COLUMBUS
-- "When incoming House Speaker Jon Husted needed a way to get to San Antonio
on Dec. 29 to represent Ohio at the Alamo Bowl, he asked Tim Day of Dayton-based
NCR Corp., if he could help. Day, vice president for NCR government affairs,
based in Washington, did. He arranged for Husted, R-Kettering, to travel
on the company's Lear 55C, seven-seat corporate jet, to watch Ohio State
play Oklahoma State, and to reimburse NCR...Catherine Turcer, legislative
director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group, said the
arrangement should have raised this question for Husted: 'Would they be
doing this for me if I were not speaker of the House?'...This is the second
time in less than a week that Husted's relationship with lobbyists he also
regards as friends has drawn attention," William Hershey, Dayton
Daily News.Senator blames 'harmful' system
COLUMBUS -- "The movement
to block state officials from awarding investment contracts to campaign
contributors intensified yesterday on the heels of the scandal that has
rocked the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Sen. Marc Dann, a
Democrat from suburban Youngstown and a leading critic of the coin investment,
yesterday asked a Senate committee to hear his proposal that would throw
a wrench into what Democrats have dubbed the bureau’s 'pay-to-play'
system... Catherine Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action,
a statewide consumer and environmental group, said legislators need to eliminate
contributions from people who do business with the state, and then move
on to fix other parts of the system to regain public trust... 'Do I think
it is realistic to put a roadblock between investment managers and campaign
contributors?' she said. 'I think we have enough ammunition to make that
a done deal for the state of Ohio,'" Steve Eder, Toledo Blade.Multiple investigations affect more GOP officials
COLUMBUS
-- "While Taft is not a member of any golf club, he regularly let others
pay greens fees across the state, teeing off with Noe at an exclusive club
in Toledo and making the rounds with his once-trusted chief of staff, Brian
K. Hicks, according to published reports. Taft also golfed with Husted and
Curt Steiner, former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. George Voinovich when he
was governor...He told the Columbus Dispatch that Taft always paid for the
golf outings. 'It's clear (Taft) knew what was going on,' said Catherine
Turcer, legislative director at Ohio Citizen Action who called for Taft's
resignation. 'Clearly he knew he was going to get caught. This is a systemic
problem.' Referring to state department heads and board members who have
quit or been fined for failing to disclose gifts including golf, Turcer
said, 'Taft is somebody who's always been fairly harsh' about ethical lapses
by others," Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer.Contractors donated heavily to Ohio GOP
Contributions flowed from companies managing money for Workers' Comp
COLUMBUS -- "Top Ohio Republican officials and political committees have received millions of dollars in campaign contributions from companies managing money for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation... 'It's the grease on the wheels of government contracts,' said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for stricter campaign finance laws. 'You could get contracts without giving money, but money makes it a lot easier.' Spokesman Larry Magnesen said the donations do not curry favor but 'support candidates who are pro-growth and pro-business.'Ohio Citizen Action's Turcer said the actions by the bureau's money mangers contradict their own argument. 'If they truly believed the competitive bidding process is aboveboard, they wouldn't be putting their resources into lobbyists and campaign finances,'" Mark Naymik and Joseph L. Wagner, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
CLEVELAND -- Report: BWC investment managers gave millions to GOP, Akron Beacon Journal.
COLUMBUS -- "During a lull in debate over a $51.2 billion, two-year budget, Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted took a Florida fishing trip with three Columbus lobbyists with stakes in the budget outcome...Mr. Husted and his 9-year-old son shared a bedroom for two nights in the $427,940, 3,200-square-foot, three-bedroom home of Joseph Feidner, Mr. McCarthy's father-in-law...Catherine Turcer, of government watchdog Ohio Citizen Action, said a person cannot get a room at a Motel 6 for $50, let alone a room in a private home located along a canal with access to Mr. Feidner's private boat. 'This just shows what an enmeshed, dysfunctional family we have,' she said. 'That the speaker didn't consider this inadvisable or possibly inappropriate in the midst of an enormous budget battle is surprising to say the least,'" Jim Provance, Blade Columbus Bureau.
