15 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

The reason there were so many Dems in state executive roles in 2010 is because GW Bush and the Republicans collapsed the economy and voters (rightfully) punished Republicans for it. Historically it has been very rare for Democrats to have significant power in Ohio. 

 

Strickland 2007 - 2011.

Celeste 1983 - 1991.

Gilligan 1971 - 1975

DiSalle 1959 - 1963

2 hours ago, E Rocc said:

 

Strickland 2007 - 2011.

Celeste 1983 - 1991.

Gilligan 1971 - 1975

DiSalle 1959 - 1963

One two-term D governor in the last 70 years. I think you are helping to make my point. 

Those years were pure agony for him so they seemed longer 😉

The state and counties Democratic party need to do a better job of campaigning, fundraising, and organizing every year, not just during elections, but where were the local politicians? Where were Bibb and Ronayne acting as surrogates for Harris and Brown? Did I just miss it or do they not realize maintaining the campaign infrastructure for national races can be leveraged when they run for reelection? 

 

Another big part of Ohio's problem is the hollowing out of local media. That's not a sufficient explanation though since local media is a shell of its former self throughout the country. 

3 hours ago, Boomerang_Brian said:

The reason there were so many Dems in state executive roles in 2010 is because GW Bush and the Republicans collapsed the economy and voters (rightfully) punished Republicans for it. Historically it has been very rare for Democrats to have significant power in Ohio. 

 

Now do the other state elected offices.

3 hours ago, Luke_S said:

The state and counties Democratic party need to do a better job of campaigning, fundraising, and organizing every year, not just during elections, but where were the local politicians? Where were Bibb and Ronayne acting as surrogates for Harris and Brown? Did I just miss it or do they not realize maintaining the campaign infrastructure for national races can be leveraged when they run for reelection? 

 

 

If this year was anything like 2016, they were waiting to be approached.  Which is kind of the bigger campaign's job, which in '16 they never did.

 

The comments of the Philadelphia Dem chair about their outreach there reminded me of the mayor of Parma that year.

Amendment to End Qualified Immunity in Ohio Could be on Ballot in 2025

 

A proposed Ohio constitutional amendment that would end qualified immunity that protects government employees such as police officers from lawsuits can start gathering signatures to get on next year’s November ballot.

 

The Ohio Ballot Board advanced the proposed amendment one step further by ruling during Wednesday’s meeting that the amendment contains only one single issue. 

 

“We are pleased with the Ballot Board’s determination that this is one single issue and it can proceed to the signature collection phase,” Executive Director of Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity Kyle Pierce said after the meeting. 

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/amendment-to-end-qualified-immunity-in-ohio-could-be-on-ballot-in-2025-ocj1/

Ohio’s Proposed Delta-8 Ban Gets Pushback from Hemp Industry

 

Workers in the hemp industry spoke out against a bill that would ban intoxicating hemp products in Ohio, effectively putting them out of business. These are known as delta-8 THC products that are often sold at smoke shops and corner stores.

 

Those who spoke out against Senate Bill 326 during last week’s Senate Government Committee Meeting called for regulations, not a ban on sales — arguing that would cause the black market to flourish. 

 

“Strict bans will only support illicit sales of these products, with no enforceable safety or age requirements, which does nothing to address the issues legislators have cited as the need for new hemp legislation,” said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. 

 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been asking lawmakers to regulate or ban delta-8 THC products and State Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, introduced S.B. 326 last month. 

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohios-proposed-delta-8-ban-gets-pushback-from-hemp-industry-ocj1/

Experts Say Ohio’s Economy Will Suffer Following Mass Deportations

 

In a recent survey, a majority of Ohio economists said that mass deportations would harm the state’s economy. 

 

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to round up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants. But some experts have said that the expense, legality and politics of such a move will place some guardrails on what he’s able to do.

 

And with migrants playing such an important role in the economy, critics say removing them would be calamitous. CNBC on Monday reported that a massive roundup would take an estimated $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion out of the U.S. economy.

