffers for both Republicans and Democrats in the Ohio Senate got pay raises this summer in the aftermath of state budget cuts and the passage of a law limiting public employee unions, state records show.
Payroll data reviewed by The Associated Press show 19 Senate caucus employees -- not quite 20 percent of the staff -- got pay hikes since July worth about $160,000 combined. Four employees -- the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, finance director, and clerk -- saw bumps of more than $8,000 a year each on salaries already around $100,000.
http://www.hudsonhubtimes.com/news/article/5095243


Ohio Republicans release proposed congressional map 
 
From staff and wire reports

Published: September 14, 2011 - 12:37 AM

COLUMBUS: New U.S. House districts Ohio Republicans have proposed include one that stretches from Toledo to Cleveland and a crescent touching parts of 13 counties from Appalachia to Amish country.

The proposal would pit six incumbents against each other in contests for three congressional seats, including Republicans Mike Turner and Steve Austria in southern Ohio and Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur vying for a district along the Lake Erie shore.

It would squeeze Democrat Betty Sutton into the district of Republican Jim Renacci.
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-republicans-release-proposed-congressional-map-1.234861

GOP plan for new congressional districts draws fire

Democrats say they won’t support moving primary

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday September 14, 2011 9:05 AM

By packing high concentrations of Democratic voters into four districts, Ohio Republicans have gerrymandered a new congressional map that leaves them a good chance to hold as many as a dozen seats for the next decade.

The GOP, which controls all of state government, unveiled a map yesterday that is likely to be acted on quickly in the House and Senate in the next 10 days. It seeks to eliminate one Republican and one Democratic seat, turning the GOP’s current congressional majority from 13-5 to a likely 12-4, while boosting a few vulnerable Republican incumbents. Ohio lost two seats because of slow population growth in the past decade.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/14/gop-plan-for-new-districts-draws-fire.html

Most in area may get new representation

New GOP map pits Steve Austria and Mike Turner against each other.

10:26 PM Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Dayton Daily News

COLUMBUS — A Republican-drawn map unveiled Tuesday creates a jigsaw puzzle of 16 new congressional districts, several odd-shaped, that would appear to give the GOP a clear advantage in the decade ahead.

Despite efforts by minority Democrats to put on the brakes to allow for more public input, House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, plans a vote by the full House by Friday before sending it on to the Senate, also controlled by Republicans.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/most-in-area-may-get-new-representation-1252610.html

House Democrats back away from deal on moving the primary date

Published: Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 12:45 PM     Updated: Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 4:31 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Unhappy over a new congressional map expected to be passed quickly by majority-party Republicans, House Democrats are backing away from a deal to provide votes for legislation which would move the 2012 primary date.

In a letter sent today to House Speaker Bill Batchelder, Minority Leader Armond Budish called it "wholly unacceptable" for Republicans to vote the new congressional map out of the legislature within 72 hours. GOP forces need seven Democratic votes to pass legislation to move back the primary date with an emergency clause attached to it.  
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/09/house_democrats_back_away_from.html

Congressional districts are a creature of partisan politics

Published: Wed, September 14, 2011 @ 12:00 a.m.

Youngstown Vindicator

There’s got to be a better way of designing congressional districts that represent Ohio as a state in which Republicans and Democrats can fairly compete.

Ideally, independents and third-party candidates should also have a shot, but we’re talking here about the possible, not the improbable, and Ohio and most states function in a two-party environment.

Political junkies and even college and high school students have been able to use a computer to draw relatively clean, compact and competitive congressional districts, but don’t look for the Ohio General Assembly to follow suit.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/sep/14/congressional-districts-are-a-creature-o/

Redistricting plan would splinter Stark County

By Robert Wang

CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted Sep 13, 2011 @ 03:57 PM

Last update Sep 14, 2011 @ 08:06 AM

CANTON — You and your neighbor down the street soon could have different congressmen.

Ohio House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a redistricting plan that divides Stark County into three congressional districts, which local officials believe will severely weaken the county’s clout on Capitol Hill.

