Familiar story: On Tuesday, a 4-3 majority on the Ohio Supreme Court for the seventh time this year tossed a new political map drawn by Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission. As Andrew Tobias writes, this ruling is the second one rejecting Republicans’ new congressional map, which favors Republicans to win at least 10 of Ohio’s 15th congressional seats. What the court said is an unconstitutional map, nonetheless, is being used for this year’s elections, since the primary election already was held, and the court’s order at this point would apply to 2024.
Gay marriage: In a gesture aimed at blocking the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court from reversing its 2015 decision that legalized gay marriage, the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted largely on party lines to adopt legislation that would provide federal protections for same-sex marriages and require states to recognize them. Sabrina Eaton writes that Ohio’s Rep. Jim Jordan led Republican opposition to the legislation, arguing it’s unnecessary and that Democrats are promoting it to distract from their policy failures.
Nan’s plan: Nan Whaley, the Democratic candidate for governor, announced her green-energy plan on Tuesday. Her proposals include replacing all five sitting Public Utilities Commission of Ohio commissioners and setting higher ethical and vetting standards for their replacements, working to restore renewable energy standards that Republican lawmakers effectively gutted, repealing the coal plant subsidies from House Bill 6 and committing to make electricity for Ohio government buildings to come from 100% renewable sources by 2030. Read the full plan here.
Fair warning: Ohioans are now allowed to carry guns in public without a permit, including at the upcoming state fair, Statehouse News Bureau’s Karen Kasler reports. Those packing will be allowed to do so in the public, outdoor areas, though will be required to leave their gun in their car for indoor exhibits.
You be the judge: A lobbing group for Ohio’s court of common pleas judges does not want to release data from a proposed statewide sentencing database, saying it could lead to out-of-context stats and criticism of courts, Cory Shaffer reports. Critics, including some former judges, described the stance as ridiculous and a hindrance to progress in reforming the criminal justice system.
What a relief: When it comes to spending coronavirus relief cash, the city of Cleveland is taking a slower approach than its nearby counterparts, Lucas Daprile reports. The city has around $300 million in funds to spend of the $512 million it was awarded and plans to focus on longer term projects.
The unusual suspects: The list of applicants for sportsbook licenses in Northeast Ohio includes some familiar, if strange, names, Sean McDonnell reports. Among those is Bobby George, a Cleveland restaurateur and political donor, and Phantom Fireworks in Youngstown, which plans to build a sportsbook at the Covelli Centre.
Dave goes bye: Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters said at a Tuesday press conference that Republican Attorney General Dave Yost should resign after publicly questioning the account of a 10-year-old rape victim who had to travel across state lines to Indiana to get an abortion. A Yost spokeswoman told the Columbus Dispatch’s Laura Bischoff that the party was “resorting to throwing Hail Marys” because it had little faith in state Rep. Jeff Crossman, the Democratic nominee for the attorney general race.
Suit up: Dr. Caitlin Bernard, the Indiana OB-GYN who performed the abortion on the 10-year-old rape survivor from Ohio, is moving toward suing Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican for defamation, Politico’s Alice Miranda Ollstein reports. Rokita threatened to criminally prosecute Bernard for not reporting the abortion, even though she did.
Five things we learned from the March 31 financial disclosure form of state Rep. Brett Hillyer, a Tuscarawas County Republican.
1. Aside from his legislative salary of $77,615.74, Hillyer reported earning up to $999 as a partner at BSC Land & Energy and interest from a First National Bank of Dennison savings account, $1,000 to $9,999 in dividends from an Investment Partners brokerage account and Clay City Pipe and legal work for the villages of Roswell and Freeport, and $50,000 to $99,999 as an attorney at Connolly Hillyer & Ong.
2. Hillyer’s investments included several 529 plans with Vanguard, 401K mutual funds through MFS International, Cohen & Steer, Victory Sycamore, American Funds, and JP Morgan, a retirement fund through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, a Lincoln Whole Life Plan insurance policy, an American Insurance policy, a Delaware Small Cap A mutual fund, a Pioneer Bond A mutual fund, and common stock in McDonald’s, BP, First National Bak of Dennison, Clay City Pipe, The Bank of Montreal and Energy Transfer.
3. At some point in 2021, Hillyer owed more than $1,000 to Sallie Mae and Huntington.
4. The Ohio House of Representatives reimbursed Hillyer $3,816.12 in mileage. The Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee gave him another $271.44 in travel expenses.
5. Ducks Unlimited and William Armbruster gave Hillyer gifts worth more than $75.
The Fraternal Order of Police has issued its endorsement in Ohio’s executive, statewide races. They are: Gov. Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Auditor Keith Faber and Scott Schertzer for treasurer. They also endorsed Republican Justices Sharon Kennedy, Pat DeWine and Pat Fischer for the Ohio Supreme Court. And, the FOP endorsed J.D. Vance for U.S. Senate.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce announced its endorsement of 17 candidates for the Aug. 2 primary. They will not carry over until the general election. In the House:
- Representative Dontavius Jarrells (D) – OH-1
- Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D) – OH-16
- Lindsay Cole (R) – OH-27
- Chris Monzel (R) – OH-28
- Representative Bill Seitz (R) – OH-30
- Adam Mathews (R) – OH-56
- Representative Mark Fraizer (R) – OH-68
- Representative Brian Lampton (R) – OH-70
- Representative Susan Manchester (R) – OH-78
- Roy Klopfenstein (R) – OH-82
- Ted Penner (R)– OH-82
- Jacob Larger (R) – OH-84
- Representative Brian Baldridge (R) – OH-90
- Representative Darrell Kick (R) – OH-98
In the Senate:
- Senator Nathan Manning (R) – OH-13
- Representative Shane Wilkin (R) – OH-17
- John Barnes (D) – OH-21
State Rep. Al Cutrona
Rea Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy, The Buckeye Institute
Ursel McElroy, Ohio Department of Aging director
“I heard from many constituents in my district who had extenuating, nuanced circumstances, and I don’t think government can possibly know all of the different reasons that someone would have to seek treatment or seek the termination of a pregnancy.”
-State Sen. Stephanie Kunze, a Hilliard Republican, quoted in the Columbus Dispatch about the nearly total abortion ban her party will push in the fall, which will likely have few carveouts. Kunze was one of the few Republicans to vote against the six-week abortion ban in 2018.
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