paul zeltwanger
Householder left off legislative committees as new term gets in full swing
What to know as the 134th Ohio General Assembly’s legislative work ramps up When the Ohio House of Representatives’ Republican Caucus recently announced its committee assignments, one members’ name was noticeably absent: the former House speaker who is on trial for public corruption. Rep. Larry Householder is serving his third term in the 72nd District, […]
Becker files articles of impeachment against DeWine for COVID-19 response
When state Rep. John Becker’s summer plan to impeach Gov. Mike DeWine received quick endorsements from three legislative colleagues, he hoped the momentum would snowball throughout the end of 2020. That did not happen. In social media posts and Statehouse speeches, Republican lawmakers have criticized the governor’s handling of COVID-19. They’ve complained about a lack […]
19 lawmakers declared victory over COVID-19 in June. Now it’s spreading in their districts.
Back in June, 19 state legislators joined together to claim that “Ohio smashed the curve long ago. Mission accomplished!” Months later, as Ohio continues to set new records for COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, one of those legislators admits the pandemic has proved to be an “evolving situation.” Another is doubling down on the letter’s message […]
GOP lawmaker wants to see if DeWine can be criminally charged
With his impeachment effort against the governor making little progress, state Rep. John Becker pulled up his email and brainstormed a late-night solution. It was almost 2 a.m. when Becker typed out a request to the Legislative Service Commission, a nonpartisan group that conducts law and policy research for lawmakers. “I believe that Governor DeWine […]
Mailbag: DeWine impeachment, legalized cannabis and local news coverage
The first clue came last Sunday evening. “Big News OHIO,” State Rep. Nino Vitale posted to his Facebook page. “9 am Tomorrow Right Here.” His large social media following got excited. Some thought Vitale was announcing a run for governor. Others presumed it had something to do with Gov. Mike DeWine; Vitale has been on […]
Conservative lawmakers have spent the pandemic targeting DeWine. Now they want to impeach him.
Bill Bader Jr. was fed up. A health order signed by Gov. Mike DeWine had forced his race track to close. Bader threatened to reopen without the state’s permission, which got him in some hot water. He felt frustrated and that nobody would listen. Enter state Rep. Paul Zeltwanger. The Republican lawmaker from Mason serving […]
Handful of conservative House Republicans introduce articles of impeachment against DeWine
Four Republicans in the Ohio House of Representatives have co-sponsored Articles of Impeachment against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: Nino Vitale, John Becker, Paul Zeltwanger and Candice Keller. This follows months of discontent about the DeWine Administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic from these lawmakers and others in the Ohio House. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday […]
Divided party saps DeWine response to spreading coronavirus
The spread of coronavirus continued across Ohio Thursday as Gov. Mike Dewine also continued his struggle to communicate the seriousness of the crisis over the din of influential voices in his own party. Another 1,150 cases were reported Thursday, continuing a steep, upward trend over the past three weeks. Five new counties were added to […]
Some Republican legislators need to grow up, stop stoking anger and peddling misinformation
This past week we’ve seen Americans at a fever pitch over stay-at-home orders imposed to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve seen men armed with semi-automatic rifles in militia cosplay storm the Michigan Statehouse, screaming in the faces of the police officers preventing them from entering the Michigan House of Representatives. We’ve seen unhinged […]
GOP lawmaker plans bill to ‘reopen Ohio’, revoke powers used by DeWine, Acton
A Republican state lawmaker is proposing legislation that would reopen Ohio “without delay” and revoke the authority used by the DeWine administration in responding to COVID-19. State Rep. John Becker, R-Union Twp., is wasting no time in preparing for the Ohio House of Representatives to get back to work on Monday. Becker sent out a […]
Recovery task force speakers downplay COVID-19, present conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories, general downplaying of the seriousness of COVID-19, and allegations the governor shuttered the state economy with bad intent. The Republican chairman of the Economic Recovery Task Force allowed all of this during Monday’s meeting. But there was one thing State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, R-Mason, would not stand for — any effort to push […]
Week 1 of Economy Recovery Task Force: a parade of white, male, GOP donors
Jason Duff is a small business developer in Bellefontaine. David Waikem works for a family-owned car dealership in Massillon. Bob Hager is the president of a workers uniform supplier in Wapakoneta. These Ohioans have several things in common: all three have donated to Ohio Republican candidates, and all three were recently invited to speak directly […]