November 9

Ohio collective bargaining law defeated in blow to GOP governor

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio— The state's new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.
In a political blow to GOP Gov. John Kasich, voters handily rejected the law, which would have limited the bargaining abilities of 350,000 unionized public workers.

Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million into the nationally watched campaign, and turnout was high for an off-year election.

The law hadn't taken effect yet. Tuesday's result means the state's current union rules will stand, at least until the GOP-controlled Legislature determines its next move. Republican House Speaker William Batchelder predicted last week that the more palatable elements of the collective bargaining bill — such as higher minimum contributions on worker health insurance and pensions — are likely to be revisited after the dust settles.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/11/08/Ohio-collective-bargaining-law-defeated-in-blow-to-GOP-governor.html

Unions get revenge as Issue 2 fails

Senate Bill 5, which limited collective bargaining in the name of cost control, was reviled by public employees. Yesterday, voters soundly defeated the proposal and sent a clear message to the governor and the bill’s GOP proponents.

By  Jim Siegel  and  Joe Vardon

Wednesday November 9, 2011 8:42 AM

A year after Gov. John Kasich and legislative Republicans were swept into office, Ohio voters delivered them a stinging rebuke yesterday, striking down an extensive curtailing of public-union power that Republican leaders had hoped to make a centerpiece accomplishment of 2011.

An effort that started last winter with thousands of Statehouse protestors and gained speed with the collection of a record 915,000 signatures ended with unions and their supporters drubbing Issue 2 by 61 percent to 39 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/08/1-issue-2-election.html

Ohio voters overwhelmingly reject Issue 2, dealing a blow to Gov. John Kasich

Published: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 11:21 PM     Updated: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 6:23 AM

By Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio voters dealt a sharp rebuke to first-year Gov. John Kasich and his conservative agenda Tuesday by overwhelmingly rejecting the restrictive new collective bargaining law he championed.
"It's clear the people have spoken," the humbled Republican leader said from the Statehouse. "I heard their voices. I understand their decision. And frankly, I respect what the people have to say in an effort like this. And as a result of that, it requires me to take a deep breath and to spend some time to reflect on what happened here."
The state's labor union leaders, meanwhile, praised voters for standing up to Kasich, who they felt bullied them in his rush to create the law, known as Senate Bill 5.
http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/11/ohio_voters_overwhelmingly_rej.html

SB 5 is dead; issues remain: editorial

Published: Tuesday, November 08, 2011, 10:58 PM     Updated: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 1:02 AM

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board The Plain Dealer

In an extraordinarily broad rebuke to Gov. John Kasich and the Republican-run legislature, voters throughout Ohio have decisively rejected Senate Bill 5, the attempt to rewrite the rules for collective bargaining by public employees. Even in many GOP strongholds, this heavy-handed effort to swing the balance of power decisively against unions found so little support that the governor and his allies may be reluctant to reopen the discussion soon.

That would be a mistake.
The difficulties that many communities and school districts face trying to live within their budgets and reform how they do business are not going away. Much like the Big 3 automakers, they need relief from obligations and procedures that are no longer affordable.
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/11/sb_5_is_dead_issues_remain_edi.html

State Issue 2 defeated

By Carol Biliczky
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published: November 9, 2011 - 12:13 AM

State Issue 2 spiraled to defeat by a 2-1 margin Tuesday night, but that might not be the last time Republicans try to curb union power.

In acknowledging defeat, Gov. John Kasich said he and like-minded colleagues “strive for bigger rewards than the fleeting praise of the here and now.”

“Ohio’s problems developed over time because too many people cared more about popularity than about making the tough — and sometimes unpopular — choices Ohio needed,” he said.

House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, already has said lawmakers will try to resurrect some parts of the bill next year.

http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/state-issue-2-defeated-1.244560

Try, try, try again

Published: November 8, 2011 - 06:45 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

The Republican majority in the Ohio House failed last week to advance its revised plan for congressional district boundaries. Republicans need Democratic support to pass a new redistricting bill as an emergency measure, giving candidates time to meet a Dec. 7 filing deadline for the March primary, thus avoiding a separate primary in June for U.S. House and presidential candidates.

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/try-try-try-again-1.244447

Published: 11/9/2011

Toledo Blade

Editorial

Map to nowhere

To crib from Joe Louis: Republicans in the General Assembly can run from accountability for the mess they have made of Ohio's congressional map and 2012 election calendar. But they can't hide their partisan power grab from the state's voters/taxpayers.