COLUMBUS -- "With a $51.2 billion budget on the table and lobbyists and law enforcement agents circling the Statehouse like sharks, House Speaker Jon Husted left town with three Columbus lobbyists for a Memorial Day weekend fishing trip to Florida's Gulf Coast. We don't talk business. We talked about catching fish, because that's what we were there to do.' Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, laughed when Husted's remarks were read to her. 'Most of us would like to find a way to affect the budget, and most of us are not able to go on a fishing trip with the speaker of the House,' she said. 'It is ludicrous to think that all they talked about in the midst of this budget battle is fishing.' Turcer said Husted's trip is particularly brazen because it follows revelations that Toledo coin dealer Tom Noe treated Gov. Bob Taft's top aide to a discount vacation at his Florida home and gave no-interest loans to other aides who worked for Taft," Ted Wendling, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- Golf now a thorny issue for Taft, Governor didn't disclose free outings; political heat on, Laura A. Bischoff and William Hershey, Dayton Daily News.
COLUMBUS -- Taft vows to stay, but other governors have walked away, Erica Blake, Toledo Blade.
MANSFIELD -- "Facing an investigation by the Ohio Ethics Commission over whether he broke state law by failing to list golf outings on his financial disclosure statements, Gov. Bob Taft yesterday said he has 'no intention of resigning.' . . . [Bill Wilkinson, an attorney representing Tom Noe] would not disclose who paid for the golf outings that Mr. Taft participated in with Mr. Noe — whom Mr. Taft had reappointed to the Ohio Board of Regents and had appointed to the Ohio Turnpike Commission. . . . Catherine Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, a statewide consumer and environmental group, said Mr. Taft 'needs to be prosecuted.' State law prohibits a public official or employee from soliciting or accepting anything of value that has a 'substantial and improper influence' on the official duties of a public official or employee -- and prohibits a person from promising or giving a public official such items," James Drew, Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS -- "The new
chief of staff for Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman makes almost $30,000
more than the mayor. Hiring high-priced administrators in tight budget times
is generally not a good idea, said John Green, director of the University
of Akron's Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics. 'This is the sort
of thing that gets mayors in trouble across the country.'Catherine Turcer,
of Ohio Citizen Action, a public watchdog group, said it's a balancing act
between paying enough to get good people and being a good caretaker of scarce
resources. But she said, 'It's shocking that the administrator is making
more than the mayor.' However, that's the case in some other cities, including
Cleveland. The numbers there are smaller, though; Cleveland's mayor is paid
$108,962; her chief of staff, $110,500," Columbus Dispatch.
Access fee; no link.COLUMBUS -- Filing, voting-machine proposals written into budget, Canton Repository
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft leaves a June 9 press conference at which he interrogated himself: "Should I have been told? Obviously. Should the administrator of the bureau informed me directly, personally? I think so. I think that was his obligation; $200 million is a huge amount of money to lose."
COLUMBUS -- "10 Investigates has obtained copies of weekly reports submitted to Governor Bob Taft by former Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation director James Conrad which raise even more questions about what the Governor knew regarding huge investment losses at the BWC. . . On November 4, Conrad wrote that he wants to let the Governor know that they're doing everything possible to protect the state insurance fund. [Catherine Turcer with the government watchdog agency, Ohio Citizen Action] says it sounds like code. "And then to say 'we're going to do everything possible.' This is certainly code for 'we're up a creek without a paddle and we're doing the best we can.' And clearly there were conversations that were going on. They just were going on. They just weren't going on in writing," Turcer claims," WBNS-TV 10, link to video.
COLUMBUS -- "'No fault absentee voting' will help alleviate the problems with long lines at the polls. This convenient voting method may also increase voter turnout because Ohioans can focus on registering as many eligible voters as possible, without the fear of a repeat of 2004. . . . Signature matching has served us well and while most of us in this room can easily pull a license out of our purse or wallet, there are many Ohioans for which this would be an undue burden. Those most impacted by expanding voter identification beyond registering to every election include the elderly, the impoverished and we can't forget the Amish. Voting, unlike driving, is a right-not a privilege- and should be treated as such. Do not put barriers to voting in this bill," prepared testimony on Substitute House Bill 3, Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action, before the Ohio Senate Rules Committee.
COLUMBUS -- "Over a two
year period, a review of fire inspector time sheets by 10 Investigates and
the Columbus Dispatch found over $1,700 in questionable overtime billings.
Half of the questionable overtime had no supervisor approval or was simply
approved by the same fire inspector who billed the overtime. 'Its so overt
and so obvious that there was mismanagement going on,' said Catherine Turcer,
legislative director for the public advocacy group Ohio Citizen Action.
