Commentary
Ohio Republican attack on higher ed will devastate our widely respected colleges and universities
Bad news, Buckeyes. Ohio has officially gone down the Florida rabbit hole on Ohio State University and every other public college and university in the state. The new abnormal of legislative extremism in Columbus hit a whole new level of atrocious last week with passage of a bill “to rescue higher education in Ohio from […]
Electricity rate hikes show why community aggregation programs must make responsible reforms
The Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) recently faced significant backlash after blindsiding more than 550,000 customers with soaring electricity rates. The increase, which saw bills skyrocket by over 65%, caught communities off-guard and left residents with more questions than answers. As NOPEC returns to the electricity aggregation business, it must take a hard look […]
Making ethnic studies illegal in Ohio: Even watered down, SB 83 requires teaching racism
In 2006, I was hired by the state of Ohio to teach ethnic studies. Among the core concepts of this field that I was expected to impart to my students were the ideas that apparent human differences are more historical and cultural than natural, that what we call “race” is our own invention, and a […]
Gerrymandered Ohio Statehouse gives voters no recourse through initiated statute, only constitution
In order to understand the bad faith of the Republican arguments for attacking Ohio voters and asking us to enshrine 41% minority rule over our Ohio Constitution, voters need to understand the power dynamics at play when it comes to initiated statutes versus amendments to the Ohio Constitution. In Ohio, citizens have two options for […]
Ohio House lawmakers proposing extremist right-wing rewrite of state social studies curriculum
Ohio’s legislative majority continues its dishonest attacks on democracy in the Buckeye State. House Bill 103 is a shameful attempt to micromanage Ohio K-12 educational curriculum based on ideology that is rooted in the politically motivated culture wars. HB 103 seeks to replace curriculum created in Ohio, for Ohio’s schools and students, with “American Birthright” […]
Save the date: Ohio’s Aug. 8 election puts nearly 175 years of majority voter authority on the line
Save the date. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Put it in your phone. Circle it on your calendar. Tack it to your fridge. Make sure everyone you know does the same. It’s an election day you can’t miss — if a lawsuit before the Ohio Supreme Court doesn’t stop it first as an illegal maneuver by […]
Health inequity alive and well in Ohio
Last month, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio released its annual Health Value Dashboard, its marquee report analyzing health outcomes and cost of healthcare in the state of Ohio. This year, the report had a special focus on health equity. This section covers both the progress the state has made on the health equity front […]
A lesson for Ohio from Donald Trump: Fill the void to protect against anti-speech lawsuits
“Trump litigation” has long been plural, and it’s tough to keep track. The May 9 jury verdict that Donald Trump abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll is more than a historic #metoo moment. As we process this front page news, let’s not overlook the outcome of yet another Trump lawsuit that highlights the importance […]
Gerrymandered Ohio GOP lawmakers launch tyrannical assault on 170 years of majority voter authority
The unconstitutionally gerrymandered extremist Republican supermajority in the Ohio House on Wednesday voted to be the first legislature in Ohio history to try to roll back the constitutional power of Ohio voters. Dripping with deceit and condescension, they say they want to hurt voters’ ability to pass constitutional amendments in order to protect the Ohio […]
Let’s make Ohio work for working-class families
Every family in Ohio should be able to put food on the table and have a roof over their heads. But today, too many children go to bed hungry and too many working people are underpaid. Over the last two decades, corporate-backed politicians have prioritized tax giveaways to the wealthiest Ohioans over the economic security […]
Ohio needs more action than lowered flags in gun tragedies
“In remembrance of the victims.” That’s the template phrase routinely inserted in statements from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine whenever he orders flags flown at half-staff after a mass shooting. He did the same Sunday after the latest slaughter in Texas over the weekend – the second deadliest shooting in a year already filled with victims […]
Will Ohio legalize recreational cannabis?
A group called the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol is currently collecting signatures to legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, testing and sale of cannabis to Ohioans age 21 and up via a ballot initiative later this year. The argument that cannabis should be treated the same as alcohol is a common one in legalization circles. […]