Posts by: dirtgirl
In 2012, Ohio Republicans used early voting restrictions to limit turnout among reliably Democratic voting groups.
Now they are continuing their efforts to restrict the voices of their political opposition. Republicans, safely in the majority in both chambers of the legislature, are fast-tracking legislation that would dramatically weaken efforts to overturn the laws that they pass.
Senate Bill 47 contains language that would greatly restrict signature-gathering efforts to put unpopular legislation on the ballot for repeal.
In Ohio, laws take effect 90 days after they are signed. The state constitution offers citizens the opportunity to subject laws to a [...]
Full Story... →Today, the House Health and Aging committee held its first meeting of the new General Assembly, and Chairman Lynn Wachtmann wasted no time setting the agenda for the panel’s work.
According to Gongwer, Wachtmann promised a return of Heartbeat legislation, a measure to outlaw nearly all abortions by banning them after a fetal heartbeat is detected (as early as six weeks and before many women even learn they are pregnant):
“There’s still a lot of discussions…about how that’s going to roll-out, but I would ,at some point in the next two years, think that will be a definite [...]
Full Story... →Plunderbund was the first to report that in November, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted suggested to an audience of statehouse insiders that allocating the state’s electoral college votes by Congressional district might be a good way to reduce the national focus on Ohio elections. (Thanks to Innovation Ohio, we now have the video.) The idea would have delivered the majority of Ohio’s electoral votes to Romney, the loser of the popular vote.
Husted backed away when eyebrows were raised, but many remained suspicious. As well they should be – several state legislatures and [...]
Full Story... →NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd is on the receiving end of a social media shitstorm today, all thanks to the incredibly poor reputation of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.
It all started earlier today with this tweet:
I’ll admit, I was intrigued. Until I realized that Husted and Todd agreeing that our process for drawing legislative and congressional districts is broken and needs fixed is not controversial. It’s actually something I agree with. Husted even has a half-decent plan floating out there if both sides could agree to implement it in a reasonable period [...]
Full Story... →We’ve already spoken of some of the ways in which history was made with today’s inauguration address (full text), but there were also some light moments, if you followed along on social media like I did.
Here are some of my favorites scenes from the day.
Did Senator Rob Portman fall asleep?
Al Roker got so excited about meeting Joe Biden that he literally dropped the mic:
First daughter Malia photobombs her parents while sister Sasha tries to get a photo:
Chuck Schumer looks very happy to see Beyonce:
Bill Clinton looks [...]
Full Story... →In a 20-minute, 2095-word address, President Obama today spoke to the nation on the occasion of his second inaugural, using a theme of togetherness to set the path for his second term. A decidedly progressive speech, the President spoke strongly for the need to come together to address such issues as climate change, marriage equality, immigration, gun violence and economic fairness. Below are the words of the President’s speech, released as it began by the Inaugural Committee.
Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Inaugural Address
Monday, January 21, 2013
Full Story... →
Today, gun rights advocates across the country participated in events and visited gun shows to commemorate what’s being calling Gun Appreciation Day. We’ve already pointed out the tone deafness of choosing to honor guns on a weekend we celebrate murdered civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.
Proponents of Gun Appreciation Day recommend participants:
“go to your local gun store, gun range, or gun show with a copy of the Constitution, their American Flags and “Hands off my Guns” signs.
Apparently organizers should have [...]
Full Story... →Yesterday, they reported on a Kasich official’s crazy rants on Twitter. Today they ran a wire story about Friday night’s clever response from the White House to an internet petition seeking construction of a Death Star.
It looks like someone at the Dispatch must have signed up for the Interwebz.
Full Story... →
After a day like today, many of us are still trying to process the unthinkable tragedy in a Connecticut elementary school. As a parent, I’m horrified and extremely grateful to be able to tuck my kids into their beds tonight, thinking about those who won’t have that pleasure.
And I’m angry. Angry, mostly because these events keep happening and nothing is ever done. After Virginia Tech and again after Tucson, we had brief national conversations about mental illness and guns, but nothing happened. More recent incidents haven’t even led to a conversation. The NRA and gun advocates have become so [...]
Full Story... →Paradoxically (and falsely), Ohio Republicans claim they are pushing a bill to block funding to Planned Parenthood because they want to expand healthcare options to women.
But they recently revealed a much more political — and therefore more likely — reason for taking up the legislation now, just days after their party was trounced among women up and down the ticket.
And that reason is good old-fashioned payback.
Check out this response from the Ohio Republican Party’s official Twitter account to a call to action from the Dems about the bill:
Sorry ladies for [...]
Full Story... →A key aspect of Obamacare is its mandate for health insurance. To make finding coverage easier, beginning in 2014, consumers and businesses will be able to shop for and compare insurance plans on websites known as “exchanges.
States can set up their own exchange, putting them in control of key decisions such as which insurance plans are offered and what they must cover. States can also opt out and let the federal government make all the decisions. A third option exists for a state-federal hybrid. Today was the deadline for states to indicate whether they would run a [...]
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