Under a draft map released by the Ohio House State Government and Elections Committee, nearly every Canton and Massillon resident would find themselves in the same district as some residents of Richland County. Nearly all of Canton and Massillon and most of Stark County would be in the Ohio 7th Congressional District, starting in the 2012 election.

http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x1587952687/State-Democrats-line-up-to-pan-proposed-House-map

6th District Survives, 17th Becomes 13^th

Sept. 14, 2011 6:48 a.m.

Youngstown Business Journal

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The survival of the 6th Congressional District in the decennial statewide redrawing of Ohio's congressional districts came as a surprise to political observers here and in Washington, D.C..

Rumored for months to be on the endangered list, the district now represented by U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson in the U.S. House of Representatives was among those retained when the Government and Elections Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives unveiled the proposed new boundaries. Due to national population changes, Ohio lost two congressional seats, requiring lawmakers to draw 16 districts from the 18 Ohio now has.
http://business-journal.com/th-district-survives-th-becomes-th-p19971-1.htm

Budish Withdraws Support of May Primary over Redistricting Timeline

Hannah Report 9/13/11

In protest of House Republican plans to vote on a new congressional map this week after it had only been introduced on Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) withdrew support of his caucus for legislation that would move the primary back to May.

Budish sent a letter to House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) complaining that there was a complete lack of transparency in the redistricting process and saying that, as a result, "it appears that you have abrogated our agreement."

The debate turns partly on the success of Fair Elections Ohio, the campaign spearheaded by former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to seek a referendum to overturn HB194 (Mecklenborg-Blessing), which included a provision to move the primary to May. The group's failure to collect enough signatures to make the ballot by the Sept. 29 deadline would render moot Budish's protest.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187105

BUDISH CALLS OFF PRIMARY DATE DEAL AS GOP INTRODUCES LEGISLATION

Gongwer 9/13/11

Shortly before House Republicans were scheduled to take up legislation Tuesday to delay the 2012 primary election, Democrats publicly bowed out of a previously announced agreement to support the plan.
House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) sent a letter to Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) saying his caucus would not back a previously announced plan to push back the Presidential Primary from March to May.
An hour later, Rep. Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) offered sponsor testimony on the proposal (HB 318 ) before the House State Government & Elections Committee, saying it was necessary to allow boards of election sufficient time to prepare for the primary election.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801770203&newsedition_id=8017702&locid=2
 

September 13

New congressional map may extend Rep. Marcy Kaptur's district into Cleveland

Published: Friday, September 09, 2011, 8:00 PM

By Sabrina Eaton, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohio's longest-serving member of Congress, Toledo Democrat Marcy Kaptur, would represent Cleveland's West Side and parts of western Cuyahoga County under a redistricting scenario making the rounds in Columbus and Washington.
Republicans in Columbus who are charged with redrawing congressional district lines are expected to formally unveil their proposed map next week. Because Ohio's population growth hasn't kept pace with other states, two of Ohio's 18 congressional seats will be eliminated.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/09/new_congressional_map_may_exte.html

Presidential primary would be pushed back to May under bill introduced in Ohio Senate

Published: Monday, September 12, 2011, 6:15 PM     Updated: Monday, September 12, 2011, 9:44 PM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A state senator on Monday introduced legislation with bipartisan support to push back the presidential primary from March to May.
The primary's move to May already was passed as part of a broad election overhaul bill, House Bill 194. But a referendum effort to repeal that law has put the change in limbo.
Passing a new bill to move the primary date would sidestep any conflict with a possible referendum.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/09/presidential_primary_would_be.html

Betty Sutton and Dennis Kucinich to be squeezed out in new congressional remap

Published: Monday, September 12, 2011, 12:23 PM     Updated: Monday, September 12, 2011, 10:19 PM

