http://www.ideastream.org/ohio The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. (c) Copyright 2013 ideastream - For Personal Use Only http://www.ideastream.org/common/images/itunes/small_ohio.jpg http://www.ideastream.org/ohio en-us ideastream ideastream The State of Ohio is a weekly news program spotlighting the latest happenings at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s office, at the Ohio Supreme Court and throughout the Buckeye State. ideastream kkasler@statehousenews.org No http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53800 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53800#When:15:42:00Z The IRS scandal that has been rattling Washington has roots in Ohio. State lawmakers did some work this week on recently passed laws that had some issues - the "third grade reading guarantee" and the law on concussions in youth sports. Gov. John Kasich is set to deliver the commencement address at Chardon High School next month - and school safety was the topic at the state Board of Education this week. And Gov. Kasich signed legislation establishing an official state artifact – it’s the Adena Pipe, a prehistoric effigy pipe found in 1901 in a burial mound near Chillicothe. Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, Ohio will become one of 45 states that will start testing its students under what are called the Common Core State Standards, a new set of guidelines for English and language arts and math developed by education experts and specialists to prepare kids for college or for the workforce. Common. But some groups on both sides of the political spectrum are now raising concerns about the Common Core curriculum, so the House Education Committee has been holding hearings to answer those questions. It's chaired by Republican Rep. Gerald Stebelton of Lancaster. As has become the custom for presidential elections, Ohio was practically the center of the universe last fall. And while there weren’t any major snafus, there was some negative attention paid to Ohio as the battle whether there would be early voting the weekend before Election Day dragged on and was finally settled with just days to go. That resulted on long lines at some voting centers on that final weekend, with pictures of those lines being picked up and picked apart by national media. This year is a bit of a breather for Ohio. With no major statewide or congressional races on the ballot in 2013, lawmakers have some time to make changes if they feel the need. Some changes have been proposed that have been well-received, while others are more controversial. Sharing their thoughts on the proposed changes - and predictions for what might be ahead - are Dan Tokaji, Senior Fellow in election law at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University and Stephen Brooks, Associate Director of the Ray C Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at the University of Akron. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:42:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 20 The IRS scandal that has been rattling Washington has roots in Ohio. State lawmakers did some work this week on recently passed laws that had some issues - the "third grade reading guarantee" and the law on concussions in youth sports. Gov. John Kasich is set to deliver the commencement address at Chardon High School next month - and school safety was the topic at the state Board of Education this week. And Gov. Kasich signed legislation establishing an official state artifact – it’s the Adena Pipe, a prehistoric effigy pipe found in 1901 in a burial mound near Chillicothe. Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, Ohio will become one of 45 states that will start testing its students under what are called the Common Core State Standards, a new set of guidelines for English and language arts and math developed by education experts and specialists to prepare kids for college or for the workforce. Common. But some groups on both sides of the political spectrum are now raising concerns about the Common Core curriculum, so the House Education Committee has been holding hearings to answer those questions. It's chaired by Republican Rep. Gerald Stebelton of Lancaster. As has become the custom for presidential elections, Ohio was practically the center of the universe last fall. And while there weren’t any major snafus, there was some negative attention paid to Ohio as the battle whether there would be early voting the weekend before Election Day dragged on and was finally settled with just days to go. That resulted on long lines at some voting centers on that final weekend, with pictures of those lines being picked up and picked apart by national media. This year is a bit of a breather for Ohio. With no major statewide or congressional races on the ballot in 2013, lawmakers have some time to make changes if they feel the need. Some changes have been proposed that have been well-received, while others are more controversial. Sharing their thoughts on the proposed changes - and predictions for what might be ahead - are Dan Tokaji, Senior Fellow in election law at the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University and Stephen Brooks, Associate Director of the Ray C Bliss Institute for Applied Politics at the University of Akron. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Education, Government/Politics, Elections http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53674 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53674#When:16:01:00Z The story that’s gripped most of Ohio – and much of the nation this week – is the escape and rescue of three women who’d been missing for years on the west side of Cleveland. Republican Speaker Bill Batchelder says the story has inspired him and other lawmakers to work on another crackdown on human trafficking. Gov. John Kasich isn’t giving up hope that lawmakers will change their minds and go forward with Medicaid expansion. Tuesday’s special election ballot had great news for libraries, and good news for schools once you dig past the initial numbers. The Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court is looking toward future ballots, saying she has a a plan to change the process of electing justices. The Ohio Supreme Court is weighing whether to uphold the sentence of the only woman on death row in the state. Senators decided on a bill that would make some changes in elections laws in a party line vote. Another loss for the state’s four casinos – all of them saw dips in April revenues compared to their March numbers. There are more than 2,200 bridges are structurally deficient statewide - but the state says there isn't enough money to fix them. And a longtime lawmaker has made it official – Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown is the first to officially challenge US Senator Rob Portman in the 2016 