The Biden administration announced last Wednesday consumers – once again – will be able to order four (4) FREE COVID home tests beginning Monday, September 29, 2023, through the government-run website CovidTests.gov.
Republicans unveiled new state House and Senate maps – giving them a 23-10 advantage in the Senate and 62-37 in the House – today that they swiftly adopted as the full commission’s working document − over Democrats’ objections.
There will be two state issues on the Tuesday, November 7, 2023, General Election ballot: The Right To Reproductive Freedom With Protections For Health And Safety and An Act To Control And Regulate Adult Use Cannabis. The Ohio Ballot Board is meeting on Thursday, August 24, to determine the final ballot language for both issues. In addition, the Ballot Board members – consisting of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, two other Republicans and two Democratic members, will be assigning the issue numbers for the ballot. This page will be updated with additional information once the Ballot Board meets. Know Your Issues!
About an hour after the meeting was supposed to begin in the Rhodes State Office Tower across from the Ohio Statehouse, Governor Mike DeWine (R) told reporters there was indecision within the Republican House and Senate members as to who they wanted to co-chair the commission. Ohio Statehouse redistricting stalls as commission can’t come up with co-chairs.
YOU DID IT! Democracy Wins! Ohioans rejected and trounced the concept of minority rule over the majority. With 41.14% of Erie Countians turned out to vote in this historic election with unofficial results of 12,147 – 56.91% voting NO and 9,196 – 43.09% voting yes. Thank You to everyone who wrote postcards, donated stamps, made calls, knocked on doors, posted yard signs, made donations and talked to family and friends to get out the vote! Every vote was – and is – important! Read more where to recycle signs.
David DeWitt, Editor of Ohio Capital Journal eloquently states: Ohioans, I’m so proud of you. You stood up for yourselves. You refused to let corrupt politicians and lobbyists steal your power. You paid homage to generations before us who won us these rights, and you protected them for future generations. You won a noble and historic victory for democracy in Ohio, and you should be very proud.
In Moore v Harper decision, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out the fringe “Independent State Legislature” (ISL) theory that would have given state legislatures almost unchecked power over federal elections – which could have transformed elections for Congress and president. The ruling is particularly good news for Ohioans because it means an independent redistricting commission is not off the table when it comes to future redistricting reform.
Trump has survived impeachment two times, been sued repeatedly, found liable for sexual abuse, his company has been found guilty of tax evasion, and he faces a criminal trial in New York. Now it is United States v. Donald Trump. He is now facing 37 felony counts – including 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information and making false statements – by a federal grand jury of Florida citizens. The detailed indictment was signed by special counsel Jack Smith and unsealed in Florida.
A lawsuit has been filed with the Ohio Supreme Court to prevent a possible constitutional amendment question from going to the statewide ballot in August. The resolution, passed by majority Republicans in the Ohio Legislature, would ask voters to make it harder to pass future constitutional amendments by requiring 60% voter approval. Experts have questioned the legality of the resolution and the state’s high court is being asked to intervene.
On Tuesday, May 10, 2023, Ohio State House Republicans – including DJ Swearingen (R-HD89) and Dick Stein (R-HD-54) – passed SJR2 – which was co-sponsored by Ohio State Senator Theresa Gavarone who represents State Senate District 2 including Erie County, which approved a special election in August that would cost $20 million that, if the majority of voters – 50% + 1 – approve, would raise the ballot referendum passing threshold from a simple 50% +1 majority to a 60% +1 supermajority.