'Was anybody paying any attention?' Turcer said the questionable overtime
involves taxpayer money. 'When you lie about the hours that you worked,
you are stealing and you're stealing from the public. You're also stealing
the public trust,' said Turcer," Roger McCoy, WBNS. COLUMBUS -- "In 22 cases, fire inspectors took overtime while they already were earning regular pay or said they started work earlier than inspections were scheduled to begin. In other instances, they went to inspections on overtime when co-workers who were already on the clock could have gone. There could be many more instances, but it’s impossible to tell because hundreds of inspection records were missing from city files. . . .Someone needs to be held responsible, said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group. 'These are ludicrous timecards,' she said. 'You are talking about taking taxpayer money. . . . It is wrong and also criminal.' . . .After reviewing the findings, Turcer said the abuse seemed 'systemic.' 'Who the heck was in charge?' she asked," Jodi Andes, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
Montgomery paid to use home of lobbyist
COLUMBUS -- "Montgomery rented
a Lake Erie vacation home in August 2003 from H. Douglas Talbott, a Columbus
lobbyist and former aide to Gov. Bob Taft. Montgomery rented the home from
Talbott for six nights, said Montgomery's spokeswoman, Jen Detwiler. Montgomery
paid $750 — the going rate — and had no idea Noe had helped Talbott
finance the purchase, Detwiler said. Still, Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen
Action, a government watchdog group, questioned the rental. 'A statewide
officeholder should not be renting property from a lobbyist. ... The connection
is too close. It falls in a gray area but it's something a public official
would want to keep some distance there,' Turcer said," Laura A. Bischoff,
Dayton Daily News. COLUMBUS -- "For the first time in its history, the Columbus Fire Division has called in an outside investigator. Safety Director Mitchell Brown said yesterday that Pamela Krivda will look into whether there is criminal wrongdoing or racial bias in the division. . . . Using an outside investigator is wise, said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog. 'It needs to be an independent audit,' Turcer said. 'One of the things you probably don’t want to play around with is fire. And we’re talking about public safety,'" Jodi Andes, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
Noe wasn't only broker financing GOP
COLUMBUS
-- "Gov. Bob Taft, the Ohio Republican Party and other statewide GOP candidates
received at least $200,000 in campaign contributions from about 50 brokers
who invest taxpayers' money for the state Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
That total doesn't include more than $121,000 in state
campaign contributions by embattled Maumee coin dealer
Thomas W. Noe, whose newly disclosed investment losses led
to the resignation of bureau Administrator James Conrad. Catherine Turcer,
legislative director with Ohio Citizen Action, a public advocacy group,
said she thinks the pay-to-play problem extends far beyond the contributions
from Noe, who recently quit as chairman of the Ohio Turnpike Commission
and a member of the Board of Regents. 'We're talking about a systemic problem,'
Turcer said. 'Wouldn't it be nice if we could get rid of one bad apple?'
Turcer said she was discouraged by Taft administration officials 'dragging
their feet' and failing to answer key questions about lost coins and Noe's
role in that. 'They focused on profit rather than process. When you're focused
on profit instead of process, you're bound to be taken advantage of,'" Jon
Craig, Columbus Dispatch. Acces fee; no link.
Ohio Supreme Court. Standing: Justice Terrence O'Donnell, Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, Justice Maureen O'Connor and Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger. Seated: Justice Alice Robie Resnick, Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and Justice Paul E. Pfeifer
CLEVELAND -- Yesterday, five Supreme Court justices recused themselves from three public records lawsuits in the rare-coin scandal. All had received big contributions from Thomas Noe, the central figure in the scandal, or his wife, Bernadette Noe: Thomas Moyer ($5,250), Terrence O'Donnell ($5,250), Judith Lanzinger ($5,000), Evelyn Stratton ($4,510), and Maureen O'Connor ($3,500). These justices did the right thing, of course, and they are receiving plenty of press coverage for it.
By contrast, last fall Ohio Consumers' Counsel Janine Migden Ostrander appealed a multi-billion dollar FirstEnergy rate case to the Ohio Supreme Court. On December 10, Ohio Citizen Action asked Moyer, O'Donnell, and Lanzinger to recuse themselves from the FirstEnergy case. Each of these justices received at least $20,000 in campaign contributions from FirstEnergy on August 6, 2004 -- two days after the PUCO made a key decision in the FirstEnergy rate request. The contributions were four times larger than in the rare-coin case, and the consequences of the decision would be incalculably higher. None of the three justices, however, recused themselves, and the clear conflict of interest was ignored in the press.