By Sabrina Eaton, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Democrats will lose two congressional seats in Northeast Ohio under a remapping plan that will be introduced in Ohio's legislature this week. But they will gain a new seat in Columbus that's being designed to shift Republicans who now represent the city into safer suburban seats.
Republican and Democratic sources say that in Northeast Ohio, the plan will shift Copley Township Democrat Betty Sutton into a largely Republican district that's being constructed to favor the re-election of freshman GOP Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/09/new_remap_will_give_democrats.html


Energy Advocates Baffled over Jordan Legislation to Repeal Renewable Energy Benchmark
Hannah Report 9/9/11
Legislation proposed Wednesday by Sen. Kris Jordan (R-Powell) could cripple one of the fastest growing sectors of Ohio’s economy -- the clean energy sector, according to environmental and energy industry advocates who worked to get the renewable and energy standard benchmark for Ohio during 2008 debates on 127-SB221 (Schuler) -- Ohio's energy policy.
According to clean energy advocates they say they are "baffled by the strange, outlier legislation." 
Regardless of what the Senate does with SB216, House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) has already sent a letter to Gov. John Kasich in August indicating that any move towards re-regulation would be destructive to Ohio’s already fragile economy.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187077


GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
Hannah Report 9/9/11
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) stripped Rep. Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek) of his chairmanship of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, with a spokesman saying the speaker viewed the charges of drunken driving against Martin as "a major distraction." The move came amid a broader committee shuffle to reflect the departure of two members for the Senate, the seating of their replacements and the resignation of Rep. Robert Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati).
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187078

HOUSE VOTE ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS SLATED FOR NEXT WEEK; BOTH PARTIES FACE COMBINED DISTRICTS

Hannah Report 9/8/11

Due partly to Republicans' success in recent elections, two GOP congressmen will apparently have to face off against each other next year under Ohio's reconfigured districts, which will be two short of the current total based on population shifts.

Democrats are also slated to lose a current seat under the plan to condense the state's 18 congressional districts into 16.

Speaker Bill Batchelder's (R-Medina) spokesman Mike Dittoe said the majority House GOP's map, which will serve as the basis of Congressional boundaries for a decade to come, will be ready by Tuesday's State Government & Elections Committee hearing. The bill will likely be voted out of committee Wednesday and may come up for a floor vote in session Thursday.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801740201&newsedition_id=8017402&locid=2&link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801740201%26newsedition_id=8017402%26locid=2

 

 

POLITICS NOTEBOOK: TEN APPLY FOR OPEN HOUSE SEAT; OBAMA TO COLUMBUS; GUN AGREEMENT

Gongwer 9/8/11

Ten residents of southwest Ohio applied for consideration to be appointed to the Ohio House seat recently vacated by former Rep. Robert Mecklenborg, the House GOP Caucus said Thursday.

Applying for the seat were:
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801740209&newsedition_id=8017402&locid=2&link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801740209%26newsedition_id=8017402%26locid=2

STATEHOUSE TO AWAKEN NEXT WEEK WITH REDISTRICTING ATOP AGENDA

Gongwer 9/9/11

The House's plan to introduce and pass a redistricting plan will dominate attention at the Statehouse next week, but representatives have laid out the first full legislative schedule since breaking for summer recess in July.

In addition to House sessions scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, House leadership recently added an unusual Friday session - in indication that passing new Congressional maps next week could prove a time consuming and difficult process.

Earlier this week the GOP caucus confirmed plans to introduce its redistricting plan in the House State Government & Elections Committee on Tuesday and vote on the measure Wednesday. The bill will likely come to a floor vote on Thursday or Friday.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801750201&newsedition_id=8017502&locid=2&link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801750201%26newsedition_id=8017502%26locid=2

POLITICS NOTEBOOK: DEMOCRATS PREDICT CHAOS WITHOUT BIPARTISAN REDISTRICTING VOTE; BOEHNER ON PRESIDENT'S BILL; OBAMA VISITS COLUMBUS

Gongwer 9/12/11

House Democrats' key member on redistricting warned Monday that "legal chaos" would infect next year's primary election if Republicans proceed with plans to fast track adoption of new Congressional maps.