 

In Ohio, the group Policy Matters on Monday reported that the state’s 580,000 immigrants contribute $53 billion in annual economic output. And the state’s economists seem mostly to agree that removing a big chunk of them will cost the state on balance.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/experts-say-ohios-economy-will-suffer-following-mass-deportations-ocj1/

ohio leads the fight vs the degraded corporate pharmacy industry —

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCSYcFwymxI/?igsh=MWxxazJ6d3pla3kwdA==

13 minutes ago, mrnyc said:

ohio leads the fight vs the degraded corporate pharmacy industry —

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCSYcFwymxI/?igsh=MWxxazJ6d3pla3kwdA==

 

^ it pains me when people point to things like this and say "see, that's capitalism for you!"  The racket that pharmacies like CVS and our entire healthcare system is a lot of things, but it is definitely not a free market aka capitalism. 

1 minute ago, surfohio said:

 

^ it pains me when people point to things like this and say "see, that's capitalism for you!"  The racket that pharmacies like CVS and our entire healthcare system is a lot of things, but it is definitely not a free market aka capitalism. 

Nothing in health care is free market.   I've been arguing this with my MAGA family members for years.  Thus far, I've been unable to convince my MAGA parents to give up their "socialist" Medicare and go buy their own policy on the "free market."    Mainly because they'll never find one that's better.  

3 hours ago, Cleburger said:

Nothing in health care is free market.   I've been arguing this with my MAGA family members for years.  Thus far, I've been unable to convince my MAGA parents to give up their "socialist" Medicare and go buy their own policy on the "free market."    Mainly because they'll never find one that's better.  

 

^ i bet they cashed their covid plandemic biden bux checks faster than a blink too. 😂

 

but seriously, healthcare is a human right — we should have universal healthcare. 

 

that may never fly, but maybe just maybe someday we can get a compromise plan, like say chile has for example, where three quarters of the people have one healthplan for the masses and there is another higher level plan if you have some money. they complain about it of course, but it seems to work.

"Single payer" would potentially do a great deal of harm to NE Ohio, which is a center for medical excellence but has very weak representation in Congress.

 

If the feds are paying the bills, then they would have de facto control.   Stuff could easily be moved to the districts of influential Congresscritters.

1 hour ago, E Rocc said:

"Single payer" would potentially do a great deal of harm to NE Ohio, which is a center for medical excellence but has very weak representation in Congress.

 

If the feds are paying the bills, then they would have de facto control.   Stuff could easily be moved to the districts of influential Congresscritters.

The Feds are already paying most of the bills, just running it through private insurers so that they can take their cut.

https://substack.com/home/post/p-153282035

 

Insurance isn't supposed to make healthcare free, it's just supposed to take the edge off -- a large number of people make regular small payments so that no one person has a mountain of a payment following an incident.   Today's insurance market, with hundreds of for-profit insurance companies, means that that "large number of people" isn't as big as it could be, and every private company is skimming a profit (and a CEO salary).  A national health insurance plan ("single payer") would maximize the number of people paying into the system and the government wouldn't need to skim "profit" or "CEO salary" off the top.  A lot of other countries have proven it works to keep individuals' costs low.

 

Insurers don't tell hospitals where they can locate now, and I don't think that is on the horizon.  And so even if the Government was the universal insurer that doesn't mean that the Cleveland Clinic is going to lose their research grants or their doctors to Florida because Marco Rubio has more sway than our new not-yet-named Senator. 

Roundup: The Ohio Laws That Failed to Pass in 2024

 

Many bills died as the most recent Ohio General Assembly recently wrapped up.  

 

Some of these bills would have made drastic changes to Ohio colleges and universities (Senate Bill 83), banned the sale of intoxicating hemp products (Senate Bill 326), added low-performing public schools to the state’s school closure law (Senate Bill 295) and given property tax relief (House Bill 274). 

