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Former Ohio Treasurer Boyce taking Weddington’s seat
Democrats in the Ohio House of Representatives have appointed a replacement for former state Rep. Carlton Weddington, who resigned this year after he was indicted on allegations that he took bribes.
Former state Treasurer Kevin Boyce, who was working as managing director at Rice Financial, will fill the 27th Ohio House district seat, according to a press release. Boyce, who was state treasurer from 2009 to 2011, spent eight years as a Columbus City Council member.
“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to return to public life and I’m honored to represent my community in the Ohio House,” Boyce said in a release. “This is a critical moment for working and middle class families in the 27th House District.”
Boyce was knocked out of his state post by Josh Mandel, a Republican now running for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s seat, in November 2010 when several Democrats were swept out of the state’s top offices.
He replaces Weddington, who was indicted in March on allegations that he took bribes, including trips to Miami and Napa Valley, Calif. He’ll be sworn in Wednesday.
Article from Business First Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 1:46pm EDT
Ohio House votes to repeal controversial election law
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio lawmakers on Tuesday repealed a controversial election bill that was supposed to go before voters on Nov. 6 — the first known case in Ohio history in which legislators repealed a bill up for referendum.
Outnumbered Democrats unanimously opposed the repeal of House Bill 194, a GOP-backed election law passed last year that restricts early voting and makes several other changes. They said it subverts Ohio citizens’ constitutional right to referendum.
To read the entire article go to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
Congress passed, and the President has signed into law, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. Included in this new law is the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans. The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012.
The VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
- Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
- Are unemployed
- Received an other than dishonorable discharge
- Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
- Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
- Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
The program is limited to 45,000 participants from July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012, and 54,000 participants from October 1, 2012, through March 31, 2014. Participants mayl receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates upon completion of the program.
Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.
For more information about the program go to United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
House Republicans postpone expected vote on legislation to repeal Ohio elections law scheduled for a referendum
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday night unexpectedly postponed a floor vote on legislation to repeal a controversial elections bill that is up for a referendum this fall.
Majority Republicans were poised to pass legislation to repeal the elections bill known as House Bill 194, despite objections from Democrats who said the repeal would trample on citizens’ right to referendum.
To read the entire article go to the Cleveland.com.
State’s not willing to stop oil & gas over-reaching
Can anyone name for me another type of industry besides oil and gas that gets so many special deals and privileges from the state of Ohio?
As a consequence of various sweetheart arrangements with the state Legislature and administrative or regulatory agencies, Ohio’s oil and gas industry has the sort of carte blanche that’s unheard of when it comes to other industry or public sectors.
To read the entire article go to The Athens News.
Ohio Senate votes to repeal election law
The Ohio Senate today approved a repeal of House Bill 194, the election law overhaul passed last year that Democrats and progressive groups are challenging on the November ballot.
Democrats objected to the repeal after unsuccessfully trying to amend the bill so that in-person early voting could still take place on the weekend and Monday prior to Election Day. Democrats and some voter-rights groups have argued that voting should be allowed in the days leading up to the election because that is the law that was in place prior to the passage of House Bill 194.
But Republicans passed a similar early-voting provision in a separate bill, House Bill 224, last year after passing House Bill 194. They have argued that even if House Bill 194 were repealed by voters in November, early voting would still be banned on those three days before the election.
Read the entire article at the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio lawmakers pass bill requiring students to learn historical documents
COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Legislature has cleared a bill that would require students in grades 4-12 be taught the original texts of the state and U.S. constitutions, the Declaration of Independence and other documents.
The House voted 63-29 on Wednesday, while the Senate passed it on a 32-1 vote. It now goes before Gov. John Kasich.
To read the entire article about this Republican bill go to the Newark Advocate.
Argument preferred form of combat for Democrat Jim Reese
COLUMBUS — There was one more speaker waiting his turn at a February congressional forum in Newark when the crowd began to leave.
The event was sponsored by the Licking County Tea Party in a Republican county, with two GOP contenders debating first.
Disheartened, Democrat Jim Reese, of Gahanna, took the stage alone. His primary opponent was a no-show.
He opened in front of the smaller crowd with his platform — how he opposes the bank bailout and supports the federal health care bill. Then the questions started. He clearly engaged the audience, although questioners didn’t agree with him.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” Reese said. “I’m a litigator. The back and forth with someone with a different opinion is what I do for a living, but to do it on a level where we’re discussing the betterment of America was fantastic, and I enjoyed it greatly.”
To read the entire article go to the Newark Advocate.