Weekly Republican Address... Boehner on Cutting Spending and Tackling Job Creation
WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address, House
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) discusses the new House majority’s efforts
to cut spending and tackle the big challenges facing job creation in
America. In the address, Boehner, a former small business owner, talks
about how the spending binge in Washington is creating uncertainty for
private-sector job creators and holding our economy back. He
reiterates Republicans’ commitment to fighting... read
more.
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Government Shut Down
Prevention Bill... Has been introduced...
112th CONGRESS - 1st Session - H. R. 1255 - To prevent a shutdown of
the government of the United States, and for other purposes... This Act
may be cited as the ‘Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011’... If
the House has not received a message from the Senate before April 6,
2011, stating that it has passed a measure providing for the
appropriations for the departments and agencies of the Government for
the remainder of fiscal year 2011... read
more.
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Treasurer Mandel
Outlines Plans to Increase Efficiency and Leverage Technology
COLUMBUS – State Treasurer of Ohio Josh Mandel presented the
Treasurer’s office budget today before the House Agriculture and
Natural Resources Subcommittee on Finance and Appropriations. The
Treasurer’s budget would reduce general revenue fund operating expenses
by 6.5%. “The primary function of the Treasurer’s office is to protect
and invest the state’s money, and it is my commitment to do so with
integrity and transparency,” said Treasurer Mandel... read
more.
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Wicker and Boehner
Continue to Seek Answers for Delphi Retirees
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Congressman John
Boehner (R-Ohio) today highlighted the initial phase of a Government
Accountability Office (GAO) non-partisan, independent analysis of the
federal financial assistance provided to the General Motors (GM)
Corporation and its treatment of non-unionized Delphi retirees.
The report contains a specific timeline of the events that transpired.
“This is an important step in learning why Delphi retirees were... read
more.
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Columbus Dispatch... Suburban
officials discuss sharing services, By Dean Narciso
Joint dispatching center interests townships, cities - Spurred by the
desire to contain costs, a group of seven townships and cities -
including Dublin, Grove City, Hilliard, Upper Arlington and Worthington
- met yesterday to brainstorm setting up a joint communications center
for their police and fire agencies. But some agencies that already
handle dispatching for several jurisdictions weren’t invited.
Organizers said they wanted to meet with agencies... read
more.
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Eminent Domain:
Property Owners Beware!, By Jan Boyer, Senior Scribe
“We will know the true value of water when it is gone!” With this time
honored quotation, Judge Julie Monnin concluded an eye opening talk to
60 citizens about eminent domain and the pitfalls property owners could
face when drilling companies come knocking on their doors.
Municipal Judge Monnin’s presentation was a continuation of the League
of Women Voters’ goal to provide... read
more.
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Grant opportunity for
Voter Education Programs to People with Disabilities
COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that Ohio has
received funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
through the Help America Vote Act, to provide grants for the
development of programs designed to improve the accessibility to, and
participation in, the election process for individuals with
disabilities. “There are many good organizations working every day to
serve Ohioans with disabilities,” Husted said. “I look forward to... read
more.
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Politico...
Democrats
pessimistic about avoiding shutdown, By Manu Raju &
Glenn Thrush
3/30/11 - The White House is intensifying negotiations with House
Republicans — including dispatching Vice President Joe Biden as an
emergency emissary — but congressional Democrats increasingly fear that
it may be too little, too late to avert a government shutdown. “We’re
probably looking at a shutdown,” said Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). “Right
now, they look a bit dismal,” Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said when
asked about the prospects of keeping the government running... read
more.
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Dayton Business Journal... Honda
faces production issues in U.S., By Dan Eaton
Monday, March 28, 2011 - Honda Motor Co.’s plants in North America are
expected to face temporary production interruptions after April 1
resulting from the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Honda (NYSE: HMC)
confirmed that its facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico likely
will face the short-term interruptions because of parts shortages.
Production in Japan remains halted until next week... read
more.
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Columbus Dispatch... Ohio House
passes Senate Bill 5, By Jim Siegel
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 - Collective-bargaining bill sent back to
Senate - After hours of debate, the Ohio House voted 53-44 today to
pass Senate Bill 5, sending the controversial collective bargaining
measure back to the Senate, which is expected to give it a final
concurrence vote this evening. House Speaker William G. Batchelder
called it an end to three decades of no changes... read
more.
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Buchy Announces
Passage of Senate Bill 5
Legislation benefits middle class, saves at-risk jobs, respects
taxpayers - COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) has
announced that after 13 hearings, more than 60 hours of testimony and
more than 200 witnesses over a period of nearly two months, Senate Bill
5 today passed from the Ohio House of Representatives. This legislation
restores fairness for Ohio’s taxpayers... read
more.
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Toledo
Blade... Sen. Brown calls
for probe into drug’s cost hike, Blade Staff
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) called Sunday for a federal
investigation of a pharmaceutical company for its 14,900 percent
increase in the price of a drug used to prevent premature labor for
women in high-risk pregnancies. The prenatal drug Makena, which had
been priced between $10 and $20 per weekly injection, now will cost
$1,500. At a news conference at Toledo Hospital, Mr. Brown said the
action by KV Pharmaceutical Co. of St. Louis amounts to price
gouging... read
more.
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Gov. John Kasich
unveils his first state budget, By Damon Sims, The Plain
Dealer
Sunday, March 27, 2011 - Gov. John Kasich’s state budget proposal
swings the wrecking ball at the state’s Local Government Fund, blowing
open an unprecedented hole in a funding stream handed down to locals
for generations... Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal will shape his
legacy... COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal arrived
on day 65 of the blunt-talking Republican leader’s four-year term. But
it figures to be the one item that permanently... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch... Kasich
hopes budget plan impresses bond raters, By Joe Vardon
Friday, March 25, 2011 - WOOSTER, Ohio - For the past two days, Gov.
John Kasich has told rooms full of Ohio business professionals and
local-government officials about his proposals to privatize some state
prisons, the liquor department and economic development. Today, Kasich
has a different audience for the same speech - analysts from Moody’s
Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch bond-rating
agencies... read
more.
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Dayton Business Journal, Wal-Mart
sex-bias lawsuit lands at Supreme Court, Staff Report
Monday, March 28, 2011 - The U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in a
sex-bias lawsuit against Wal-Mart. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear
arguments on Tuesday in a massive sex-discrimination class-action
lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s biggest retailer.
The court will consider whether to allow the suit to move forward as
the largest employment class action in U.S. history... read
more.
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Rasmussen...
What They Told Us:
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 26, 2011 - Americans began the week finding themselves
in military action in yet another Islamic country. At week’s end,
voters expressed mixed feelings about President Obama’s decision to
help rebels in Libya overthrow longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and
nearly half agreed that he should have gotten Congress’ okay first.
Earlier in the week, voters were more supportive of an American role in
the Libyan crisis than they had been before... read
more.
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Politico...
‘Kinetic military
action’ or ‘war’? By Jonathan Allen
3/24/11 - Police action, conflict, hostilities and now “kinetic
military action.” They’re all euphemisms for that word that this White
House and many before it have been so careful not to say: War.
Administration officials told congressional aides in a closed briefing
earlier this week that the United States is not at war with Libya, and
Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes danced around the question
in a Wednesday exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One. “I think
what... read
more.
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Toledo
Blade... Kasich cuts wide
swath of items to repair budget, By Jim Provance
Medicaid spending to take biggest hit of $3 billion - COLUMBUS — More
than a week after Gov. John Kasich presented his $55.5 billion budget,
his budget director Thursday spelled out how the administration would
close a projected gap that it now says is closer to $7.7 billion. Mr.
Kasich’s proposed two-year spending plan would rein in Medicaid
spending for the poor, disabled, and infirm by more than $3 billion;
slash aid to local governments, schools, and libraries by more... read
more.
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Senator Faber’s
Weekly Newsletter, March 28, 2011
Increased Dredging to
begin at Grand Lake St. Marys
- State Senator Keith Faber (R- Celina) announced today that increased
dredging at Grand Lake St. Marys will soon take place in an effort to
remove phosphorus-laden sediment that is contributing to water-quality
issues at the lake. An amendment providing $750,000 to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) for... read
more.
