AKRON — “The Plain Dealer series, “Payrolls and Politics,” outlined the practice by then-Recorder Patrick O’Malley and then-Auditor Frank Russo of giving jobs to people with personal or political connections. The paper found that patronage did more than just fill jobs in the county offices: it fueled the officeholders’ political power…

‘The newspaper laid out all the dots — the cronyism, the nepotism, the pay-to-play style of government. The court case is connecting those dots and showing just how bad things really were,’ Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a state watchdog group, said Thursday.

‘They were worried about The PD and how they’d look in the newspaper when they should have been worried that they were breaking the law,’ Turcer said.” John Caniglia, The Plain Dealer.

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Gerald McFaul, above, was the longest-serving sheriff in Cuyahoga County history, but in 2010 he was sentenced to a year of house arrest for felony charges of theft in office.

COLUMBUS — “The Ohio Elections Commission once again has pushed back its hearing on former Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul’s use of campaign funds in 2010 to pay $130,000 in court-ordered restitution.

The commission has rescheduled the hearing for Feb. 16 – more than one year after it first notified McFaul it would investigate alleged violations of Ohio campaign finance laws.

The hearing has been delayed in the past due to scheduling conflicts and negligence.” Joe Guillen, The Plain Dealer.

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Senate leader scolds Husted; discussions ongoing

COLUMBUS — “Husted told the Ohio Association of Election Officials’ winter conference on Wednesday that a campaign to defend or oppose the new election law would confuse voters by operating the election under one set of laws, while publicly debating a different set. He also questioned whether it was worth spending $1 million on the referendum.

The call for repeal apparently surprised Niehaus. He said his members have been looking into what pieces of House Bill 194 could be brought back in the areas of early voting, polling-place operations and the petition process, possibly in time for the November election….

Husted had advocated for certain components of the bill. He said yesterday that he has talked to a number of senators and thought both legislative chambers were aware of the repeal idea.” Jim Siegel, The Columbus Dispatch.

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What is the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission?

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission is chaired by Speaker Bill Batchelder and Representative Vern Sykes. The first 12 members of a new Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission have been named — six Republican and six Democratic lawmakers. Those members are now in search of 20 more people from the general public to study the state constitution.  The Constitutional Modernization Commission will propose changes to the legislature.  These changes will ultimately go before the voters.

The process is expected to take several years and several election cycles as proposed changes are considered and best systemic changes identified.

Among the issues that could be on the table are legislative term limits, the highly partisan processes used to redraw congressional and legislative districts or redistricting local home-rule powers.

Why should I care?

  • “Controversial topics that could be debated include changing how congressional districts are drawn and how initiatives make the statewide ballot. Term limits, judicial elections, taxes, school funding and a host of other issues also could be reviewed.”
    • “The last time Ohio took a thorough look at its founding document was in the 1970s…. Many proposals died in the legislature, but voters ultimately approved 15 constitutional amendments originating from the panel’s work.”

How can I get involved?

  • 20 Ohioans will be selected in mid-February to join 6 Republicans and 6 Democrats from the Ohio Legislature.
  • To be considered you must submit a cover letter and resume to both of the offices below, before February 1st, 2012:
    • Speaker William G. Batchelder
      77 S. High Street
      14th Floor
      Columbus, OH 43215
    • State Rep. Vernon Sykes
      77 S. High Street
      10th Floor
      Columbus, OH 43215

What should I write?

Sample cover letter:

Honorable [Speaker William G. Batchelder / State Rep. Vernon Sykes],

(introduction)

I am a life-long Ohio resident that cares deeply about the continued fair governance of our state. Therefore, I was pleased to hear that you are soliciting citizen members for the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Committee. I would like to submit my name consideration.

(brief description of educational/professional credentials and how it relates)

After finishing my dissertation at Ohio State, I spent 15 years teaching government at a community college. Over the years, they’ve taught me how to civilly discuss sometimes contentious issues with people with varying points of view. I’d like to bring this skill and my dedication for good governance to the committee.

(personal/volunteer, if it relates/restatement of interest)

Having served on my neighborhood association board for the past ten years, I am very comfortable with the time commitment potentially required by joining this commission. I am committed to improving Ohio and hope that you consider me for a position on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Committee. Please see my resume, which is included, for further information about my qualifications or contact me directly at the phone number below.

Sincerely,

name/full contact info

What else should I know?

The Commission members serve two year terms, to which they may be re-appointed.  The Constitution Modernization Commission will last for ten years and will dissolve once its work is complete, on or before July 1, 2021.

 

Sources:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/29/state-constitutional-panel-is-forming.html

http://ohiohousedems.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/rep-sykes-selected-co-chair-of-ohio-constitutional-modernization-commission/

COLUMBUS — “Secretary of State Jon Husted is calling on Republican lawmakers to repeal the controversial elections bill they passed last year and head off a referendum that would coincide with the 2012 presidential election.

Husted, a Republican, said a campaign to defend or oppose House Bill 194, which would shorten early voting periods and reduce in-person voting opportunities, would “be confusing.”

