Ohio Politics & News
Ohio news from The Daily Signal, covering state politics, voting law battles, industrial policy, and the Buckeye State’s pivotal role in national elections and conservative strategy.
-
news
Homeowners in This Ohio Town Had Their Front Yards Seized By the Government
Fort Meigs Road in Perrysburg, Ohio, is too narrow and needs widening, as almost all would agree. But homeowners along the road don’t agree with how it should be widened, nor do they agree with the “quick take” eminent domain process the city used to claim people’s front yards. What these residents find even harder to stomach is the… -
news
Ohio Might Be the Next State to Defund Planned Parenthood
Ohio could become the next state to defund Planned Parenthood. The Ohio Senate approved legislation on Wednesday that would prevent state and certain federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood. The legislation was approved in a 23-10 vote and was sent to the Republican-led state House for consideration. In a statement, Ohio Senate President Keith Faber,… -
news
Ohio Conservative Builds a Farm Team of Future Leaders
VALLEY VIEW, Ohio—It's the morning after the first Republican presidential debate and Adam Josefczyk is full of energy. Following a late night in Cleveland, the 26-year-old is not wasting any time as he seeks to build a stronger conservative movement in the Buckeye State. Frustrated by the political establishment and career politicians devoid of principles,… -
news
Pot Legalization Will Be on Ohio Ballot in November
Ohio residents will have the chance to vote on marijuana legalization this November after a petition secured enough signatures to get a spot on the upcoming election ballot. Pro-weed advocacy group ResponsibleOhio delivered 320,267 signatures to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted Wednesday, surpassing the minimum needed by more than 14,000 signatures. The group spent more… -
opinion
Can You Oppose Gay Marriage and Be a Good Judge? The Chilling Opinion of Ohio Court’s Board
Are people who publicly affirm that marriage is the union of one man and one woman unfit to be judges? The Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct came close to saying just that in a recent advisory opinion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s national redefinition of marriage. According to the Board, a… -
news
Christian Judge’s Objection Prompts Ohio Supreme Court’s Board to Tell All Judges to Perform Gay Marriages
A Toledo judge who cited his religious faith in declining to perform same-sex marriages has agreed to follow an advisory body’s decision that he—and all judges in Ohio—must do so to remain impartial. “I will abide by that opinion. In other words, I will perform same-sex marriages if requested,” Judge C. Allen McConnell told an… -
news
At This Ohio County Fair, Contempt for Washington
LISBON, Ohio—Prize-winning cattle are more popular than politicians at the Columbiana County Fair. “Government is broken from the very bottom to the very top,” says Theresa Bosel of Lisbon, Ohio. At least that was the case on this overcast Thursday afternoon, hours before 17 Republicans were preparing for two debates 90 minutes north in Cleveland. En route… -
news
Ohio Lawmakers Push to Drug-Test Welfare Recipients
Ohio lawmakers are expected to formally introduce legislation Wednesday that will require welfare recipients to pass a drug test before receiving benefits. Republican State Representatives Tim Schaffer and Rob Maag are sponsoring the bill that, if passed, will implement a two-year pilot program in three counties within the Ohio Works First (OWF) cash assistance program…. -
news
Ohio Moves to Ban Late-Term Abortions
The Ohio Senate has passed legislation that would prohibit late-term abortions in the state. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would ban abortion after 20 weeks—roughly halfway through a pregnancy. The Republican-controlled Senate approved the legislation last week in a 23-9 vote along party lines. The bill will be considered by the House, which is… -
news
How Ohio Aims to ‘Set a National Race’ for Transparency
Last December, the Ohio State treasurer, Josh Mandel, launched OhioCheckbook.com, a website specifically dedicated to showing taxpayers exactly where their dollars are going. However the journey to this new endeavor wasn’t as simple. “I identified a problem in our state government that everyday taxpayers couldn’t see how money was being spent,” Mandel said at a… -
news
Ohio Bill Would Ban Abortion Based on a Fetal Down Syndrome Diagnosis
A bill has been introduced in the Ohio legislature that would prohibit abortion based on a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome. House Bill 135, titled “The Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act,” would prohibit abortion because of “a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in an unborn child.” The legislation was introduced by Reps. Sarah LaTourette, R-Bainbridge, and… -
news
Ohio Makes State Government Spending Data Publicly Available Online
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel is seeking to “set a new national standard for transparency” with a website that allows users to study how funds are being spent in the state. OhioCheckbook.com enables users to examine over $400 billion dollars in state spending over seven fiscal years in state spending. Information is presented in interactive charts… -
news
Ohio Oil Production Sputters, Complicating John Kasich’s Agenda
Ohio’s oil production since 2012 has been far short of state officials’ projections. That’s according to a new report from Opportunity Ohio. Low production plus sharply lower prices could complicate Gov. John Kasich’s plans to pay for a statewide income tax cut by hiking energy taxes, said Matt Mayer, president of the free-market think tank Opportunity Ohio…. -
news
Map Reveals Where Americans Moved in 2014 (Hint: It Wasn’t Ohio)
More families moved out of Ohio than moved into the state last year, according to reports from three of the nation’s largest moving companies. While each company’s records show only a small subset of all relocations across state lines, their annual reports offer a glimpse at interstate migration before the release of the U.S. Census… -
news
FBI Arrests Ohio Man for Plotting Attack on U.S. Capitol
The FBI has arrested an Ohio man for allegedly plotting an “ISIS-inspired” attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to ABC News. The FBI said agents arrested Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, in Ohio as he allegedly was taking the final steps toward traveling to the nation’s capital to carry out the plan. ABC reports that government… -
opinion
Should You Be Jailed for Committing a Crime You Didn’t Know Was a Crime? New Ohio Law Tackles Issue.
Ohio recently enacted a new law to reform the way criminal statutes are written and interpreted in that state. That measure is a step in the right direction toward remedying the problem of overcriminalization. Senate Bill 361, sponsored by Sen. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, passed with the overwhelming support of the Ohio General Assembly and was signed… -
news
John Kasich Defends Medicaid Expansion in Ohio
Gov. John Kasich demanded fiscal responsibility and defended his Obamacare Medicaid expansion during a recent speech before the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “People, ya know, there’s all this thing about Republicans don’t wanna spend and Democrats do. Conservatives on the Republican side say, ‘We want smaller government.’ Well, go and talk to them about how… -
news
Ohio Governor to Sign Bill Restricting Red Light, Speed Cameras
Ohio Gov. John Kasich will sign a bill to limit how municipalities can use red light and speed cameras, said his spokesman, Rob Nichols. “We don’t have the bill yet, so I don’t have a sense of timing,” he wrote in an email. “But the governor will sign it.” Senate Bill 342 was passed by… -
news
Is an Ohio School District Using Public Money to Campaign?
Brad Reynolds received a text message, Oct. 24, from Maumee City Schools: “Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser tonight at Maumee High School. 5 – 6:30. $6 adults. $4 seniors/students. Students performing throughout” The text came from the School Messenger alert system — the one that’s supposed to be used to notify parents of an emergency or about… -
opinion
Federal Court: Ohio Can’t Ban Saying Lies About Candidates
On Thursday, a federal court in Ohio struck down a state criminal law banning “false statements” about candidates for office. Under the law, anyone could lodge a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission (the “truth squad”) alleging someone made a false statement during the course of an election. If the commission found probable cause, then…