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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > November > 14
Friday, November 14, 2008
AP: California rep challenges Boehner for GOP leader job
According to the Associated Press, U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif. (right), is challenging U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, to lead the House Republicans.
The GOP lost 20 House seats in the Nov. 4 election.
“The selection of our leadership will reflect the initial reaction of House Republicans to the recent verdict of the American people,” Lungren said. “It is neither in the interest of our party or the advancement of our conservative principles to simply affirm the status quo by acclamation in light of what happened on Nov. 4th.”
Boehner is still heavily favored to hold onto the post.
In reaction, Boehner said that “Dan Lungren is a respected member of our conference and a man deeply committed to the principles that have defined our party since the beginning.”
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Ohio ACLU calls on Strickland to act in “Joe the Plumber” case
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Friday, Nov. 14, called on Gov. Ted Strickland and other state officials to enact regulations protecting private information kept on state data bases in the wake of the “Joe the Plumber” controversy.
(See earlier blog post on State Rep. Shannon Jones’ proposed legislation).
“Gov. Strickland must not delay in taking immediate action to guarantee there will be no further violation of Ohioans’ privacy,” ACLU of Ohio executive director Cheryl Link said in a press release. “He must mandate that every department head in the state have a privacy protection plan that they implement and are accountable for.”
State Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, is preparing legislation to address the issue and it should be ready for introduction week after next, Jones said Friday.
The ACLU first pressed for action after it was revealed that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services conducted a search on Samuel Joseph - “Joe the Plumber” - Wurzelbacher, the ACLU press release said.
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“Joe the Plumber” legislation in the works - updated
State Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, is working on legislation aimed at making sure other Ohioans don’t face the kind of state government snooping that Samuel Joseph - “Joe the Plumber” - Wurzelbacher (pictured with Barack Obama) was subjected to during the presidential campaign.
Gov. Ted Strickland would be willing to look at such a proposal but believes it is important to consider what Inspector General Tom Charles comes up with in his probe of the “Joe the Plumber” situation, Keith Dailey, Strickland’s spokesman, said on Friday, Nov. 14.
(More on Charles’ investigation below).
Jones said on Friday that the legislation should be ready for consideration week after next and hopes it can be approved before the legislature leaves for the year. House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, gave her the OK to proceed, she said.
“This is a foundational issue,” Jones said. “Government ought not be used for mud-raking expeditions. This looks like it was done for political purposes.”
The legislation will seek to make sure that citizens’ private information is kept only for legitimate government purposes, that there are sound procedures in place to protect the information and real accountability if policies and procedures aren’t followed, Jones said.
Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles is investigating the use of a state computer in the Job and Family Services Department to gather personal information on Wurzelbacher, including whether he owed child support. Wurzelbacher said he didn’t.
Department director Helen Jones-Kelley said there was nothing wrong with the check and suggested it was common practice for her department to do research on Ohioans in the news.
The search occurred after Wurzelbacher emerged as a key figure in the presidential race by questioning Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s tax policies.
Charles also is investigating Jones-Kelley’s alleged use of her state e-mail account to raise money for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Gov. Ted Strickland has placed Jones-Kelley on paid administrative leave pending Charles’ investigation.
Charles earlier had said the investigation might be finished this week but on Friday said it still was in the works.