 

These bills — and all the others that didn’t pass — would have to be re-introduced in the next General Assembly, which starts this month.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/roundup-the-ohio-laws-that-failed-to-pass-in-2024-ocj1/

 

Over 60,000 Ohioans Could Lose Health Coverage Due to GOP’s New Rules

 

Proposed Medicaid work requirements mean more than 61,000 Ohioans could potentially lose their health insurance, if the incoming Trump administration allows Ohio Republican state leaders to proceed with their plan.

 

While the Biden administration has stood in the way, Ohio’s 2023 budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine requires the state Medicaid department to re-apply with the federal government under the new presidential administration for permission to impose work, drug testing, and/or education requirements for adult Medicaid health coverage recipients.

 

A goal of this requirement is “promoting economic stability and financial independence,” according to the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/over-60000-ohioans-could-lose-health-coverage-due-to-new-medicaid-rules-ocj1/

20 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

Over 60,000 Ohioans Could Lose Health Coverage Due to GOP’s New Rules

 

Proposed Medicaid work requirements mean more than 61,000 Ohioans could potentially lose their health insurance, if the incoming Trump administration allows Ohio Republican state leaders to proceed with their plan.

 

While the Biden administration has stood in the way, Ohio’s 2023 budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine requires the state Medicaid department to re-apply with the federal government under the new presidential administration for permission to impose work, drug testing, and/or education requirements for adult Medicaid health coverage recipients.

 

A goal of this requirement is “promoting economic stability and financial independence,” according to the Ohio Department of Medicaid.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/over-60000-ohioans-could-lose-health-coverage-due-to-new-medicaid-rules-ocj1/

Don't worry...Trump should be coming through with his "concept" of a big, beautiful healthcare plan that will provide coverage to the masses. 

General op-ed from Crains talking about the recent crop of influential political newcomers from Ohio, particularly in the maga movement. 

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/editorials/crains-editorial-ohio-gets-its-moment-political-spotlight

New Proposals to Tackle Rising Cost of Childcare in Ohio

 

Ohio lawmakers are trying again with measures to attack the child care crisis that advocates are warning continue to hurt the state’s families and economy, including with a bill that spreads the cost of child care out among employers, employees, and the state.

 

State Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe, reintroduced a bill he said came “late in the game” last year, giving it an uphill battle to passage as the Republican supermajority sought to close up the General Assembly term with other priorities.

 

But Johnson’s bill is now Ohio House Bill 2, and has been introduced very early in the new General Assembly, with its first hearing in the House Children and Human Services Committee held on Tuesday.

 

This bill, and its companion bill led in the Ohio Senate by state Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, looks to direct $10 million to a “Child CareCred Program” within the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, to be distributed “on a first-come, first-served basis,” according to Johnson.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-proposals-to-tackle-rising-cost-of-childcare-in-ohio-ocj1/

14 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

New Proposals to Tackle Rising Cost of Childcare in Ohio

 

Ohio lawmakers are trying again with measures to attack the child care crisis that advocates are warning continue to hurt the state’s families and economy, including with a bill that spreads the cost of child care out among employers, employees, and the state.

 

State Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe, reintroduced a bill he said came “late in the game” last year, giving it an uphill battle to passage as the Republican supermajority sought to close up the General Assembly term with other priorities.

 

But Johnson’s bill is now Ohio House Bill 2, and has been introduced very early in the new General Assembly, with its first hearing in the House Children and Human Services Committee held on Tuesday.

 

This bill, and its companion bill led in the Ohio Senate by state Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, looks to direct $10 million to a “Child CareCred Program” within the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, to be distributed “on a first-come, first-served basis,” according to Johnson.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-proposals-to-tackle-rising-cost-of-childcare-in-ohio-ocj1/

 

Wow, they're willing to spend less than a quarter of the cost of building a single small apartment building on all of Ohio's children. Problem solved. 

Ohio Budget Could Boost Housing Construction Statewide

 

As America’s housing crisis continues, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed two-year state budget would add more funding to building homes.