In a letter to House State Government & Elections Committee Chairman Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) said Republicans would need Democratic support to delay the 2012 primary election from March to May - something leaders of both House caucuses have endorsed.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801760207&newsedition_id=8017602&locid=2&link=news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801760207%26newsedition_id=8017602%26locid=2

September 8

Senate’s top aides awarded raises of 4%-33%

Chamber’s GOP leader defends timing as foes of SB 5 blast decision

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 8, 2011 7:04 AM

A massive state budget crunch did not stop state Senate leaders from giving out significant raises to many of their top caucus staff members, and that decision is making its way into the Issue 2 collective-bargaining debate.

Nineteen Senate staff members — 10 Republicans and nine Democrats — were given pay raises in July ranging from 4 to 33 percent, retroactive to Jan. 1.

Five staff members got $15,000 raises: Matt Schuler, chief of staff for Senate President Tom Niehaus; Liz Connolly, deputy chief of staff; Brian Perera, the Republicans’ finance director; Mike Rowe, the Democrats’ communication director; and Vincent Keeran, the Senate clerk.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/08/senates-top-aides-awarded-raises-of-4-33.html
 

Lawmaker charged with drunken driving loses committee post

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday September 8, 2011 5:47 AM

Rep. Jarrod Martin refused calls by Republican leaders to step down after his latest alcohol-related incident this summer, and now he has lost his committee leadership post.

House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, yesterday removed Martin as chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, replacing him with Rep. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott.

Martin, a two-term Republican from Beavercreek, faces charges of child endangerment and drunken driving following his July 22 arrest in Jackson County. State troopers who pulled Martin over said he went left of center and had a taillight out. Martin refused to submit to field sobriety tests; he has pleaded not guilty.

Martin also was involved in two alcohol-related incidents in 2010. In March of that year, he was found by Riffe Center security guards passed out in the parking garage on a vehicle belonging to Batchelder.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/08/house-speaker-strips-lawmaker-of-committee-post.html
 

DUI charge costs local lawmaker his committee leadership job

Allegations against Beavercreek lawmaker a ‘distraction,’ speaker says.

By William Hershey, Columbus Bureau Updated 7:57 AM Thursday, September 8, 2011

Dayton Daily News

COLUMBUS — House Speaker William Batchelder on Wednesday removed Rep. Jarrod Martin, R-Beavercreek, as chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the wake of charges pending against Martin for drunken driving and child endangering.

“It was a difficult decision to remove Rep. Martin as chairman but it is clear to him (Batchelder) that this caucus, which has accomplished wonderful things, regarded his (Martin’s) situation as a major distraction,” said Mike Dittoe, Batchelder’s spokesman.

The move will cost Martin $6,500 annually, the stipend he received as committee chairman in addition to his annual base salary of $60,584.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/dui-charge-costs-local-lawmaker-his-committee-leadership-job-1248543.html

Boards and ballots: Hagan appointed to agriculture seat

By Robert Wang and Ed Balint

CantonRep.com staff writers

Posted Sep 07, 2011 @ 10:57 PM

State Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, has been appointed to a seat on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Ohio House Speaker William G.Batchelder’s spokesman Mike Dittoe said Hagan, who grew up on a farm and represents the most rural district entirely in Stark County, recently asked the Speaker for the assignment. A vacancy opened when Republican Troy Balderson of Zanesville resigned from the committee and his House seat to accept an appointment to the Ohio Senate.

http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x219205774/Boards-and-ballots-Hagan-appointed-to-agriculture-seat

Batchelder Strips Martin of Committee Chairmanship, Makes Other Committee Changes

Hannah Report

House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) shuffled around the membership on House committees on Wednesday, including stripping Rep. Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek) of his chairmanship of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

Martin is currently facing charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and child endangerment after a July 22 traffic stop in Jackson County. Reports said that Martin's vehicle went over the center line and the trailer his vehicle was pulling did not have taillights. Martin refused field sobriety tests and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. (See The Hannah Report, 8/11/11.)
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187044