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Cleveland
Plain Dealer... Kasich
counts on liquor consumption to bring jobs, By Reginald
Fields
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - COLUMBUS, Ohio - The success of Gov. John
Kasich’s plan to recruit new business to Ohio will hinge heavily on
just how much Ohioans drink alcohol. Kasich last week unveiled his
state budget proposal, which includes a plan to lease the state’s
liquor distribution operation -- which of late has drawn record profits
-- and use the cash to fund his private economic development machine.
Since floating the idea earlier this year, the Republican... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch... Clean Ohio
funds: Kasich cancels check to casino, By Joe Hallett
Thursday, March 24, 2011 - Transportation bill rider prevents Penn
National from getting $2.5 million - The Kasich administration has
blocked Penn National Gaming from getting about $2.5 million from the
state that it was counting on to help clean up the site of the West
Side casino it plans to open late in 2012. A two-year, $7 billion state
transportation budget sent to Gov. John Kasich yesterday thwarts Penn
National’s attempt to use Clean Ohio money in cleaning... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch... Kasich’s
approval rating 30%; he vows to turn state around, By
Darrel Rowland
Thursday, March 24, 2011 - Ohio voters aren’t finding much to like
about Gov. John Kasich’s first 80 days in office. His job-approval
rating in a new Quinnipiac University poll stands at a meager 30
percent. His disapproval has more than doubled in two months to 46
percent. Ohioans dislike most aspects of Kasich’s push to gut
collective bargaining for public employees. They regard the $55.5
billion budget he rolled out last week as unfair. And voters turn
thumbs down on his plan... read
more.
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Wuebker Honored at Ag
Luncheon, By Beverly Hughes, Senior Scribe
“Everything we do is in the sunshine,” said Jeff Wuebker, referring to
his year-long position with the Ohio Livestock Care Standards (OLCS)
Board. Wuebker was the keynote speaker on Friday, March 18 at the
Agriculture Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the Darke County Chamber
of Commerce. What Wuebker didn’t know is that he and his brother Alan
would be honored... read
more.
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Dayton
Business Journal... U.S.
Postal Service eliminating 7,500 jobs, by Jeff Clabaugh,
DBJ Contributor
Thursday, March 24, 2011 - The U.S. Postal Service plans to eliminate
7,500 administrative and executive jobs this year and is going to close
seven district offices as part of its ongoing reorganization. One of
those offices is in Ohio. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe announced
the reductions in Washington Thursday afternoon and said these latest
moves will save $750 million a year. The Postal Service will offer
early buyout incentives to eligible employees, including... read
more.
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Insider Report from
Newsmax.com, March 27, 2011
Headlines (Click link for complete stories): 1. Biden: Impeach
President for Unauthorized Attack; 2. Bush 41 Still ‘Quite Close’ to
Bill Clinton; 3. Talk Is Cheapest in Oregon, and Spirits Are High; 4.
Kristol: Palin Shouldn’t Be GOP Nominee; 5. U.N.: One Quarter of North
Koreans Face Starvation; 6. Obesity-Mortality Link Called
‘Significantly Flawed... read
more.
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Truthout...
Farmers Sue USDA
Over Monsanto Alfalfa - Again, by Mike Ludwig
Friday 25 March 2011 - A coalition of farmers and environmental groups
filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on
March 18 to challenge the agency’s recent decision to fully deregulate
Monsanto’s Roundup Ready alfalfa. This is the second time the USDA has
been sued over its approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa, which is
genetically engineered (GE) to tolerate glyphosate, a popular herbicide
commonly sold under the Monsanto brand name Roundup... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch... DeWine
wants tighter controls on ‘skill games’, By Alan Johnson
Friday, March 18, 2011 - The unregulated world of “sweepstakes” games
and Internet cafes would be policed by the Ohio Casino Control
Commission under legislation promoted yesterday by Attorney General
Mike DeWine. Saying he doesn’t want Ohio to turn into the “wild, wild
west,” DeWine called for licensing and regulation of the gaming devices
- some of which resemble slot machines - which he called “a threat to
Ohio families and a rip-off to Ohio consumers... read
more.
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Dayton
Business Journal... Gas
prices accelerate further, By Brittany Hart, DBJ Staff
Reporter
Friday, March 25, 2011 - Gas prices have climbed in recent weeks as oil
surged on unrest in Libya and other Arab countries. Gas prices jumped
15 cents this week in some areas of the Dayton region, according to AAA
Fuel Gauge reports. Some local gas stations, including Kettering,
Beavercreek and Fairborn locations, are as high as $3.59 per regular
gallon, compared to $3.44 last week. Other stations posted smaller
spikes to $3.49 on average... read
more.
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Truthout...
GE’s Strategies Let
It Avoid Taxes Altogether, by David Kocieniewski
Thursday 24 March 2011 - General Electric, the nation’s largest
corporation, had a very good year in 2010. The company reported
worldwide profits of $14.2 billion, and said $5.1 billion of the total
came from its operations in the United States. Its American tax bill?
None. In fact, G.E. claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion. That may be
hard to fathom for the millions of American business owners and
households now preparing their own returns, but low taxes are
nothing... read
more.
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Cleveland
Plain Dealer... Kasich’s
proposed university reforms draw praise and criticism
By Karen Farkas, The Plain Dealer - Friday, March 18, 2011 - CLEVELAND,
Ohio -- College officials and faculty, braced for major cuts in state
support, were encouraged by the portion of Gov. John Kasich’s budget
proposal that would actually increase basic aid slightly over the next
two years. But his blueprint to rein in the cost of public higher
education also includes dictating that faculty members teach more
classes and requiring universities to develop a faster path to a
degree... read
more.
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Politico...
John Boehner rips
President Obama on Libya, By Jake Sherman
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) escalated his critique of President
Barack Obama’s handling of military operations in Libya Wednesday,
sending the president a scathing letter that demands answers to the
run-up to engagement in the region and hits the White House for first
consulting the United Nations and the Arab League, but not Congress.
Boehner wrote in the letter that he is “troubled” the United States
military has been engaged in the attacks on... read
more.
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Politico...
In search of the
‘Obama doctrine’, By Glenn Thrush
At a briefing for reporters last Saturday as U.S. Tomahawks missiles
slammed into the Libyan coast, a top aide to President Barack Obama was
asked to define the “Obama doctrine” to explain why the United States
was suddenly pursuing a third conflict in a Muslim nation. Ben Rhodes,
a deputy national security adviser and one of Obama’s most highly
regarded speechwriters, ticked off the factors that led his reluctant
commander-in-chief to act: Muammar Qadhafi’s threat... read
more.
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Politico...
Senate Democrats
defend Obama on Libya, By John Breshnahan
Top Senate Democrats came to President Barack Obama’s defense on the
Libya bombing campaign Wednesday, insisting that the U.S. participation
in the operation was limited and would soon end. In a conference call
designed to address growing criticism from all corners of Congress,
Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chairman and a
top member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Dick Durbin
(D-Ill.) all offered strong support to Obama’s... read
more.
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Politico... Harry Reid lets 2012
Democrats off the hook, By Manu Raju
3/23/11 - Over the past couple of weeks, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has
railed against an increase in the debt limit, slammed his party on the
budget and blasted President Barack Obama in a floor speech. It’s all
music to the ears of Democratic leaders. “I don’t see that as an attack
on the president; I think that’s just Joe Manchin,” said Washington
Sen. Patty Murray, who as... read
more.
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Politico...
Budget writers look
for deals, By Jake Sherman & Manu Raju
3/23/11 - House Republican leaders are planning to unveil an aggressive
2012 budget in three weeks — a proposal that could help shield them
from tea party attacks if they’re forced to cut a deal with Democrats
on the stalled 2011 spending bill. Both parties are quietly negotiating
as Congress stands in recess, not only searching for a final dollar
figure compromise but also trying to figure out how to deal with some
of the most hot-button legislative riders in the bill — including the
ban... read
more.
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Politico...
Republicans school
their freshman class, By Richard E. Cohen & Marin Cogan
3/23/11 - Republican freshmen have been at the center of every battle
in this Congress, pushing their leadership to cut more spending and
appearing at marquee committee hearings to grill key administration
officials. It’s not an accident. Behind the scenes, a high-level plan
has emerged, led by Texas GOP Rep. Pete Sessions with the help of
Speaker John Boehner, to empower the rookies with the implicit goal of
turning a stunning victory last fall into a sustainable, unified... read
more.