 

The governor’s state budget proposal would invest $100 million to the Ohio Housing Investment Opportunity Program in fiscal year 2026. 

 

“This budget invests $100 million of the biennium and the infrastructure needed to increase available single and multi-family housing for rural communities, particularly rural communities along our borders, where economic development is driving increased demand,” DeWine said in a press conference earlier this week.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-budget-could-boost-housing-construction-statewide-ocj1/

 

Which rural border communities are growing enough to have housing shortages?

Ohio’s Food Banks Concerned with State Budget Cuts

 

Have you seen the price of eggs? The cost of groceries continues to be a challenge for many Ohioans. And while a rising wave of bird flu gets most of the credit, the Consumer Price Index ticked higher in January for the fourth month running.

 

Service providers in Ohio’s food assistance network argue it’s only getting harder for people to afford enough to eat, and as a result they’re serving more people than they ever have, so they ask why state and federal leaders are considering steps that would put less money into food assistance programs.

 

Dollars and cents

 

The biggest nationwide program for food is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, which helps households at or below 130% of the federal poverty line purchase food. For a three-person household that’s about $33,600 a year. An estimate from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities put that family’s average monthly benefit at about $600.

 

The federal government covers the cost of benefits and splits the cost of administration with states. Funding for the program is part of the Farm Bill, which pairs backstop funding for farmers with food support for families who need it. Republican lawmakers are considering big cuts to SNAP as part of a new farm bill. Politico reports the reduction could be as much as $150 billion.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohios-food-banks-concerned-with-state-budget-cuts-ocj1/

 

New Ohio Law Could Crack Down on Protests

 

A new bill at the Ohio Statehouse could be used to target pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrations across the state by allowing private citizens to sue individuals for damages incurred by “vandalism or riot activity,” even if an individual is not found personally responsible for the damages.

 

Ohio Senate Bill (SB) 53 is part of a growing legislative trend the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) has called “a thinly-veiled attempt to further criminalize protesting.”

 

“SB 53 is designed to keep the most marginalized, including the LGBTQ+ community, silent by increasing the potential penalties for making their voices heard,” said NLG media liaison Hannah Scifres.

 

“If SB 53 is signed into law, organizers of a pro-LGBTQ+ rally could be held civilly liable if a protestor in attendance caused damage, no matter how minimal, to private property,” Scifres added. “The Ohio legislature is attempting to scare community organizers into silence and complicity. However, Pride has its roots in protest and countering state-sanctioned violence.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-ohio-law-could-crack-down-on-protests-tbf1/

1 hour ago, ColDayMan said:

New Ohio Law Could Crack Down on Protests

 

A new bill at the Ohio Statehouse could be used to target pro-LGBTQ+ demonstrations across the state by allowing private citizens to sue individuals for damages incurred by “vandalism or riot activity,” even if an individual is not found personally responsible for the damages.

 

Ohio Senate Bill (SB) 53 is part of a growing legislative trend the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) has called “a thinly-veiled attempt to further criminalize protesting.”

 

“SB 53 is designed to keep the most marginalized, including the LGBTQ+ community, silent by increasing the potential penalties for making their voices heard,” said NLG media liaison Hannah Scifres.

 

“If SB 53 is signed into law, organizers of a pro-LGBTQ+ rally could be held civilly liable if a protestor in attendance caused damage, no matter how minimal, to private property,” Scifres added. “The Ohio legislature is attempting to scare community organizers into silence and complicity. However, Pride has its roots in protest and countering state-sanctioned violence.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-ohio-law-could-crack-down-on-protests-tbf1/

 

I'm very much against the criminalization of dissent, and I think I'm against this bill as presented.  There need to be stricter criteria.

 

That said, I didn't even know the NLG was still around.  I got into a couple disagreements with them in college.  Their history and motivations are relevant.