SPEAKER STRIPS MARTIN OF CHAIRMANSHIP, SAYS OVI CHARGE A ‘DISTRACTION'

Gongwer

The House Republican who has refused to resign following his citation for drunken driving has lost his position as chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.
In one of several committee changes announced Tuesday (See House Activity Report), Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) removed Rep. Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek) as chairman of the panel and replaced him with Rep. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott).
Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) replaces Rep. Johnson as vice chair.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801730202&newsedition_id=8017302&locid=2

September 7

Compromise at the ballot

Published: September 6, 2011 - 11:44 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

In a deal announced late last week, Jon Husted and Ed FitzGerald set the right example. The Republican secretary of state and the Democratic executive of Cuyahoga County reached a compromise on absentee ballot applications, ending weeks of confrontation and confusion. That said, much work remains to be done to fix how Ohioans vote.

FitzGerald has backed away from mailing absentee ballot applications to all county voters in the fall, a move that would have violated the spirit, if not the letter, of a directive by Husted. As the state’s chief elections officer, Husted does not want inconsistency in mailing applications, a practice that invites lawsuits over unequal access.

Initially, FitzGerald argued that the Husted directive applied only to elections boards, and successfully urged the Cuyahoga County Council to pay for a mass mailing of absentee ballot applications, in effect bypassing the secretary of state, yet another invitation to litigation.

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/compromise-at-the-ballot-1.233583

DEMOCRATS PRESSURE GOP MAPMAKERS TO PRODUCE REDISTRICTING PLAN

Gongwer

House Republicans scheduled two hearings next week on revising Congressional districts, but could not assure Democrats that their maps would be available for consideration.
During the Tuesday hearing of the full House State Government & Elections Committee, Chairman Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said the panel would meet twice next week to review proposed maps from a number of different organizations.
Democrats repeatedly pressed him on when the Republican caucus's map, which is expected to serve as the basis for revising district boundaries, will be available to review.
The committee's ranking minority member, Rep. Ronald Gerberry (D-Austintown), said he was glad Republicans were interested in maps that have won redistricting contests held by good government groups.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801720201&newsedition_id=8017202&locid=2

HOUSE COULD TAKE UP PRIMARY ELECTION CHANGE, GOP APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK

Gongwer

Next week's "if needed" House sessions appear likely to be needed as Republicans and Democrats join forces to protect the plan to push the 2012 March primary back to May.
Speaker Bill Batchelder's (R-Medina) spokesman Mike Dittoe said Tuesday that the chamber might take up a proposal to move next year's presidential primary during session next week.
The Republican speaker recently announced an agreement with House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) to pass a separate measure changing the March date to May. Legislative leaders are concerned that the date change contained in recent elections legislation (HB 194 ) could fall victim to a pending referendum, which would leave less time to complete the Congressional redistricting process. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, September 1, 2011)
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801720202&newsedition_id=8017202&locid=2

September 6

Good compromise on absentee ballot requests: editorial

Published: Sunday, September 04, 2011, 8:54 PM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

After their clear-the-air meeting in Columbus, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald were able to resolve their absentee-ballot dispute in a way that allows both to save face and, far more important, represents a major breakthrough for voter access in Ohio.
The deal announced Friday does mean that Cuyahoga County voters will have to take an extra step, this year only, to get their vote-by-mail ballots: FitzGerald agreed to shelve plans for his mailing to every county voter. Instead, he plans a major public education campaign on how to apply for a mail-in ballot.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/09/good_compromise_on_absentee_ba.html

New legislative district lines in Ohio can be drawn fairly

Published: Sun, September 4, 2011 @ 12:00 a.m.

Youngstown Vindicator

Before Republican legislative leaders in Columbus dismiss offhand a map that won first place in the Ohio Redistricting Competition sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund, the Midwest Democracy Network and Ohio Citizen Action, we would point out that the individual who came up with the new boundaries for the Senate and House districts is a Republican state representative, albeit from Illinois.