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Darke County
kidnapping/abduction charge on two, By Lyn Bliss, Senior
Scribes
“We have been experiencing about one to two kidnappings or abductions a
year in Darke County.” said Detective Sergeant Mike Burns of the Darke
County Sheriff’s Office. One of those was the recent
kidnapping/abduction of Elmer Diaz Ramirez, 27, of Sidney. According to
reports given, Ramirez was abducted in Darke County while supposedly on
a trip from Union City to Sidney... read
more.
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New
York Times... Obama Seeks to
Unify Allies as More Airstrikes Rock Tripoli
By Mark Landler and Steven Erlanger - Published March 22, 2011 -
WASHINGTON — President Obama worked on Tuesday to bridge differences
among allies about how to manage the military campaign in Libya, as
airstrikes continued to rock Tripoli and forces loyal to Col. Muammar
el-Qaddafi showed no sign of ending their sieges of rebel-held cities.
On a day when two United States airmen bailed out over Libya and were
rescued after the crash of their fighter... read
more.
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Washington
Beat... Obama Calls
for Oil Drilling... in Brazil
President Obama is finally calling for offshore drilling….in Brazil.
Obama told a group of Brazilian businessmen at a CEO summit during his
trip to South America over the weekend they should begin drilling in
their offshore oil reserves so the United States can be a paying
customer in the future, adding that the United States would help them
do it. “We want to help you with the technology and support to develop
these oil reserves safely. And when you’re ready to start selling... read
more.
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FoxNews... Silver Screen Legend
Elizabeth Taylor Dies at Age 79
Published March 23, 2011 - Screen legend Elizabeth Taylor died
Wednesday at the age of 79. Taylor had been hospitalized for over a
month at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was being treated for
symptoms of congestive heart failure. Taylor announced her congestive
heart failure diagnosis in 2004. The Oscar-winning actress had been
receiving friends in her... read
more.
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Dayton
Business Journal... Watching
free online movies can be costly
Monday, March 21, 2011 - That free online movie you downloaded last
weekend could cost you a quarter of a million dollars. The Dayton
Better Business Bureau put out a warning Monday against downloading
online movies from multiple Web sites. Movie sites including
letmewatchthis.com, letbobwatchthis.com and movie-source.org are luring
people into copyright infringement traps, according to researchers from
cloud security provider, Zscaler. Sites like these house... read
more.
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Politico...
GOP 2012 hopefuls on
Libya: Scathing or silent, By James Hohmann
3/21/11 - After demanding for weeks that he be more decisive on Libya,
not one candidate in the field of 2012 GOP hopefuls has expressed
support for President Barack Obama since he began bombing the North
African nation. The GOP’s presidential prospects either sharply
criticized the commander-in-chief this weekend or avoided weighing in.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Sunday afternoon, “It is
impossible to make sense of the standard for intervention... read
more.
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Dayton Business Journal... Patients
flock to Facebook for health care needs, by Brittany Hart
Sunday, March 20, 2011 - Interacting with friends, posting photos and
updating status changes are common practices on Facebook. But now more
users are relying on the social networking site for health information.
In fact, 41 percent of people said they use social media as a health
care resource, according to a National Research Corp. survey of nearly
23,000 U.S. residents... read
more.
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Senator Faber’s
Weekly Newsletter, March 21, 2011
Interested in becoming an Ohio Wildlife Officer? Also, Lake Clean-up
Day at St. Mary’s
ODNR - Applications are being accepted beginning Monday, March 28
through Friday, April 15, for the next wildlife officer training
school, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR),
Division of Wildlife. ODNR is seeking to fill approximately 18 new
wildlife officer... read
more.
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Revitalizing our
State: We’re the bad guys now, in two years… By Bob
Robinson, Editor
GREENVILLE – This year’s biennium budget is going to be “short term
pain” but will have “long term gain.” State Rep. Jim Buchy (Dist. 77)
told members and guests at The Darke County Republican Men’s Club
Saturday that dealing with Ohio’s budget woes will be a painful process
and it isn’t likely that many are going to be thanking them… now. He
noted that he created his own “lion’s den” when he set up... read
more.
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Dayton
Business Journal... Northwestern
Mutual hiring 2,500 college interns
Monday, March 21, 2011 - Northwestern Mutual said it will hire 2,500
financial-representative interns from colleges and universities
nationwide this year. The financial services firm said Monday the large
number of internships results from “increased demand from Americans who
seek financial guidance.” “This generation witnessed the impact of
unprecedented financial turmoil and as a result, they appreciate the
importance of financial planning and they’re taking action,” said... read
more.
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Politico...
John Boehner to
President Obama: Define the mission
House Speaker John Boehner said on Sunday that President Barack Obama
must “better explain what America’s role” is in the Libya offensive
before further military action is taken. It was the speaker’s first
public remarks since the U.S. and allies launched an air and sea attack
on Col. Moammar Qadhafi on Saturday. “The president is the
commander-in-chief, but the administration has a responsibility to
define for the American people, the Congress, and our troops what
the... read
more.
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Foxnews... Japan Discovers More
Radiation-Tainted Food
Published March 20, 2011 - FUKUSHIMA, Japan -- Japanese officials
reported progress Sunday in their battle to gain control over a
leaking, tsunami-stricken nuclear complex, though the crisis was far
from over, with the discovery of more radiation-tainted vegetables
adding to public fears about contaminated food. The announcement by
Japan’s Health Ministry late... read
more.
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Politico... Liberal Democrats in
uproar over Libya action
Ohio House Representative Dennis Kucinich questions why action is not
impeachable
A hard-core group of liberal House Democrats is questioning the
constitutionality of U.S. missile strikes against Libya, with one
lawmaker raising the prospect of impeachment during a Democratic Caucus
conference call on Saturday. Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Donna
Edwards... read
more.
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Dayton
Daily News… State park
access to stay free despite funding cut, By Steve Bennish,
Staff Writer
March 16, 2011 - COLUMBUS — The state’s parks and other natural areas
will remain open and free to the public despite a funding cut of 16
percent amid a constrained state budget, Ohio Department of Natural
Resources director David Mustine said Wednesday. The two-year budget
that begins July 1 includes general revenue funds of $45.4 million,
representing a plunge to a level not seen since the late 1980s. Total
employees in 2009 were 2,945. That shrank to 2,744 in 2010... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch… State budget
is a sad story for small libraries, By Dean Narciso
March 17, 2011 - Institutions without local levies bracing for cutbacks
- For the roughly 40 percent of Ohio's public libraries that are funded
almost entirely by state revenue, any cuts are troubling. Five-percent
reductions in state funding for public libraries in each of the next
two years might seem modest when compared with the 25 percent annual
cuts that local governments face under Gov. John Kasich's proposed
budget. But librarians note that their cuts follow... read
more.
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Seth Morgan Joins
Americans for Prosperity - Ohio... will serve as “Director of Policy”
March 18, 2011 - Grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity
is pleased to welcome aboard former State Representative Seth Morgan as
Ohio Director of Policy. Morgan is recognized as a leader in advocating
for free markets, fiscal responsibility in government, and limiting
government’s intrusion into Ohioans’ liberties and pocketbooks. He
entered politics as a young man, seeking to make a difference for the
Community by putting to use his passion... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch… Kasich looks
to extract savings from pensions, By Jim Siegel
March 17, 2011 - The hits keep coming for public workers who may have
to pay more into their retirement - Public workers in Ohio who already
were worried about weakened collective-bargaining powers now have a new
paycheck-related concern: Gov. John Kasich wants all of them to pay
more for their pensions. State Budget Director Tim Keen said the shift
would cost state- and local-government workers - and, in turn, save
state and local governments... read
more.
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Foxnews.com... Explosions,
Gunfire Heard; Allies Continue Military Strikes on Libya
Explosions and gunfire were heard in the Libyan capital of Tripoli
Sunday morning as the U.S. and its allies continued military strikes
against targets of Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, who on Libyan
state radio said the raids were “acts of terrorism”. Qaddafi added that
all of the country’s people were now carrying weapons to defend the
nation. “We will not leave our land and... read
more.
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Rasmussen... What They Told Us:
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls, Saturday, March 19, 2011
Much of America’s focus this past week has been on events across the
Pacific and what they mean here at home. Over 90% of voters have been
following news reports about the devastating earthquake and subsequent
tsunami that hit Japan, events that triggered a still unfolding crisis
at a nuclear plant there. Sixty percent (60%) of voters believe the
Japanese earthquake will hurt the U.S. economy... read
more.