The first-term elections chief is calling on the GOP-controlled legislature to repeal the bill in time to cancel the Democrat-led referendum this fall — Ohio’s second referendum on a Republican law in as many years — and replace it with new legislation after the Nov. 6 election.” Joe Vardon, The Columbus Dispatch.

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CINCINNATI — “Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls has scheduled two Budget and Finance Committee public hearings on the city’s plan to form community buying groups for electricity and natural gas.  The committee will hold an evening hearing on Monday, January 30 at 6 p.m., and a second hearing at its regular meeting the next Monday, February 6 at 1 p.m.  Both hearings will take place in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Downtown….

Last Election Day, Cincinnati voters overwhelmingly approved Issues 44 and 45, authorizing the city to negotiate group buying rates for electricity and natural gas. Qualls sponsored the ordinances to put the measures on the ballot.

More than 300 communities across Ohio have saved hundreds of millions of dollars on their electric bills since Ohio made this innovative tool — known as aggregation — available to communities in 2000. Aggregation has proven to be an effective way for residential and small business utility customers to save money.  According to a report last fall by Ohio Citizen Action, electric rates negotiated by other buying groups in the area ranged from 2 to 3 ½ cents per kilowatt-hour less than Duke’s generation rate, or “price to compare.’” Richard Todd, Fox19.

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By printing material in-house, the Franklin County office expects to save $1.3M through presidential-election cycle

COLUMBUS — “The Franklin County Board of Elections is saving taxpayers $1.3 million this presidential cycle compared with the 2008 election by changing how it prints absentee ballots.

The county’s purchasing director, Karl Kuespert, suggested that printing operations be brought in-house, which since 2010 has slashed costs by 66 percent from what the board paid a private vendor in 2008. The county now pays 12.5 cents per page.

The elections board budget, which increases during presidential-election cycles because of increased voter participation, was reduced from $12.7 million in 2008 to $11.4 million this year.” Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch.

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If you are not registered to vote, you can complete and print a registration form here.

The form can be submitted in one of two ways:

  • It can be mailed to your local board of elections, or the Ohio Secretary of State. Remember, the form must be postmarked by February 6.
  • You can visit your local board of elections, BMV, public high school or public library to obtain, complete and submit a form. If you fill out a form in person at any of these locations, be sure to ask that your form be date stamped.

WASHINGTON DC — “On Jan. 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in its Citizens United decision that corporations are free to spend unlimited sums of money in elections. According to opinion polling released by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority, two-thirds of small business owners see this decision as bad for small business. The poll also shows small business owners overwhelmingly believe corporations have been given too much freedom to spend money that directly influences political campaigns.

Small business owners have a negative view of the role money plays in politics overall: 88% of respondents view the role money plays in politics negatively; 68% view it very negatively.

Main Findings
(Download report)

COLUMBUS — “The list of priority legislation for House Republicans this year did not include an effort to revamp Ohio’s hyper-partisan process for drawing legislative and congressional districts.

“Interesting,” Speaker William G. Batchelder said with a laugh when reminded that the issue was not among those discussed during a press conference yesterday to highlight past accomplishments and what leaders hope to tackle in 2012. “That was all the newspapers could talk about for awhile there.”

As part of the congressional map deal passed in December, a new legislative task force was created to examine an alternative way of drawing district lines, and a recommendation is due by the end of June.” Jim Siegel, The Columbus Dispatch.

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COLUMBUS — “Ohio Democratic Party Chief Chris Redfern is calling for Inspector General Randall Meyer to step down amid reports that Meyer headlined a Republican fundraiser over the weekend….

Catherine Turcer, legislative director with Ohio Citizen Action, a citizen watchdog group, said Meyer’s appearance the fundraiser was a bad idea.

‘The problem is we need an inspector general who is able to keep an eye on all the people in government and to not get too close or cozy with any individuals or political parties,’ she said. ‘It’s a real fine line. He should be out in the public talking to people, but nothing so closely associated with a party as headlining a fundraiser.’” Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer.

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COLUMBUS — “U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich threatened to challenge a black incumbent in a minority district if a new congressional map wasn’t drawn to his liking, the head of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus said Tuesday.

Kucinich, who is white, ultimately chose not to wage a Democratic primary battle with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. He denied the accusation from State Rep. Sandra Williams….

Slow population growth cost Ohio two of its 18 seats in last year’s reconfiguration of congressional districts. The GOP-drawn map consolidates the respective turf of Kucinich and Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat, into one district along the Lake Erie shoreline.” Henry Gomez, The Plain Dealer.

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COLUMBUS — “Although lawmakers agreed last month on a bill that carves out 16 new congressional district maps, the arguing over how Ohio should draw legislative and congressional maps is not dying down.

[Last] week, Secretary of State Jon Husted, a Republican who has been pushing for reform for seven years, urged House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, to consider revamping the process as part of an overall update of the Ohio Constitution.

‘There are many ways to improve upon the partisan, dysfunctional system that currently exists,’ Husted wrote to Batchelder and members of the Constitutional Modernization Commission. ‘In my view, we need to find the right balance between three important virtues: compactness, competitiveness and maintaining communities of interest.’” Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.

