Four more workers disciplined in “Joe the Plumber” snooping case

By William Hershey | Friday, November 21, 2008, 04:37 PM

Four more senior staffers in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services got taken to the state woodshed on Friday, Nov. 21 in the “Joe the Plumber” snooping case. Two were suspended without pay - one for four weeks, a second for two weeks.

The action comes a day after Gov. Ted Strickland suspended department director Helen Jones-Kelley of Clayton for a month without pay. Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles found that Jones-Kelley improperly authorized searches of state databases to get information on Samuel Jospeh - “Joe the Plumber” - Wurzelbacher and improperly used her state e-mail account to raise money for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The staffers and their punishment, handed out by Jan Allen, acting department director:

*Fred Williams, assistant director

Two weeks unpaid suspension

Specific professional development counseling

Agency-wide ethics training

*Doug Thompson, deputy director of child support

Four weeks unpaid suspension

Specific professional development counseling

Agency-wide ethics training

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Auditor Mary Taylor calls for dismissal of Jones-Kelley

By William Hershey | Friday, November 21, 2008, 09:07 AM

State Auditor Mary Taylor, the top-ranking nonjudicial Republican in Ohio, has called for Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland to fire or ask for the resignation of Helen Jones-Kelley, the embattled director of the Department of Job and Family Services.

Taylor on Thursday, Nov. 20, joined two other top Republicans - House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, and Senate President Bill Harris - in calling for Strickland to dismiss Jones-Kelley, 57, of Clayton.

Strickland suspended Jones-Kelley for a month without pay on Thursday after a State Inspector General’s report found that she improperly authorized searches on state databases on Samuel Joseph - “Joe the Plumber” - Wurzelbacher - and also improperly used her state e-mail account for political purposes.

“We need to restore accountability and transparency in government and send a message to Ohioans that the misuse and abuse of personal information will not be tolerated,” Taylor said in a press release. “Government leaders need to be responsible for the actions of their employees…”

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Austria elected president of GOP freshman class in Congress

By Anthony Shoemaker | Thursday, November 20, 2008, 04:44 PM

Congressman-elect Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, was elected president of the Republican Freshmen Class in the 111th Congress. Austria was elected on Nov. 4 and will replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, R-Springfield, in January.

“I’m excited to be part of a very talented and focused freshman class, which has many good ideas to address the problems we face. The elections are over and our work in Congress has already begun. As the class president, I will work with my colleagues to find commonality and move those important issues forward,” Austria said.

Republican Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, issued the following statement today, Nov. 20, congratulating Austria.

“Representative-elect Steve Austria will be a strong leader for freshman Republicans, and I look forward to working with him. Steve’s work in the Ohio legislature on tax and tort reform will be valuable as House Republicans craft solutions to the serious challenges facing our nation. Steve’s constituents in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District will be well served through this leadership role.”

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Smoking ban may be weakened

By Laura Bischoff | Thursday, November 20, 2008, 11:12 AM

A new bill up for debate in the Ohio Senate would gut the indoor smoking ban that Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved two years ago.

If Senate Bill 346 were to become law, family-owned businesses, factories, retail stores, bowling alleys and offices as well as private clubs would be allowed to decide whether to permit smoking in their establishments, according to SmokeFreeOhio, a coalition of public health groups.

“I would vote for it if it were to come up for a vote,” said state Sen. Tom Roberts, D-Dayton.

Roberts, who is one of 13 co-sponsors of the bill, said he has heard from members of private clubs who thought smoking would still be allowed in their VFW halls and the like. And family-owned bars and restaurants have complained that the smoking ban is too burdensome, he said.

American Cancer Society chief lobbyist John Hoctor said a recent survey by Midwest Communications shows that 97 percent of voters who favored the new law knew what they were voting for.

Ohio voters passed Issue 5, an indoor smoking ban for all workplaces, by 59 percent. They defeated a proposed constitutional amendment, supported by Big Tobacco and private clubs, that would have allowed for exemptions for clubs, bars, bowling alleys and bingo halls by 64 percent.

Tracy Sabetta, who worked on the 2006 campaign, said the results clearly showed voters wanted a comprehensive smoking ban and did not want one with exemptions.

Sabetta said she doubts most Ohio voters even know that the lawmakers are considering the bill.

It’s unlikely that the bill will pass this year. But it is expected to be re-introduced next year.

“If this passes, we are prepared to do whatever it takes to remain a smoke free state,” Hoctor said.

Ohio is among two dozen states that have smoking bans. Two more states are on the verge of implementing bans.

Sponsors of the bill include: Robert Schuler, R-Cincinnati, Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, Steve Buehrer, R-Delta, Capri Cafaro, D-Warren, Gary Cates, R-West Chester, Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, Larry Mumper, R-Marion, Joy Padgett, R-Cochocton, Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, Shirley Smith, D-Cleveland, Robert Spada, R-North Royalton, and Roberts.

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Strickland, other governors urge U.S. aid for auto industry

By William Hershey | Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:44 PM

Gov. Ted Strickland joined seven other governors today, Nov. 19, in urging congressional leaders to approve legislation directing $25 billion in loans to automakers and component suppliers.

“Because a bankruptcy in the auto industry during these troubling economic times would be crippling to efforts to immediately grow the economy, and because U.S. auto makers will be a critical component in developing an alternative energy industry in America, we urge Congress to pass this legislation immediately,” said a letter from the governors.

Their states would suffer from the industry’s collapse, the letter said:

“Governors have already struggled to manage state economies that have seen the loss of more than 1.2 million jobs in the first ten months of 2008. Further losses wold continue to depress an already fragile national economy, and would create an emergency situation in already struggling state economies.”

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Boehner keeps House Minority Leader post

By Anthony Shoemaker | Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:37 PM

By Josh Sweigart Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. John Boehner will remain House Minority Leader.

In a closed door vote among House republicans today, Nov. 19, the West Chester Twp. Republican retained the post he won in two years ago.

The 59-year-old Boehner’s sole challenger was California Rep. Dan Lungren.

Lungren pushed for the closed door session so the lawmakers could have a frank discussion about leadership and the future of the party after recent losses to Democrats in the legislative and executive branches.

“The months ahead will present Republicans with an unprecedented opportunity to renew our drive for smaller, more accountable government and present positive solutions to the challenges facing the American people,” Boehner said in a prepared statement. “We have to seize this opportunity, and seize it together. I’m deeply honored my colleagues have placed their faith in me and the newly-elected members of our team to lead this effort.

“To rebuild the party, the energy has to come from us. And I will challenge all of you.”

The Republican caucus under Boehner will look a little different this year, with 20 fewer members after the November election and some new leadership.

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New Ohio House Speaker-elect says he’ll pay attention to Dayton

By William Hershey | Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 12:08 PM

New Ohio House Speaker-elect Armond Budish may be from the Cleveland area but he says he knows about Dayton and how important Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is to the region.

After a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Budish told the Dayton Daily

News that WPAFB is a “wonderful resource” and a major “job creator” for the area. Although there are no Dayton-area members in the new House Democratic leadership, Budish said the region wouldn’t be neglected.

He said state Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, would play a “major role” in the House next year.

House Democrats on Wednesday, Nov. 18, chose Budish, 55, a lawyer from the Cleveland suburb of Beachwood, as their leader. That puts him in line to become the first Democratic Ohio House Speaker in 14 years when a new legislature takes office in January.

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