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Columbus
Dispatch… Kasich tries
selling budget cuts to senior citizens, By Joe Vardon
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - CLEVELAND - Now that Ohio Gov. John Kasich
has presented his much-hyped budget, next on his list is to sell his
proposal across the state. Kasich's budget stumping tour began in
Cleveland yesterday at a senior community center, where the goal was to
tout the Medicaid reforms rolled into his two-year, $55.5 billion
spending plan. The governor and some of his department directors
touched on Kasich's general plans to increase care... read
more.
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Akron
Beacon Journal… Kasich
says Medicaid to improve, By Cheryl Powell
Thursday, Mar 17, 2011 - Changes would give seniors care options, Ohio
governor says - CLEVELAND: Ohio seniors who need care through the
state-run Medicaid program should be able to get services in their
homes or communities if they want, Gov. John Kasich told a group of
about 100 people during a stop Wednesday. The governor came to a
nonprofit senior services campus called Fairhill Partners to promote
what are being billed by his administration as... read
more.
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Yahoo.com...
Five Signs You’re a
Bad Boss, by Diana Middleton
Friday, February 18, 2011 - When the number of employees Matt Kaplan
managed at a lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson mushroomed from
six to 30, the school called in a management coach to make sure he was
prepared. What he learned surprised him -- his employees thought he was
distant and didn’t trust their work. “The biggest challenge for me was
realizing I couldn’t do everything myself,” he says. “I had to learn to
trust my team, which was a... read
more.
|
The
Columbus Dispatch… Budget
uses accounting maneuvers, By Jim Siegel
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - State Budget Director Tim Keen wasn't
dressed like a magician, but state lawmakers wanted to know yesterday
how he made an $8 billion shortfall disappear, even as it appears that
overall spending increased in the new two-year budget. Of the 59
agencies funded by general-revenue dollars, which include most state
taxes and some federal matching funds, Keen said 44 would be cut in
2012 and seven see no increase... read
more.
|
2011 Congressional
Art Competition for high school students
Mar 15, 2011 - Washington-Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester)
today invited 8th Congressional District high school students to
participate in “An Artistic Discovery,” the 2011 congressional art
competition. In a web video inviting students to submit their art,
Congressman Boehner praised the contest: “This competition provides a
unique opportunity for 8th District high school students... read
more.
|
Child Injured in
Shooting Incident
On Friday, March 18, 2011 at approximately 3:26 p.m., the Darke County
Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Wayne County, Indiana Sheriff’s
Office 9-1-1 Center reporting they had received a call from the 1900
block of Payne Road near Hollansburg, Ohio in reference to a
six-year-old female who had been shot in the abdomen. Darke County
Deputies and Detectives were then dispatched to the Payne Road
residence. Upon arrival at the scene, investigators confirmed... read
more.
|
Absentee Voting
begins March 29
The Darke County Board of Elections will be conducting absentee voting
for the upcoming May 3, 2011, Primary Election, beginning Tuesday,
March 29, 2011. Pursuant to the change in Section 3509 of the Ohio
Revised Code, any registered voter who chooses to vote absentee, can do
so without the prior restricted eligibility requirements.
However, with that change, there are other requirements that a voter
must meet. The application must include the name, voter
residence... read
more.
|
BWC investigates
Scioto & Huron County physician for fraud
The following is a statement from Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
(BWC) CEO/Administrator Stephen Buehrer regarding legal action taken
today at the Portsmouth (Scioto County) and Plymouth (Huron County)
offices of Dr. James E. Lundeen Sr. “Today, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’
Compensation, with assistance from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine,
the Ohio State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement, executed
search warrants... read
more.
|
The
Toledo Blade… Budget breaks
promises, Democrats say, By Jim Provance
Schools to lose part of tax funds - COLUMBUS -- Democrats Wednesday
accused the Kasich administration of breaking a promise to school
districts that they wouldn't suffer financially because of the state's
ambitious tax changes rolled out six years ago. The administration,
however, countered that schools should have prepared for the day that
state payments to keep their budgets whole would end. At issue is the
tangible... read
more.
|
Youngstown
Vindicator… Budget
director questioned, By Marc Kovac
Thu, March 17, 2011 - COLUMBUS - Democrats in the Ohio House questioned
Gov. John Kasich’s budget director Wednesday about the impact of
funding cuts to schools and local governments under his proposed
two-year, $55 billion-plus spending plan. The first day of hearings
before the House’s Finance Committee provided a snapshot of the debate
to come over a biennial budget that includes a mix of law changes,
program reforms and spending cuts aimed at filling an... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... Cambridge
considers allowing oil drilling in city park, By Josh
Jarman
Sunday, March 13, 2011 - Well’s revenue would help balance budget, pay
for park upkeep - CAMBRIDGE, Ohio - After 45 years of cutting hair, Ron
Lemmon knows the gossip in his community. Currently, the main issue is
oil drilling in the city’s municipal park. Lemmon, who operates a
barbershop in Cambridge, said drilling for oil in City Park has been
about all his customers have talked about since Mayor Tom Orr brought
the idea before the City Council last month... read
more.
|
Greenville Schools
Facilities Commission tours Ohio Schools, By Lyn Bliss,
Senior Scribe
About 25 members of the Greenville Schools Facilities Committee, formed
recently to develop and finalize a Master Plan for the District, toured
two facilities similar in nature to what may be recommended for the
plan. Both facilities – Parkway School (Rockford) and Wapakoneta
Schools – were designed by Garman/Miller Architects-Engineers (Minster,
Ohio) ... read
more.
|
Dayton
Business Journal… Bill
would end government funding of NPR
Thursday, March 17, 2011 - Editor’s Note: The House passed the bill on
Thursday; it now moves to the Senate - The House Rules Committee
approved new legislation that would eliminate government funding for
National Public Radio but allow the public radio network’s 764 local
affiliate stations to use federal money for administrative expenses for
their day-to-day operations. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo.,
introduced H.R. 1076 on Tuesday. The House is expected to vote... read
more.
|
Dayton
Daily News… State
budget’s impact starts to sink in, By Laura A. Bischoff,
Columbus Bureau
Despite the proposed cuts, there were some who saw things to like in
Kasich’s plan. Thursday, March 17, 2011 - COLUMBUS — Some workers were
told their jobs would be eliminated Wednesday, one day after Gov. John
Kasich submitted his two-year $55.5 billion budget that proposes cuts
to local governments, school districts and colleges and universities
and privatizes some functions of state government to generate revenue.
Tax Commissioner Joe Testa told 99 employees... read
more.
|
Kasich appoints
Aslinger Common Pleas Probate & Juvenile Judge
COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich announced his first judicial
appointment since taking office in January. Jason R. Aslinger of
Greenville (Darke Co.) will serve as judge of the Darke County Court of
Common Pleas Probate and Juvenile Divisions. Aslinger’s term
begins April 4, 2011 and ends when a successor is qualified and
elected. Aslinger earned his bachelor’s degree in business
administration from Bowling Green State University in 1993 and... read
more.
|
Dayton
Daily News... Despite
rise in state funding, education facing double-digit cuts
By Christopher Magan and Margo Rutledge Kissell - Wednesday, March 16,
2011 - Both K-12 and higher education would see massive changes and
double-digit cuts to funding under Gov. John Kasich’s two-year budget
unveiled Tuesday. State support for local K-12 schools would be
slightly increased under the plan, but the loss of federal stimulus
money that was built into the current two-year budget will result in an
overall 11.5 percent reduction for the next fiscal year... read
more.
|
New
York Times... House Passes
Spending Bill, but Not Happily, By Carl Hulse
March 15, 2011 - WASHINGTON — The House gave grudging approval on
Tuesday to a plan to finance the federal government for three more
weeks, even as dozens of Republicans broke with their leadership and
opposed the stopgap legislation. Congressional leaders said the
measure, which imposes $6 billion in new spending cuts, would avert a
government shutdown while giving Republicans and Democrats until April
8 to conclude a more sweeping budget deal to finance... read
more.
