Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > November > 17
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Ohio Business Roundtable backs tax cut freeeze to balance budget
The Ohio Business Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 17, joined three other major business groups in endorsing a plan to close a $851 million budget hole by postponing for two years the fifth year of state income tax cuts.
The announcement came as Senate Republican continued to caucus behind closed doors in an effort to reach agreement on how to fill the budget hole. The Democratic-controlled House has approved postponing the tax cut but that reportedly is only one of several options being considered by Senate Republicans.
“We do not believe there are other responsible options that can be pursued at this time that will generate $850 million in revenue or cost savings, certainly not by the end of this calendar year at which time the state must act on the governor’s proposal,” the roundtable said in a prepared statement.
The group is a partnership of the chief executives of the state’s major businesses.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, previously endorsed postponing the tax cut.
The Senate plans to consider a bill cutting legislators’ pay by 5 percent separately from the bill to fill the budget hole. The pay cut was part of the House bill.
The Senate pay cut bill also calls for 5 percent cuts for the governor, lieutenant governor and members of the governor’s cabinet.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
State worker caught golfing on work time
State worker Myron “Skip” Downard falsified his time cards, saying he was at work when actually he was ducking out to play with his Wednesday afternoon golf group at courses around Columbus, a report by state Inspector General Tom Charles said Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The inspector general investigated after a supervisor at the Industrial Commission of Ohio noticed discrepancies on Downard’s time records. Downard, who made $81,904 a year as a manager at the commission, retired Oct. 17, on his 26-year anniversary with state government and after the inspector general confronted him.
Scoring records from the Ohio Golf Association and time sheets filled out by Downard show he was golfing a dozen times while on the clock between April 2008 and April 2009, the report said. Four times Downard used sick time to escape to the links.
The report has been sent to the Columbus city attorney and Franklin County prosecutor for review.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment |
ODOT worker caught running a real estate business on state time
Ohio Department of Transportation employee Roland O. Lapido ran a real estate business on state time, a report from state Inspector General Tom Charles said on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Lapido, who works as a technician at ODOT’s headquarters in Columbus, made or received 17,976 calls on his personal cell phone during work hours during the course of 17 months. The calls to banks, mortgage companies, tenants and others amounted to 560 hours on the phone, or 69 work days, the report said. At Lapido’s rate of pay and benefits, it cost the state $29,994.
A second ODOT employee, Albert S. Antoine made more than 2,300 calls on his personal cell phone during work hours, amounting to 13 work days, Charles found. At Antoine’s rate of pay and benefits, that added up to $6,508.
Charles referred the report to the Franklin County prosecutor for review and to ODOT for a response.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment |
Dayton-area Dems endorse Fisher in U.S. Senate race
Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher on Tuesday, Nov. 17, announced endorsements from Dayton-area Democrats in his bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
He is running against Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner for the nomination.
Fisher announced endorsements from:
State Senator Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton
State Representative Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton
State Representative Roland Winburn, D-Harrison Twp.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck
Huber Heights Mayor Ronald A. Fisher
Riverside Mayor Johnnie Doan
Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland
Trotwood Mayor Darreyl D. Davis
Wilmington Mayor David Raizk
“Ohio’s hard-working families need an advocate in Washington D.C. who will look out for their best interests and work to improve their quality,” Strahorn said in a press release.
“With Lee in the U.S. Senate, Ohio will finally have two senators committed to ensuring that our state becomes a clean energy pioneer, bringing thousands of new jobs and revitalizing our economy.”
Fisher said he welcomed the endorsements.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of suburban Cincinnati and Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley are seeking the Republican nomination.
The race is for the seat now held by Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who is retiring and not seeking re-election.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment |
Greenville attorney suspended
The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday, Nov. 17, suspended a Greenville attorney’s law license for six months for violating a court’s gag order and then lying to the court about it.
While serving as appointed defense counsel for a child accused of setting a fire that killed five people, attorney David Rohrer violated the trial court’s gag order by indirectly leaking a document to the Darke County Daily Advocate newspaper, the Supreme Court found. The newspaper ran a story based on the leaked document. Later, during a court hearing, Rohrer made misleading statements about his role in the leak.
The Supreme Court said Rohrer’s conduct violated the discipline rules that prohibit knowingly making a false statement to a tribunal, knowingly disobeying a rule or order of a court, engaging in conduct that reflects adversely on an attorney’s fitness to practice law, engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and engaging in conduct that involves fraud, deceit, dishonesty or misrepresentation.