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NEW YORK — “The issues arise in the wake of the Supreme Court‘s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Communications Commission which declared unconstitutional the provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) that had prohibited corporations and unions from paying directly for ads even if those ads were made independently of a candidate’s campaign.

Prior to Citizens United, most major corporations participated in campaign finance through employee funded Political Action Committees (PACs) which are legally authorized to make direct contributions to candidates under strict limits (e.g. $5,000 per election). Now, in addition to such limited employee PAC contributions, corporations can use unlimited company funds for either (a) “independent expenditures” which support or oppose a particular candidate, or (b) “electioneering communications” which may mention a candidate favorably or unfavorably in a discussion of campaign issues but which do not expressly advocate election or defeat.

This power in corporations (and unions) to make unlimited expenditures independent of campaigns has spawned a robust ideological debate: does it constitute freedom of speech and advocacy, or does it distort the American political culture and invite corruption. But underneath the contentious issues of corporate free speech lie equally fundamental questions for each company about its positions on first order public policy issues which affect the strength of American society and the American economy.” Ben W. Heineman Jr., Bloomberg News.

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How primaries, caucuses, super delegates and more work in United States Primary Elections.

AKRON — “The bitter confrontation over new congressional districts remains fresh in the minds of state lawmakers. Meanwhile, Democrats still are fighting new Ohio House and Senate districts, hoping the Ohio Supreme Court will redraw them even as a March 6 primary approaches.

All that, and the distance until the next round of redistricting after the next census, means it is a good time to think again about reforming the hyperpartisan ways Ohio redraws political boundaries. Figuring out who will control the legislature (which redraws congressional lines) and the apportionment board (the statewide officeholders who control legislative lines) in 2021 is beyond even the most sophisticated forecasting.

A group of four legislators, among them two from the Akron area, is making a solid start on improving the process for reshaping congressional and legislative districts. In the Senate, Frank LaRose, a Copley Township Republican, has teamed with Tom Sawyer, an Akron Democrat. They have been joined by House members Mike Duffey, a Worthington Republican, and Ted Celeste, a Grandview Heights Democrat.” Akron Beacon Journal.

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COLUMBUS — “Ohio House Republicans have asked the state’s attorney general and auditor to review legal fees billed to taxpayers by Democrats as part of a lawsuit brought on behalf of private citizens over newly drawn state legislative districts….

Democrats filed the lawsuit over the Republican-drawn legislative lines last week with the Ohio Supreme Court on behalf of three dozen affected Ohioans. They claim GOP state leaders who controlled the mapmaking process violated provisions of the state constitution that prohibit political maps from unnecessarily splitting communities between districts….

Catherine Turcer said it highlights the need to rethink how lines are drawn.

“Why leave this in the hands of people who have such a conflict of interest?” said Turcer, a co-founder of the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting and director of the Money in Politics project that researches contributions to Ohio’s statewide and legislative candidates.” Ann Sanner, Associated Press.

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TOLEDO –  “Ohio Democrats are suing to block the Republican-imposed gerrymander of the state’s legislative districts — the basis of voters’ political representation in Columbus. The lawsuit would seem to have little chance of success, because the primary election is less than two months away and the plaintiffs must persuade a state Supreme Court that is six-sevenths Republican to order a new plan.

Still, the suit’s argument is correct: The Republican officials who drew the new boundaries of state House and Senate districts made an almost exclusive priority of keeping and enhancing GOP control of the General Assembly for the next decade. They largely ignored such vital political values as creating compact and contiguous districts that cross county and municipal lines as little as possible, promoting partisan competition, and running a transparent process.

It’s probably too late now to change the legislative maps, or the equally outrageous new reapportionment plan for Ohio’s U.S. House districts. But it’s not too early for Ohioans who want fair and effective political representation to take the line-drawing process out of the hands of either party and assign it to an independent, nonpartisan body.” Toledo Blade.

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NEW YORK — “In 2011, a sudden wave of state-level voter restrictions in Republican-controlled states has swept the nation, just in time for the 2012 election, with 19 new laws and two executive actions on the books. Some of these laws reduced or eliminated early voting, while others did away with weekend voting and same-day registration. All 50 states require voters to prove their identification at the polls, but 17 states have pending or approved law mandating government-sponsored IDs in order to vote, despite the fact that approximately 11% of citizens don’t have such IDs (for various reasons). For some Americans, even those with ample resources, getting an ID can be quite a challenge (even for nuns!).

The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that 5 million eligible voters face disenfranchisement from these new voter ID laws.

Voter ID laws disproportionately affect Black AmericansLatino/a voters, U.S. citizens who were born in other countrieselderly peoplepeople with disabilitiestransgendered people, and students — all of whom are less likely to have the required ID for different reasons. A 2006 Brennan Center study finds that 25% of Black , 16% percent of Latino/s, and 18% percent of elderly Americans lack the necessary ID. Some on the left have accurately likened these new laws to Jim Crow Era poll taxes because the expense involved in obtaining an ID place a disproportionate burden on many groups that have been historically disenfranchised.” Caroline Heldman, The Society Pages.

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