Mike Fornter, who represents the 95th District, is former mayor of West Chicago and an associate professor of physics at Northern Illinois University in West Chicago. He isn’t some flaming liberal out to reverse the political fortunes of the GOP in Ohio by producing a map that gives Democrats any kind of an advantage.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/sep/04/new-legislative-district-lines-in-ohio-c/?newswatch

Speaker Bill Batchelder represents all of Ohio

Wadsworth Post

To the Editor:

Bill Batchelder was born in Medina and has served our state with honor and distinction all of his working life. He grew up in Medina and attended Medina High School. He has been an advocate for Medina and the rest of our nation all of his life.

He has distinguished himself in many ways, not the least of which is to assist Gov. John Kasich in taking Ohio out of a depression-bound economy and putting Ohio on a stable economic course.

Bill Batchelder, like his sister Republican Sarah Palin, does not show any favoritism to wrong doers, Republican or Democrat. During the savings and loan crisis in the 1980s, Batchelder worked with Democratic Gov. Dick Celeste to draft legislation to save depositors' savings at stricken savings and loan associations, causing Celeste to thank Batchelder during his state of the state speech. During the pay-to-play scandal of the mid 1990s, as chair of the Joint Committee on Ethics, Batchelder referred both the Republican President of the Ohio Senate and the Democratic Ohio Speaker of the House to a prosecutor; both were convicted. He is the only ethics committee chair ever to have referred the heads of both legislative chambers to a prosecutor.

http://thepostnewspapers.com/wadsworth/letter-russell-wadsworth-9-3

First TV ad of SB5 campaign released

By  Jim Seigel

The Columbus Dispatch Friday September 2, 2011 1:44 PM

The first ad of the Issue 2 fight features firefighters and highlights a message likely to be prominent among those advocating repeal of Ohio’s new collective bargaining law — they say it makes communities less safe.

“Fewer firefighters mean slower response times, and that can mean the difference between life and death,” Cincinnati firefighter Doug Stern says in the ad, which focuses on the inability of public unions to negotiate over staffing levels under Senate Bill 5.

The ad from We Are Ohio started running this morning across the state and is the first in what is likely to be an expensive and hard-fought battle over whether Ohio should significantly weaken collective bargaining power for state and local government workers.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/02/first-ad-of-the-issue-2-fight-is-released.html

Husted, FitzGerald Strike Deal to End Feud

Hannah Report

After publicly feuding over whether one county could send out unsolicited absentee ballot applications in defiance of a state directive, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and Secretary of State Jon Husted buried the hatchet Friday, announcing a deal that would end the county’s attempts to send out applications and allow for a statewide mailing in 2012.

FitzGerald had been challenging a directive from Husted that said county boards of elections could not send out unsolicited absentee ballots because it would cause confusion and be unfair to voters in counties that could not afford to send applications. The Cuyahoga executive instead sought, and later received, permission from the Cuyahoga County Council to send the applications through his office instead of the Board of Elections, a move Husted criticized as undermining the "principles of election fairness." (See The Hannah Report, 8/26/11.) http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187000

Hannah Report

ELECTIONS 2012

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) late Thursday issued a joint statement announcing their support for moving the date of the 2012 primary election to the month of May, as specified in HB194. However, because of the possible referendum on HB194, they said legislation effecting this change will be introduced soon.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) named Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) the new chairman of the House State Government and Elections Committee, replacing former Rep. Robert Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati), who resigned after a drunken driving incident. Huffman announced the committee will have hearings on congressional redistricting Sept. 6, 13 and 14.

The House GOP is taking applications until 5 p.m. Sept. 8 for those interested in filling the vacancy created by Rep. Robert Mecklenborg's (R-Cincinnati) resignation from the 30th District seat.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187015

September 2

Ohio House GOP, Dems agree to push 2012 primary to May

Published: Thu, September 1, 2011 @ 8:46 p.m.

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Republican and Democratic leaders of the Ohio House say they will soon introduce a bill that would reschedule Ohio’s 2012 presidential primary from March to May.