The lesson: Thomas Noe is not powerful, so he is fair game for attack. FirstEnergy is quite powerful, so its attempts at corruption are not only not stopped, they are not even mentioned.
COLUMBUS -- "Long before being picked to handle the state’s rare-coins investments, Thomas W. Noe flexed his Statehouse muscle by persuading the General Assembly to exempt coin sales from state tax in 1989. . . . 'Basically (Noe) created a perfect world to have people keep their hands off his money,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a public-advocacy group. 'This is a perfect example of using your influence to relax enforcement mechanisms and the structure around you, and not pay taxes, to make a profit.' Turcer also wasn’t surprised that Noe’s success straddled successive governors from both political parties. That’s because movers and shakers often get their way regardless of the party in power, she said. A case in point was the 1989 tax exemption passed despite vocal opposition from then-Tax Commissioner Joanne Limbach," Mark Niquette , Jon Craig, Alan Johnson, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
- Joanne Limbach is now the AARP Ohio President.
COLUMBUS -- Secretary
of State Ken Blackwell knew for more than a month that he would impose the
January voting-machine decree that sent machine vendors and county elections
boards scrambling. Election Reform Director Judy Grady drafted a six-page
memo to Blackwell and his chief of staff, Monty Lobb, on Dec. 30. Grady
outlined a plan for pitching the directive that included co-opting the Ohio
County Commissioners Association; a pair of respected political scientists;
newspapers; and Ohio Citizen Action's election-reform specialist ahead of
time as 'credibility enhancements.' Catherine Turcer at Ohio Citizen Action
was another person, along with political scientists Herb Asher of Ohio State
University and John Green of the University of Akron, whom the plan suggested
enlisting. All three said they were never contacted, expressing surprise
that the office's strategizing would be so blatant. "You can't take
the politics out of policy, but you should at least try," Turcer said,"
Julie Carr Smyth, Cleveland Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS -- Ohio plans to pay for assisted-living care
"Ohio is on the brink of joining more than 40 other states that allow Medicaid to pay for assisted-living care, but there's a catch. Ohio's senior citizens on Medicaid may only get their assisted-living care at nursing home facilities, according to pending legislation. The nursing home industry, through its employees and political action committees, contributed $1.19 million between 2001 and 2004 to statewide and legislative candidates as well as political parties and caucus funds, according to Ohio Citizen Action, a good government watchdog group," Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.
SEVEN HILLS -- ". . last summer, when Mayor David Bentkowski plunked down $87,000 for a spacious house on a leafy street -- well, everyone heard. And the rumors soared. Houses on Crossview Road can sell for more than $150,000, even $200,000. A three-bedroom house with an indoor pool, for $87,000? It seemed like a steal. 'It just doesn't look right,' says Frank Petro, a former Seven Hills councilman. What looks worse is that Bentkowski bought the house from Landsong, which has been developing subdivisions in Seven Hills for years. Just four months earlier, Landsong had paid $131,000 for the property. The company's co-owner also contributed $1,000 to Bentkowski's 2003 mayoral campaign. 'This stinks,' says Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog. 'This smells really bad,'" Joe Tone, Cleveland Scene.
COLUMBUS -- "I support the steps taken in Sub. HB 3 to remove as many late challenges as possible. The transition of 'challengers' to 'observers' in Substitute House Bill 3 will make for less confrontational elections. I also support addressing the status of provisional ballots as soon as possible," testimony, Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action, to Ohio House of Representatives Elections and Ethics Committee, 80 KB doc.
COLUMBUS -- Congressman Ney: How did you connect the business deal with SunCruz Casinos to the interests of your constituents?, letter, Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action, to U.S. Congressman Robert Ney (St. Clairsville), 29 KB doc, May 3, 2005.
May 3:
Going online: Elections board, Columbus should hasten electronic filing of campaign reportsCOLUMBUS -- "City Council enacted an ordinance on Nov. 22 requiring municipal candidates to file electronically if they receive or spend at least $10,000. But the wheels of reform turn slowly. The city and the elections board have yet to agree on how to pay for electronic filing. Creating a system should not be difficult; the elections board could use the secretary of state’s system as a model. To resolve the funding question, the elections board and the city agreed to appoint an eight-member board to work out solutions. That process has not been completed. Elections Director Matthew Damschroder thinks the electronic filing for council races this fall could be a model for Ohio’s countywide races in 2006," editorial, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
- Funding? Eight-member board? 2006? Last week, Ohio Citizen Action posted on-line these Columbus campaign finance reports, for free, without convening an eight-member board. What is so difficult about this?
