Updated: 6:54 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 | Posted: 6:54 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013
New Senate leader puts economy at forefront
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Ohio's new Senate president says extended term limits, changes to the state's political map-drawing process, and tougher abortion restrictions are among issues that could arise in the next two-year legislative session — but the economy will be the real focus.
"It's pretty straightforward: Ohio is doing better right now than the national average on all the numbers — but better just isn't good enough," State Sen. Keith Faber, a Celina Republican, told reporters during opening day of the state Legislature Monday.
The state budget, a spending blueprint for the next two years, will be the priority of the first half of the year. Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, is expected to include major education and tax changes in the next budget.
Faber said the fate of certain hot-button social issues will depend on his GOP colleagues. That includes a stringent limit on most abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat, a bill outgoing Senate President Tom Niehaus had blocked over constitutional concerns.
Legislators open session pledging transparency
The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday January 8, 2013 6:07 AM
Ohio House committee hearings, particularly those dealing with the new two-year state budget, will be broadcast live online and on public-access TV stations for the first time. House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, made the announcement yesterday as the 130th General Assembly opened its two-year session.
“This is an unprecedented step forward in legislative transparency,” Batchelder said.
House and Senate sessions have been broadcast live online on the Ohio Channel for years, but committee hearings have not. In addition to budget-committee hearings and some budget-related subcommittees, Batchelder said, “We’re going to have to pick committees that have something in front of them.” He mentioned, for example, the hearings last year on exotic-animal legislation. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/01/08/legislators-start-session-pledging-transparency.html
Posted: 6:02 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2013
Ohio lawmakers sworn in for General Assembly
By Jackie Borchardt
COLUMBUS —
Lawmakers returned to Columbus on Monday for the first day of a new two-year session with a Miami Valley legislator at the helm of the Senate.
Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, was elected Senate President for the 130th General Assembly and accepted the gavel from outgoing Republican Sen. Tom Niehaus of New Richmond, who is leaving because of term limits.
“I give my promise to speak honestly, to lead with integrity, to serve by example, to communicate with clarity, to respect this institution, its members, its constituents, and above all else, to learn by listening,” Faber told senators at the end of their first session meeting. Faber was elected to the House in 1999 and the Senate in 2007. He was elected to his first leadership position in 2009, serving as majority floor leader.
Faber positioned himself for the top spot as president pro-tempore during the last session. His district covers Darke, Mercer, Shelby, Champaign, Logan, Auglaize and Allen counties.
Beck suit prompts House ethics look
Lawsuit alleges that he helped cheat investors out of more than $1.2M
Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Sworn in to his third term Monday, state Rep. Peter Beck now faces an ethics investigation by the Ohio House because of a civil lawsuit alleging he participated in a fraud that cheated investors out of more than $1.2 million.
House Speaker William G. Batchelder told The Enquirer that the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, which he chairs, will look into the case that was filed against Beck and others last week in Hamilton County.
“The allegations I think are untrue and are an injustice,” Beck, R-Mason, told The Enquirer. “It’s been very hard on me.”
New House Sworn In; Batchelder Announces Transparency Initiatives
The House opened the 130th General Assembly Monday by swearing in a class that includes 17 new members and with House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) taking the gavel for his second term.
Batchelder used his speech to highlight the number of accomplishments of the last General Assembly and mentioning work by both caucuses, telling the packed chamber that decisions in this term should be decided not “by the letter behind our name” but with “conviction in our hearts.” He said all the legislators come with a desire to serve others.
The speaker also announced new initiatives for this General Assembly, including broadcasts of certain committee hearings, starting with the House Finance and Appropriations Committee during the budget. Calling it an “unprecedented” move, he said the hearings would be broadcast over the Internet and on public access channels. He also said more documents would be made available to the public online, later telling reporters that would include amendments to bills. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=191575
People in the News: House Sergeant-at-Arms
Former OSHP Colonel Selected as New House Sergeant-at-Arms
House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) announced Monday the selection of retired Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Col. Richard "Butch" Collins as the new House sergeant-at-arms.
Collins served more than 30 years in the patrol, including two years as superintendent. According to a statement from the House Monday, Collins trained with the 108th class and served at various assignments in the field over the years while moving up the ranks. That included three years as Findlay post commander and seven years as commander of the 12-county Findlay District. The Findlay post was dedicated in his honor in November 2012.
"Col. Collins served Ohio admirably as a state trooper for many years, and I’m confident that he will continue to do so as the House sergeant-at-arms," Batchelder said in a statement. "We are grateful for his service and look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come."
Collins served the House in a part-time capacity from 2011-2012. He takes the position following the retirement of former Sergeant-at-Arms Tim McCarthy at the close of the 129th General Assembly. The sergeant-at-arms is responsible for the security of all members and staff at the House of Representatives.
House Kicks Off New General Assembly Session
The Ohio House on Monday held its opening day ceremonies for the 130th General Assembly, reelecting Rep. Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) as speaker.
Rep. Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) nominated Rep. Batchelder for the speaker's seat, drawing on his history working alongside the lawmaker.
"This man...first off he's cut from the character and the cloth of the founders of this great country," he said. "He understands why we're here in the first place; we're here because of freedom. He understands that to keep it that we must do what the founders of this great nation gave to us: an open government where everybody has the chance to participate."
Mr. Buchy, who is serving his 11th term, described the accomplishments of the last two years as being unsurpassed by anything else he has experienced.
"It is through the leadership of our Speaker Bill Batchelder that we were able to handle the tough issues and been given the turnaround of this great state where we're going to...become No. 1," he said.
Mr. Batchelder shared a similar characterization of the 129th General Assembly.