House Republicans melodramatically stalked out of the chamber last week after Democrats in the minority blocked a vote on cosmetic improvements to a GOP plan to set new boundaries for Ohio's 16 U.S. House districts. In one of the most closely contested states in the nation, Republicans designed the map to reserve 12 of the seats for their party.

Democrats are collecting petition signatures aimed at enabling voters to repeal the GOP plan in November, 2012. The sequence has created uncertainty about when the state can slate next year's party primaries in U.S. House districts.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorials/2011/11/09/Map-to-nowhere.html

New Redistricting Plan Set for First Hearing

Hannah Report 11/8/11

The new congressional redistricting plan introduced by House Republicans last week is up for its first hearing Wednesday.

HB369 (Huffman), which House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said would address concerns raised by Democrats and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus concerning the map created by HB319 (Huffman), is set for a first hearing before the House Rules and Reference Committee at 12:30 p.m. in Statehouse Hearing Room 313.

The bill was introduced last Thursday as legislative Republicans attempted to bring it up for an immediate vote on the House floor. After it failed to clear a procedural vote to suspend the rules and begin debate, both sides of the aisle entered into a shouting match after legislators tried to comment on the bill despite the failed vote. (See The Hannah Report, 11/3/11.)

http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187675

ISSUE 2: VOTERS SOUNDLY REJECT GOP'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RESTRICTIONS

Gongwer 11/8/11

Ohioans voted decisively Tuesday to block the Republican-backed plan to curb collective bargaining rights for public employees, prompting Democrats to declare a resurgence of the middle class with the victory and Gov. John Kasich to call for a pause before deciding how to proceed with helping local governments contain their costs.
The culmination of months of oftentimes bitterly partisan wrangling emanating from the Statehouse to every corner of Ohio, the vote on Issue 2, the referendum over the labor law rewrite (SB 5 ), found more than 60% in favor of rejection.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802160201&newsedition_id=8021602&locid=2

November 8

Analysis: Dayton-area U.S. House district “competitive” under new GOP map

By William Hershey | Monday, November 7, 2011, 11:01 AM

Dayton Daily News

A Dayton-area district would be “competitive” under a new map for 16 U.S. House districts proposed by Republicans, according to an analysis released Monday by the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting.

Under House Bill 369, proposed new District 10, which would include Montgomery and Greene counties and part of Fayette County, would have a Republican partisan index of 54.18 percent. The campaign considers districts to be “competitive” when the partisan indexes for the parties fall between 45 and 55 percent.

A previous analysis by House Republicans of House Bill 369, using different election results to come up with partisan indexes, found the district to be more even competitive - 52.78 percent Republican.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/11/07/analysis_daytonarea_us_house_d.html?cxtype=feedbot

Ohio Vote on Kasich’s Union Law May Set Tone for 2012 National Elections

By Mark Niquette and Holly Rosenkrantz - Nov 8, 2011 12:01 AM ET

Bloomberg News

Referendum on Ohio Union Law Might Set Tone for 2012 Electio

Efforts to control spending will continue after today’s election no matter the outcome, Ohio Governor John Kasich, said at a Nov. 4 rally in Mansfield. Kasich signed a law in March that was billed as a way to cut costs by limiting collective bargaining. Photo: David Maxwell/Bloomberg

Nov. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican, and Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Firefighters, speak about an Ohio law that limits collective bargaining for public employees. Ohio voters are deciding in a referendum today on the law Kasich signed in March that was billed as a way to cut costs. Polls show the law may be headed for repeal.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-08/ohio-vote-on-kasich-s-union-law-may-set-tone-for-2012-national-elections.html

NO ACTION SET FOR REDISTRICTING; VOTING ADVOCATE BLASTS NEW MAP

Gongwer 11/7/11

After last week's raucous redistricting debate on the House floor, the issue has gone underground in the legislature, but voting advocates took a turn Monday complaining about Republicans' proposed changes to congressional district boundaries.
Although Speaker Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) said last week that committee work on the revised map (HB 369 ) could start as soon as Monday, there were no plans to begin hearings.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802150204&newsedition_id=8021502&locid=2

ISSUE 2 GROUPS MAKE FINAL PUSH FOR, AGAINST COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Gongwer 11/7/11