contest. Most violent crimes in Ohio are committed by people who have at least two felony convictions. An Ohio State University study of violent crimes data from 1974 to 2010 shows less than 1% of Ohio’s population has two or more felony convictions – and they committed 57% of those crimes in that period. Last week, Attorney General Mike DeWine, state Sen. Jim Hughes of Columbus and Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced a bill that seeks to shut down just that small percentage of violent criminals with guns – people they call violent career criminals. Sen. Hughes says it’s a laser-like focus on the group that’s doing the most damage. And Democrats such as Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D-Youngstown) support the bill Just eighteen months ago, a much more controversial proposal was on the ballot - Issue 2, which asked voters if they wanted to keep Senate Bill 5, the law that made major changes in the state’s collective bargaining laws affecting public employees, including police officers and firefighters. That issue was soundly defeated. But the idea was back last week, when two Republican state lawmakers introduced their own so-called “right to work” measures. Weighing in on the issue of "right to work" are Matt Mayer, a conservative activist and heads Opportunity Ohio, a free market think tank in Dublin, and Brian Rothenberg with the liberal coalition Progress Ohio. The school year is winding down, but the work is just beginning for the state’s new school superintendent. Dick Ross spoke before the Columbus Metropolitan Club this week about the challenges ahead of him as he works to implement new requirements in the state’s more than 600 public school districts and on the 1.8 million kids in Ohio’s public schools. Baseball is finally back, and this week we close with two baseball related stories – both involving our recently retired colleague Bill Cohen. On Tuesday, he called a game between the Capitol Cannons, a team of state lawmakers and the Ohio Village Muffins, a team of baseball players who follow Civil War-era rules. And Bill also was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Columbus Clippers game on Monday. Fri, 10 May 2013 16:01:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 19 The story that’s gripped most of Ohio – and much of the nation this week – is the escape and rescue of three women who’d been missing for years on the west side of Cleveland. Republican Speaker Bill Batchelder says the story has inspired him and other lawmakers to work on another crackdown on human trafficking. Gov. John Kasich isn’t giving up hope that lawmakers will change their minds and go forward with Medicaid expansion. Tuesday’s special election ballot had great news for libraries, and good news for schools once you dig past the initial numbers. The Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court is looking toward future ballots, saying she has a a plan to change the process of electing justices. The Ohio Supreme Court is weighing whether to uphold the sentence of the only woman on death row in the state. Senators decided on a bill that would make some changes in elections laws in a party line vote. Another loss for the state’s four casinos – all of them saw dips in April revenues compared to their March numbers. There are more than 2,200 bridges are structurally deficient statewide - but the state says there isn't enough money to fix them. And a longtime lawmaker has made it official – Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown is the first to officially challenge US Senator Rob Portman in the 2016 contest. Most violent crimes in Ohio are committed by people who have at least two felony convictions. An Ohio State University study of violent crimes data from 1974 to 2010 shows less than 1% of Ohio’s population has two or more felony convictions – and they committed 57% of those crimes in that period. Last week, Attorney General Mike DeWine, state Sen. Jim Hughes of Columbus and Franklin County prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced a bill that seeks to shut down just that small percentage of violent criminals with guns – people they call violent career criminals. Sen. Hughes says it’s a laser-like focus on the group that’s doing the most damage. And Democrats such as Sen. Joe Schiavoni (D-Youngstown) support the bill Just eighteen months ago, a much more controversial proposal was on the ballot - Issue 2, which asked voters if they wanted to keep Senate Bill 5, the law that made major changes in the state’s collective bargaining laws affecting public employees, including police officers and firefighters. That issue was soundly defeated. But the idea was back last week, when two Republican state lawmakers introduced their own so-called “right to work” measures. Weighing in on the issue of "right to work" are Matt Mayer, a conservative activist and heads Opportunity Ohio, a free market think tank in Dublin, and Brian Rothenberg with the liberal coalition Progress Ohio. The school year is winding down, but the work is just beginning for the state’s new school superintendent. Dick Ross spoke before the Columbus Metropolitan Club this week about the challenges ahead of him as he works to implement new requirements in the state’s more than 600 public school districts and on the 1.8 million kids in Ohio’s public schools. Baseball is finally back, and this week we close with two baseball related stories – both involving our recently retired colleague Bill Cohen. On Tuesday, he called a game between the Capitol Cannons, a team of state lawmakers and the Ohio Village Muffins, a team of baseball players who follow Civil War-era rules. And Bill also was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Columbus Clippers game on Monday. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Community/Human Interest, Courts/Crime - Fire/Law Enforcement, Education, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53563 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53563#When:20:52:00Z This week, we say goodbye to one of our crew - Bill Cohen, an icon at the Ohio Statehouse. Fri, 03 May 2013 20:52:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 18 This week, we say goodbye to one of our crew - Bill Cohen, an icon at the Ohio Statehouse. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53461 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53461#When:14:40:00Z It didn’t take Senate Republicans long to unveil their version of the budget that the House passed last week. Senate President Keith Faber unveiled GOP Senators’ spending plan, which does not include Gov. John Kasich’s proposed expansion of the state sales tax to some 80 services not taxed now, it does not include the tax on big oil and natural gas drillers, and it does not include an expansion of Medicaid. But Gov. Kasich says he's not discouraged. President Faber started out the budget news conference by announcing that the Senate would take up an all-out ban on internet cafes. Senators had told our Bill Cohen that they planned to deal with the internet café ban, but had said it could take months to pass it as part of a comprehensive reform. And the race for the Democratic nomination for governor is on, as Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald says he’s officially in the race, after months on the local Democratic dinner circuit. The Senate Republican budget departs dramatically from Gov. John Kasich’s spending plan, as the House Republicans’ budget which passed last week. Both chambers stripped out Kasich’s proposed expansion of Medicaid and the severance tax on big oil and natural gas drillers - though polls show both of those ideas have support from voters, who also elected Republican state lawmakers in big numbers in the last two elections. So is the legislature too extreme? Or is it doing the hard work that voters expect? Jeff Longstreth is a Republican consultant and has worked on statewide campaigns, perhaps most notably Issue 3, the so-called Health Care Freedom Amendment, in 2011. Dale Butland is with the progressive think-tank Innovation Ohio, and is a veteran of statewide candidate and issues campaigns, including the repeal of the collective bargaining reform law Senate Bill 5 that same year. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:40:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 17 It didn’t take Senate Republicans long to unveil their version of the budget that the House passed last week. Senate President Keith Faber unveiled GOP Senators’ spending plan, which does not include Gov. John Kasich’s proposed expansion of the state sales tax to some 80 services not taxed now, it does not include the tax on big oil and natural gas drillers, and it does not include an expansion of Medicaid. But Gov. Kasich says he's not discouraged. President Faber started out the budget news conference by announcing that the Senate would take up an all-out ban on internet cafes. Senators had told our Bill Cohen that they planned to deal with the internet café ban, but had said it could take months to pass it as part of a comprehensive reform. And the race for the Democratic nomination for governor is on, as Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald says he’s officially in the race, after months on the local Democratic dinner circuit. The Senate Republican budget departs dramatically from Gov. John Kasich’s spending plan, as the House Republicans’ budget which passed last week. Both chambers stripped out Kasich’s proposed expansion of Medicaid and the severance tax on big oil and natural gas drillers - though polls show both of those ideas have support from voters, who also elected Republican state lawmakers in big numbers in the last two elections. So is the legislature too extreme? Or is it doing the hard work that voters expect? Jeff Longstreth is a Republican consultant and has worked on statewide campaigns, perhaps most notably Issue 3, the so-called Health Care Freedom Amendment, in 2011. Dale Butland is with the progressive think-tank Innovation Ohio, and is a veteran of statewide candidate and issues campaigns, including the repeal of the collective bargaining reform law Senate Bill 5 that same year. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53252 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53252#When:15:00:00Z As promised, House Republicans brought their version of Gov. John Kasich’s budget to the floor this week. One of the most fundamental debates in this budget has been the question of income tax cuts and whether they create jobs. Republicans have long claimed they do. Democrats have long said they don’t. Discussing that crucial issue are two experts on the economic impact of tax policy. Jon Honeck is the director of public policy and advocacy with at the Center for Community Solutions, a progressive-leaning think tank out of Cleveland. And Richard Vedder is a distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University in Athens and is an adjunct scholar with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and has testified in favor of Gov. Kasich’s budget. He joins us through the facilities of WOUB in Athens. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 16 As promised, House Republicans brought their version of Gov. John Kasich’s budget to the floor this week. One of the most fundamental debates in this budget has been the question of income tax cuts and whether they create jobs. Republicans have long claimed they do. Democrats have long said they don’t. Discussing that crucial issue are two experts on the economic impact of tax policy. Jon Honeck is the director of public policy and advocacy with at the Center for Community Solutions, a progressive-leaning think tank out of Cleveland. And Richard Vedder is a distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University in Athens and is an adjunct scholar with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and has testified in favor of Gov. Kasich’s budget. He joins us through the facilities of WOUB in Athens. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53111 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/53111#When:04:58:00Z House Republicans reveal their version of Gov. Kasich's budget. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:58:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 15 House Republicans reveal their version of Gov. Kasich's budget. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Energy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52999 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52999#When:14:43:00Z Gov. John Kasich started the week in northeast Ohio, signing the transportation bill that also hikes the speed limit to 70 mph on certain interstate highways. Cleaning the state’s roadways this winter was much more expensive than it was in the very mild winter of 2012. The state's per-capita income rose at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year. Portage County Tea Party leader Tom Zawistowki says he’ll challenge the official who’s set to replace Ohio Republican Party Chair Bob Bennett as he leaves the party chairman's seat a second time. The director of the Department of Veterans Services will be among those inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame next month. Lawmakers are still on break, but they didn’t leave their concerns about the budget behind – it needs to be in place by the end of June, and there isn’t a lot of time left for the budget to be overhauled as much as some lawmakers have hinted it will be. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the expansion of the state sales tax onto some 80 services that are now not taxed is in serious danger, and that the severance tax on big oil and natural gas drillers is also facing an uncertain future. Longtime Republican Senators Sen. Scott Oelslager of Canton, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Bill Seitz, a Republican from Cincinnati, talk about what they see coming their way in the budget. Spring break is ending for school districts around the state, and students and teachers are starting the final two months of the school year with a new leader at the head of the public school system in Ohio. Richard Ross was sworn in last week as state school superintendent, after winning the job from acting superintendent Michael Sawyers. Ross was the director of the governor's Office of 21st Century Education, and some Democratic critics blasted him as being too close to Kasich’s policies to advocate for public schools. But Ross has said that his experience in the governor’s office gives him a unique perspective in this new position. Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:43:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 14 Gov. John Kasich started the week in northeast Ohio, signing the transportation bill that also hikes the speed limit to 70 mph on certain interstate highways. Cleaning the state’s roadways this winter was much more expensive than it was in the very mild winter of 2012. The state's per-capita income rose at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year. Portage County Tea Party leader Tom Zawistowki says he’ll challenge the official who’s set to replace Ohio Republican Party Chair Bob Bennett as he leaves the party chairman's seat a second time. The director of the Department of Veterans Services will be among those inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame next month. Lawmakers are still on break, but they didn’t leave their concerns about the budget behind – it needs to be in place by the end of June, and there isn’t a lot of time left for the budget to be overhauled as much as some lawmakers have hinted it will be. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the expansion of the state sales tax onto some 80 services that are now not taxed is in serious danger, and that the severance tax on big oil and natural gas drillers is also facing an uncertain future. Longtime Republican Senators Sen. Scott Oelslager of Canton, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Bill Seitz, a Republican from Cincinnati, talk about what they see coming their way in the budget. Spring break is ending for school districts around the state, and students and teachers are starting the final two months of the school year with a new leader at the head of the public school system in Ohio. Richard Ross was sworn in last week as state school superintendent, after winning the job from acting superintendent Michael Sawyers. Ross was the director of the governor's Office of 21st Century Education, and some Democratic critics blasted him as being too close to Kasich’s policies to advocate for public schools. But Ross has said that his experience in the governor’s office gives him a unique perspective in this new position. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52886 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52886#When:03:11:00Z Democrats blast back on the budget, and Tea Party Republicans revolt against the Ohio GOP. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 03:11:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 13 Democrats blast back on the budget, and Tea Party Republicans revolt against the Ohio GOP. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52795 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52795#When:22:53:00Z Gov. Kasich speaks out about his troubled budget. Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:53:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 12 Gov. Kasich speaks out about his troubled budget. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Education, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52671 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52671#When:05:46:00Z Activists unite on JobsOhio, and social services groups say Kasich budget is surprising. Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:46:00 -0400 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 11 Activists unite on JobsOhio, and social services groups say Kasich budget is surprising. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Community/Human Interest, Economy, Education, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52483 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52483#When:19:23:00Z Two activists who don't agree on much do agree on some things about the budget. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:23:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 10 Two activists who don't agree on much do agree on some things about the budget. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Courts/Crime - Fire/Law Enforcement, Government/Politics, Health, Mental Health http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52354 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52354#When:12:59:00Z Gov. John Kasich’s poll numbers are at a record high, and the Quinnipiac poll out this week finds that Kasich holds a lead over all of his likely Democratic opponents. But the news wasn’t as good for the Governor when pollsters asked about his budget - 48% said they oppose the overall idea of cutting income taxes and expanding the sales tax, with 42% supporting it. And the numbers are worse when it’s explained that the income tax will be cut to 5% while the sales tax will be expanded to include tickets, haircuts, lobbyists and legal services. The costs of moving the State of the State speech out of the Statehouse to Lima were more than double what officials there expected, but they're also saying it was worth the money. The Republican-dominated House has approved Gov. John Kasich’s proposal to raise around $1.5 billion for state highway projects through Ohio Turnpike bonds. And the latest ratings of public school performance from the 2011-2012 school year show that schools made strong academic gains in eighth-grade math and science, but two districts are on academic emergency with eleven districts on academic watch. The governor’s budget has been out for almost a month, and activists and groups continue to review it as hearings continue in the Ohio House. This week a panel of experts talked budget at the Columbus Metropolitan Club, and afterwards two budget watchers sat down to discuss it further. John Begala, executive director of the Center for Community Solutions, and Greg Lawson of the conservative leaning Buckeye Institute agree that they like parts of the budget. But they disagree strongly over one element - the Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, Rep. John Carney of Columbus continues to share the concerns of minority Democrats in the House, who are worried about how the shift in reliance on income taxes to property taxes will hurt lower-income Ohioans. And a visit to someplace that few people have seen - and even fewer are likely to go to in the future. The state’s exotic animal facility is nearly ready to host lions, tigers, bears, snakes, primates or any other animal that could end up there as a result of the law that passed last year. The Department of Agriculture opened up the high-security facility in Reynoldsburg east of Columbus to the media this week, and Agriculture Director David Daniels and state veterinarian Tony Forshey showed off the three areas containing cages for large animals, for primates, and for reptiles. Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:59:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 09 Gov. John Kasich’s poll numbers are at a record high, and the Quinnipiac poll out this week finds that Kasich holds a lead over all of his likely Democratic opponents. But the news wasn’t as good for the Governor when pollsters asked about his budget - 48% said they oppose the overall idea of cutting income taxes and expanding the sales tax, with 42% supporting it. And the numbers are worse when it’s explained that the income tax will be cut to 5% while the sales tax will be expanded to include tickets, haircuts, lobbyists and legal services. The costs of moving the State of the State speech out of the Statehouse to Lima were more than double what officials there expected, but they're also saying it was worth the money. The Republican-dominated House has approved Gov. John Kasich’s proposal to raise around $1.5 billion for state highway projects through Ohio Turnpike bonds. And the latest ratings of public school performance from the 2011-2012 school year show that schools made strong academic gains in eighth-grade math and science, but two districts are on academic emergency with eleven districts on academic watch. The governor’s budget has been out for almost a month, and activists and groups continue to review it as hearings continue in the Ohio House. This week a panel of experts talked budget at the Columbus Metropolitan Club, and afterwards two budget watchers sat down to discuss it further. John Begala, executive director of the Center for Community Solutions, and Greg Lawson of the conservative leaning Buckeye Institute agree that they like parts of the budget. But they disagree strongly over one element - the Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, Rep. John Carney of Columbus continues to share the concerns of minority Democrats in the House, who are worried about how the shift in reliance on income taxes to property taxes will hurt lower-income Ohioans. And a visit to someplace that few people have seen - and even fewer are likely to go to in the future. The state’s exotic animal facility is nearly ready to host lions, tigers, bears, snakes, primates or any other animal that could end up there as a result of the law that passed last year. The Department of Agriculture opened up the high-security facility in Reynoldsburg east of Columbus to the media this week, and Agriculture Director David Daniels and state veterinarian Tony Forshey showed off the three areas containing cages for large animals, for primates, and for reptiles. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52217 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52217#When:14:18:00Z For only the second time, a governor of Ohio took his annual State of the State speech out of Capitol Square in Columbus. And for the first time, it happened in prime time. Gov. John Kasich gave his third State of the State speech at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center in downtown Lima on Tuesday night. The Governor talked a lot about jobs, but spent most of his speech selling his just-introduced budget. He also honored three people with Governor’s Courage Awards - astronaut Neil Armstrong, the Ohioan who became the first man to walk on the moon – his sons Rick and Mark accepted for their father, who died last year; Sondra Williams, a Columbus activist, author, speaker and mother of four adults with autism who has autism herself; and nine faculty and staff from Chardon High School, where just about a year ago three students were killed and three others injured in the worst public high school shooting since 2005. Just a few moments after the Governor finished his speech, the official responses to the speeches began. Republicans went first, with Speaker Bill Batchelder and Senate President Keith Faber praising his proposals but leaving lots of hints that not everything Kasich put forward would actually be approved. The Democrats of the House and Senate were up next. House Minority Leader Armond Budish of Beachwood cheered the Medicaid expansion, but he and other Democrats blasted the new school funding formula and the idea of income tax cuts paid for with an expansion of the state sales tax onto certain services. For further analysis of the speech and reaction to it, the reporters of the Statehouse News Bureau – Bill Cohen and Jo Ingles - share their observations. Also on the day that Gov. Kasich delivered his speech, the man who’s right now being talked about as the leading Democrat to run against him delivered his key annual address. Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald was before about a thousand people at the City Club of Cleveland with the State of the County speech. Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:18:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 08 For only the second time, a governor of Ohio took his annual State of the State speech out of Capitol Square in Columbus. And for the first time, it happened in prime time. Gov. John Kasich gave his third State of the State speech at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center in downtown Lima on Tuesday night. The Governor talked a lot about jobs, but spent most of his speech selling his just-introduced budget. He also honored three people with Governor’s Courage Awards - astronaut Neil Armstrong, the Ohioan who became the first man to walk on the moon – his sons Rick and Mark accepted for their father, who died last year; Sondra Williams, a Columbus activist, author, speaker and mother of four adults with autism who has autism herself; and nine faculty and staff from Chardon High School, where just about a year ago three students were killed and three others injured in the worst public high school shooting since 2005. Just a few moments after the Governor finished his speech, the official responses to the speeches began. Republicans went first, with Speaker Bill Batchelder and Senate President Keith Faber praising his proposals but leaving lots of hints that not everything Kasich put forward would actually be approved. The Democrats of the House and Senate were up next. House Minority Leader Armond Budish of Beachwood cheered the Medicaid expansion, but he and other Democrats blasted the new school funding formula and the idea of income tax cuts paid for with an expansion of the state sales tax onto certain services. For further analysis of the speech and reaction to it, the reporters of the Statehouse News Bureau – Bill Cohen and Jo Ingles - share their observations. Also on the day that Gov. Kasich delivered his speech, the man who’s right now being talked about as the leading Democrat to run against him delivered his key annual address. Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald was before about a thousand people at the City Club of Cleveland with the State of the County speech. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Economy, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52127 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/52127#When:05:31:00Z Starting our continuing coverage of the specifics in Gov. Kasich’s budget, focusing this week on the school funding formula in it, are two leaders in public education in Ohio. Fri, 15 Feb 2013 05:31:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 07 Starting our continuing coverage of the specifics in Gov. Kasich’s budget, focusing this week on the school funding formula in it, are two leaders in public education in Ohio. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Education, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51962 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51962#When:18:44:00Z To get a perspective on how the math and the politics actually work in this budget, two longtime budget veterans share their thoughts on it. Bill Shkurti was the state budget director under Democratic Gov. Richard Celeste. And Neil Clark is the former chief financial officer of the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus. Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:44:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 06 To get a perspective on how the math and the politics actually work in this budget, two longtime budget veterans share their thoughts on it. Bill Shkurti was the state budget director under Democratic Gov. Richard Celeste. And Neil Clark is the former chief financial officer of the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51835 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51835#When:13:40:00Z Gov. John Kasich is now trying his hand at school funding with a proposal that was unveiled this week, after months of dropped clues and dodged questions. The governor revealed his plan before a gathering of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, along with Richard Ross, director of 21st Century Education for the governor’s office, and Barbara Mattei Smith, the assistant policy director for education. Gov. Kasich says no district will be cut, and that state spending on K-12 will increase in both years of the budget. But he warns that districts that are on so-called "guarantees" won't get that money after this two-yera budget. The governor started selling his plan just a few hours later, at a virtual town hall at COSI in Columbus. He and his team took questions via Facebook and Twitter from those watching a live stream of the session on the Ohio Channel. The governor's office also put out reaction statements from a variety of sources, including Eric Gordon, the CEO of the Cleveland Municipal School District and Akron City Schools superintendent David James. But Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, who’s also a member of the Ohio House, wasn't pleased. And the day before the governor’s plan was proposed, a trio of House Democrats outlined what they say are three components that need to be part of any successful education reform. Reps. Teresa Fedor of Toledo, Matt Lundy of Elyria and Debbie Phillips of Athens said early learning programs, local property tax levy relief and more accountability for charter schools were critical to education reforms. A few hours before his funding formula was revealed, the governor was already making news regarding his budget and his JobsOhio agency when he appeared before the Associated Press Legislative Preview session at the Moyer Judicial Center. He blasted Democrats for opposing JobsOhio and saying they are hoping to "wreck the economy". At another AP session a few hours later, the state's top lawmakers were asked to react, and were also asked about their thoughts on the most important issues coming before the legislature this General Assembly. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:40:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 05 Gov. John Kasich is now trying his hand at school funding with a proposal that was unveiled this week, after months of dropped clues and dodged questions. The governor revealed his plan before a gathering of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, along with Richard Ross, director of 21st Century Education for the governor’s office, and Barbara Mattei Smith, the assistant policy director for education. Gov. Kasich says no district will be cut, and that state spending on K-12 will increase in both years of the budget. But he warns that districts that are on so-called "guarantees" won't get that money after this two-yera budget. The governor started selling his plan just a few hours later, at a virtual town hall at COSI in Columbus. He and his team took questions via Facebook and Twitter from those watching a live stream of the session on the Ohio Channel. The governor's office also put out reaction statements from a variety of sources, including Eric Gordon, the CEO of the Cleveland Municipal School District and Akron City Schools superintendent David James. But Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, who’s also a member of the Ohio House, wasn't pleased. And the day before the governor’s plan was proposed, a trio of House Democrats outlined what they say are three components that need to be part of any successful education reform. Reps. Teresa Fedor of Toledo, Matt Lundy of Elyria and Debbie Phillips of Athens said early learning programs, local property tax levy relief and more accountability for charter schools were critical to education reforms. A few hours before his funding formula was revealed, the governor was already making news regarding his budget and his JobsOhio agency when he appeared before the Associated Press Legislative Preview session at the Moyer Judicial Center. He blasted Democrats for opposing JobsOhio and saying they are hoping to "wreck the economy". At another AP session a few hours later, the state's top lawmakers were asked to react, and were also asked about their thoughts on the most important issues coming before the legislature this General Assembly. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Education, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51702 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51702#When:14:48:00Z For the second time in a year, a former state representative is headed from the Statehouse to state prison. Rep. Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton) pleaded guilty to eight charges and will serve three years for skimming as much as $150,000 from his campaign fund for personal uses. Gov. John Kasich wants to bring his State of the State speech west this year – he’s asking lawmakers for permission to move the annual address before a joint session of the House and Senate to downtown Lima at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The governor spent this week in Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. And there was one more swearing in ceremony this week, as appellate judge Judith French was publicly sworn in as the newest justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. It was 40 years ago this week that the US Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade. Activists on both sides of the issue marked that anniversary by vowing to continue their respective fights for and against a woman’s right to have an abortion. Ohio has been a major player among state legislatures on the issue – most notably with the introduction of the so-called Heartbeat Bill in 2011, which passed the House and but didn’t make it to the Senate floor before the end of the last legislative session in December. Discussing what might be ahead on the abortion issue in Ohio are Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life and Jamie Miracle, policy director of NARAL-Pro Choice Ohio. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:48:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 04 For the second time in a year, a former state representative is headed from the Statehouse to state prison. Rep. Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton) pleaded guilty to eight charges and will serve three years for skimming as much as $150,000 from his campaign fund for personal uses. Gov. John Kasich wants to bring his State of the State speech west this year – he’s asking lawmakers for permission to move the annual address before a joint session of the House and Senate to downtown Lima at 6:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The governor spent this week in Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. And there was one more swearing in ceremony this week, as appellate judge Judith French was publicly sworn in as the newest justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. It was 40 years ago this week that the US Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade. Activists on both sides of the issue marked that anniversary by vowing to continue their respective fights for and against a woman’s right to have an abortion. Ohio has been a major player among state legislatures on the issue – most notably with the introduction of the so-called Heartbeat Bill in 2011, which passed the House and but didn’t make it to the Senate floor before the end of the last legislative session in December. Discussing what might be ahead on the abortion issue in Ohio are Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life and Jamie Miracle, policy director of NARAL-Pro Choice Ohio. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Government/Politics, Health http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51518 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51518#When:14:15:00Z Gov. John Kasich signed dozens of bills into law right before the end of the year, after lawmakers passed them in some last minute sessions before the close of the 129th General Assembly. The governor is now signing some of those laws again ceremonially in public venues. He went to Hamilton Elementary School in Columbus to re-sign the law replacing the rating system for schools that goes from “excellent with distinction” to “academic emergency” with grades A through F. Meanwhile, Democrats are far in the minority in both the Ohio House and especially the Senate. But they have an agenda, which they unveiled this week. They say they’ll push for bills to curb gun violence, improve ballot access and support healthy, financially stable families. We’re still waiting to find out where the Governor wants to deliver his State of the State speech. But as he did last year, Youngstown-area state representative Ron Gerberry is protesting Gov. Kasich’s plans to move it away from the Statehouse. The state budget will be out in two weeks. A few hints have been dropped, but not many details. But the governor is likely to use his State of the State speech to sell the more controversial ideas in his budget. In the meantime, there are those who are trying to guess what those ideas will be. And the person who knows what’s in that document is here to talk a bit about it - I’m very pleased to welcome budget director Tim Keen. For six years, Ohio lawmakers have debated legislation that would require insurance companies to pay for treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders. But they’ve never passed anything. Last week, Gov. Kasich stepped in, filing paperwork with the federal government that basically means Ohio insurers will have to cover autism as they do other mental health issues. Families surrounded the governor at the event where he signed the order – and the parents shared their stories of struggling to pay for treatment for their kids – many of whom have now been mainstreamed and are doing well. He was also joined by Republican and Democratic state lawmakers, including Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati. But small businesses in Ohio are frustrated with the governor’s order, including one of their main lobbyists, Roger Geiger of the National Federation of Independent Business Ohio. Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:15:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 03 Gov. John Kasich signed dozens of bills into law right before the end of the year, after lawmakers passed them in some last minute sessions before the close of the 129th General Assembly. The governor is now signing some of those laws again ceremonially in public venues. He went to Hamilton Elementary School in Columbus to re-sign the law replacing the rating system for schools that goes from “excellent with distinction” to “academic emergency” with grades A through F. Meanwhile, Democrats are far in the minority in both the Ohio House and especially the Senate. But they have an agenda, which they unveiled this week. They say they’ll push for bills to curb gun violence, improve ballot access and support healthy, financially stable families. We’re still waiting to find out where the Governor wants to deliver his State of the State speech. But as he did last year, Youngstown-area state representative Ron Gerberry is protesting Gov. Kasich’s