Ohio Farmers Seek Government Help to Fight Bird Flu

 

Since the beginning of this year, Ohio poultry farmers have culled almost 11 million birds infected with avian flu according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In an update to state lawmakers, Ohio Poultry Association Executive Vice President Jim Chakeres said the virus has “wreaked havoc” on commercial flocks, particularly in far west Darke and Mercer Counties.

 

Ohio’s 2025 highly pathogenic avian influenza figures continue to outpace the rest of the country. The 10.9 million birds reported culled through of Feb. 14 is 4 million more than the next closest state — Indiana — and about half a million more than Ohio Capital Journal’s last report, which included USDA data through Feb. 10.

 

The virus has spilled from birds to cows and there have been 68 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans since the beginning of 2024. One of those cases was in Ohio, and another, in Louisiana, proved fatal. Still, state and federal health officials say there have been no incidents of person-to-person transmission and the public health risks remain low.

 

Chakeres told the Ohio House Agriculture Committee that farmers “are in the fight of their lives” but emphasized the positives all the same.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-farmers-seek-government-help-to-fight-bird-flu-ocj1/

Ohio Workers Fight for Funding as DeWine Sits on a $900 Million Cash Pile

 

A group of Ohioans is urging a state appeals court to secure nearly $900 million in pandemic unemployment assistance state officials never handed out. The plaintiffs won a judgement against Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this month over his decision to turn down supplementary support in 2021.

 

DeWine is appealing, and the plaintiffs worry even if they eventually win, they might be left empty handed.

 

Congress is working on a budget, and the debt ceiling is looming. Clawing back some but not all unspent COVID relief funds was part of a 2023 deal to avert a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency is running roughshod over federal agencies as it looks potential savings. DOGE teams have already begun combing through the Department of Labor, which oversees the remaining unemployment funding.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-workers-fight-for-funding-as-dewine-sits-on-a-900-million-cash-pile-ocj1/

Ohio Child Tax Credit Could Boost State Economy by $740 Million

 

In his biennial budget proposal, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants to create a $1,000 per-child tax credit for middle and low-income families. In addition to benefiting the families themselves, it would produce nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in annual benefit to the Ohio economy, according to an analysis released last week.

 

Families with children six and younger would be eligible. For couples filing jointly, benefits would begin to phase out at $75,000 a year in household earnings and stop altogether at $94,000. Those amounts would be lower for other filers.

 

DeWine proposes to cover the $450 million annual cost of the tax cut by increasing taxes on tobacco.

 

It’s thought that higher taxes reduce harmful habits like smoking. Meanwhile, the report by Scioto Analysis estimates that the tax credit will produce huge benefits for Ohio families and Ohio itself.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-child-tax-credit-could-boost-state-economy-by-740-million-ocj1/

DeWine Wants Federal Funds to Help Ohio Deal with Bird Flu

 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has promised to push federal officials to provide greater support to farmers affected by bird flu. The governor spoke alongside state Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge Thursday as well as the state veterinarian and poultry industry representatives.

 

State impacts

 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, commonly known as bird flu, has been spreading throughout the country since the beginning of 2022, but a recent a recent spike has hit Ohio farmers particularly hard. According to the latest USDA data, Ohio has culled nearly 14.5 million birds since the beginning of this year alone. That’s more than double any other state over that timeframe.

 

“And to put it in perspective,” Baldridge said, “as far as the layer facilities, about over 30% of our layer birds here in Ohio have been depopulated. Those are the ones that are laying the eggs each and every day.”

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/dewine-wants-federal-funds-to-help-ohio-deal-with-bird-flu-ocj1/

Gov. DeWine Wants to Increase Tobacco Taxes

 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is proposing to create a child tax credit and to pay for it with increased “sin taxes” on tobacco.

 

According to one analysis, the tax credit is expected to produce big gains for the state. Economists overwhelmingly agree on a second benefit — that taxes themselves on things like tobacco, gambling, and marijuana can reduce harmful behaviors, according to a survey of economists that was released on Tuesday.

 

However, they said, those taxes would fall most heavily on the group that DeWine’s tax credit is meant to help — the poor.