Ohio's Democratic U.S. senator rallied union opponents Monday, telling them Tuesday marks the first time in the nation's history that voters will have the opportunity to weigh in directly on collective bargaining.
Meanwhile, Gov. John Kasich joined Issue 2 supporters at events in the Cincinnati area to generate enthusiasm for the measure, as the campaign committee issued a last-minute ad.
So ensued the final hours of the campaigns to decide the fate of a collective bargaining law that's been at the center of controversy soon after Republicans swept the last election. Voters will decide Tuesday whether to sustain the law with a "yes" vote or reject it by pushing the "no" button.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802150201&newsedition_id=8021502&locid=2

November 7

Voter’s lawsuit could play role in Ohio map spat

By Julie Carr Smyth and Andy Brownfield
Associated Press

Published: November 4, 2011 - 11:23 PM

COLUMBUS: A Republican Ohio voter has filed suit against the governor, state elections chief and legislature alleging the state’s lack of a congressional map will make the 2012 election unconstitutional, and she wants the judge in her county — one of Ohio’s GOP strongholds — to draw a new map.

The lawsuit by Belinda Ward of Batavia was filed Oct. 17 in Clermont County. A hearing is expected this month.

The suit asks Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Jerry McBride to redraw the congressional districts and retain jurisdiction over future redistricting plans — a factor that could rob Democrats opposed to the GOP-approved map of an opportunity to fight it in federal court.
http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/state/voter-s-lawsuit-could-play-role-in-ohio-map-spat-1.243793

Issue 2 campaign still hot in last days

Backers enlist Pat Boone, Sarah Palin; absentee vote heavy

By  Joe Vardon

The Columbus Dispatch Monday November 7, 2011 7:30 AM

With everyone from the Obama campaign to Pat Boone trying to mobilize voters, the fight over collective bargaining in Ohio — or at least this round of it — is at its climax.

On Tuesday, voters across the state will head to the polls to cast judgment on Issue 2, the ballot measure for the Republican-backed limits to collective bargaining for about 360,000 public employees introduced through Senate Bill 5. Polling places across the state will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/07/issue-2-campaign-still-hot-in-last-days.html

As elections near, intraparty fight brews between Gov. John Kasich and GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine

Published: Saturday, November 05, 2011, 8:00 PM

By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A year after their statewide triumph, Ohio Republicans find themselves on the threshold of a defining moment.

But beyond the obvious battle over a new labor law, which polls show headed for defeat at the ballot box Tuesday, a behind-the-scenes power struggle is percolating within the party.
Few who know the most intimate details of the feud will talk on the record, but it is hardly a secret that Gov. John Kasich is no fan of Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine. The friction, more apparent in recent weeks than ever before, was punctuated last month when a top Kasich donor asked for DeWine's resignation in an email obtained by The Plain Dealer.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/as_elections_near_intraparty_f.html

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus becomes relevant again, but will it last? Analysis

Published: Friday, November 04, 2011, 7:00 PM     Updated: Saturday, November 05, 2011, 3:37 AM

By Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The flap over Ohio's new congressional map has placed a burning spotlight on the role being played by the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, a typically unassertive group in Statehouse politics.
"People are surprised that the black caucus is in this position," said state Rep. Sandra Williams, president of the caucus.
Indeed, over the past decade or more the group has been known more for trying to keep itself organized amid infighting over policy and leadership.
Yet last month when Republicans, who control the General Assembly, found themselves needing Democratic support to pass a new congressional map, they reached out to the 15-member black caucus and bypassed the recognized Democratic leaders in the Ohio House, Senate and state party.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/ohio_legislative_black_caucus_1.html

Competitive edge

Published: November 5, 2011 - 08:52 PM

Akron Beacon Journal

Ohio Republicans went too far in drawing new congressional districts, inviting a backlash in much they same way they did in passing Senate Bill 5, Issue 2 on Tuesday’s ballot. In going from 18 districts to 16 districts, reflecting Ohio’s slower population growth, Republican majorities in the legislature pushed a redistricting bill that gave their party a heavy advantage in 12.

Democrats mounted a petition drive, putting the map on hold. They plan to subject the Republican effort to a referendum in November of next year. Meanwhile, pressure builds at the Statehouse. If Ohio wants a single primary in March, a compromise on a new redistricting plan must be reached, the Dec. 7 filing deadline requiring an emergency measure and that means attracting enough Democratic votes to win passage.

