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The Supreme Court and Same Sex Marriage, By George Starks
As I write this, there are many things weighing on my side at the present time. Most notably, my health concerns. While doctors are taking up the majority of my free time and more so I've got some of the best neurologists in this area baffled. None of them, can't seem to figure out what is going on with my brain and the effect it’s having on my motor skills. My mobility has gotten worse in the past year read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy… Breaking Down Geographical Barriers for Success in Agriculture -- The school year has ended and now is the best time to fully examine the results of Ohio State’s “Agri-science in the City” program.  The close of this school year also marks the completion of the first full year of “Agri-science in the City”.  The program has connected one high school and one elementary in both Cleveland and Cincinnati with leaders in Ohio’s agricultural sector.  As a result read more.
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The White House… My Husband
Jim Obergefell is one of the plaintiffs in the case decided today by the U.S. Supreme Court that held that, for the first time, any couple -- straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender -- can obtain a marriage license and make their commitment public and legal in all 50 states. We reached out to him to ask for his thoughts on this historic read more.
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The White House… Obamacare… The Affordable Care Act
On March 23, 2010, I sat down at a table in the East Room of the White House and signed my name on a law that said, once and for all, that health care would no longer be a privilege for a few. It would be a right for everyone. Five years later, after more than 50 votes in Congress to repeal or weaken this law and multiple challenges before the Supreme Court, here is what we know today read more.
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“Beware of Those Who Do Things in the Name of Good” By Kate Burch
Harold Hamm, chairman of the domestic Energy Producers Alliance, points out in the June 22 Wall Street Journal that the ban on exports of U.S. crude oil, left over from the Nixon era, has done great harm to the American economy and is hobbling the boom in U.S. oil production due to fracking.  Fully 28% of American oil refining capacity is foreign-owned.  Producers from other read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Investing in Infrastructure, Investing in Jobs
Several years ago my wife Connie and I were listening to one of my favorite radio programs, NPR’s Science Friday, and we heard an interview with author Earl Swift, who wrote a book called “The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways.” Mr. Swift related the story read more.
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Clear or Cloudy? By Carla Surber, Treasurer, Greenville City Schools
Transparency is a word that I remember from a very young age.  I had a first grade teacher, who addressed the windows in our 1930's classroom as transparent (clear) and the door glass translucent or cloudy.  That stuck with me.  The door panes were cloudy and only let a shimmer of light through.  Only glimpses of what was there, but never read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge…. Obama’s Racial Detachment, Aloofness, and Stupidity, …Motivates Tragedies like Charleston, By Joe Facinoli - There has been Racial prejudice, misunderstanding, and hatred in this world, …ever since the first group of Primeval Cro-Magnon people, saw a second group of ancient primordials, who didn’t look nor act, …just exactly like they did. And maybe they hunted better, or had read more.
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State Senator Bill Beagle… A Special Father's Day for Ohio
I know a lot of men who have become fathers over the course of the last year and I can't help but be excited for them. I've had my turn with sleepless nights and ear infections with my three kids, so they can enjoy that part; still, there's nothing as rewarding or as hard as parenthood. What makes this Father's Day different from all the others is that some of these new fathers I know have read more.
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Taxing Times, By Kate Burch
Some years ago, Ohio instituted a sales tax, now 5.75%, on satellite TV services.  The cable TV providers successfully lobbied to avoid the tax, claiming that a sales tax, on top of “franchise fees” the cable companies were required to pay to the state, would put them at a competitive disadvantage.  The satellite companies have tried several times, unsuccessfully, to achieve equal read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy… The Budget Process Approaches the Finish Line
With the Senate wrapping up their work on the budget, we are now looking at the differences between their version and the House’s version. I’ve spent the last month meeting with over half of Ohio’s Senators to discuss the provisions in the budget that I feel are most important to helping Ohioan’s succeed. In each of those meetings, I was pleased to know that the public servants in the Senate were heading read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Summer Nutrition for children
An End to the School Year Doesn’t Have to Mean an End to Good Nutrition - For most Ohio children, the school year is ending and summer has begun. Summer ought to be a time for our kids to enjoy playing outside, reading for pleasure, and spending time with family. But for too many children, summer means an end to nutritious meals served in schools. More read more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… 34 Things I’ve Learned in 34 Years, By Aprill Brandon
My birthday is next week. Which means it’s that time again. Time to reflect on all the ways I’ve grown wiser. All the ways I’ve matured. All the ways I’ve perfected my spitball-throwing ability. And as such, here are the 34 things I’ve learned in 34 years… 1. There are a lot of horrible things that happen to people every day. The dude at Burger King forgetting your fries is not one of them read more.
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State Representative Buchy… The Horse Racing Industry is Growing in Ohio and Benefitting Local Agriculture -- Not long ago, the Horse Racing Industry was operating on small purses in Ohio.  With less prize money for winners, it was difficult to attract the best horses, leaving the sport and the agricultural industry that surrounds it struggling to remain afloat.  With little incentive to invest in Ohio’s racing industry, the best breeders and horses were leaving Ohio to race elsewhere.  This also meant read more.