How to post contributions on line
COLUMBUS -- Ohio Citizen Action has posted Columbus City Council candidates campaign donation records on the internet. An April 21 Columbus Dispatch article reported that "despite a campaign-finance law that the council approved in November, the Franklin County Board of Elections has no system to collect the electronic reports. . . .[Catherine Turcer, of Ohio Citizen Action, which pushed for the change] said, 'The candidates get a get-out-of-jail-free card for this,' Turcer said. 'I'm not sure the city should.' Turcer said she’s willing to post electronic filings for candidates -- at no cost -- on her group's Web site. 'It is not rocket science.'" COLUMBUS -- Private meeting raises questions; Gray area leads critic to say gathering should be public under law, though no proposal presented. "Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action legislative director, has a different view. She said the people in attendance were making plans with one or more members of the legislature, including promising to bankroll a poll and focus groups. 'The secret group decided to create a secret subcommittee,' Turcer said," Dennis Willard, Akron Beacon Journal.
COLUMBUS -- Most Ohioans continue to support term limits. "The survey by the University of Akron showed 67 percent of Ohioans believe term limits have fostered good government and helped the state," Associated Press.
COLUMBUS -- "But Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, said an outright ban on campaign contributions would violate the U.S. Supreme Court decision that equated campaign contributions with free speech. She questioned whether [James Conrad, Administrator, Bureau of Workers' Compensation], who is an attorney, knew that before he wrote his letter to [Ohio Senate President Pro Tem Jeff] Jacobson. . . Ms. Turcer said Mr. Conrad's proposals don't focus on the major questions surrounding the bureau's rare coin investments. 'They should tighten up how they should manage their money and ask, 'How should we be responsible? We are earning a lot of money. Is it a responsible, ethical way to do it?'?' Ms. Turcer said. 'It is hard to be challenged. Mr. Conrad needs to move away from 'It's Mr. Nobody. I didn't do it,' and ask, 'Is this good, ethical money-making?''" James Drew, Mike Wilkinson, Toledo Blade.
COLUMBUS -- "The state Controlling Board postponed action yesterday on three requests for special counsel work, after legislators said they needed more time to review them. . . The deferral followed a Dispatch article yesterday reporting that Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur contributed at least $68,000 in recent years to Petro’s campaign committee, including small contributions from up to 100 of its partners. Porter Wright stood to get $590,000 in new special-counsel work with the Department of Commerce," Jon Craig, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
COLUMBUS -- "A Columbus-based law firm that gave at least $68,000 to Attorney General Jim Petro's campaign in recent years is slated to get $590,000 in new special counsel work at today’s state Controlling Board meeting. About half that total was collected during a single January fundraising party hosted by partners of Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur for Petro's gubernatorial campaign. In fact, nearly 100 of the firm’s attorneys in six offices gave to Petro, often in amounts under $100 — the legal threshold at which campaigns are required to report employers’ names. . . Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan public-advocacy group, said larger contributions divided among partners is one way to skirt complete disclosure. 'Nefarious is the wrong word because it's perfectly legal,' she said," Jon Craig, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
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Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman. Elections Board director Matthew Damschroder said "he last talked to city leaders about electronic filing last summer." Coleman's spokesman said the mayor's office 'played telephone tag' with board officials earlier this year."
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COLUMBUS -- ". . . former Butler County Prosecutor John Holcomb received $39,957 from employees in 1998. Most of his employees donated two percent of their salaries during this time period. Over a three-year period, Mr. Holcomb's employees gave $108,784, accounting for 90 percent of the total contributions to his campaign. Employees reported being given contribution forms when they were hired or at a Christmas party where they received notices about their annual pay raises," Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action, testimony, Ohio Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, 21 KB doc.