|
Senator Faber’s
Weekly Newsletter, March 14, 2011
Flood
risk and actions you can take; Prepare for Cold Water
Understanding Your Flood Risk and Actions You Can Take - ODNR —
National Flood Awareness Week, March 14-20, is an excellent time for
Ohioans to determine their local flood risks, according to the Ohio
Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Soil and Water
Resources... read
more.
|
GOP Women host
Economic Development Update, By Lyn Bliss, Senior Scribe
GREENVILLE – “Sometimes I sit back at the end of a very busy day and
ask what the heck did I get done?” Director of Darke County Economic
Development Marc Saluk told the Darke County Republican Women’s Club
recently. “But, most of my job is putting pieces and people together –
getting the inertia going for a project.” The club hosted Saluk’s
presentation of “The State of Darke County... read
more.
|
Boehner: JEC Study
Shows Spending Cuts Support Job Growth
Congressman Boehner Urges Obama Economic Team to Review New JEC Study
Showing Spending Cuts Support Job Growth - Mar 15, 2011 -
Washington-Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today called
attention to the release of a new study by Joint Economic Committee
(JEC) Republicans that shows cutting government spending significantly
will support private-sector job creation, and called on the members of
President Obama’s economic team to read the study... read
more.
|
New
York Times... State
Legislatures Slow on Immigration Measures, By Julia Preston
March 13, 2011 - Under newly fortified Republican control, many state
governments started the year pledging forceful action to crack down on
illegal immigration, saying they would fill a void left by the
stalemate in Washington over the issue. Now, with some legislatures
winding down their sessions, the lack of consensus that has immobilized
Congress has shown up in the legislatures as well, and has slowed — but
not stopped — the advance of bills to penalize illegal immigrants... read
more.
|
Gov. John Kasich’s
2012-13 Budget
Cleveland Plain Dealer... Schools,
local governments take hit in Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 12:50 PM - By Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer
- COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Local governments and schools districts are hit
hard, facing nearly $2 billion less in total payments from the state in
2012 and 2013 under Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal, according... read
more.
|
FoxNews.com...
Conservatives
Voice Frustration With Short-Term Budget Bills
Published March 14, 2011 - Congressional Republicans, notably freshmen
elected on vows to cut spending, are getting fed up with the short-term
budget bills that leaders on both sides of the aisle seem content to
pass while wrangling over a spending plan for the last six months of
the fiscal year. “An absurd pattern has clearly developed in
Washington,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Tea Party-aligned freshman,
wrote in a column Monday posted on the conservative blog... read
more.
|
Dayton
Daily News… Communities’
officials want to keep estate tax, By Jeremy P. Kelley
Kettering, Oakwood and Washington Twp. officials say repeal may hurt
their residents - Sunday, March 13, 2011 - Several local communities
are working with an emerging “council of governments” to lobby against
the proposed repeal of Ohio’s estate tax, despite opposition from local
Tea Party-affiliated groups. Administrators from Kettering, Oakwood and
Washington Twp., communities that received a combined $6.2 million in
estate tax revenue... read
more.
|
Truthout...
Assault on
Collective Bargaining Illegal, Says International Labor Rights Group
by Jeanne Mirer and Marjorie Cohn - Sunday 13 March 2011 - The
International Commission for Labor Rights (ICLR) sent a notice to the
Wisconsin Legislature, explaining that its attempt to strip collective
bargaining rights from public workers is illegal. Anyone who has
watched the events unfolding in Wisconsin and other states that are
trying to remove collective bargaining rights from public workers has
heard people protesting the loss of their “rights.”... read
more.
|
Dayton Business Journal... Gas
prices creep higher
Monday, March 14, 2011 - The price per gallon of gasoline in Dayton has
gone up 10 cents in the past week, although the price of crude oil
dropped for the first time in a month after the earthquake and tsunami
in Japan forced the nation to shut down some oil refineries. Dayton
motorists are paying $3.53 per gallon on average, compared with $3.43 a
week ago, $2.96 a month ago and $2.72 a year... read
more.
|
NFRW Briefed by
Speaker Boehner at U.S. Capitol
Local Resident Among 225 ‘Red Coats’ on the Hill - WASHINGTON, D.C. –
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) privately briefed 225 Republican
women leaders from across the country during the National Federation of
Republican Women’s (NFRW) biennial Legislative Day at the U.S. Capitol
on March 9. Among the visitors was Greenville resident Lyn Bliss... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... Kasich
hopes more healthy babies will reduce Medicaid costs
By Catherine Candisky and Joe Vardon - Initiatives focus on low-weight
babies, poor’s visits to ER - Reducing the number of low-weight babies
born in Ohio will be one of the initiatives to lower health-care costs
that Gov. John Kasich is expected to unveil in his state budget next
week. The proposal will be part of a broader effort by the Republican’s
administration to rein in Medicaid spending by reducing hospitalization
and other high-cost care covered by the... read
more.
|
Insider Report from
Newsmax.com, March 13, 2011
Headlines (Click on link for complete stories): 1. Average
Freshman Senator Worth $4 Million 2. China’s CO2 Emissions
Confirm Kyoto Critics’ Fears 3. Sabato: 6 Democratic Senate Seats
‘Toss-ups’ in 2012 4. Expert: New Light Bulbs Bring ‘Deadly
Poison’ Into Homes 5. Regional Nuclear War Could Reverse Global
Warming 6. New ‘Dust Bowl’ Threatens Great Plains... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... No
timetable on Senate Bill 5 vote, By Jim Siegel
Thursday, March 10, 2011 - House speaker says measure won’t go to the
floor next week - Speaker William G. Batchelder said he is done
predicting when the collective-bargaining bill will come up for a full
vote in the House. The Medina Republican told reporters today that
Senate Bill 5 will not come up for a floor vote next week. This came a
day after he told reporters that he hoped to have a House vote next
week on the controversial measure... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... Kasich’s
budget tackles Medicaid spending
By Catherine Candisky and Joe Vardon - Thursday, March 10, 2011 -
Initiatives focus on low-weight babies, poor’s visits to ER Reducing
the number of low-weight babies born in Ohio will be one of the
initiatives to lower health-care costs that Gov. John Kasich is
expected to unveil in his state budget next week. The proposal will be
part of a broader effort by the Republican’s administration to rein in
Medicaid spending by reducing hospitalization and other high-cost
care... read
more.
|
Dayton
Daily News... Kasich
wants students better prepared for jobs
By Christopher Magan and Margo Rutledge Kissell, Staff Writers -
Friday, March 11, 2011 - During his first State of the State address,
Gov. John Kasich spoke passionately about education, saying he wants
significant reform to ensure Ohio’s students are prepared for the jobs
he wants to bring to the state. The Republican governor reaffirmed this
week that K-12 and higher education are “critical to our economic
future.” Work force training for the real world was an... read
more.
|
Farm Forum focuses on
EPA, public awareness, By Bob Robinson, Editor
PIQUA – “We are nine meals away from chaos,” said Ohio Agricultural
Director Jim Zehringer. The moderator for Congressman John Boehner’s
(8th District) 20th Annual Farm Forum at Edison Community College noted
that grocery stores typically stock three days worth of food… “What
would happen if the food supply suddenly stopped?” Nearly 300 people
packed Edison’s auditorium Saturday... read
more.
|
Kasich signs
Legislation Creating Agriculture Week
COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich signed House Bill 89 (Derickson)
to designate the second full week of March as “Ohio Agriculture
Week.” Gov. Kasich was joined by bill sponsor Rep. Timothy
Derickson (R-Oxford), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Rep.
David Hall (R-Killbuck), Director of the Department of Agriculture Jim
Zehringer, and representatives from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and
Future Farmers of America (FFA)... read
more.
|
Foxnews...
Japan Nuclear Agency
Reports Emergency at Second Reactor
Published March 12, 2011 - IWAKI, Japan – Cooling systems failed
at a second nuclear reactor on Japan’s devastated coast Sunday, hours
after an explosion at a nearby unit made leaking radiation, or even
outright meltdown, the central threat to the country following a
catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. The Japanese government said
radiation emanating from the plant appeared to have decreased after
Saturday’s blast, which produced a cloud of white smoke... read
more.
|
Rasmussen...
What They Told Us:
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 12, 2011 - Americans don’t much like the way things are
going these days. At week’s end, daily confidence as measured in the
Rasmussen Consumer and Investor Indexes had fallen to new lows for the
year. The number of adults nationwide who expect interest rates to go
up over the next year has risen again this month to a new high of 52%.
