Mum’s the word: Republicans and Democrats are developing map proposals behind closed doors, but haven’t yet said much about them, Andrew Tobias writes. A pair of key deadlines are coming up – Sept. 1, when the Ohio Redistricting Commission must release a state legislative map proposal, and Sept. 15, when the commission must pass state legislative maps for them to be good for 10 years. But 10-year maps require bipartisan support, and Sen. Vernon Sykes, an Akron Democrat serving on the commission, said neither party has yet to float a proposal across the aisle.
Tweet beat: Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou prompted a torrent of social-media criticism after he wrote on Twitter that “Republicans should look out for Republicans” when drawing the new district lines, Tobias writes. Triantafilou deleted the tweet in response to what he said were abusive comments, but said he stood by what he wrote. Democrats said Triantafilou was calling on Republicans to disregard reforms meant to make Ohio’s maps more representative, while Triantafilou said he was just advocating for his own party.
Collect calls: The Federal Communications Commission is looking at fining two right-wing activists $5.1 million for arranging thousands of robocalls in Ohio and other states designed to intimidate Black voters into not voting by mail in the 2020 election. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman are also facing criminal charges in Cuyahoga County and Michigan, as well as a $2.75 million lawsuit from the New York attorney general’s office.
Wish list: Democratic state Rep. Jeff Crossman is asking Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair Jenifer French to open an independent investigation into whether her predecessor, Sam Randazzo, manipulated the commission to advance the interests of FirstEnergy. As Pelzer writes, Crossman also wants French to turn over documents related to Randazzo – who FirstEnergy says accepted a $4.3 million bribe – as well as ask the Ohio Supreme Court to look into revoking his law license
Game-time decision: Ohio State University is imposing a vaccine mandate for students and staff, but no such requirement will be in place for fans attending Ohio Stadium for Buckeyes football games. As Pelzer writes, spectators will still have to follow a campus-wide rule requiring face masks while indoors (such as in bathrooms or shuttle buses).
Climbing cases: On Wednesday, Ohio hit 4,600 new coronavirus cases, the second consecutive day for cases over 4,000. Hospitalizations were also for the second day above 2,000. Prior to this week, these levels weren’t seen since early February, Laura Hancock reports.
Online battlefield: The U.S. Air Force announced that the Mansfield Air National Guard Base has been selected as the preferred site for the Guard’s first Cyber Warfare Wing, Gov. Mike DeWine said in a Wednesday statement. The base is home of the 179th Airlift Wing.
Kinship claim: Advocates for foster children cared for by kin are arguing before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that the state unfairly gives them significantly less money than what licensed foster parents receive. They receive $10.20 per child each day for up to nine months, compared to licensed foster parents, who can receive $1,500 to $9,600 a month, according to the Associated Press.
Taxing plan: Ohio’s Sherrod Brown and a group of his Democratic colleagues in the U.S. Senate have teamed up on a proposal to overhaul international taxes that Republicans created in 2017. Brown said the plan they unveiled to revise the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI), Foreign Derived Intangible Income (FDII) and the Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) would “fix our broken system that rewards companies for shipping jobs overseas, undo the damage from the Republican corporate tax handout of 2017, and allow us to invest in our greatest assets – American workers and our kids.”
Coverage questions: The Ohio Supreme Court will hear the case of a business suing Cincinnati Insurance, which has declined a claim to cover losses during the pandemic. The insurance industry is watching the case, saying that even if policies don’t have pandemic exclusions, the industry could collapse if faced with expensive claims, the Dispatch’s Laura Bischoff reports.
Five groups lobbying on House Bill 129, which would create a student aid program under which the Ohio chancellor of higher education could award qualified students a combination of grants and loans to become commercial truck drivers. The bipartisan-sponsored bill has had one committee hearing. State lobbying forms don’t require people to disclose whether they’re for or against a measure.
1. Columbus State Community College
2. International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18
3. Ohio Beverage Association
4. Waste Management of Ohio
5. Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs
The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association promoted Sarah Kincaid to vice president from her previous role as director of policy and advocacy.
State Sen. Frank Hoagland
State Rep. Scott Wiggam
“They don’t want the government telling them what to do but they want the government to tell an employer what to do.”
-Pat Tiberi, president and CEO of the Ohio Business Round Table, which opposes House Bill 248. The bill would prohibit companies from even asking an employee about their vaccine status. Tiberi told the Dispatch’s Laura Bischoff his organization has been targeted by anti-vaccine protesters. The protests are also drawing Proud Boys and other extremists.
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