Kasich, GOP chief battle for control
By Julie Carr Smith
Associated Press
Published: March 18, 2012 - 10:08 PM | Updated: March 18, 2012 - 11:16 PM
COLUMBUS: A battle for control of the Ohio Republican Party is pitting the chairman who oversaw the GOP’s resurgence in 2010 against Republican Gov. John Kasich, the man who led that ticket.
Ohio’s GOP is considered among the nation’s most powerful party operations for mobilizing voters in favor of state and national candidates. Its power, influence and cash are all factors in the rift.
No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.
Chairman Kevin DeWine has characterized Kasich’s efforts to oust him as a distracting and expensive “elephant in the room.” He says the feud could jeopardize the party’s efforts to deliver the battleground state this fall to the Republican challenger to President Barack Obama.
Ohio GOP in power struggle ahead of 2012 vote
By JULIE CARR SMYTH
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A battle for control of the Ohio Republican Party is pitting the chairman who oversaw the GOP's resurgence in 2010 against Republican Gov. John Kasich, the man who led that ticket.
Ohio's GOP is considered among the nation's most powerful party operations for mobilizing voters in favor of state and national candidates. Its power, influence and cash are all factors in the rift.
No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.
http://www.whiotv.com/news/ap/ohio/ohio-gop-in-power-struggle-ahead-of-2012-vote/nLW2m/
Kasich wants DeWine out — now
State GOP chairman won’t seek re-election in January; governor to push ouster in April
Columbus Dispatch Monday March 19, 2012 9:02 AM
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine’s decision to forgo re-election when his two-year term expires in January is not enough for Gov. John Kasich.
The Republican governor wants DeWine gone now. And the governor will attempt to muscle DeWine out on April 13 when the party’s newly elected 66-member central committee meets.
Kasich blasts GOP for pulling tax cut
Republicans in House reject plan on oil, gas drilling
The Columbus Dispatch Saturday March 17, 2012 6:02 AM
Gov. John Kasich late yesterday lashed out at fellow Republicans controlling the Ohio House after learning they plan to strip out the tax provisions of his revamped state budget.
Apparently blindsided by the move, Kasich said he was “extremely disappointed” that lawmakers appear poised to favor the oil and gas industries over the residents and small businesses of Ohio.
Kasich said his proposal to impose extraction taxes on natural gas and oil and to use the proceeds to give Ohioans an income-tax cut are “very sensible” and it would be a “missed opportunity” for lawmakers not to enact his plan.
GOP Party chief DeWine will not seek re-election in 2013, detractors want him out sooner
Published: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 8:09 PM Updated: Monday, March 19, 2012, 7:20 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine, entangled in an increasingly bitter battle with Gov. John Kasich over control of the party, has said he will not seek re-election next year.
That's not soon enough for at least one of his detractors.
"When a doctor diagnoses a problem, you don't wait 10 months to address it," Doug Preisse, Franklin County GOP chairman, said Sunday. "I'm pleased that he has finally acknowledged there is an existing dysfunctional situation, but now we have to agree on a remedy.
http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/03/gop_party_chief_dewine_will_no.html
Wary of a tax hike on drillers, GOP lawmakers remove Gov. John Kasich's income tax cut from budget proposal
Published: Friday, March 16, 2012, 7:15 PM Updated: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 3:21 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. John Kasich's grand plan for slashing the state's income tax hit a major roadblock Friday as GOP legislative leaders unexpectedly announced their refusal to consider the plan because it raises taxes on the oil and gas industry.
Kasich said he is disappointed but vowed to keep pushing his proposal.
"I respect people that disagree with me but we're going to fight for this," Kasich said in an impromptu conference call with reporters. "This is one decision that I strongly disagree with."
Kasich said Republican lawmakers have been influenced by "special interests" -- a reference to the lobbies associated with the oil and gas industry that opposed his plan.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/03/weary_of_a_tax_hike_on_driller.html
Committee vote on bill to defuse HB 194 ballot time bomb expected next week
Columbus Government Examiner
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CGE) - The radar screen of one election-watcher group in Ohio appears to have detected what it thinks could be a surprise attempt by an Ohio Senate committee to pass a bill next Wednesday designed to defuse a new restrictive voting law on the ballot this November, HB 194, that Democrats want Ohioans to vote on because it energizes their base to turn out to vote, but Republicans want to scuttle for the very same reason.
Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates has caught wind that the Senate's Government Oversight and Reform Committee, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 7-3, is readying Substitute SB 295, that would repeal HB194, which Ohio's new Republican secretary of state advised lawmakers last year to repeal because it could reject valid votes.