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On the Other Side of the Edge…. It’s Time, and a No-Brainer, ….Legalize ALL Drugs, …and the Murders Go Away   (I’m Serious), By Joe Facinoli - It’s all about the Benjamins. Money, …is the Root of all Evil. Money, …sets the World in Motion. Money talks, …and B.S. walks. For the Love of  “…Money, Money, Money, …Mo—Ney, ...people will Steal from their Mother, …Rob their own Brother, …they will Lie, and they will Cheat, …and can’t even walk read more.
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Happy Anniversary, Mr. History, By Susan Olling
How dull/boring would our lives be without our spouses?   Our neighbors just celebrated what  I call a “speed limit” anniversary this year.  I think I can speak for Mrs. Neighbor in that life would be less exciting without our guys.  For example, Mr. Neighbor spent a day taking apart, in their basement, his Christmas present from his father-in-law: a chain saw.  When Mrs. Neighbor got home read more.
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Exploiting Human Weakness, By Kate Burch
Full disclosure:  I have never bought a lottery ticket; never gone to Vegas or even a casino; never bet on a horse at Keeneland when I have gone there to enjoy a day with friends or family.  That sort of risk-taking just does not appeal to me.  It is true that people from all walks of life and all income levels do engage in gambling, but it is far more costly and risks far more devastating consequences read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Helping Ohio Businesses Sell Their Products Around the World - Davenport Aviation is a small business in Columbus—an aircraft parts distributor that exports its products to Africa and South America. Its business has grown over the past four years with the help of the Export-Import Bank. Davenport Aviation is one of the 350 Ohio businesses that the Export-Import Bank has helped. This critical agency read more.
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The severance tax hike risks Ohio jobs and prosperity, By Joe Nichols
President Reagan once said, “[w]hen you put a big tax on something, the people will produce less of it.” The Ohio General Assembly should heed this wisdom as they debate whether increase the severance tax on shale oil and gas production. Of course, Ohioans should want more oil and gas wells, not less. However, the proposed tax increase creates incentives that will reduce future read more.
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Broke Wife, Big City… Fifty Shades of Grey’s Anatomy, By Aprill Brandon
I have to go to the lady parts doctor today. I know, I know. Ew. Gross. How dare I casually mention that I have a vagina! And on the Internet to boot, where children might see it! While on their way to whatever website 9-year-old’s are hanging out these days, which I’ll never find out because I am ancient! But just be glad you only have to read about it. I’m the one who actually read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… Rewarding American Companies that Support American Jobs
For too long, companies have benefitted from shipping American jobs and profits overseas. While these companies have profited, American workers have faced joblessness and a poor economy. We should be rewarding American companies that do the right thing by keeping jobs in America and providing fair wages and benefits to their employees. This week, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) read more.
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The White House… Check out the Hubble Photo
Hi, everyone -- I'm the President's Chief Science Advisor. And from time to time, I like to send quick, ad-hoc notes to White House staff on a variety of topics -- upcoming lunar eclipses, groundbreaking climate news, incredible photos from space. Things I've come across and found fascinating. Apparently, people really like them. So when a colleague recently suggested read more.
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown… How Trade is Like a Baseball Game
Folks in Washington like to make big promises when it comes to our trade deals. But for too long, we’ve seen nothing but bad results. We’ve seen what so-called free trade agreements have done to our workers and our communities over the past two decades. We’ve seen the factories close and the stores get boarded up. That’s why I voted against read more.
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From the Other Side of the Edge…. My Triple Crown “Legacy”, …is now Over, By Joe Facinoli
I was always a “rail-bird”, …from as early as I can remember.  Always loved the “ponies”, even when I was too young to sneak into a track anywhere, …muchless be allowed to bet on them.  Watched them on TV, talked about them, and read whatever I could, …all from a tender age. When I was 17, after I had finished an evening shift at the read more.
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Not Only Broken Windows, By Kate Burch
James Q. Wilson, who died in 2012, was one of America’s most consequential political scientists.  Among a number of positive contributions, he developed the “broken windows” theory of policing which was used to extremely positive effect by Rudolph Giuliani during his tenure as Mayor of New York.  The theory was that, if police diligently address minor infractions of the law, such as defacing read more.
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Commissioner’s Corner… Darke County… a great, economical place to live
With the end of May being rainy and cool, it may seem like summer will never get here. However, June is here now and hopefully the weather will be more like we expect with warmer temperatures and lots and lots of sunshine. While Memorial Day is the official start to summer, June is the month when all children are out of school, grilling out with friends, and summer read more.
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State Representative Jim Buchy… Why Western Ohio is the Best Place in the World
 I have always believed that Western Ohio is the best place to live, work and rear a family. As a son of Western Ohio, I have seen how our home has changed over the years while at the same time respecting its roots in agriculture and family life. While I have always believed it was the best place to live, we now have some proof thanks to a recent study conducted by Raj Chetty and Nathaniel Hendren read more.
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