From the monthly archives: February 2011
We’ll be updating this as they come in. These came over Twitter via OCSEA:
Keep them coming!
Hearing estimates of over 4,000 people. Don’t know how many are Tea Party folks versus union… but I have reason to believe that the Tea Party was planning on turnout out, at best, 900. [UPDATE: Dispatch is reporting only 200 Tea Party folks. So, yeah!
You can follow it on Twitter #STANDUPOH
Full Story... →(HT: ProgressOhio)
[UPDATE]: Attorney Victoria Ullmann testified earlier this week as an opponent to HB 1 (the “RobsOhio” bill). By all accounts, she is the first person to bring this issue up. It has caused a scramble in Columbus. If anyone is responsible for calling attention to it. It is her. And she actually first brought this up back in January on her Facebook KasichWatch site. Nice catch, Victoria! You definitely were the first to catch this.
Turns out perhaps as many of two members of Kasich’s Cabinet are ineligible to serve under [...]
Full Story... →I’ve actually not fully processed today’s story that it appears several Democrats in the State Senate are now supporting SB 1—the bill that will create the private entity named RobsOhio. But I thought I should at least play devil’s advocate to put the decision into perspective.
First, let’s remember that nobody who runs for office does so with the desire to not make a difference or to be politically irrelevant. And, frankly, there traditionally has been no group treated as more politically irrelevant as the Senate Democrats. During the last few years, it was only until Republicans were unable to [...]
Full Story... →If you are surprised by Kasich’s latest gaff – calling a police office an idiot multiple times at his EPA meeting last month – then obviously missed all of the warnings we gave you during the campaign.
John Kasich has acted again and again like a selfish, arrogant jerk who thinks he deserves special treatment from everyone.
Here’s the video…
And the transcription (ht Dispatch):
“Have you ever been stopped by a policeman who’s an idiot?” the governor asked.
“I had this idiot pull me over on (Route) 315. He says, ‘You passed this [...]
Full Story... →To say that I am annoyed with 3 of 4 Democrats on the Senate Finance committee for voting for JobsOhio is an understatement. But I am going to take a deep breath and avoid a long rant on the topic right now.
Instead I’ll answer this quick question: What did we get in exchange for some Democratic votes on JobsOhio?
Here’s a list of the most recent changes to Senate Bill that were approved in committee this morning:
• Reports must be filed with the Controlling Board every six months on how funds are used
• Public and private funds [...]
Full Story... →I’ll say it again. Butler and Warren County are the heart of the GOP. Warren County also just happens to be the home county of State Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro). In most cases, the only election that matters is the GOP primary (in fact, I know of a number of Democrats who are registered Republicans in the county for no other reason that it’s the only way they feel they can have an effective vote in the county). There is a growing Democratic Party in the region which has made some incredible inroads over the past few years, but largely [...]
Full Story... →The Dispatch is reporting that “Mike DeWine filed a federal class-action lawsuit yesterday against BP”.
Funny story…
Last October Mike DeWine was running around the state claiming Attorney General Rich Cordray was “anti-business” because he had filed lawsuits on behalf of the state against Corporations that had screwed over Ohio and Ohioans.
I guess suing big corporations is only “anti-business” when Democrats do it.
Full Story... →I’ve had more than one person indicate that that Senator Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) has announced that he is a definitely “No” vote on SB 5.
However, I sought confirmation from those who are doing the whip count on the bill, and I’m sorry to say that it’s no sure bet that Hughes will oppose SB 5 at this time. Or, at least, he’s refusing to acknowledge it publicly.
According to my source, Hughes’ legislative assistant told them that Hughes has “officially taken no position on the bill, but is awaiting amendments in the committee process.”
Until a member says [...]
Full Story... →From today’s Dispatch:
For the first time in three years, Ohio’s Medicaid rolls declined.
In December, the tax-funded health care program for the poor and disabled covered 1,600 fewer Ohioans than the previous month.
With a total enrollment of more than 2.1 million, the decline amounts to a tiny fraction of a percent.
“It is entirely a statement of an improving economy. (The rolls) decreased because people were going back to work,” said Benjamin Johnson, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
John Kasich has yet to lower one tax, sell one state asset or [...]
Full Story... →From today’s Newark Advocate we first get some good news:
Schaffer, who represents Fairfield, Hocking, Licking and Perry counties and part of Pickaway County, had introduced a similar bill last session, but he said it languished in the Finance Committee and never was put up for a vote.
And let’s hope it stays this way. Schaffer today adds a whole new component to his bill that just makes a horrible, unconstitutional bill even worse:
I think either way it would benefit the people getting the aid and state," Schaffer said. "If the state pays for tests, we might be [...]
Full Story... →DISCLOSURE: I am presently one of the attorneys representing David Krikorian and the Krikorian for Congress Campaign Committee in defense of a defamation lawsuit filed by Congresswoman Jean Schmidt.
Roll Call breaks the story that the Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating Congresswoman Jean Schmidt and her arrangement with attorneys of Turkish-American organizations who have been providing her with legal services at no charge for a few years now. Advancements of credit that the Congresswoman has yet to report as a gift or a loan in her annual congressional ethics filings.
Schmidt attorney Bruce Fein declined to [...]
Full Story... →Budget Watch