 

Under DeWine’s proposal, families with children six and younger would be eligible for the $1,000 per-child tax credit. For couples filing jointly, benefits would begin to phase out at $75,000 a year in household earnings and stop altogether at $94,000. Those amounts would be lower for other filers.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/gov-dewine-wants-to-increase-tobacco-taxes-ocj1/

 

Question for the Republicans running state government -- given that Trump and Musk plan to severely curtail or eliminate FEMA, what steps is the state taking to prepare to handle a major disaster in the state without federal assistance?

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-will-sign-executive-order-fundamentally-change-or-get-rid-fema-2025-01-24/

Sink or swim, do or die, every man for himself. 

18 hours ago, Foraker said:

Question for the Republicans running state government -- given that Trump and Musk plan to severely curtail or eliminate FEMA, what steps is the state taking to prepare to handle a major disaster in the state without federal assistance?

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-will-sign-executive-order-fundamentally-change-or-get-rid-fema-2025-01-24/

 

It's a fair question:

 

The proposal involves sending money directly to the states.  It behooves Ohio to develop systems to deploy such in case money is needed and comes in.

 

It's a lot like the replacement of the Department of Education (which some of us older people may recall was the result of an ill advised Jimmy Carter campaign promise) with sending money directly to the states.   We'll let Ainsley Hayes explain why that's a good idea:
 

 

Edited March 17Mar 17 by E Rocc

19 hours ago, Foraker said:

Question for the Republicans running state government -- given that Trump and Musk plan to severely curtail or eliminate FEMA, what steps is the state taking to prepare to handle a major disaster in the state without federal assistance?

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-will-sign-executive-order-fundamentally-change-or-get-rid-fema-2025-01-24/

 

The black swan question is the big one here.

 

Under normal circumstances, the biggest disaster risks in Ohio are blizzards and the Cleveland Browns, both of which are unfortunate but seasonal and survivable, in part because you can usually see both coming and brace for the worst.

 

The ones you can't see coming are the real issues.  If we somehow have a "real" earthquake here, for example (we've had a few that are very low on the Richter scale--I remember one that people could feel in offices high in Key Tower several years ago--but still didn't do anything more than shake a coffee cup off a desk), or a more serious spate of tornadoes in the western part of the state.  Those are the ones that there's seldom any political benefit to spending big amounts of money preparing for--there's always some other use.  (FEMA suffers the same black-swan planning problem, of course, e.g., deep inland Appalachia was not prepared for a major hurricane.)

 

Overall, though, one oft-underappreciated attraction of life in Ohio and the Great Lakes region generally is that this is one of the less disaster-prone areas of the entire continent.

13 minutes ago, Gramarye said:

 

The black swan question is the big one here.

 

Under normal circumstances, the biggest disaster risks in Ohio are blizzards and the Cleveland Browns, both of which are unfortunate but seasonal and survivable, in part because you can usually see both coming and brace for the worst.

 

The ones you can't see coming are the real issues.  If we somehow have a "real" earthquake here, for example (we've had a few that are very low on the Richter scale--I remember one that people could feel in offices high in Key Tower several years ago--but still didn't do anything more than shake a coffee cup off a desk), or a more serious spate of tornadoes in the western part of the state.  Those are the ones that there's seldom any political benefit to spending big amounts of money preparing for--there's always some other use.  (FEMA suffers the same black-swan planning problem, of course, e.g., deep inland Appalachia was not prepared for a major hurricane.)

 

Overall, though, one oft-underappreciated attraction of life in Ohio and the Great Lakes region generally is that this is one of the less disaster-prone areas of the entire continent.

 

One of the less disaster prone areas of the world, really.

 

Ohio had the 5.4 earthquake in 1937 and the 5.0 in 1986 which shook up our satellite plant on the old Diamond Shamrock site (Ironically I was in the air heading to Chicago).  If you have one you can have more, and the longer the time in between the higher the magnitude.   But these are numbers where engineering can prevent too much damage.

