Ohio Supreme Court Upholds August Special Election

WOSU’s Mike Thompson and the Columbus on the Record panel look at the Ohio Supreme Court decision to uphold the August election, the Ohio Senate budget which includes tax cuts and education overhauls, Ohio lawmakers’ reactions to Donald Trump’s federal indictment, limiting access to social media for kids and helping East Palestine businesses.

In This Episode

*Ohio Supreme Court Upholds August Election*

The August election to decide whether to make it harder to change the constitution is on.

In a split decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled state lawmakers can overrule a law they just passed. That law made august elections illegal except if they were to address a fiscal emergency. This is not a fiscal emergency. The question, if passed would require future constitutional amendments garner a 60% majority.

It’s an effort to thwart a possible November vote to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution.

*Ohio Senate Budget Proposal - Go big or go home*

The Ohio senate flexed its conservative muscles this week as it approved its version of the state budget.

The senate plan includes $3.1 billion in tax cuts. The plan would spend less money on social programs than the Gov. Mike DeWine or Ohio House proposed.

The senate budget would make major changes in education policy. For K-12 schools, it would give policy control to the governor and legislature. It would make tax-payer funded private school vouchers available to all families.

For higher ed, it would ban diversity training at public colleges and universities, as well as require professors to create classrooms free from bias.


*Ohio Lawmakers React To Former President Trump’s Indictment*

Ohio lawmakers are reacting in different ways to former President Trump’s indictment for hoarding classified documents in his Florida home.

Congressional Democrats like Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Joyce Beatty took the same approach as President Biden and said nothing.

Ohio Gov. DeWine said justice will be done and noted he has not endorsed anyone for president yet.

U.S. Rep. Mike Carey accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the government against president trump.

Republican Sen. J.D. Vance said on Twitter that he would hold up Department of Justice nominees.

Vance wrote, “So i’ve announced today i will be holding all department of justice nominees that Merrick Garland will use if confirmed, not to enforce the law impartially which is his duty, but to harras his political oppnents. Ii think we have to grind this department to a halt until Merrick Garland promises to do his job and stop going after his political opponents.”


*East Palestine Businesses Eligible For Loans From Ohio*

Remember East Palestine, Ohio? The national news crews have left, national politicians have left, but the contamination remains near the site of that toxic train derailment and fire in February.

Fear of the contamination’s health effects remains as well. Some families have not returned to their homes, while others are having their kids live elsewhere for now.

The state of Ohio has announced help for businesses affected by the accident. The state will offer zero interest forgivable loans to businesses hurt by the derailment. The loans could be as much as one million dollars.

The businesses would not have to repay them if they use the money for businesse expenses – like employee salaries, rent or decontamination.

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This week’s panelists:

Jo Ingles, statehouse reporter for Ohio Public Radio
Herb Asher, Ohio State political scientist
Mark Weaver, Republican strategist

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Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
00:18 – Ohio Supreme Court Upholds August Election
10:42 – Ohio Senate budget includes tax cuts, education overhauls
15:39 – Ohio Lawmakers React To Former President Trump’s Indictment
21:06 – East Palestine Businesses Eligible For Loans From Ohio
24:43 – Off The Record final comments

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