Republicans in the Ohio House inched back ever so slightly last week, offering minor modifications to their first map. Summit County would remain a mess, divided among four districts, the country likely represented by members from Warrensville Heights, Wadsworth, Bainbridge Township and Niles. Democrats said no to the plan.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/competitive-edge-1.243950

Echo of the Capitol

Published: November 7, 2011 - 06:22 AM

Akron Beacon Journal

Bill Batchelder shared his frustration last week about a minority caucus operating as if it has the juice to get its way at the Statehouse. The House speaker had in mind Democrats standing in the way of Republican plans for drawing new lines for congressional districts across Ohio.
http://www.ohio.com/editorial/editorials/echo-of-the-capitol-1.244258

Published: 11/5/2011 - Updated: 1 day ago

Kasich plugs Issue 2 to friendly crowd

Governor campaigns to save law on public employee unions

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

MANSFIELD, Ohio -- The fight over the collective bargaining power of public employees is just one battle in many to come regardless of how Ohioans vote Tuesday, Gov. John Kasich vowed Friday night.

Hoping to prove the polls wrong, the Republican governor took his road show to struggling Mansfield to get out the "yes" vote on Issue 2. He spoke one second about victory, the next about what happens after defeat.

"We've got to win this," he told a friendly group of about 150. "If we do not win it, we will not be discouraged. We'll move on to the next issue to make sure that the people of this state are going to know that we're going to pull them out of this mess."

Despite the huge sign behind him, Mr. Kasich didn't mention Issue 2, the voter referendum that will decide the fate of Senate Bill 5, until 24 minutes into his speech.

http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2011/11/05/Kasich-plugs-Issue-2-to-friendly-crowd.html

Kasich: Issue 2 'a jobs issue'

In Mansfield, governor says he won't cave to 'the squeaky wheel'

1:37 AM, Nov. 5, 2011 

Written by

Mark Caudill

News Journal

MANSFIELD -- Gov. John Kasich admits his stance on State Issue 2 is not popular with everyone.

"It's not my responsibility to make you happy," he said Friday at the R&L Banquet Center. "It's my responsibility to represent 11.5 million people.

"Too many of our legislators respond to the squeaky wheel. That's not the way you should do things."

Kasich stopped in Mansfield for a last-minute campaign push on the public employee collective bargaining referendum. He has said State Issue 2 would give local governments tools to balance their budgets by asking public employees to pay at least 15 percent toward their health insurance and 10 percent toward their guaranteed pensions.
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20111105/NEWS03/111050305

Hannah Report 11/4/11

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters Thursday that he doesn't expect the General Assembly to

immediately re-enact collective bargaining law SB5 (Jones) if it should fail on Tuesday, but suggested that some parts may

be revisited next year. Batchelder said that the polling for the "yes" side of Issue 2, the referendum on SB5, has been very

thorough, and they know which parts of the bill are popular and which are not.

REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern filed a public records request with Auditor Dave Yost's office seeking information on what role former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett played in consulting with Yost on the apportionment process. The request came a day after The Columbus Dispatch published an op-ed from Bennett in which he claimed Redfern opposed new congressional maps because they interfere with his eventual hope to run for Congress. Yost's office responded that Bennett was not a paid consultant to the office, but Redfern said he still suspects public money was spent for Bennett's services.

The Ohio Democratic Party announced the start of its signature-gathering campaign for a referendum on congressional maps in HB319 (Huffman), even as negotiations continued on drawing an alternative map to avert a statewide ballot vote. Meanwhile, Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, released a statement rebutting rumors that a deal for a new map was imminent.

A compromise on congressional redistricting was put in doubt Thursday as Republicans introduced a new congressional map in HB369 (Huffman) and tempers flared on the House floor after the bill failed to clear a procedural vote to begin debate in a specially called House session. The proposal, which Republicans hope will head off the referendum on the previously passed HB319 (Huffman), now heads to committee, where hearings are expected to begin next week in the House Rules and Reference Committee. Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) had said the proposal reflected concerns brought to him by Democrats and members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

Lines on the new map were altered to make some districts more compact, and some urban areas were redrawn to put more of the African American voting population back together. Among the bigger changes: Toledo is split among two districts instead of three, all of Montgomery County is a part of the 10th District, the 4th District now stretches to Lorain County, and the 15th District has become more compact.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187660

Redistricting Group Rates New Map Poorly; Talks Continue

Hannah Report 11/7/11

The Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting Monday released its analysis of HB369 (Huffman), the latest congressional redistricting map, ranking it below all submissions the group received as a part of its redistricting contest, but above the previous map created by HB319 (Huffman).

Meanwhile, a spokesman for House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) said talks are continuing between legislative Republican leaders and Democrats about coming up with a compromise map, despite a breakdown last week that saw a floor session turn into a shouting match. (See The Hannah Report, 11/3/11.)


