Ohio’s primary is up in the air again after the state Supreme Court tossed out another set of statehouse district maps. Lawmakers are unlikely to vote on recreational marijuana, and Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty made national news.
We break down what it all means on this week’s episode of Ohio Politics Explained.
It’s a podcast from the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau where we catch you up on the state’s political news in 15 minutes or less. This week, host Anna Staver was joined by reporter Laura Bischoff.
1) Redistricting remix
Ohio mapmakers went back to the drawing board again this week after the state Supreme Court threw out their second attempt at creating House and Senate districts.
“The revised plan does not attempt to closely correspond to that constitutionally defined ratio. Our instruction to the commission is – simply – to comply with the Constitution,” the opinion stated.
After the decision came down, Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told reporters he isn’t sure they can draw what the court wants, and it might be time to think about moving Ohio’s May primary for some races.
2) Ohio’s kids are missing out
The number of kids who missed more than 10% of the school year skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One in four public school students were chronically absent during the 2020-2021 school year, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education.
And that number increased to 37% for economically disadvantaged students, 33% for students with disabilities and 47% of Black students.
It’s a significant problem, according to ODE. Kids who miss that much school in a year are far less likely to graduate high school.
3) Up in smoke
The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol collected enough valid signatures to put the idea before state lawmakers but the Ohio Legislature appears unlikely to act.
Technically, lawmakers have four months to pass a bill setting the terms for recreational cannabis. But Huffman has made it clear that legislation will never get a vote in his chamber.
If they don’t act, the group can collect another round of signatures to put the issue before voters in November.
4) Mask dispute
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, tweeted about an encounter she had with a Republican representative from Kentucky this week.
Beatty said she asked Rep. Hal Rogers to put on a face mask. He didn’t. Then, he poked her in the ribs and swore.
“This is the kind of disrespect we have been fighting for years, and indicative of the larger issue we have with GOP Members flaunting health and safety mandates designed to keep us and our staff safe,” Beatty tweeted.
Rogers later apologized, saying his words were not acceptable.
Listen to “Ohio Politics Explained” on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link at the top of the article.
The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