Republican House Speaker William Batchelder and Democratic Leader Armond Budish said in a statement today the delay is imperative to allow enough time to gather public feedback on new congressional district boundaries before 2012 ballots are printed.

http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/sep/01/ohio-house-gop-dems-agree-push-2012-primary-may/?nw

Rep. Hagan bill would require drug and alcohol tests for elected officials, JobsOhio leaders

By William Hershey | Thursday, September 1, 2011, 12:28 PM

Dayton Daily News

State Rep. Robert Hagan, D-Youngstown, said Thursday he plans to introduce legislation requiring drug and alcohol testing for statewide elected officials, legislators and board members of JobsOhio, the private corporation now in charge of Ohio’s economic development efforts.

Also Thursday, Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, said she plans to introduce similar legislation, requiring legislators to be randomly drug tested once a year in order to be paid.

Both proposals follow and appear to counter an earlier announcement from Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, that he will introduce legislation requiring drug tests for people seeking government assistance such as welfare and unemployment compensation.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/09/01/hagan_bill_would_require_drug.html?cxtype=feedbot

Batchelder, Budish Support Moving 2012 Primary to May

Hannah Report

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) late Thursday issued a joint statement announcing their support for moving the date of the 2012 primary election to the month of May, as specified in HB194.

With the uncertainty surrounding a possible referendum of HB194, both Batchelder and Budish said they believe that it is imperative to move the primary date in order to obtain sufficient feedback from the public on congressional redistricting and to ensure that county boards of elections have adequate time to prepare for the 2012 elections.

The date of the primary also determines the deadline for congressional candidates to file their candidacy paperwork. Currently the deadline for the 2012 primary is Dec. 7, 2011 -- 90 days before the March 6, 2012 primary which is problematic if the new district lines are not drawn. However, moving the primary date to May also moves that filing date to March, giving the General Assembly additional time to act.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=186996

BIPARTISAN HOUSE LEADERS BACK MAY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

Gongwer

The top Republican and Democrat in the Ohio House said Thursday they support moving the 2012 primary election to May - a change that was included in legislation that is subject to an ongoing referendum effort.
House Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and House Minority Leader Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said passing separate legislation - to be introduced shortly - would allow the public more time to comment on the Congressional redistricting process and give county election officials enough time to prepare for the election.
"It is important for this institution to maintain a policy of openness and transparency," Mr. Batchelder said in a statement. "Redistricting is an important process that all Ohioans will be affected by for the next decade, so ensuring that we have ample time to solicit feedback from the public and give boards of elections enough time to prepare for next year is extremely vital as we move forward in this process."
In a joint statement issued by the House GOP caucus, Mr. Budish also backed the new timetable.

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=801700205&newsedition_id=8017002&locid=2

September 11

Published: 9/1/2011

Mayor Bell voices support for SB5

BY JIM PROVANCE
TOLEDO BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

Facing fierce resistance from organized labor as he wrestles to bring Toledo's budget under control, Mayor Mike Bell on Wednesday became Ohio's first major city mayor to officially voice support for a state law limiting the bargaining rights of public employees.

Mayor Bell, a former Ohio fire marshal and Toledo fire chief, made the announcement during a meeting with The Blade's editorial board in which he discussed frustration with the recent reaction of some city employees to a proposed wage freeze and benefit cuts.

"We followed the process, and by following the process we got a protest," Mayor Bell said. "I'm the administrator of a city that is financially-strapped and I need to be able to have the tools in the box [to balance the budget]."

The law to limit bargaining power, commonly referred to as Senate Bill 5 and championed by Republican Gov. John Kasich, passed in the spring without a single Democratic vote and is currently on the Nov. 8 ballot for a referendum on whether it should be recalled.

The mayor's open support for Senate Bill 5 stands as an anomaly in this traditionally Democratic city where the support of labor unions has been critical for many politicians seeking office. For union supporters, Mayor Bell's former standing as a Toledo firefighter and fire chief made his open embrace of Senate Bill 5 particularly hard to swallow. The mayor ran for office as an independent.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/09/01/Mayor-Bell-voices-support-for-SB5.html