Mike Dittoe, a spokesman for Batchelder, said discussions are still underway on a schedule for committee hearings on HB369.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187663

People in the News: Batchelder Honored; Deaf School Interim Superintendent; Mayer Leaving Buckeye Institute

Hannah Report 11/7/11
OACCS Recognizes Batchelder with Governmental Service Award
Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) was honored recently by the Ohio Association of Career Colleges and Schools (OACCS) with its Distinguished Governmental Service Award.

The group noted that under Batchelder’s leadership, the state reinstated the Ohio College Opportunity Grant for financially needy career college students. "Tuition assistance is vital to non-traditional, working students who comprise the majority of career colleges’ enrollment. Before the current budget, 28,500 career college students working toward associate degrees received $107.6 million in aid. The average grant was $2,252," the group explained in a release.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187668

November 4

Ohio GOP sets congressional district map vote with uncertain outcome

By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2011 - 12:21 PM

COLUMBUS: A state lawmaker from Youngstown says Democrats will stick together and oppose a revised map of Ohio congressional districts that’s scheduled for a vote Thursday in the Republican-led Ohio House.

Rep. Robert Hagan said Democrats received an email Wednesday night from their chief of staff indicating the GOP does not have the votes to pass the new map.

Hagan called the special session called by Republican House Speaker William Batchelder “a useless exercise.” Democrats have launched a petition drive aimed at getting the current map repealed on the 2012 ballot, claiming it’s gerrymandered to favor the GOP.

Batchelder planned a news conference at noon to unveil a new map, which will be attached to language reinstating a single 2012 primary in the state. Lawmakers last month split the primary, moving presidential and U.S. House races to June to allow more time to work out a compromise with Democrats.
http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/ohio-gop-sets-congressional-district-map-vote-with-uncertain-outcome-1.243530

Ohio Democrats block vote on new GOP-proposed congressional map

By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2011 - 11:12 PM

COLUMBUS: Ohio Republicans failed in an effort Thursday to bring a second congressional map up for a vote as they sought to defuse Democratic opposition to the state’s recently adopted map.

At one point, shouting erupted on the Ohio House floor over who fairly should represent the battleground state in Washington.

Earlier in the day, House Speaker William Batchelder released a revised plan for the state’s U.S. House districts, saying it was fairer to Democrats and he hoped it would garner support from Democratic legislators.

Batchelder, R-Medina, said his goal was to give Democrats a chance to support a congressional map with cleaner lines, more compact districts and better representation for blacks. His proposal also reinstated a single 2012 primary, something that would benefit both parties and save the state about $15 million.
http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/ohio-democrats-block-vote-on-new-gop-proposed-congressional-map-1.243579

Redistricting talks dissolve in rancor

GOP’s changes to congressional map fail to satisfy House Democrats

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Friday November 4, 2011 8:49 AM

Nearly two weeks of negotiations over a congressional map revised in a bid to halt a Democratic referendum effort ended with a thud yesterday, as a brief shouting match broke out in the House chamber among members debating a redistricting bill that was never brought up for a vote.

Democrats declined to go along with the revised map, which Minority Leader Armond Budish said made insignificant changes to the districts Republicans passed in September — a map that Democrats are working to overturn on the November 2012 ballot because, they argue, it is gerrymandered to give the GOP a solid chance to hold 12 of the 16 seats.

The House fell eight votes short yesterday of the 66 needed to suspend the rules and bring the map up for a vote without a committee hearing. The bill itself also would have needed the same two-thirds vote to pass as an emergency measure, which would have ended the Democrats’ attempt to overturn the Republican map and allowed the current split 2012 primary to be moved entirely to March. Having just a single primary would save the state $15 million.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/04/redistricting-talks-dissolve-in-rancor.html

Revised Congressional map up for a vote

By Laura Bischoff | Thursday, November 3, 2011, 01:19 PM

Dayton Daily News

House Republicans will try to bring a new congressional map to the floor for a vote today but if it fails to garner enough support from Democrats, negotiations will continue, said House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina.

Batchelder, who has 59 Republicans in his caucus, needs 66 votes to pass a bill with an emergency clause.

Eventually, if the two sides fail to reach agreement, House Republicans may pass an even more partisan map and let the bill take effect in 90 days, which requires a simple majority, he said.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2011/11/03/revised_congressional_map_up_f.html

New Ohio map fails to garner Democrats’ votes

GOP will hold hearing on redistricting Monday.