Only one-out-of-three workers (33%) nationwide expects to earn more
money a year from now, marking... read
more.
|
The
Washington Post... The ‘Utah
Way’ toward immigration reform, By Lee Hockstader
Friday, March 11, 2011 - SALT LAKE CITY - Utah, where Republicans
outnumber Democrats by better than three to one in the state
legislature, has passed the nation’s most liberal - and most
reality-based - policy on illegal immigration. And the Republican
governor is expected to sign it. The legislation includes both a
watered-down enforcement provision that police say won’t make much
difference and a guest-worker program that would make all the
difference... read
more.
|
Faber, Buchy address
public union concerns, By Bob Robinson, Editor
GREENVILLE – “$74 million in savings to local government entities
equates to 1,500 firefighters, police and teachers who won’t have to be
laid off,” said State Sen. Keith Faber (Dist. 12). This was part of the
message to about 200 attendees at Friday night’s Townhall meeting on
Senate Bill 5 with Faber and State Representative Jim Buchy (Dist.
77)... read
more.
|
House Bills will keep
government funded and save taxpayers $9 Billion
Boehner on: TARP, Short Term CR, Homeowner Relief - Congressman Boehner
Applauds House Vote To Begin Shutting Down TARP, Saving Taxpayers $8
Billion - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester)
issued the following statement after the House voted to begin shutting
down the TARP bailout program, saving taxpayers $8 billion in mandatory
government spending, with more savings to come: “I’m pleased the
House... read
more.
|
Transportation budget
repairs aging roads, retains jobs
Buchy Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Transportation Budget; Measure
will repair aging roads, is projected to retain nearly 30,000 jobs -
COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) has announced
that after more than two weeks of committee hearings and deliberation,
the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 114—the
state transportation budget. The transportation budget outlines
appropriations totaling $7 billion, including... read
more.
|
Politico...
White House
struggles to lead on spending, By Glenn Thrush &
Carrie Budoff Brown
3/10/11 - The budget debate has been galloping away from Democrats
since the passage of a two-week spending bill — and President Barack
Obama tried to grab back the reins on Wednesday. The White House has
tried to keep its distance from Senate and House negotiators, fearing
being dragged into another partisan food fight after the bipartisan
triumph of the December lame-duck session. But White House officials
now see the political initiative they enjoyed... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... ‘Pill mill’
bill moves quickly to Senate, By Jim Siegel
Thursday, March 10, 2011 - During his time as the Scioto County
coroner, Rep. Terry Johnson got a close-up look at the devastating
impact that prescription-drug addiction was having on his county, where
drug-overdose deaths increased 360 percent from 1999 to 2008. “That got
me into a sad and dark, ugly underbelly of a part of Appalachia that
few of you could even imagine,” the McDermott Republican told his
colleagues. “For the last three years as... read
more.
|
Toledo
Blade... Ohio foes ponder
merit pay’s fairness, By Jim Provance
Bill cuts teacher seniority as factor - COLUMBUS — How do you judge the
worth of teachers? Senate Bill 5, the controversial
collective-bargaining bill now being heard in the Ohio House, would
remove automatic longevity and step increases from the pay structure of
teachers and other public employees and mandates that future raises be
linked to merit. But what exactly a merit system would look like is one
item preserved for the negotiating table... read
more.
|
Foxnews...
Obama Has ‘Failed to
Lead’ on Spending Cuts, Democratic Senator Says
Published March 08, 2011 - Freshman Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin accused
President Obama of sitting on the sidelines Tuesday while Congress
debates “wildly different” budget bills that are expected to fail. “Our
president has failed to lead this debate or offer a serious proposal
for spending and cuts that he would be willing to fight for,” Manchin,
D-W.Va., said on the Senate floor. House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer
shot back, saying Obama is the... read
more.
|
Buchy Announces
Passage of Two Bills: Calamity Days & Rx Drug Abuse
Calamity Days Bill - COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy
(R-Greenville) today announced the passage of House Bill 36 from the
Ohio House of Representatives by a vote of 92-5. The legislation would
increase the number of calamity days that school districts are
allocated annually. House Bill 36 restores the number of excusable
calamity days to five, which would take effect immediately... read
more.
|
Chicago
Tribune... Top Democrat
draws line in sand in budget fight, By Thomas Ferraro
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Assistant Senate Democratic leaderDick Durbin
drew a line in the sand on Sunday in his party’s budget battle with
Republicans, who are pushing deep spending cuts to trim the federal
deficit. Durbin, one of President Barack Obama’s top allies in
Congress, said he opposed going beyond the $10.5 billion in domestic,
non-defense discretionary spending cuts that Democrats have backed.
Republicans want $61 billion in spending reductions... read
more.
|
Columbus
Dispatch... Charter
college idea has appeal, By Encarnacion Pyle
Sunday, March 6, 2011 - No state has made switch, but Ohio
higher-education leaders want less red tape - Many Ohio college leaders
are excited that their schools could gain more independence and freedom
from red tape. But whether they try to become charter universities - an
idea being floated by Gov. John Kasich and incoming Chancellor Jim
Petro - will depend on the tradeoffs. Ohio State University President
E. Gordon Gee said he has been pushing for deregulation... read
more.
|
Washington Beat,
By Katie Pavlich
1000 Waivers and County; Federal Government Post Largest Deficit Ever;
Radical Islam in America; Race for the White House 2012; ATF Watching
Guns go to Mexican Drug Cartels; and Oil Prices Rise, Feds want to Tap
Reserve... read
more.
|
Dayton Business Journal... Banks
seek to delay new debit fee rules, by Tucker Echols
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - Banks are seeking a delay in new debit card
swipe fee rules. Banks and debit card companies are reportedly boosting
their lobbying in Congress to remove or delay new rules for lower debit
card swipe fees. The lobbying effort comes as the Federal Reserve faces
a deadline in April to write the rules for lower swipe fees — the
hidden fees that banks collect from... read
more.
|
Reaction: Columbus Dispatch... Forget
the status quo, governor tells legislators, By Joe Vardon
Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - Kasich promises big changes in prenatal and
late-in-life care, sentencing, education - Gov. John Kasich used his
first State of the State address yesterday to issue a final warning
that widespread changes to Ohio’s governing and spending practices are
coming soon. It was a point already heard loud and clear by the
estimated 3,200... read
more.
|
Reaction: Cincinnati Enquirer... Kasich’s
speech offers energy, few details
Mar. 8, 2011 - COLUMBUS — In an enthusiastic, often impromptu State of
the State speech Tuesday, Gov. John Kasich called for a broad
transformation of Ohio’s government and economy – but offered few
details on how he plans to fix Ohio’s problems. “You ain’t seen nothing
yet,” he said. Veering from anecdotes about celebrities to shout-outs
to General Assembly... read
more.
|
The
Columbus Dispatch... Brown
draws fire from some environmentalists
Sunday, March 6, 2011 - Some environmentalists were unhappy with Sen.
Sherrod Brown after he urged President Barack Obama last week to
consider the economic harm to major industries before issuing
regulations to control so-called greenhouse gases thought to cause
global warming. By doing so, the Ohio Democrat seemed to move even
closer to the position held by former Republican Sen. George V.
Voinovich, that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency... read
more.
|
Politico...
Medicare criticism
may haunt GOP, By Carrie Budoff Brown
3/8/11 - The Republican Party and its allies funneled millions into TV
ads last year accusing Democrats from Pennsylvania to Missouri of
“gutting Medicare” and “hurting seniors” — charges that compelled older
voters to swing en masse toward the GOP. But now, as Republicans move
to tackle the country’s gaping debt, they are weighing changes to
Medicare — from higher premiums to spending caps — that open them to
the same attacks they leveled only... read
more.
|
Dayton Business Journal... Report:
Gender wage gap to last 45 more years
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - Women will be paid less than men for the next
45 years at the current pace of closing the gender wage gap, according
to a new study. New research shows it will take 45 more years for
women’s and men’s earnings to reach pay parity — if the wage gap
continues to close at the same pace it has for the last 50 years. The
Institute for Women’s Policy... read
more.
|
2011 State of the
State Address, March 8, 2011, Ohio Statehouse, Columbus,
Ohio 43215
SPEAKER BATCHELDER: It is my privilege today to introduce to this group
someone who needs no introduction, the President of the Ohio Senate.
