Speaker Bob Cupp
Redistricting fights in Ohio begin, this time with an open records request
The redistricting process still has a long way to go, but a battle to keep track of public records during the process has already begun in a court case between the ACLU and the Ohio House of Representatives. The ACLU asked the Ohio Supreme Court to compel employees within the Ohio House and the offices […]
More efforts this fall to legalize sports betting in Ohio? A good bet.
Ohioans will have to hold off from planning their next Buckeyes-Bengals-Browns parlay, but perhaps for not too much longer. Ohio lawmakers did not finalize a proposal on legal sports gambling before departing the Statehouse for a summer break. But it’s a sure bet they will take a close look at the issue upon returning to […]
Social media satirist known as ‘Reflog_18’ wants Householder’s open seat
Eligibility in question, but McNeil says he’s ‘less corrupt than the last guy’ A Licking County resident known widely online for his Ohio sports commentary and having once organized the Cleveland Browns 0-16 parade is vying for the Statehouse seat left open by the expulsion of Rep. Larry Householder. Chris McNeil, a Granville native who […]
Ohio GOP leaders may have sole power to intervene in gerrymandering cases
A last-second addition to the Ohio Senate’s budget proposal would give Republican leaders sole ability to contest legal challenges to the new legislative maps drawn this year. Ohio voters in 2015 and 2018 approved new redistricting processes for drawing state and congressional districts that will be first implemented this year. The new system encourages greater […]
Vax-A-Million seen as unorthodox, but legal way to promote vaccines in Ohio
New Jersey is offering free beer and New York is offering tickets to Yankee stadium. Ohio, meanwhile, is offering a much bigger incentive to getting the COVID-19 vaccine: $1 million in cold, hard cash. Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement of a “Vax-A-Million” lottery has turned heads this week, with Ohioans debating the merits of the program […]
DeWine’s removal of Ohio health orders comes amid legislative pressure
Since passing a bill in March to give themselves power to rescind public health orders, Republican lawmakers in Ohio have been counting the days until that power went into effect. They may not need to use it. In a Wednesday evening address outlining Ohio’s next steps in handling the pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine announced “it […]
Ohio House passes state budget; here’s what to know
Ohio took a step closer toward a constitutional school funding model with the passage Wednesday of a two-year operating budget in the Ohio House of Representatives, a sweeping bill that also proposes an across-the-board income tax cut, a broadband internet expansion plan and more spending to aid businesses struggling from the pandemic. The House passed […]
If sports gambling is legalized, where should Ohioans be able to bet?
Momentum appears to be growing for legalized sports betting in Ohio. The key question of where Ohioans will be able to place bets is being debated, and the decision could have major implications for businesses and schools. One by one, states across the country are embracing this fast-growing industry as a way of capturing tax […]
Ohio Transportation Budget: What to know and how it impacts you
Ohio lawmakers recently approved a two-year transportation budget ahead of schedule and without much drama, sending the $8.3 billion package to Gov. Mike DeWine for a signature. Legislators agreed to allocate billions of dollars toward maintaining and improving Ohio’s transportation infrastructure, including highways, roads and bridges. Despite the governor having proposed major cuts to public […]
Speaker Cupp: Still no plans to hold vote to expel Rep. Householder
It has been 240 days since former House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested for his alleged involvement in a bribery and money-laundering scheme. Yet the Perry County Republican remains in office as a state representative. And it does not appear his status as an active legislator will change any time soon. Republicans in the Ohio […]
DeWine: It would be ‘absolutely irresponsible’ to not veto SB 22
Gov. Mike DeWine did not hold his punches when commenting on a bill passed by the legislature targeting the executive branch’s authority to respond to a pandemic. On Thursday, he called Senate Bill 22 clearly unconstitutional, predicted it would be challenged in court and suggested lawmakers did not fully understand the ramifications it would have […]
Mailbag: A timeline of Speaker Cupp’s inaction on removing Householder from office
Welcome back to the Ohio Capital Journal Mailbag, the political column that eight out of 10 doctors say is a perfect cure for winter boredom. Let’s get to it: Got a question about Ohio politics/government? Send them by email to [email protected] or tweet them to @tylerjoelb. Where are they on Larry Householder’s status? Can he […]