By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau 12:20 AM Friday, November 4, 2011

COLUMBUS — A GOP-redrawn congressional district map wasn’t tweaked enough to appeal to Democrats, and now House Republicans will schedule committee hearings to try to head off a costly referendum fight, two primary elections and a whole lot of uncertainty over how Ohio will elect its 16 congressional seats next year.

In a brief but feisty session Thursday, House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, failed to get the 66 required votes to suspend the rules governing when a bill may be brought up for a floor vote.

The House is split with 59 Republicans and 40 Democrats. Unless at least seven Democrats vote on his side, Batchelder cannot suspend the rules or pass a bill as an emergency.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/new-ohio-map-fails-to-garner-democrats-votes-1279424.html

Ohio House Speaker Batchelder unveils new congressional map set for afternoon vote

Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 1:21 PM     Updated: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 2:27 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - House Speaker William G. Batchelder, a Medina Republican, unveiled the  new congressional map that House members are scheduled to vote on later today.
The new map, which is designed to attract Democratic votes, draws urban areas in Toledo, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati together and bumps up the percentage of black voters in a new Democratic district created in Franklin County.
By moving more urban voters in Toledo into a Democratic district where U.S. House Rep. Marcy Kaptur and U.S. House Rep. Dennis Kucinich are set to square off, the new map appears to benefit Kaptur.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/speaker_batchelder_unveils_new.html

New congressional map rolled out: Kucinich on the outs, Democrats balk at quick vote

Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 8:00 PM     Updated: Friday, November 04, 2011, 12:16 AM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A revised congressional map unveiled Thursday by Ohio House Republicans squeezes Cleveland congressman Dennis Kucinich by dropping more than 90,000 Lucas County voters into a solidly Democratic Lake Erie district so that it now appears to favor Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

The shift in that district -- where Democrats Kucinich and Kaptur are pitted against one another -- was one of the new story lines as a Republican bid to gain Democratic support for an alternative congressional map blew up on the House floor during a fiery session marked by angry accusations and gaveled-down remarks.
When the dust cleared and both sides had climbed out of the ring, the 99 House members were no closer to a deal on a new congressional map, and confusion about next year's elections continued to reign.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/new_congressional_map_rolled_o.html

George Forbes surprised black state lawmakers did not accept new congressional map

Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 7:40 PM     Updated: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 7:42 PM

By Reginald Fields, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Cleveland NAACP president George Forbes was stunned that black legislators on Thursday failed to support a newly introduced congressional map that he said was drawn to the specs they requested.
Forbes, a longtime local and statewide political figure, said he worked with his counterpart Republican consultant Bob Bennett to offer advice on the new congressional map after Republicans sought out black lawmakers for help in settling the dispute over the map.
"Everything the blacks asked for (Republicans) gave them. So I was kind of surprised to hear everything was falling apart," Forbes told The Plain Dealer.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/george_forbes_surprised_black.html

New map subject of Batchelder, Blessing meeting with press

10:42 am, Nov 3, 2011 | Written by pkostyu

Whether Ohio will have a new congressional map or stick with the one passed in September may come out of a meeting at noon today between Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, his right-hand man state Rep. Louis R. Blessing Jr., R-Colerain Twp., and the press. Cameras are banned from the event.

Batchelder had called for the House to vote this afternoon on a new map that his spokesman said addressed the needs of Democrats. Batchelder and his leadership team have been negotiating for days with Democrats, primarily with the House Legislative Black Caucus, to get a map that will avoid a referendum challenge that could possibly throw the boundaries of Ohio’s congressional districts into a federal court.
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/03/new-map-subject-of-batchelder-blessing-meeting-with-press/

Map vote prompts walk-out on House floor

3:11 PM, Nov. 3, 2011 

Written by

Paul E. Kostyu

Cincinnati Enquirer

A meeting of the Ohio House Thursday to settle a dispute over a new congressional district map brought bickering, chaos and even a walk-out by Southwest Ohio Republicans – but no decision on a new map.

The result: Ohioans still don’t know what congressional districts they live in, or who they can vote for – or against – in 2012. And the state is scheduled to have two primaries, costing taxpayers at least $15 million.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111103/NEWS0108/311030154/Map-vote-prompts-walk-out-House-floor

Published: 11/4/2011

Dems block attempt to vote on latest map

Several stymied Republicans leave in protest

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS — Tempers flared on the Ohio House floor and several Republicans walked out of the chamber Thursday as an attempt to bring a new GOP-drawn congressional map to an immediate vote was blocked by Democrats.

"These lies shouldn't be allowed on the floor!" shouted Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (R., Napoleon) as Democratic leader Armond Budish (D., Beachwood) launched into criticism that the map doesn't go far enough to address his concerns.