COLUMBUS -- "While programs for the poor and other agencies languished in the House version of the budget, nursing homes avoided major funding cuts and managed to eliminate or modify other fees and changes sought by Gov. Bob Taft. It was more evidence -- reinforcing similar results in the 2001 and 2003 budgets -- that nursing homes stack up against any other lobbying group as the most powerful in the state. The nursing-home industry and individual employees gave nearly $1.2 million in the past four years to statewide officeholders, legislators and political parties, says Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan government watchdog. Most recipients were Republicans, who control all three branches of government. Between them, House Speaker Jon A. Husted, of Kettering, and former Speaker Larry Householder, of Glenford, have received $155,525 from the industry since 2001, Citizen Action found," Alan Johnson, Catherine Candisky and Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
Apr 13: Media advisory:
Public forum on campaign finance reform
COLUMBUS -- "Ohio Citizen Action and Election Law @ Moritz, a program of the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University are sponsoring a panel discussion of the recent campaign finance reforms (House Bill 1) passed during the Special Session in December. It will be held on Friday, April 15, from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Ohio State University's Saxbe Auditorium in John Deaver Drinko Hall, 55 West 12th Avenue, Columbus," Catherine Turcer, (614) 263-4111 or (614) 579-5509, Ohio Citizen Action, press advisory, 27 KB doc.
CLEVELAND -- What? Me Work? A failed campaign shows Ohio's Democratic Party in all its glorious suckitude. "The effort would be difficult. They would need an army of volunteers, plus at least $300,000 to pay a private company to hire signature gatherers. 'It can be done,' says Paul Ryder, who studies ballot campaigns for Ohio Citizen Action. 'But it's very demanding.' . . . 'The organization needed to be there and ready to go on day one,' Ryder says. 'Meanwhile, it got to be January, February, and they're still just talking about it,'" Chris Maag, Cleveland Scene.
Tom Noe, with Gov. Bob Taft and Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie at a 2004 fund-raiser.
COLUMBUS -- "A Columbus-based watchdog group called yesterday for Ohio lawmakers to revamp campaign finance laws following the news that a prominent Toledo Republican got $50 million in state money to invest in rare coins. Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, said the investment with local coin dealer Tom Noe is another reason why state law should require fund-raisers -- not just campaign contributors -- to disclose their activities, including who organized the event and who hosted it. The amount that political fund-raisers like Mr. Noe generate is much larger than what they or their spouses contribute to candidates, political parties, and political-action committees, Ms. Turcer said. 'Money in politics is about influence,' she said. . . Contacted yesterday, Mr. Noe said he did not want to talk about the campaign-contribution issue raised by Ms. Turcer. 'I don't even want to get into a discussion about it,' he said. 'I guess I don't have any comment about it,'" James Drew, Mike Wilkinson, Toledo Blade.
Says it violates unions' speech rights
COLUMBUS -- "A Columbus judge prevented part of Ohio's new campaign finance law from taking effect today, ruling that it violates the right of unions to engage in political speech. Wednesday's order by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John F. Bender temporarily allows unions to continue to contribute money to political campaigns from their general treasury funds," Ted Wendling, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- Judge halts law on union dues spending, Jim Provance, Toledo Blade.
- Decision and entry granting motion of plaintiffs for preliminary injunction, United Auto Workers Local Union 1112 et al. v. J. Kenneth Blackwell et al, Judge John F. Bender, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, March 30, 2005, 45 KB doc, full text.
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Tina Abdella
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MORE ON MONEY AND POLITICS
Mar 27: Turning off the money tap
Out-of-state donors can no longer fill up county party funds
COLUMBUS -- "By 4 p.m. Thursday, parties in 25 of Ohio's 88 counties will be forced to disgorge more than $400,000 left in their state-candidate funds. What they do with the money, though, won't be made public until July 29. Catherine R. Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan government watchdog, said shutting down the county funds as conduits of campaign cash to state politicians is long overdue. 'This is something that was clearly wrong,' she said. 'When you have something that is bad, you just get rid of it.' A Dispatch analysis showing that more than $1 million was funneled to five GOP statewide officeholders in 2002 from state-candidate funds in 12 counties "is appalling, but not necessarily surprising," given that the funds are more difficult to track, Turcer said. . . Turcer said the goal of creating county state-candidate funds 10 years ago was admirable. Reformers in the state legislature predicted such accounts would allow county party organizations to play larger roles in statewide politics, Turcer said. 'But the goal was turned on its head,' she said. 'They got very, very sophisticated at finding the loopholes, of finding ways to legally launder money,'" Robert Ruth, Joe Hallett, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
Mar 18: U.S. House panel to hold hearing in Columbus
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U.S. Rep. Bob Ney (St. Clairsville)
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COLUMBUS -- "The House Administration Committee has scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m. Monday at the Statehouse to hear testimony about the 2004 election in Ohio and to consider what changes in federal election law may be needed. . . . [Committee Chair Rep. Bob Ney's spokesman Brian Walsh] said Ney isn’t advocating making major changes in the Help America Vote Act but 'isn’t closing the door on it,'" Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
More records might be closed as too 'sensitive'
COLUMBUS -- "As Ohio courts move to link more records to Internet sites, some officials say paper records now open to the public should be closed. . . 'The reason these records are public records is they don’t belong to the judges. They belong to the public. These records should be available to everyone, not just a privileged few who make their way to the courthouse,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action. 'Public records that are open and available means there's scrutiny, and more scrutiny means more accountable government and more justice,'" Jon Craig, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
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Bill Burga, Ohio AFL-CIO President
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Brandi Whetstone
Ohio Citizen Action |
- On Wednesday, March 2, Ohio Citizen Action's Brandi Whetstone called the Ohio Senate Clerk's office and asked: "Are the Senate Journals on line?" "No." "Do you have any plans to put them on line?" "No." On Tuesday, March 8, the Senate announced that the Journals were on line.