Kasich confident of tax deal
But oil, gas lobby is influential, and GOP legislators wary of tax hike
Tuesday March 20, 2012 7:59 AM
Gov. John Kasich’s plan to raise drilling taxes and lower the income tax ran into a double-edged legislative buzz saw from Republicans who really like drilling and really hate raising taxes on businesses, especially in an election year.
Kasich, who stresses his proposal does not add up to an overall tax increase, is not about to give up. But he is fighting a drilling industry that contributes a lot to candidates and is using more and more lobbyists to influence legislators.
“We’ll have a series of options, but everybody needs to know: I’m not going away, and I’m not going to take no for an answer here,” Kasich said yesterday. “The taxpayers deserve better than that, and we’ll get there.”
Legislature prepares repeal of elections-law overhaul
The Columbus Dispatch Tuesday March 20, 2012 3:48 AM
A bill designed to repeal the elections-law overhaul that is being challenged on the November ballot could see a Senate vote Wednesday, and the House speaker also is ready to make it happen.
Sen. Bill Coley, R-Middletown, said his repeal bill has been rewritten to ensure it keeps state election laws in place as they are today, as if the referendum on House Bill 194 was successful in November.
Ohio bill could take away pension benefits for public officials convicted of perjury or extortion
Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 8:00 PM Updated: Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 8:00 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Corrupt public officials could lose their pensions if convicted of extortion or perjury under legislation being pushed by freshman State Rep. Mike Dovilla.
The Berea Republican's bill would add extortion and perjury to the list of crimes that could cause those convicted to lose their public pensions. Under Ohio law for the past several years, public officials convicted of bribery, racketeering or theft in office already are subject to possible pension clawbacks.
Dovilla said a recent Plain Dealer report that former Cuyahoga County commissioner Jimmy Dimora used his public pension -- estimated at $122,383 -- in negotiations during the forfeiture portion of his trial was upsetting.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/03/ohio_bill_could_take_away_pens.html
Published: 3/20/2012 - Updated: 1 hour ago
Kasich defends plan to slash income tax
BY JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
DUBLIN, Ohio — As Micah Hetrick, of Dublin, who is developmentally disabled, proudly boasted Monday of his job and paycheck, Gov. John Kasich quipped, "We're trying to cut his taxes."
The remark drew laughs at Dublin Methodist Hospital, where the governor promoted a plan to employ people with development disabilities in mainstream settings, but Mr. Kasich was very serious. The governor has been surprised to find himself locked in a battle with an unlikely foe, fellow Republicans in the General Assembly, in his effort to expand a tax on the extraction of oil and natural gas liquids to underwrite a dollar-for-dollar personal income tax cut for all Ohioans and small businesses.
Why Ohio School Boards Approve of Double-Dipping
March 19, 2012 | 12:22 PM
State Impact
Double-dipping is common in Ohio schools, and we’re not talking about two scoops with a cherry on top.
Double-dipping is when a public employee retires, begins collecting his or her full pension, and then is rehired, usually by the same school district or agency that the employee retired from. The employee collects a salary plus his or her full pension and full health insurance benefits.
The Cincinnati school board is set to welcome Superintendent Mary Ronan to the ranks of the retirees/rehirees tonight. Ronan currently earns $189,000 in base salary. She plans to retire, collect her full pension and then be rehired under a new, $99,000-a year contract, the Cincinnati Enquirer says.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/2012/03/19/why-ohio-school-boards-approve-of-double-dipping/
Hannah Report 3/16/12
FY12-13 BUDGET/FY13-14 CAPITAL BUDGET
Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster), chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, said the House will parcel the various MBR proposals among several committees and subcommittees, splitting some pieces off into separate bills. House Speaker William Batchelder (R-Medina) cancelled sessions on March 20 and 21 to allow committees time to work on the MBR, while adding a Thursday session for a likely vote on the capital budget, HB482.
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=188879
Batchelder On Board With Election Law Repeal Bill Teed Up For Senate Committee Vote Gongwer 3/19/12
After a month-long hiatus, a Senate committee plans to advance a proposal this week to repeal a controversial voting law and House Republicans appear ready to follow suit.
Sen. William Coley (R-Middletown), chairman of the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee, said Monday he expects the panel will take up a substitute version of his measure (SB 295 ) to repeal Republican-approved elections changes enacted last year (HB 194 ). The bill is slated for a possible vote Wednesday. The law passed last year is currently stayed, pending the outcome of an ongoing referendum by Democrats, who say it would suppress low-income and minority voters. Ballot issue backers said they oppose a legislative repeal because they don't trust Republicans not to make other changes that would hinder Democratic voters. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, February 9, 2012) Last month, Senate leadership backed off plans to quickly pass the proposal, saying they wanted to give Democrats more time to consider the idea.