(Applause). PRESIDENT NIEHAUS: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank
you for inviting us to your House. The members of the House and Senate
will now assemble and take their seats. Is there a quorum of the Senate
present? The Chair recognizes the leader of the Senate, Senator Cates... For Video and Complete Text, Click
Here.
|
Business
First... Kasich appeals
for bipartisanship in State of State - Tuesday, March 8,
2011
Republican Gov. John Kasich delivered his first State of the State
speech at noon Tuesday to waves of applause from many legislators and
government officials, as well as boos from opponents of Ohio’s
controversial collective bargaining bill. Watch the more than hour-long
address, which included Kasich’s appeal for political bipartisanship to
tackle the state’s problems, at the Ohio Channel here. The governor
delivered the speech without a fully prepared text or the help of a
telescript, but a transcript is set to be available late Tuesday
afternoon here. A Democratic rebuttal began at 1:30 p.m. on the Ohio
Channel. Video is currently available at The Ohio Channel; Text will be provided as
soon as it is available at Business First
|
Politico...
Despite openness
pledge, President Obama pursues leakers, By Josh Gerstein
3/7/11 - The Obama administration, which famously pledged to be the
most transparent in American history, is pursuing an unexpectedly
aggressive legal offensive against federal workers who leak secret
information to expose wrongdoing, highlight national security threats
or pursue a personal agenda. In just over two years since President
Barack Obama took office, prosecutors have filed criminal charges in
five separate cases involving unauthorized distribution... read
more. |
Politico...
Feds want new ways
to tap the Web, By Jennifer Martinez
3/7/11 - When it comes to criminal investigations, federal law
enforcement is eager to get access to the bread crumb trail that
suspects leave on the Web. In the age of Facebook, Twitter and Skype,
however, the FBI and other agencies often must operate within the
constraints of laws and regulations that haven’t been updated in more
than a decade. The Obama administration is considering new regulations
to require Web-based communications services... read
more. |
Washington Post... The Rising:
Josh Mandel, young powerhouse, By Rachel Weiner
Posted on 03/4/2011 - Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel shows off the
shoes he wore out campaigning in a speech at CPAC 2011. Ohio’s newest
state treasurer is only 33. He’s also a Marine who served two tours in
Iraq, a lawyer, a two-term state legislator, a former city councilman
and a prolific fundraiser. That’s why even at his young age, Josh
Mandel is... read
more. |
Senator Faber’s
Weekly Newsletter, March 7, 2011
Spring Ushers in Wildfire Season & Ohio’s New Fishing,
Hunting and Trapping License and Permit Sales System Up
ODNR—Ohioans are urged to be aware of the state’s outdoor burning
regulations and take necessary precautions if they are planning to burn
debris, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR),
Division of Forestry. Ohio law states that outdoor debris burning is
prohibited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during March, April and May... read
more. |
Insider Report from
Newsmax.com
Headlines - 1. Obamacare Will Cost States $118 Billion 2. Bill
O’Reilly: GOP Will Win Senate in 2012 3. Rep. Allen West: End
UK’s Michael Savage Ban 4. Muslim Brotherhood Strips Bylaws From
Website 5. Slain Border Agent Fired Beanbags at Bandits 6.
We Heard: TSA, Oprah Winfrey... read
more. |
Dayton
Business Journal... Do
you support collective bargaining limits in Ohio?
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - Thousands of people have come out to protest
the bills that would limit collective bargaining in Ohio and Wisconsin.
Ohio’s controversial bill to weaken collective bargaining rights for
public workers in the state narrowly passed in the state Senate,
drawing boos from bill opponents in a packed Senate chamber. The bill
is similar to legislation in Wisconsin that has drawn national
attention and protests. The battle over the legislation that some... read
more. |
Foxnews...
Lawmakers at Impasse
Over 7-Month Budget; Redirect Focus to Benefit Programs
Published March 06, 2011 - WASHINGTON -- President Obama isn’t serious
about dealing with government spending and the deficit, the Senate’s
top Republican argued Sunday as lawmakers took to the airwaves to shout
past each other about where and how much spending to cut in the
government’s wildly bloated budget. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said
that after a number of conversations with Obama and Vice President
Biden, he is not optimistic the... read
more. |
Toledo
Blade… Bell: City of
Toledo knew union contract not affordable, By Jim Provance
Teamsters’ attorney claims Toledo’s cash woes irrelevant - COLUMBUS --
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell Thursday told a state labor-relations judge that
he knew the city couldn’t afford a proposed new contract with trash and
sewer workers when he returned the agreement to the union unsigned last
year. “[We] had just balanced, for the most part, a $48 million
deficit, and this particular agreement was coming in after that, saying
that we needed to be able to provide raises... read
more. |
Boehner to seek House
action to defend DOMA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the
following statement regarding the status of the Defense of Marriage Act
(DOMA): “I will convene a meeting of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory
Group for the purpose of initiating action by the House to defend this
law of the United States, which was enacted by a bipartisan vote in
Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton. It is regrettable that
the Obama Administration has opened... read
more. |
Newsmax...
Gov. Walker: Obama
Should Fix His Own Budget Crisis, By David A. Patten and
Kathleen Walter
Friday, 04 Mar 2011 - In a Newsmax.TV exclusive interview, determined
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Friday began the legal notification
process that could lead to 1,500 state employees losing their jobs in
April. He also said that President Barack Obama should stay out of his
state’s fiscal crisis and instead ought to focus on “the much, much
graver budget crisis we have in our nation’s capital, which he’s failed
to lead on.”... read
more. |
What They Told Us:
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, March 05, 2011 - President Obama once famously noted that
“elections have consequences.” Legislators in Washington, D.C. and
Madison, Wisconsin can certainly attest to the truth of that statement.
Republican gains have translated into major budget battles involving
issues and programs that Democrats have held dear for years. The U.S.
Congress is stalemated as... read
more. |
Boehner attributes
8.9 percent unemployment to having stopped January tax hikes
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today
issued the following statement regarding the latest employment figures
released by the U.S. Department of Labor: “Any improvement in the jobs
situation for our country is welcome news, but unemployment is still
far above where the Obama Administration promised it would be when it
forced our children to pay for the ‘stimulus’ fiasco, which accelerated
a government spending binge that continues... read
more. |
Columbus
Dispatch... Bill would
allow drilling in state parks, By Spencer Hunt
Friday, March 4, 2011 - Money could help maintain parks, lakes amid
tight budget - State lawmakers will debate again opening Ohio’s parks,
forests and wildlife areas to oil and gas companies. A House bill
introduced this week would create a panel that could open any
state-owned land for oil and gas exploration to the highest bidder. The
governor would appoint the five panel members. State Rep. John Adams, a
Republican from Sidney and the bill’s sponsor, said... read
more. |
Dayton
Business Journal... Ohio
unemployment down to 9.4%
Friday, March 4, 2011 - More Ohioans found jobs in January. Ohio’s
unemployment rate fell to 9.4 percent in January, thanks to payroll
gains, the state Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday.
The unemployment rate was down from 9.5 percent in December, a
downwardly revised tally from the 9.6 percent rate initially reported.