DAYTON -- "Under state law, salaries for election board members are based on county population figures -- the higher the population, the greater the board's pay, up to $20,000 a year, with 3 percent annual raises after that. But several county election directors in the Miami Valley, as well as Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, say the board's workload doesn't vary that much from county to county, regardless of population. It's the work they do for their political parties, often without pay, that gets more demanding, they say. 'It seems to me that what the salaries are doing is subsidizing party work with taxpayer money,' said Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action's legislative director," Anthony Gottschlich, Dayton Daily News.
Cherie Poucher, Director, Wake County Board of Elections, North Carolina; and Michael Vu, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. All photos by Brandi Whetstone, Ohio Citizen Action.
Feb 22: Federal vote panel's hearings not public enough, group says
COLUMBUS -- "Ohio Citizen Action wants a federal elections panel to put the 'public' back in 'public hearing.' The activist group questioned on Monday why public testimony won't be taken at Wednesday's meeting of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Instead, citizens were invited to submit their comments by e-mail. The panel will meet in Columbus to gather information on how provisional voting fared around the country. Voters who appear to be unregistered vote provisionally and their voter record is checked later. In Ohio, 77 percent of the 153,539 provisional ballots cast were found to be valid. Hand-picking who will testify on the provisional ballot issue could limit the picture the commission gets, said Catherine Turcer, who monitors election issues for Citizen Action. 'Why take the show on the road, unless you want to hear from the public?' she said. 'Is this really a public hearing?,'" Julie Carr Smyth, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Feb 21: Citizen Action wants election panel to hear from the public
COLUMBUS -- "Ohio Citizen Action today urged the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to open up their public hearing to more Ohioans. The EAC is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, February 23 at the Moritz College of Law at the Ohio State University. 'Why take the show on the road, unless you want to hear from the public? As the sponsors and election experts, it makes sense for the Moritz College of Law to be represented and it is also important to hear from Ohio elections officials, but these are the only Ohioans participating in the public forum. The public should have the opportunity to make recommendations and participate in a discussion. Instead they are being asked to submit comments in writing,'" Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action.
WASHINGTON, DC -- "The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will hold a public hearing on the use of provisional voting in the 2004 election cycle on February 23 in Columbus, Ohio. The hearing will be held from 1:00-5:00 PM at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The public hearing will feature three panels comprised of state and local election officials, academic experts on provisional voting and representatives of voter advocacy organizations. Testimony for the public hearing on provisional voting may be submitted in writing to EAC at testimony@eac.gov. A live webcast of the event will be available," Kay Stimson, U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
DAYTON -- "In the 2004 general election, significant numbers of voters in Montgomery County, Ohio were disenfranchised as a result of poor ballot design, inadequate voter education, and faulty machines. These problems had the largest impact in low income and African American neighborhoods," Ellis Jacobs, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), %^ KB doc. Jacobs is also Ohio Citizen Action board president.
