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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2011 > February > 07
Monday, February 7, 2011
Abortion foes to announce “Heartbeat Bill”
Opponents of abortion plan to announce a “Heartbeat Bill”, aimed at making sure “all Ohio babies with beating hearts are protected by law,” according to a Monday press release.
The announcement will come at a Wednesday press conference in Columbus that will feature “red, heart-shaped balloons with personalized messages from the pro-life grassroots urging legislators to support the Heartbeat bill,” the release said.
“If the heartbeat is detected, that child is protected,” said Janet Folger Porter, president of Faith2Action and a former legislative director of Ohio Right to Life.
Porter said a heartbeat can be detected as early as 18 to 24 days. If Ohio enacts the bill, Porter said that she expects its fate ultimately would be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, criticized the plan and said it would lead to years of legal battling.
“This legislation is launching a full-scale attack on women’s reproductive rights in this state instead of fixing the economy,” said Copeland.
Porter said the bill would be formally introduced on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, chairman of the House Health Committee, is expected to sponsor the bill.
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TweetDem lawmaker unveils “Taxpayers Right to Know Act” -critical of “JobsOhio”
Rep. Matt Lundy, D-Elyria, on Monday unveiled the “Taxpayers Right to Know Act” which would make public-private partnerships such as Republican John Kasich’s JobsOhio plan subject to Ohio’s public records and open meetings laws.
“Government operating in the dark is very dangerous for taxpayers,” Lundy, a former TV journalist, said at a Statehouse press conference. For drama, Lundy had the lights doused to create darkness as the press conference started.
Rob Nichols, Kasich’s spokesman, said the governor generally doesn’t comment on pending legislation but this time would:
“JobsOhio will be transparent. We are committed to working to provide more sunshine into the process but at the end of the day the governor is committed to doing what JobsOhio is intended to do … create jobs in the state.”
The House last week passed House Bill 1, which would create JobsOhio.
Senate committee hearings are scheduled this week. Open meeting and public records law would not apply to the public-private partnership created by the bill.
Kasich is to address the Dayton chamber’s board of trustees on the legislation on Feb. 16 at the Dayton Convention Center.
JobsOhio would replace the state development department which Nichols called a “dysfunctional, calcified failure.”
JobsOhio would be run by a nine-member board, headed by the governor.
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TweetOPERS chief to step down
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System Chief Executive Chris DeRose is resigning after four years at the helm to take a job with Ingenix, a health care consulting company.
The OPERS board will conduct a national search to replace DeRose.
With assets of more than $75 billion, OPERS is the largest public pension system in Ohio and the 12th largest in the nation. It provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits for public employees throughout the state and serves nearly 954,000 members, including more than 171,500 retirees.
Lawmakers are beginning work on a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s five public pension systems that will likely force government employees to work longer before they’re eligible to retire, chip in more toward retirement and then accept a smaller pension check. The changes are needed to shore up the long-term financial solvency of the pension funds.
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TweetGov. Kasich to speak at Dayton Chamber of Commerce on Feb. 16
Gov. John Kasich will speak to the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of trustees on Feb. 16 and the topic is House Bill 1, Kasich’s “JobsOhio” plan to create a non-profit corporation for economic development.
“This is an honor to have the governor come and address our board,” Chris Kershner, chamber vice president for public policy and economic development, said Monday.
“We look forward to participating with him and his administration on ways to improve the business climate in Ohio.”
The House last week passed House Bill 1 and it is now before the Senate.
The meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. in room 106 of the Dayton Convention Center, said Kershner.
The chamber’s board is opening the meeting to members of the business community but an RSVP is required, said Kershner.
Those wishing to attend may call 937-226-8266 or email mar@dacc.org, said Kershner.
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