Republicans needed a super-majority of 66 votes in the 99-member chamber just to bring the bill to the floor after it had just been introduced earlier in the day. It fell short, 58-34.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/11/04/Dems-block-attempt-to-vote-on-latest-map.html


 

Ohio GOP blocked from congressional-map vote, Dems walk out

Published: Fri, November 4, 2011 @ 12:10 a.m.

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

An attempt by House Republicans to move a new congressional redistricting plan failed to gain sufficient Democratic support for a vote Thursday but did prompt a lawmaker walkout and shouting matches when opponents attempted floor speeches on the issue.

The new GOP-drawn plan will instead head to committee hearings next week and further behind-closed-door negotiations as the two parties attempt to reach an agreement to stop a referendum from reaching the November 2012 ballot and potentially forcing a federal court to draw the state’s district lines.

House Speaker Bill Batchelder, a Republican from Medina, said his majority party ultimately will move a new map, whether Democrats agree to the changes or not.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/nov/04/ohio-gop-blocked-from-congressional-map-/

New congressional map falls short of advancing

By Robert Wang

CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted Nov 03, 2011 @ 08:37 PM

Last update Nov 04, 2011 @ 12:08 AM

State Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township voted Thursday to bring up for immediate consideration a new congressional redistricting bill that still would have divided Stark County among three congressional districts.

Ohio House Republicans fell four votes short of the 2/3rds vote majority needed to advance the bill to the floor without committee review. The 58-34 vote was along party lines with State Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Marlboro Township, voting “yes,” and Democratic state representatives Stephen Slesnick of Canton and Mark Okey of Carrollton voting “no.”

 Schuring indicated that to avoid electoral chaos in 2012, he’s open to voting for the bill if it comes to the floor even though it sets the same congressional district lines for Stark County as another bill Schuring opposed in September that the legislature approved.
http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x1760393263/New-congressional-map-falls-short-of-advancing

Ohio House falls short on votes to move tweaked Ohio Congressional District maps

John Michael Spinelli

Columbus Government Examiner

November 4, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - Ohio House Rule 115 stipulates that a two-thirds vote of all the members present is needed to suspend virtually all House Rules. Trying to bring a new congressional map to the floor for a vote Thursday, House Republicans, who normally can control the activity on the House floor on any measure because they outnumber Democrats 59-40, fell four votes short of the number needed to push through tweaks to their proposal to establish new Congressional and state legislative districts for the next decade.

Had all 99 Members been present, the threshold vote would have been 66, but since not all members were present, the number needed was reduced to 62. In any event, the final vote of 58-34 keeps the issue in play for another day.
http://www.examiner.com/government-in-columbus/ohio-house-falls-short-on-votes-to-move-tweaked-ohio-congressional-district-maps

Ohio House called back for congressional map vote

By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press

Published: November 3, 2011 - 12:22 AM

Ohio House called back for congressional map vote November 03,2011 03:22 AM GMT Julie Carr Smyth

COLUMBUS: The Ohio House will return to Columbus today to vote on a revised congressional map that the chamber’s Republican leader says will address the concerns of Democrats, who have been seeking a repeal of a newly adopted map they say unfairly favors the GOP.

The compromise plan also would reinstitute a single primary in 2012, rather than separate March and June contests lawmakers had approved.

House Speaker William Batchelder’s spokesman, Mike Dittoe, said Wednesday it was unclear whether there would be enough votes to pass the new map, but the speaker felt the time had come.

“The speaker believes the new map is responsive to their requests that they have made over the last several weeks,” Dittoe said. “He believes that, given that and given the situation we’re in, he wants to bring it to an up-or-down vote.”
http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/ohio-house-called-back-for-congressional-map-vote-1.243440

GOP seeks votes for a new redistricting map

Tally in House today may lack enough support from Democrats

By  Jim Siegel

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday November 3, 2011 7:19 AM

Ohio House Republicans say they will move ahead today with an attempt to pass a revised congressional district map. There is no indication, however, that Democrats will provide the votes needed to pass it as an emergency measure and thus avoid a contentious effort to overturn the GOP’s initial map on the November 2012 ballot.

Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, called an afternoon voting session, setting a potential endpoint for negotiations that he has been holding with Democratic lawmakers, particularly members of the Legislative Black Caucus, on a revised congressional map.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/11/03/gop-seeks-votes-for-a-new-map.html

 

House to vote today on new redistricting plan

By William Hershey, Staff Writer 11:24 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2011

COLUMBUS – Speaker William Batchelder has called the Ohio House into session at 2 p.m. today in a last-ditch effort to win approval of a new map for 16 U.S. House districts and avoid a contentious November 2012 referendum on redistricting.

