bill johnson
Dozens of GOP lawmakers to reject certifying Biden as president
WASHINGTON — The final step in a turmoil-filled 2020 presidential election is set for Wednesday, when Congress will certify election results showing that Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump. But a series of objections from GOP legislators is expected to stretch that routine process into a much lengthier one — and one that is dividing […]
Ohio Electoral College casts ballots for Trump as Biden secures presidential win
Ohio officially cast its 18 electoral votes to President Trump yesterday with the 55th Electoral College meeting at the Ohio Statehouse. The Columbus proceedings were largely perfunctory and were part of a nationwide casting of electoral ballots on Monday, with presidential-elect Joe Biden receiving the most ballots as was expected. Ohio’s meeting was also drama-free […]
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas suit that tried to overturn election results
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday turned aside a Texas lawsuit that sought to derail the presidential election results from four battleground states, despite pressure on the justices from President Donald Trump on social media. “Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections,” according […]
More than half of U.S. House Republicans back Texas suit claiming election ‘irregularities’
WASHINGTON — More than 100 U.S. House Republicans on Thursday backed a long-shot Texas lawsuit that seeks to delay the certification of presidential election results for Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, battleground states that President-elect Joe Biden won. In asking to join the suit filed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson led 105 of his Republican […]
All Ohio U.S. Congressional incumbents win reelection, Associated Press projects
All of Ohio’s U.S. Congressional district incumbents both Republican and Democratic have won reelection according to projections from the Associated Press based on unofficial results. The AP has called the races in favor of incumbent Democratic U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty, Marcy Kaptur, Marcia Fudge, and Tim Ryan, as well as Republican incumbents Steve Chabot, Troy […]
Civic society suffers when one party bypasses the public
What would you think about a candidate for public office who thought so little of the democratic process that he or she refused to respond to a nonpartisan voter survey, or ignored invitations to participate in a public candidate forum, with both programs hosted by a respected good-government group? This election cycle in Ohio, many […]
House passes bipartisan public lands bill; next stop president’s desk
WASHINGTON — Major environmental legislation sailed through Congress Wednesday while the nation’s political leaders were stuck in intense negotiations over the contours of a fifth coronavirus relief package. The bill would provide $9.5 billion over five years to pay down the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog and provide permanent funding at $900 million per year […]
House Dems pass massive infrastructure bill; Ohio GOP reps call it ‘not serious’ and a ‘partisan game’
When U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, a Republican from southeast Ohio, talks about the infrastructure needs of his district, he talks about how crucial better internet connections are for students, patients and entrepreneurs. He says Appalachia’s roads and bridges are too often neglected by state and federal officials who decide where to spend money for repairs. […]
Will Congress send aid to ailing local news outlets?
WASHINGTON — Politicians are banding together to try to rescue local news media from economic collapse during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that Democratic leaders in Congress are pushing to fix a small business lending program so that it applies to local news publishers and broadcasters affiliated with larger organizations. […]
‘Ambulances leaving at all hours’ from Ohio federal prison, a COVID-19 hotbed
Craig Wilson, 42, is about halfway through a 10-year prison sentence for possession of methamphetamine and a firearm. He’s afraid he won’t survive until early 2026, when he’s slated for release. “I feel like I’ve been handed a death sentence,” Wilson said in a recent court filing. He’s one of about 2,400 inmates currently incarcerated […]
Can Ohio’s divided congressional delegation find common ground on coronavirus?
WASHINGTON — How much paid leave are Ohio employers required to provide under new federal law? Will they be reimbursed? What benefits will workers get if they aren’t eligible for paid sick leave? How do restaurant and bar owners get in on the state’s liquor buyback program? Ohio U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-6th) answers these […]
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan takes workhorse-showhorse divide to extremes
WASHINGTON — One of the most influential members of Congress — and most ardent defenders of President Donald Trump — is also one of the least active legislatively. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan — the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the upper chamber’s main investigative arm — didn’t introduce any bills […]