 

Tornados are our biggest concern.   The state is equipped to deal with the immediate aftereffects and having a strong building and construction industry locally, as we do, is beneficial.

 

Plus it's neighbors helping neighbors, more or less.   As diverse as state as Ohio is, incidents like the alleged non-helping of houses with disapproved political signs are far less likely.

Two Greater Cincinnati lawmakers try to kill a certain type of property tax hike

 

Two lawmakers from Butler and Warren County got the Ohio House’s approval for legislation that would bar local governments from sending a certain type of property tax increase to the voters, arguing it is too confusing for them.

 

In a 62-30 vote, mostly along party lines, the House passed House Bill 28, sponsored by state Reps. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and Thomas Hall, R-Middletown, which would bar cities, townships, school districts, counties and other local governments from sending replacement property tax levies to voters.

 

The legislation now heads to the Ohio Senate.

 

In the complex universe of Ohio property taxes, a replacement levy does not necessarily increase a local government’s property tax rate but can result in higher taxes anyway. Under state law, most levies’ tax rates are lowered over time so property owners do not get socked with increases in their tax bills as their property values rise.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2025/03/21/ohio-bill-property-tax-levy-increase-mathews-hall.html

Social Media Age Verification Law Blocked by Ohio Judge

 

A federal judge in Ohio permanently blocked a parental consent law for social media this week. The measure, approved as part of the 2023 budget bill, would have required social media companies verify a user’s age and block access to kids younger than 16 unless they have parental consent. The court had halted it while the case progressed and the statutes were never enforced.

 

From the outset, the proposal’s puzzling definitions, carve outs, and cumbersome verification methods made for a rickety structure. Despite lauding the effort to protect children, U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley determined, “the act as drafted fails to pass constitutional muster and is constitutionally infirm.”

 

“Even the government’s most noble entreaties to protect its citizenry must abide in the contours of the U.S. Constitution, in this case the First Amendment,” he added.

 

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who championed the provisions alongside former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, disagreed with the ruling.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/social-media-age-verification-law-blocked-by-ohio-judge-ocj1/

 

Budget Cuts Planned for Ohio Public Health

 

A new analysis of state public health systems shows Ohio’s has some of the worst funding support in the nation, and that funding could go down even more in the newest state budget.

 

Using 2021 data from the State Health Access Data Assistance Center, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio found that the state spent $24 per person on public health, “far less than most other states.”

 

“Overall, Ohio’s investment in public health is lower than many other states at both the state and local levels,” the institute stated.

 

According to the data, only 12 states are worse than Ohio for state public health funding, with the worst being Missouri, at $6.54 per person in 2021. The highest ranked was the District of Columbia, at $370.56 in per-capita spending that year.

 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/budget-cuts-planned-for-ohio-public-health-ocj1/

Ohio Issue 2 (2025) raises the amount of debt that the state can take on to build infrastructure (roads and sewers -- does not appear to enable funding trains, streetcars, or other mass transit -- except maybe "bridges" as needed), and passed overwhelmingly.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/05/06/issue-2-election-results-2025-vote-would-extend-public-works-program/83463686007/

This is not the first time voters have been asked to approve such infrastructure bonds. And the vote seemed to fly under the radar this year. No strong anti-government-debt action, no strong support either.

It annoys me how much "legislation" in Ohio is passed as a Constitutional amendment, I am concerned about the amount of debt, and I don't like how the definition of "infrastructure" eligible for funding is constrained the way that it is to not include mass transit projects. But here we are.

Any thoughts?

Agree. I would have voted against because of its narrow application -- if I had remembered that there was election yesterday and that this was on the ballot now.

New “Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act” Could Help Ease Collection Woes

A pair of Ohio House lawmakers want to help people pay off their medical debt.  

State Reps. Michele Grim, D-Toledo, and Jean Schmidt, R-Loveland, are introducing the Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act. 

