General Assembly

Two releases from the Ohio House of Representatives tonight:
Armond Budish Elected as Next Speaker of the House
Szollosi, Garrison, Heard, Goyal, Sayre Round Out New Majority Leadership Team

This in via email from the office of State Senator Mark Wagoner:
Wagoner Selected to Serve as New Majority Whip by Ohio Senate Republican Caucus in the 128th General Assembly

I received emails from the offices of Representative Peter Ujvagi and Senator Mark Wagoner today on the approval from the State Controlling Board. Rep. Ujvagi’s came in first so it is listed first, Senator Wagoner’s follows, while each contains information related to HRC Manor Care, each shares a different second local business. The decision to combine was based on the fact that both releases relate to funds from the State Controlling Board.
Rep. Ujvagi Announces State Approval of Job-Creating Support

This in via email from the office of State Representative Peter Ujvagi:
Rep. Ujvagi Announces State Grant for Port of Toledo
$5 Million for Dredging to Make Port the Largest on the Great Lakes
COLUMBUS – State Representative Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo) today announced the Port of Toledo will receive a $5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development.

What’s most surprising is that no one has mentioned this until now, Higher truck fees threaten Toledo port:
ODOT - seeing its gasoline tax revenues declining dramatically as people travel less and drive more fuel-efficient vehicles - has set its sights on large trucks to make up part of the shortfall.

This in via email:

Women Legislators Group Names Rep. Brown Ohio State Director
Organization Promotes Causes of Women, Children, Families
COLUMBUS – The Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) today announced the appointment of State Representative Edna Brown (D-Toledo) as State Director for Ohio.

Tom Troy could have extended his label of Most incumbents in region facing token opposition to more than Kaptur, Latta and Jordan, which makes for an election season here that’s been unlike any other that I’ve covered since the blog began.

This in via email from the Darlene Dunn for District 46 Campaign:
STATE HOUSE CANDIDATE DARLENE DUNN AND GOVERNOR TED STRICKLAND KNOCK ON DOORS IN THE VILLAGE OF HOLLAND
Volunteers and Voters Energized by Candidate and Governor’s Visit

The following post was written as a guest post for us by District 11 State Senator Teresa Fedor:
After months of partisan lawsuits and years of nasty attacks on Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, the Ohio Republican Party has finally tipped their hand. Ohio Republicans are trying to destroy our election system just to win an election.
In fact, the Ohio Republican Party has declared war on Ohio’s bipartisan voting processes.

It’s part of a larger piece on the Democratic plan to try to win a majority in the Ohio House, but some of the coverage in the Blade focuses on the Sears versus Dunn match up:

This in via email from the Dunn for State Representative campaign:
It’s A Dunn Deal Jazz Night!
Special Guests Include:
Joyce Beatty, House Minority Leader, District 27
Edna Brown, State Representative, District 48
Peter Ujvagi, State Representative, District 47
Matt Szollosi, State Representative, District 49
(more…)

This in via email from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Takes Action to Preserve Balanced Budget As National Economy Continues to Negatively Impact Ohio
Columbus, Ohio – As the national economic slowdown continues to deprive Ohio of expected revenues, Governor Ted Strickland today ordered $540 million in budget adjustments in order to make sure Ohio’s budget remains in balance.

There’s been a lot of discussion about the whole five day window when people can register to vote and vote absentee, which becomes even more complicated here in Lucas County since they are moving early voting to a different location. It’s actually a seven day window here in Lucas County and other places that are offering voting on the weekend.

Back in March during the primary season, it was discovered there was a calendar error made by the General Assembly so that anyone who had problems with their candidate petitions could not run as a write in candidate. The deadline for write in candidates ended before the deadline for candidate petitions. There was no huge fuss, though it affected a few of us. Now? There is a five day over-lap between the date where voter registration ends and absentee ballots can be done in person.

Okay, technically not Toledo since the Corn Hole Tournament was in Rossford at the IBEW Union Hall, but today was Governor Strickland’s Toledo Division of the Corn Hole Tournament.

This in via email from the office of Rep. Ujvagi:
Representative Peter Ujvagi Announces Funds for University of Toledo Projects
$2.6 Million in State Dollars to Help with Campus Building Renovations

The end to at least parts of the smoking ban still exists as a possibility thanks to two pieces of legislation before the General Assembly.
One:
The Ohio Senate version - which would allow smoking in family-owned businesses, private clubs that are nonprofit, and all outdoor patios.
Two:

Are some elected officials taking advantage of the “perks” of office? That seems to be one of the questions being asked in the aftermath of the John Widowfield story. Ben Keeler at The Point has the story and for even more information, there are a series of articles at the Akron Beacon Journal that take an in depth look.

This in via email from the office of Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner:
Wagoner Announces Funding for Small Business Incubators
Columbus – In an effort to provide continued support for small, start-up businesses, State Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved the release of $1 million in Thomas Edison Program grants for two Lucas County partnerships working to assist in the development of new small business ventures.
(more…)

The Great Lakes Water Accord hasn’t exactly gotten much attention recently, which it should have given that it was finally ratified by the General Assembly in Ohio a few days ago. I recommend reading Tom Henry’s piece in today’s Blade Great Lakes accord must still navigate rough waters as he asks not only why did it take so long but points out some of the hurdles yet to come before the Accord can become a reality.

The Ohio blogosphere and our effort to point out concerns with HB 477 has been noticed by Time Magazine. Jill did the bulk of the work getting all of this organized and getting it out there so it’s nice to see her get some national recognition.

Az utolsó hét folyamán nem voltam képes, hogy még egyet is kormánynak találjak entitás vagy ügynökség az az angolnál a közokiratát, tetteket vagy eljárásokat tart fenn bármilyen másik nyelvben.
Ennek a törvényhozásnak a szponzorai és proponensei örömet tudnak okozni választ ad erre:
Ha van egy közelg? nyelvi válság Ohióban, hol van ez?

This in via email from the office of Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner:
Wagoner Introduces Bill to Require Safety Belts on All Ohio College and University buses
Bluffton University baseball team tragedy serves as catalyst for legislation

Supposedly the concept is that this is not an “English only” bill but that it is an “English is not an optional language” bill, however it’s interesting that this has been tried before and is supported by some in Ohio like Rick Jones, that was brought up in the post below on SB260. The reality is it places an additional paperwork requirement on any government entity in Ohio if they provide any services in a language other than English. They have to list separately any services given in a different language and how much they spent on that.

I received this in via email this morning from the office of Ohio Senator Teresa Fedor, it is a copy of the statement read at the Press Conference yesterday held by the Mayor and Baldemar Velasquez.
Statement on Senate Bill 260:
Thank you for the opportunity to join you in your efforts to stand together in opposition to Senate Bill 260.