Ohio: State Senate

Why is this clown still in the leadership of the Ohio Senate Democratic caucus?!?

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office today filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission accusing the Columbus Democrat of violating three campaign finance laws: failing to file a full, true itemized statement; failing to keep a strict and accurate account; and failure to correct inaccurate reports.

... 

Among the evidence submitted Friday, the secretary of state's office says Miller has not verified almost 40 checks issued from his campaign to himself totaling $16,207. Several other checks also do not have appropriate documentation.

"Rather than submitting receipts for some of the expenses, the committee submitted handwritten notes describing Sen.

CowTownGirl confirmed what I had initially suspected, but quickly dismissed (because who would be dumb enough to film a campaign announcement in their official, taxpayer provided government office?):  State Senator Kevin Coughlin filmed his Gubernatorial candidancy announcement in his official State Senate office.  I dismissed it because I wasn't sure if any State Senate office had a fireplace, but the woodworking and appearance of the office looks strikenly similar to that of the offices in the State Senate at Capitol Square.

On top of that, Coughlin's campaign website which states is paid for by Coughlin for Ohio, his Gubernatorial campaign organization, lists his State Senate phone number and address for contact information.

Ohio voters want to cut spending and keep taxes at the same rate to balance the state's budget, according to a new poll released by the Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute on Thursday.

The state's budget faces a $640 million deficit for 2009 and at least $4 billion for the biennial budget covering 2010 and 2011.

Ohio voters said they agreed with Gov. Ted Strickland's promise not to raise taxes to balance the budget: 64 to 33 percent.

COLUMBUS -- A Republican-led bill to change Ohio's election law has been changed to make it more palatable to Democrats, but they haven't budged in their opposition to the bill.