plans to move it away from the Statehouse. The state budget will be out in two weeks. A few hints have been dropped, but not many details. But the governor is likely to use his State of the State speech to sell the more controversial ideas in his budget. In the meantime, there are those who are trying to guess what those ideas will be. And the person who knows what’s in that document is here to talk a bit about it - I’m very pleased to welcome budget director Tim Keen. For six years, Ohio lawmakers have debated legislation that would require insurance companies to pay for treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders. But they’ve never passed anything. Last week, Gov. Kasich stepped in, filing paperwork with the federal government that basically means Ohio insurers will have to cover autism as they do other mental health issues. Families surrounded the governor at the event where he signed the order – and the parents shared their stories of struggling to pay for treatment for their kids – many of whom have now been mainstreamed and are doing well. He was also joined by Republican and Democratic state lawmakers, including Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati. But small businesses in Ohio are frustrated with the governor’s order, including one of their main lobbyists, Roger Geiger of the National Federation of Independent Business Ohio. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Government/Politics, Health, Children's Health http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51348 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51348#When:14:16:00Z There will be no rematch of the gubernatorial race of 2010. After much speculation that he was weighing a run, former Gov. Ted Strickland announced this week that he would not seek the Democratic nomination to face Gov. John Kasich in 2014. Among those possibly still in the race: Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, Youngstown area Congressman Tim Ryan and former Attorney General Richard Cordray, now the director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. State lawmakers convened at the Statehouse for the first day of the 130th General Assembly this week. Monday brought individual swearing-in ceremonies before the group inaugurations on the House and Senate floor. The leadership of both chambers was officially elected. And then legislators left again, since no committee hearings were scheduled this week. Now lawmakers wait for the budget, which will be introduced sometime before mid-March, and for Gov. Kasich to announce when and where he wants to deliver his State of the State speech. He has to ask permission to move it out of the Statehouse. Here’s what he said this week: With the 130th General Assembly all sworn in, for many people the big questions are what items are on the agenda, and in what order? Offering their thoughts on what’s ahead for the next two years – and specifically the next few months – are two longtime political strategists. Mark Weaver is a former assistant Ohio Attorney General and has run or consulted on several successful Republican campaigns in Ohio and nationwide. He teaches law at Ohio State University and the University of Akron, and is the president of the media relations and advertising firm Communications Counsel. Dale Butland has also been behind some big Democratic candidate and cause campaigns in Ohio, and is the communications director for Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank. Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:16:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 02 There will be no rematch of the gubernatorial race of 2010. After much speculation that he was weighing a run, former Gov. Ted Strickland announced this week that he would not seek the Democratic nomination to face Gov. John Kasich in 2014. Among those possibly still in the race: Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, Youngstown area Congressman Tim Ryan and former Attorney General Richard Cordray, now the director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. State lawmakers convened at the Statehouse for the first day of the 130th General Assembly this week. Monday brought individual swearing-in ceremonies before the group inaugurations on the House and Senate floor. The leadership of both chambers was officially elected. And then legislators left again, since no committee hearings were scheduled this week. Now lawmakers wait for the budget, which will be introduced sometime before mid-March, and for Gov. Kasich to announce when and where he wants to deliver his State of the State speech. He has to ask permission to move it out of the Statehouse. Here’s what he said this week: With the 130th General Assembly all sworn in, for many people the big questions are what items are on the agenda, and in what order? Offering their thoughts on what’s ahead for the next two years – and specifically the next few months – are two longtime political strategists. Mark Weaver is a former assistant Ohio Attorney General and has run or consulted on several successful Republican campaigns in Ohio and nationwide. He teaches law at Ohio State University and the University of Akron, and is the president of the media relations and advertising firm Communications Counsel. Dale Butland has also been behind some big Democratic candidate and cause campaigns in Ohio, and is the communications director for Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Government/Politics http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51221 http://www.ideastream.org/ohio/entry/51221#When:13:58:00Z Lawmakers took on some big issues this year, working on bills that addressed so-called puppy mills, animal cruelty, texting while driving, human trafficking, an energy efficiency program run by an Ohio utility, along with the usual questions about taxes and spending. To talk about what got done and what may lie ahead next year, I’m pleased to welcome the leaders of the Ohio Senate, outgoing President Tom Niehaus, a Republican of New Richmond in southwest Ohio, and Minority Leader Eric Kearney, a Democrat of Cincinnati. Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:58:00 -0500 ideastream The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013 Season 13 Episode 01 Lawmakers took on some big issues this year, working on bills that addressed so-called puppy mills, animal cruelty, texting while driving, human trafficking, an energy efficiency program run by an Ohio utility, along with the usual questions about taxes and spending. To talk about what got done and what may lie ahead next year, I’m pleased to welcome the leaders of the Ohio Senate, outgoing President Tom Niehaus, a Republican of New Richmond in southwest Ohio, and Minority Leader Eric Kearney, a Democrat of Cincinnati. 25:00 The State of Ohio - May 17, 2013, Government/Politics