The bill would lower the maximum interest rate for medical debt to 3% per year; prohibit hospitals, medical providers, and third-party collectors from reporting medical debt to credit agencies; and ban wage garnishment for medical debt collections.

“Medical debt can happen to anyone,” Grim said Tuesday during a news conference. “No one chooses to get sick or injured. No one plans for a car accident, a cancer diagnosis or an unexpected hospital stay, and yet, for too many Ohioans, this is exactly how medical debt begins across our state.”

The bill, however, would not eliminate medical debt. 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/new-ohio-medical-debt-fairness-act-could-help-ease-collection-woes-ocj1/

Ohio Lawmakers Want $24 Million for Manufacturing Grants

Two Ohio state lawmakers want to earmark $24 million over the next two years to help manufacturers make upgrades. State Reps. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, and Steve Demetriou, R-Bainbridge Twp., argue manufacturing is a leading industry in the state but small and midsize companies have trouble securing funding for improvements.

“It’s essential that we protect our legacy manufacturing companies to support the continued success of manufacturing here in Ohio,” Santucci said when they introduced the bill earlier this month.

Grants themselves are capped at $150,000 and the pool of available funding would be split evenly between companies with 50 employees or fewer and those with 51-500.

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-lawmakers-want-24-million-for-manufacturing-grants-ocj1/

Ohio House Advancing Two Bills to Assist With Child Care

An Ohio House committee approved two different bills targeting help for child care in the state, though members of the committee expressed concerns about state funding on the topic.

Ohio House Bill 2, proposed legislation that creates a cost-sharing model for child care, passed the House Children and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, moving the measure for possible full House vote.

The language of the bill is the same as language included in the House version of the budget, passed last month. That budget proposal is still awaiting final approval, as the Senate works on its own draft before the two chambers come together to reconcile their drafts and create a final draft to send to the governor by the end of June.

House Bill 2 would cap child care assistance at 400% of the federal poverty level. The cost-sharing model in the bill would split the cost between the employer, employee, and the state, after an employer applies for the financial assistance. The state would put in 20% of the cost, and the employer and employee would each pay 40%, according to the bill.

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-house-advancing-two-bills-to-assist-with-child-care-ocj1/

Not sure of the best place to put this. Pretty terrible few weeks for Mayor Seren. Separate from the underlying issues about his conduct, I don't see how he could possibly regain a position of respect.

cleveland

Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren needs to resign. Now...

Since it seems obvious Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren cannot or will not restrain his wife’s disruptions, outbursts and apparent bigotry, then it should be Seren who now heads to the door, wr...

1 hour ago, LlamaLawyer said:

Not sure of the best place to put this. Pretty terrible few weeks for Mayor Seren. Separate from the underlying issues about his conduct, I don't see how he could possibly regain a position of respect.

cleveland

Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren needs to resign. Now...

Since it seems obvious Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren cannot or will not restrain his wife’s disruptions, outbursts and apparent bigotry, then it should be Seren who now heads to the door, wr...

Cleveland Heights's government leadership is a real mess right now.

A local citizen group filed a FOIA request and obtained a copy of a police report and surveillance video at City Hall -- that is very damning not just of Seren's wife, but Seren's response to it. You can see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVTsbrGyoGA

In SMH news...

Ohio Republican Wants Noon Football Game Ban

A new proposed bill is trying to get Ohio State football games to start later. 

Ohio state Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, introduced a bill recently that would require Ohio State football games to kick off at 3:30 p.m. or later if the Buckeyes are playing a top-10 ranked team in the Associated Press poll. 

“A few weeks ago, I said it would be a crime for FOX to put Ohio State vs Texas at noon,” Fischer said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Promises made, promises kept!”

The Ohio State Buckeyes kick off their season against the Texas Longhorns in Columbus on Aug. 30. The time of the game has not been released, but it will air on Fox and is expected to be a noon game. 

More below:

https://columbusunderground.com/ohio-republican-wants-noon-football-game-ban-ocj1/