Sign Up for the Politicker.com Wake Up Call

Ohio

RSS Feeds

Syndicate content Add to Netvibes Subscribe with Bloglines
Add to Technorati Favorites
Add to Google

Send suggestions to: editor@politicker.com

Ohio: Jay Hottinger

June 1, 2009 - 01:24 pm
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Lottery chief's pledge at odds with reality

By James Nash

Now, as Dolan prepares to ask the same legislative panel to approve a $41 million contract with another company to run Keno and other lottery games for the next two years, the director's past dubious promises could return to haunt him.

On May 5, 2008, Dolan persuaded the state Controlling Board, a bipartisan panel of legislators that signs off on major contracts, to buy monitors, satellite dishes and computer terminals for Keno from GTECH Inc., which was the Lottery's prime vendor at the time.

On the instructions of Gov. Ted Strickland's top lawyer, Dolan has testified, he did not tell the legislators that he was in the process of dumping GTECH in favor of another company, and that the new company might not be able to use the equipment the state was about to buy.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 75 comments posted in response to this story.

March 26, 2009 - 12:55 pm
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

Controlling Board nixes $522 chairs for Miami University

In a bipartisan 6-1 vote, lawmakers slammed the door after realizing that Miami officials decided to purchase the most expensive office chairs available -- the Aeron stretched-fabric brand. Of the 333 chairs purchased, 245 of them designated for staff and faculty offices cost $522 apiece. Chairs for conference rooms ranged from $397 to $446 each.

As members including Sen. Ray Miller, D-Columbus, grilled university architect Robert Keller about the purchase, lawmakers said they were not satisfied with the responses.

"They didn't give a solid explanation as to why" they purchased the most expensive chairs, said Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Toledo. "In a difficult financial environment, we have to be fiscally responsible.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 23 comments posted in response to this story.

February 24, 2009 - 08:06 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

State to see whether Dann, aide can be held liable

By James Nash

Democrat Richard Cordray said his office is looking into whether Dann and Gutierrez can be held personally liable for some of their behavior as state officials in 2007 and early 2008. Gutierrez was fired in May 2008, about two weeks before Dann resigned under pressure.

The office also is looking into whether part of its legal settlement with two ex-employees could be paid by a bond that Dann submitted upon taking office or other bond funds that generally cover state employees, Cordray said.

Cordray made his comments as a panel of legislators approved the $495,000 in payments to Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, who were regularly subjected to crude sexual comments and advances from their boss, Gutierrez, in late 2007 and early 2008.

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 24 comments posted in response to this story.

February 1, 2009 - 10:39 am
NEWS FEED: Columbus Dispatch

How to contact public officials

There are a number of ways for Ohioans to contact their federal and state executives or lawmakers. The most immediate and effective is through e-mail.

"Snail" mail might not be the best means of communicating because security measures can slow delivery considerably, even sometimes to offices in a congressional district. Fax numbers provided below also are a convenient way to reach your lawmaker.

Some federal legislators provide immediate responses to questions, comments and concerns through an e-mail system known as "Write your Rep," while others have a form on their official Web site or have a specific e-mail address for constituents.

Office of the President

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500

Phone: 202-456-2580

Fax: 202-456-3346

Comments or questions can be

submitted at

Read More at Columbus Dispatch >
There have been 17 comments posted in response to this story.

January 29, 2009 - 06:38 am
NEWS FEED: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Governor Ted Strickland announces new plan for Ohio Schools in State of the State address

By Aaron Marshall

• Governor Ted Strickland's school plan earns praise

• Strickland speech delivers where it counts, but lost some punch

• Read the entire speech (PDF)

COLUMBUS -- Gov. Ted Strickland offered a slate of fresh ideas Wednesday to revolutionize education in Ohio, calling for a longer school year, innovative teaching, full-day kindergarten for all kids and a plan for getting rid of bad teachers.

Strickland's proposal to remake Ohio's system for educating Ohio's 1.7 million schoolchildren stole the show during his third State of the State address Wednesday. It was a much-anticipated moment, as the Democrat had promised on the 2006 campaign trail to offer a solution to the school-funding crisis that has flummoxed a generation of state lawmakers.

Read More at Cleveland Plain Dealer >
There have been 25 comments posted in response to this story.

Thu, 06/12/2008 - 14:54

Chamber compromise on Cuyahoga reform leads to commission

By David DeWitt, PolitickerOH.com Reporter

A compromise has been reached between Ohio's legislative chambers that will send the issue of Cuyahoga County government reform to a commission that will develop recommendations to be put on the ballot for Cuyahoga voters to decide.

Read More >
There have been 39 comments posted in response to this story.
Thu, 06/05/2008 - 12:01

Conference committee appointees named

By David DeWitt, PolitickerOH.com Reporter

Senate President Bill Harris (R - Ashland) and House Speaker Jon Husted (R - Kettering) named the three Senate and House appointees to the conference committee on the Capitol Bill today.

The Senate appointees include Finance Chair John Carey (R - Wellston), senior Democrat on the finance committee Capri Cafaro (D - Hubbard) and state Sen. Tom Niehaus (R - New Richmond).

The House appointees include Finance Chair Jay Hottinger (R - Newark), senior Democrat on the finance committee Michael Skindell (D - Lakewood) and state Rep. Shannon Jones (R - Springboro).

There have been 40 comments posted in response to this story.
Fri, 05/30/2008 - 13:34

Cuyahoga County reform is going to conference committee

By David DeWitt, PolitickerOH.com Reporter

After today it's recess, but Ohio lawmakers won't have the summer off quite yet. Both chambers will have to return for session at least one more time on June 10 to approve a conference committee report on the appropriations bill.

Read More >
There have been 41 comments posted in response to this story.