COLUMBUS -- "In a statement, the court said it increased most categories of contributions to 'encourage' donors to give directly to candidates where finance reporting requirements have traditionally been stronger. . . .Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, was also puzzled by the court's rationalization. She, too, believes pro business interests will continue to give money to pro-business third-party advocacy groups. 'I don't see an enormous effect,' Turcer said. 'People will always find a way around the process. Wealthy and powerful interests always want to affect the courts, but we need the Supreme Court to keep adjusting,'" T.C. Brown, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- State court boosts contribution limits to campaigns; Justices hope to deter donations to third-party groups. "Catherine Turcer, legislative director for the government watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action, said the increases were beneficial particularly for judicial candidates at the local level. 'They need to get their message out. You figure in the amount of time it actually takes to generate money and talk to people and get your campaign going, having a limit that is really low makes it difficult for them to campaign, so they end up relying more heavily on the political parties,' she said. But she's not sure the increases will push more people to give to candidates rather than third-party groups because some donors care about a broader agenda they wish to support," Mandy Zatynski, Dayton Daily News.
COLUMBUS -- Judicial vacancies often filled by election losers. "One-fourth of the judges in Franklin County arrived on the bench via the same route: They were rejected by voters in an election, only to be appointed later by the governor. . . 'Voters don't want party hacks to become judges, and I don't believe this is happening,' said Catherine Turcer, of the government watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action. 'But we need to think about a better process,'" Kevin Mayhood, Bruce Cadwallader, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
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COLUMBUS -- Blackwell clears GOP of violating finance rule, Sandy Theis, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Ohio Chamber names backers of 2000 effort to oust Justice Resnick
COLUMBUS -- "Secret donations from corporations and individuals vilified a sitting Ohio Supreme Court justice in one of the ugliest political campaigns in Ohio history. Now, the secret is out. One day after a Franklin County Common Pleas judge ordered the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and its clandestine political campaign group to name names or face a $25,000-per-day fine, a list of the financial backers of Citizens for a Strong Ohio finally was released. Friday's action ended four years of legal wrangling over the names," Doug Oplinger, Dennis J. Willard, Akron Beacon Journal.
CLEVELAND -- "Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan public-policy group, said the questions will remain, but she noted that people don't always share what they are doing, especially if it is criminal, with their closest friends. 'I wouldn't paint [White] with the same brush of disdain as I would with Nate Gray,' Turcer said," John Caniglia, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- Radio ads spotlight state insurance director; Critic says she is taking advantage of position. "Catherine Turcer, a campaign finance expert at Ohio Citizen Action, said Womer Benjamin is simply taking advantage of her public position. 'Some people might say it's just a perk of the job; you take advantage of whatever opportunities are out there,' Turcer said. 'It's also clear that she knows how to maneuver to show herself off to the best advantage. It gets her name out there at an opportune time, not just to voters but to party leaders,'" Julie Carr Smyth, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Cincinnati lawyer stands to profit from representing Ohio in class-action suits
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COLUMBUS -- "In the five-page letter to GOP donors and activists, Blackwell said, 'And with your help, I intend to provide fresh, new leadership and bold reforms to Ohio as our next Republican Gov.' A pledge card accompanying the letter said 'corporate & personal checks are welcome.' Corporate donations are illegal in Ohio," Associated Press.COLUMBUS -- Blackwell under fire: Letter asks for illegal money; Secretary of State thanks GOP for helping Bush win 2nd term. "U.S. Rep. John Conyers, of Michigan, who prepared a report on Ohio’s election problems as ranking Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the letter bolsters suspicions that Blackwell’s actions as secretary of state during the election 'stemmed from partisan political motivations' to help Bush. 'Such a blatant statement acknowledging the commingling of his official duty to ensure a fair election with his partisan duty to re-elect President Bush, made in a political fund-raising appeal, evidences Secretary Blackwell’s poor judgment at best, and the manipulation of election administration for partisan purposes, at worst,' Conyers said in a statement," Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch. Access fee; no link.
Ohio Chamber ignores rebuffs over campaign ads
AKRON -- ". . . lawyers for Citizens for a Strong Ohio plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, continuing the flimsy contention that the organization engaged only in issue advocacy and, as such, enjoys First Amendment protections against revealing the donor list.," editorial, Akron Beacon Journal.
High court strikes a blow for openness in politics by repudiating attempts to influence from the shadows
CLEVELAND -- "In that campaign -- one of the nastiest in the history of U.S. judicial campaigns -- television ads financed by Citizens for a Strong Ohio depicted a female judge changing her vote after a bag of money was dropped on her desk. The ad was contemptible and came to be nationally acknowledged as a model of how anonymous money was corrupting the process," editorial, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
COLUMBUS -- Democrats: Redrawing districts key to regaining foothold. "'When you don't have good, competitive general elections, you don't have good democracy,' said Catherine Turcer, of Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan government watchdog," Associated Press.
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