That accounts for a nearly 32,000-worker boost in nonfarm payroll to
about 5.07 million. At the same time, the ranks of those out of work...
read
more. |
Cincinnati Enquirer... Shannon Jones:
The force behind SB5, By Barry M. Horstman
If nothing else, state Sen. Shannon Jones’ central role in the
acrimonious battle over a dramatic remake of Ohio’s
collective-bargaining law shows that she is not shy about tackling
white-hot issues - or stepping into the political spotlight. It’s not
the first time in her still-young political career, though, that she
has vividly proved that point... read
more. |
Cleveland
Plain Dealer... Is
Ohio’s collective bargaining overhaul fair or unreasonable? Take our
poll
Thursday, March 03, 2011 - By a 17-16 vote, the Ohio Senate has
approved SB5, a bill that would drastically reduce collective
bargaining rights for Ohio’s public workers. Now the bill moves to the
Ohio House of Representatives. The bill redefines which contract terms
public workers can collectively bargain with their employer. Wages can
still be negotiated. Health care benefits, pension pick-ups and other
provisions are off the table. And management can... read
more. |
Toledo
Blade... Ohio Senate OKs
bill curbing union bargaining rights, By Jim Provance
COLUMBUS -- Angry union members chanted “Shame on you!” as they headed
for the door after a sharply divided Ohio Senate Wednesday voted 17-16
to approve a controversial bill restricting the collective bargaining
rights of public employees. In the end, six Republicans defected from
their caucus to join all 10 Democrats in opposing the measure, which
would preserve union negotiations but limit what they could be about,
prohibit all public employees from striking... read
more. |
Cincinnati
Enquirer... New Ohio
chancellor: Get ready for change, By Cliff Peale
Feb. 28, 2011 - Ohio’s public colleges will see “significant” budget
cuts next year, but even bigger changes could be on the horizon soon
under new Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro. Petro, nominated
by Gov. John Kasich Monday to replace the resigning Eric Fingerhut,
says he expects a formal proposal on “charter universities” sometime in
2011... read
more. |
Greenville Recognized
for ED Efforts by National Publication
Publication puts City in Top 100 Micropolitan’s in United States -
Greenville- Greenville has been recognized by Site Selection magazine,
a national publication devoted to economic development, as one of the
Top 100 Micropolitans (city with a population between 10 -50,000) in
the United States, based on 2010 development project statistics.
The Darke County Economic... read
more. |
Dayton Daily News... Kasich vows
vast reform in budget, By Jack Torry
Monday, February 28, 2011 - WASHINGTON — Gov. John Kasich said
curtailing collective bargaining rights for public employees is just
the first step in a series of sweeping reforms that he insists will
“lower our costs, keep our entrepreneurs and create jobs.’’ In a news
conference Sunday, Kasich repeatedly defended his backing of a bill
that would limit public employees to bargaining for their wages... read
more. |
Buchy Announces
Passage of substitute HB58
Legislature approves measure that will benefit taxpayers, businesses
and the unemployed - COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy
(R-Greenville) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives
voted in concurrence on Senate changes to Substitute House Bill 58,
which is estimated to save Ohio’s families and businesses approximately
$48.5 million over the next three fiscal years. The bill also contains
a job retention tax credit for businesses... read
more. |
Buchy Announces
Passage of Regulatory Reform Legislation
COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today
announced the passage of Senate Bill 2 from the Ohio House of
Representatives by a vote of 81-14. This legislation—sponsored by
Senator Jim Hughes (R-Clintonville)—is companion legislation to House
Bill 94, which would adopt a new small business rule review procedure
by defining a process of regulatory... read
more. |
Boehner on Senate
approval of Short-term Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) released
the following statement today upon Senate approval of the House-passed
short-term continuing resolution, which cuts spending to help create a
better environment for job growth and gives Senate Democrats two
additional weeks to follow the House in passing legislation that funds
the government through the end of the fiscal year... read
more. |
The Columbus Dispatch... Vote on
veal calves might trigger statewide referendum after all
By Alan Johnson - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - Decision reneges on
animal-welfare agreement, Humane Society says. The Humane Society of
the U.S. is threatening to relaunch a statewide ballot campaign after a
state panel yesterday reneged on part of an agreement reached last
year. The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, a state... read
more. |
Politico... Social media not so
hot on the Hill, By Erika Lovley
The constant influx of feedback on social media is challenging for some
congressional offices. “There’s a lot of trolls on Twitter,” the Texas
Republican told POLITICO. “I just got to the point that I was sick and
tired of it.” And he’s not the only one on Capitol Hill who’s fed up
with the din. In 140 characters: “Social media is absolutely a pain in
the a—,” a Capitol Hill aide... read
more. |
From Redstate… Our last WWI vet
passes away at age 110
Monday, February 28th - From the diaries by Bill S. Frank Buckles, the
last of the 4,734,991 Americans who served in World War I, has passed
away. When you think of most kids today, his story is just staggering.
He was born on a Missouri farm when William McKinley was President.
When the US entered WWI in April 1917, he had turned 16 barely two
months earlier, but was determined to enlist... read
more. |
Governors differ on
extent of flexibility for Medicaid, By Amy Goldstein and
Dan Balz
Monday, February 28, 2011 - Democratic and Republican governors,
burdened by crushing budget pressures from Medicaid, said Sunday that
federal officials should allow them more freedom to change eligibility
rules and other aspects of the public health insurance program for the
poor. But they displayed sharp ideological differences over how far
such flexibility should go. After a series of private conversations at
the National Governors Association’s semiannual meeting... read
more. |
Faber Announces
Regulatory Reform Bill Passed By Ohio Senate
State Senator Keith Faber (R- Celina) announced that the Ohio Senate
recently voted to approve Senate Bill 2, which seeks to improve the
state’s regulatory environment in order to reduce government red tape
that acts as barriers to job creation and retention. “If we are to
revitalize our economy and get Ohioans back to work, then we must
create a business climate that helps, rather than hinders... read
more. |
Insider Report from
Newsmax.com - 2/27/11
Headlines: 1. Newsweek Poll: Trump Fares ‘Surprisingly Well’ vs. Obama;
2. Google Spins Right to Woo Resurgent GOP; 3. Charlie Cook: If Jobs
Grow, Obama’s a Lock in 2012; 4. Satellite Images Expose Syrian Nuclear
Facility; 5. CBO: Stimulus Jobs Cost at Least $228,055 Each... read
more. |
Dayton Business Journal... Cell
phone manners getting worse
Friday, February 25, 2011 - American cell phone manners appear to be
getting worse. California-based Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) found nine
out of 10 U.S. adults claim they have seen people misuse mobile
technology, and 75 percent say mobile manners are worse compared to a
year ago. But with cell phone users on the rise, the incidents of poor
etiquette will likely... read
more. |
Congressman Jim
Jordan speaks to Liberty Group, By Lyn Bliss, Senior Scribe
Video - “You are taking a big risk by having me here. It is dangerous,
as Congress only has a 12% approval rating at this time.” was one of
Congressman Jim Jordan’s opening remarks as he addressed the Sidney
Shelby County Liberty Group recently. Jordan represents Ohio’s fourth
congressional district. “But, we do have the first amendment and that
means you can... read
more. |
The
Columbus Dispatch, Senate
Bill 5 saves $1.3B, study says, By Jim Siegel
Pay increases, insurance examined - Saturday, February 26, 2011 - State
and local governments would have saved an estimated $1.3 billion in
2010 on health insurance and automatic pay increases if the limits
imposed by Senate Bill 5 were in effect, according to a new analysis by
the state Office of Collective Bargaining. The report comes as Senate
Republicans are preparing to pass the biggest overhaul to collective
bargaining since the law was enacted in 1983. Changes to... read
more. |
Rasmussen... What They Told Us:
Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, February 26, 2011 - Wisconsin and Libya. Angry protesters are
in the streets. Here at home they’re exercising their democratic rights
in a budget battle; over there, they’re being shot down for seeking
democratic rights in real battles. A sizable number of voters are
following new Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s showdown with unionized
public employees in an effort to close... read
more. |
Dayton Business Journal, Fannie
Mae, Freddie Mac request $3.1 billion
by Jeff Clabaugh, DBJ Contributor - Friday, February 25, 2011 - Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac both reported significantly improved quarterly
results, even as both seek more government aid. Combined, the two have
requested another $3.1 billion draw from their Treasury Department
lifeline, after both reported negative net worth after making dividend
payments to the government... read
more. |
Youngstown
Vindicator... Kasich:
Slots decision will take time, By David Skolnick
Fri, February 25, 2011 - VIENNA - Gov. John Kasich said he’s in no rush
to legalize slot machines at the state’s horse racetracks. Kasich, a
Republican, said Thursday that the state wants to hire a “gambling
expert” to review gaming in Ohio, including casinos being built in
Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo and the possibility of slot
machines at the state’s seven racetracks. Penn National Gaming Inc.
wants to relocate a harness track from Toledo to Austintown. The... read
more. |
Politico...
Lawmakers won’t miss
a paycheck, By Erika Lovley
February 23, 2011 - If the government shuts down, thousands of
government employees would be furloughed without pay, federal agencies
and parks would shutter, and congressional staffer paychecks would
stop. But the elected members of Congress? Their $174,000 a year pay
checks would keep coming. Under U.S. law, elected members of Congress —
as well as the president and uniformed military personnel — are exempt
from furlough, but most congressional... read
more. |
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