“We believe that by tomorrow we will have a map that the Speaker believes responds to the requests of the minority (Democratic) caucus and that that map deserves an up or down vote,” Dittoe said Wednesday.

He declined to predict, however, that there would be enough votes to pass a new map as an emergency and avoid a referendum.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/politics/house-to-vote-today-on-new-redistricting-plan-1278813.html

Ohio House Republicans plan Thursday vote on new congressional map without deal with Democrats

Published: Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 10:00 PM

By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Without a deal in place with Democrats, Ohio House Republicans said Wednesday they nonetheless plan to vote Thursday on a revised congressional map.
Mike Dittoe, spokesman for House Speaker William G. Batchelder, said the new map incorporates Democratic suggestions and deserves a chance to be voted on by the House at 2 p.m.
"The Speaker believes he has been responsive to those requests from the minority caucus and thus believes it deserves an up or down vote," Dittoe said. However, Dittoe said, "I'm not aware and certainly don't believe there is a deal on the table."
Dittoe said the new map would draw urban areas together and create more compact and competitive districts. He also said the new legislation would "unify" Ohio's primaries by eliminating a June primary for presidential and congressional candidates next year that Republicans just recently created at a potential cost of $15 million. Only one primary election would be held, on March 6.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/11/republicans_planning_thursday.html

Published: 11/3/2011

Vote set for revised Ohio districts

Plan splits Toledo in half; Lucas Co. cut from Jordan's territory

BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF

COLUMBUS -- House Republicans have scheduled a vote on a new congressional map for Thursday, but Democrats insist there is no deal to break an impasse.

Speaker Bill Batchelder (R., Medina) "has been working with members of the minority caucus in both the House and Senate on a revised congressional map," said House GOP spokesman Mike Dittoe. "The speaker believes this new map … is responsive to most, if not all, of the minority's requests. He believes it deserves an up or down vote."

The bill is also expected to restore a March, 2012, presidential primary election. Citing the uncertainty surrounding congressional district lines, Republicans had previously voted to split next year's primary into two with state, local, and U.S. Senate elections held in March, but with races for President, Congress, and political party delegates delayed until June.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/11/03/Vote-set-for-revised-Ohio-districts.html


 

House Dems Reject New GOP Congressional Map; Compromise in Doubt

Hannah Report 11/3/11

A compromise on congressional redistricting was put in doubt Thursday as Republicans introduced a new congressional map and tempers flared on the House floor after the map failed to clear a procedural vote to begin debate.

The new map was unveiled around noon Thursday when House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) and members of his leadership team held a press conference to discuss where negotiations with Democrats stood.

The new map, which was brought to the floor as HB369 (Huffman), is similar to the map adopted by the General Assembly under HB319 (Huffman), a bill Democrats are now seeking to put to a referendum. Lines on the new map were altered to make some districts more compact, and some urban areas were redrawn to put more of the African American voting population back together. Among the bigger changes: Toledo is split among two districts instead of three, all of Montgomery County is a part of the 10^th District, the 4^th District now stretches to Lorain County, and the 15^th District has become more compact.

Batchelder said the map was drawn to reflect concerns brought to him by Democrats and members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus during negotiations.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187638

Batchelder Suggests Parts of SB5 May Be Revived if Issue 2 Fails

Hannah Report

House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) told reporters Thursday that he doesn't expect the General Assembly to immediately reenact collective bargaining law SB5 (Jones) if it should fail on Tuesday, but suggested that some parts may be revisited next year.

Batchelder said that the polling for the "yes" side of Issue 2, the referendum on SB5, has been very thorough and they know which parts of the bill are popular and which are not.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=187642



 

GOP PLAN TO VOTE ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP FAILS IN HOUSE

Gongwer 11/3/11

Republicans' latest effort to get Democratic support to pass a fast-tracked rewrite of their congressional redistricting plan died Thursday after a short but combative House session.
The House voted 58-34 to suspend constitutional requirements to consider the new map (HB 369 ), coming up shy of the 66 votes needed to take up the measure that was introduced minutes earlier. (Roll Call)
Republicans said the revised map would divide fewer counties and increase the minority voting population of districts in Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Dayton.
http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news_articledisplay.cfm?article_ID=802130201&newsedition_id=8021302&locid=2