"Thanks to the hard work and dedication during that time from members of both sides of the aisle, our state accomplished considerable job growth and economic expansion," he said. "At a time when our nation continues in many states to struggle to get back on its feet, we in Ohio are leading the way out of these economic hardships and leading the charge into a pro-business, pro-jobs economy."
Speaker Batchelder outlined some of the accomplishments of the last General Assembly such as legislation cracking down on pill mills and human trafficking, overhauling the state's public employee pension systems, resolving a projected budget deficit, and implementing the Common Sense Initiative and agency performance audits.
Looking forward, Mr. Batchelder said the tasks before the House would include regulations for oil and gas exploration, changes in education policy, and advancements in the Constitutional Modernization Committee. He has yet to determine what House Bill 1 will be, but said he hopes it will be something with support from both sides of the aisle.
"Today we as a distinguished body will be tasked with undertaking some of the most important issues facing Ohio, issues that affect out constituents at home, and we will have a real ability to help them to be successful in providing for their families and their communities."
The speaker said it would not be an easy road with easy answers.
"However, I am more than comfortable and confident in the wealth of knowledge that exists in this House," he said. "Each of you bring to the table knowledge, experience and backgrounds which will be of value not just to this chamber but to the people of this state."
Other officers officially elected Monday were Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) as speaker pro tempore, Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) as minority leader as well as majority, minority and administrative officers.
Rep. Budish said in a statement he was "incredibly proud to welcome all the freshman members of the 130th General Assembly today."
"I am particularly proud to welcome the new members of the Democratic Caucus. We are thrilled to have tremendous leaders with a wealth of knowledge and diversity of experience," he said. "There is a great deal of work to be done, as too many Ohioans are suffering. Our caucus will continue to fight for Ohio's working and middle class families."
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett issued his own statement congratulating GOP members, but issued a "warning" regarding a particular Democratic lawmaker.
"Our Republican legislature has a tough road ahead, especially in trying to pass a budget, and should expect an increase in partisan objections as my counterpart Chris Redfern takes up double-duty to chair the Ohio Democrat Party and sit in the Ohio House," he said.
"People are desperate for lawmakers to cooperate and show respect for one another and Chris Redfern retaining his position as chairman of the most political organization in Ohio, in one of the most important swing-states in America, sends a signal that he's looking for a fight instead of bipartisan progress for Ohio."
Faber Says New Committee Structure Will Better Balance Workload
The new Senate president said Monday the creation of several new committees will come with a new schedule to make sure members can attend hearings without being stretched thin.
Sen. Keith Faber (R-Celina) said he planned to schedule most committee hearings on alternating weeks as the Senate prepares to take up business in the new session. Last week he announced the creation of several new standing committees and budget panels. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, January 4, 2013)
"What I'd like to do is go to an A and B committee schedule and have the opportunity for members to actually be in their committees - not have to be in four committees at the same time," he told reporters after session. "We're trying to balance the workload."
The chamber's schedule will also have a "C schedule" when the Finance Committee and subcommittees are deliberating on the biennial budget, he said. There will also be flexibility to allow for more intensive hearings on high priority issues if necessary, he added.
Sen. Faber elaborated on his rationale for several of the changes, such as dividing the Judiciary Committee into separate Civil Justice and Criminal Justice panels. He noted Judiciary handled nearly one-third of the chamber's bills last session. "That's a very large workload for any one committee."
As for separating Public Utilities Committee from Energy and Natural Resources, he said, "What we're doing is putting all of the regulated activities in the Public Utilities Committee, and the energy issue, which is one of the biggest issues facing Ohio right now, and that's oil and gas drilling, energy development issues - we put that over in its own committee because that's very different from the regulated public utilities issues."
While the plan also calls for separating the Rules and Reference committees, they might be consolidated again, he said. "They have two different roles. I wanted to give the Reference Committee a little more responsibility, so we're taking a look at that."
Sen. Faber said he would announce committee chairs and membership Wednesday.
The Senate president said the majority caucus would work to identify 25 priority bills during Jan. 22 retreat. Five or six of those could be measures jointly introduced by Democrats, he added.
"I believe the governor's been a good leader, but we'll certainly exercise our ability to put the Senate's fingerprints" on legislation, he said.
House To Go Digital With Legislative Documents, Broadcast Budget Hearings
House Speaker Bill Batchelder on Monday said the House plans to broadcast online and on television hearings on the budget bill and make more legislative documents available on the Internet.
The move towards increased transparency was announced in the leader's speech during opening day ceremonies in the House. The chamber also elected its majority and minority leaders. (See separate story)
The speaker said the ability to make legislative information and hearings more accessible comes through rules approved by the chamber about eight years ago.
"We will be unveiling a system that will make legislative information significantly more accessible to our public and to our constituency," he told the chamber. "This new platform will revolutionize the legislative drafting process and will make documents like bill drafts and other legislative materials easily available to the public online."
The speaker said this should improve on the past process of laying out amendments on a table in his office - a process that drew little interest.
The House will also broadcast the hearings of the House Finance & Appropriations Committee over the Internet and on television throughout the budget process, "allowing people to delve into the budget process from their own homes or from their mobile device. This alone is an unprecedented step forward in terms of legislative transparency."
Some of the Finance subcommittees would likely also be broadcast during the budget cycle, he said. Other committee hearings could be broadcast depending on what legislation is being heard. He referenced the House Agriculture Committee's hearings on exotic animals last session that drew expansive public interest.
He said he plans to work with members of the Statehouse press corps to determine what its needs are.
"These initiatives are being implemented to collaborate with our partners in the Senate, in order to accomplish saving taxpayers significant amounts of money; we also, I think, will find that there are a great number of people who will be able to benefit from access to these processes of electronics," he said.
