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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Gov. Strickland invokes Dayton’s Wright brothers in farewell address
Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday invoked the spirit of Orville and Wilbur Wright - Dayton’s aviation pioneers - to describe how he tried to lead Ohio through the toughest economic times since the Great Depression.
“It can’t be done, a man might as well try to fly,” Strickland said in his farewell address before the Columbus Metropolitan Club.
That was a common put down to a powerful, optimistic idea until the Wright brothers made their historic flight 110 years ago, Strickland said.
Even one of their assistants said they were “nuts,” the governor added.
“But it turned out those nuts could fly,” said Strickland, who leaves office on Jan. 9 after his defeat for re-election by Republican John Kasich.
In Ohio, nobody gave up in tough times, he said.
“Right here in Ohio, we were faced with the first wave of the economic storm, a storm the likes of which no one under the age of 85 can recall seeing before.
“But we didn’t throw up our hands, give into despair and say man might as well try to fly,” he said.
Instead, Strickland said, he tried to lay a solid foundation for Ohio’s future by investing in advanced energy programs, reforming schools and making higher education more accessible.
“….I believe in the future. I believe in Ohio,” Strickland said. “And when time casts the final vote, the foundation of Ohio will speak for us.”
To read his speech, click here.
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TweetStrickland sticks to 3-day policy for “Calamity Days”
On his way out of office, Gov. Ted Strickland Wednesday said he is sticking to his policy that limits Ohio’s schools to three “calamity days” - the days students are allowed off because of snow or similar problems.
Gov.-elect John Kasich told the Dayton Daily News on Tuesday that when he takes office he’ll switch back to five “calamity days”, after being lobbied on the issue by his daughter Reese, 10, and Elin Hansen, 10, daughter of his chief of staff, Beth Hansen.
“The state pays for all of the ‘calamity days’,” Strickland, a Democrat, said after a speech in Columbus.
“I believe that when the state pays for a day of instruction for a student the student should get a day of instruction. It’s common sense to me.”
He declined to get into a running argument with Kasich, a Republican who defeated Strickland on Nov. 2.
“Jan. 10 he’ll be governor and he’ll make decisions and I made decisions as governor,” said Strickland. “He has a right to make decisions and I’ll try to respect that.”
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Tweet$12 million in clean up money for Dayton area
State officials on Wednesday announced two settlements with the former General Motors Corp. that will provide more than $12 million for environmental clean up at two former GM sites in the Miami Valley.
The $12 million is on top of $39 million in clean up money that GM announced for five Ohio sites in October.
The first settlement agreement provides $6.7 million for clean up at the Garland Road landfill site near West Milton in Miami County, which GM used in the 1960s. The money will be used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for remediation efforts there.
The second deal provides $5.3 million for clean up at the Dayton Tech Town business park, which was formerly the GM Harrison Radiator plant and a Delphi property. The state will funnel the money to the city of Dayton for clean up oversight.
“Bringing back this money for Ohio is a notable accomplishment, especially because GM did not even own these particular sites at the time of its bankruptcy,” said Attorney General Richard Cordray in a written statement. “With this result, these sites which might otherwise have continued to sit and fester, will now contribute in a positive way to continuing development of the surrounding community. That’s why we worked so hard to reach these agreements, and we expect that the remediated sites will be far better able to attract new investment and business in our communities.”
The settlement agreements must be approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, which is expected next year.
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TweetCourt rules on Beavercreek doc’s public records case
In a 7-0 ruling released Wednesday, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the State Medical Board’s decision to redact certain public records but said the board erred in a handful of the redactions.
The State Medical Board released more than 8,000 pages and several CDs of documents requested by Dr. Mehendra K. Mahajan, a Beavercreek psychiatrist who was being investigated by the board. It redacted - blacked out - some information that is exempt from disclosure under the state’s open records law.
But the court said it should not have redacted an email sent May 17, 2007 from a hearing examiner to his supervisor nor should it have blacked out Mahajan’s name in some documents.
In May 2010, the medical board put Mahajan on three years probation for failing to meet the minimum standards of care with 10 patients. The probation terms include regular reports to and appearances before the state board, completing a medical records course and getting a monitoring physician.
Mahajan is appealing the board’s order in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, saying it lacked evidence, used inappropriate expert witness testimony and relied on erroneous rulings by a hearing examiner.
In 2005, the board reprimanded Mahajan and imposed probationary conditions based on his admission that he signed blank prescriptions.
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TweetCordray heading to D.C.
Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said Wednesday that he is taking a job as head of enforcement will for the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection in Washington, D.C. and plans for run for statewide office — either governor or attorney general — in 2014.
Cordray said the new job is an “amazing opportunity” that dovetails with his experience as Ohio attorney general, state treasurer and Franklin County treasurer.
The new bureau will be a stand alone federal regulatory agency that oversees consumer financial products such as payday loans, credit cards, mortgages and college loans. Cordray said he will work closely with the 50 states’ attorneys general to protect consumers and make financial products transparent and clear for average Americans.
Cordray, a Democrat, lost re-election last month to Republican Mike DeWine but said he plans a comeback in 2014.
Cordray has served as a state lawmaker, Franklin County treasurer, state treasurer and attorney general and he is a Jeopardy! game show champion. He clerked for two U.S. Supreme Court justices and personally argued seven cases before the high court.
As attorney general, Cordray has focused on consumer scams, home foreclosures and holding Wall Street accountable.
Cordray said his family will continue to live in Grove City, outside of Columbus, and he will commute to Washington, D.C.
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TweetGov. Strickland to make final major speech Wednesday
Gov. Ted Strickland today will give his final major address before leaving office next month. The speech will be at the Columbus Metropolitan Club forum.
The forum meets at the Athletic Club of Columbus. The speech will be streamed live on www.governor.ohio.gov and www.ohiochannel.org, Strickland’s office said.
Strickland was defeated for re-election on Nov. 2 by Republican challenger John Kasich, who takes office on Jan. 10.
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TweetMiamisburg auctioneer to seek Lehner House seat
The field of hopefuls already is growing for appointment to the Ohio House seat that Rep. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, is expected to vacate.
Doug Sorrell, 61, of Miamisburg, an auctioneer and former Miamisburg City Council member, said Wednesday that he will apply for appointment to the 37th District seat.
“There are a lot of problems in this state,” said Sorrell. His experience both in government and as a small businessman has helped prepare him for the job, Sorrell said.
A state Senate screening committee has recommended that Lehner be appointed to the state 6th District Senate seat that Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, will vacate in January when he becomes secretary of state.
A House Republican screening committee will be formed to recommend a replacement for Lehner. The 37th House district includes part of southern Montgomery County.
James L. Butler, Jr., of Oakwood, an attorney, also has expressed interest in the House seat.
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