Money and politics news Jul - Dec 2006


Dec 28: Taft given law-license reprimand; justices OK ethics sanction over failure to report gifts

Taft appears in Columbus Municipal Court in August, 2005, to face misdemeanor ethics charges.

COLUMBUS -- "Just days before he leaves office with the lowest approval numbers on record, Gov. Bob Taft yesterday was publicly reprimanded by the Ohio Supreme Court for last year’s misdemeanor ethics convictions... Although convicted of four charges, he told the state ethics commission he failed to report 52 gifts worth $5,682 from 19 people between 1998 and 2004," Jim Provance, Toledo Blade.

Dec 21: Limits on unions mark Republican lawmakers' last day


The Ohio House of Representatives held its last session for 2006 yesterday.

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, who studies campaign contributions for Ohio Citizen Action, a watchdog group, said that while the bill limits union PAC contributions to $2,000, it does not apply to donations made by individual union members, unless they are officers. Turcer said she likes much of the bill. 'I think it's a very good start,' she said. 'We have had a series of scandals... and it really makes sense to start 2007 with a clean slate and new rules,'" Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press.

COLUMBUS -- House caps campaign cash, GOP prevails with limits that include unions, James Nash and Jim Siegel, Columbus Dispatch.

Dec 20: Campaign-finance bill hits snag with provision on unions

COLUMBUS -- "Officeholders who receive significant donations from labor unions would be disqualified from voting on labor contracts under a last-minute addition to a campaign-finance bill proposed by Ohio Senate Republicans last night... The bill had support from Catherine Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, who has lobbied for reforms in the state's campaign-finance laws. She called it 'a good beginning,'" James Nash and Jim Siegel, Columbus Dispatch.

Dec 19: Bill to keep records open to public

COLUMBUS -- "'It really is too bad for regular citizens that they lost the public records access counselor,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group. Still, Turcer called the attorney fees requirement 'a significant improvement.' The bill - which has been debated off and on for much of the 126th General Assembly-is a result of a statewide public records audit done by media organizations that showed that only 52 percent of public records requests were being fulfilled," Aaron Marshall, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Dec 18: Late state bills stuffed
GOP rushes through big and little provisions

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action... could not recall a lame-duck session packed with so many surprises, including moves to make state government business more secretive. She likened the frantic, dizzying pace of passing important bills to a video game in which friends or foe are racing by. 'You just don't know what will happen next.' Even state Rep. Tom Brinkman, a conservative Republican from Mount Lookout, said, 'There does seem to be a lot of 'We have to be the last helicopter out of Saigon,'" Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer.

Dec 16: Candidates raised record $28 million in Ohio governor’s race

COLUMBUS -- "The previous fundraising record for an Ohio governor’s race was in 1998, when Republican Bob Taft and Democrat Lee Fisher, Strickland’s running mate this year, raised a combined $18 million. 'Having the most money doesn’t mean a candidate will always win, but money is what it takes to buy those television ads,' said Catherine Turcer, who studies campaign contributions for Ohio Citizen Action, a watchdog group. 'One of the first signs that Blackwell was in trouble was that he wasn’t raising enough money,'" Matt Leingang , Canton Repository.

Dec 14: Testimony on Substitute House Bill 694

COLUMBUS -- "As we all know, Ohio has experienced several high profile political scandals in recent years, most of which can be traced back to the state’s campaign finance practices and the failure to ensure a high level of government transparency.  Substitute House Bill 694 provides an opportunity to break the connection between unbid contracts and campaign contributors.  It is definitely time to move beyond denial and the hand wringing about how bad things are to developing good public policy. Sub. H.B. 694 is a good beginning," Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action.
Summary of Substitute House Bill 694

Dec 13: Budget bill lets lawmakers meet in secret

COLUMBUS -- "But buried in the fine print in the $1.8 billion state capital budget bill - passed 94 to 3 by the Ohio House Tuesday - is language allowing House lawmakers to have majorities on its committees meet behind closed doors to discuss legislation without violating the state's open meetings law... However, DeWine's legislation does not subject political action committees to the $1,000 limit applied to individuals. 'Obviously, their PAC is a further way to skirt all of the rules,' said Catherine Turcer, the legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group. 'It's like they added a giant loophole and, sadly, it was clearly intentional,'" Aaron Marshall, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Dec 11: Strickland says he won’t cozy up to coal interests
Companies must pay for cleanups, he says

COLUMBUS -- "'I think the coal operators should bear the burden,' he said. An advocacy group says it will be watching to make sure he does, and it questions whether campaign donations from coal and power companies will affect Strickland’s coal policy. These industries donated more than $110,000 to Strickland’s 2006 campaign, says the watchdog group. 'This looks like a weakness,' said Catherine Turcer, of Ohio Citizen Action. 'We’re holding his feet to the fire,'" Spencer Hunt, Columbus Dispatch.

Dec 10: Lawmakers rush bills in last days
Ohio Republicans try to fulfill promises, while Democrats ready to take power want delay, debate

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action legislative director, has pushed for campaign finance reform, but is not ready to embrace DeWine's effort. `Most people are for reform like most people are for puppies,' Turcer said. `But how do you have a substantive conversation when you don't have the time?' Turcer said a cursory review of DeWine's bill was enough to notice mile-wide loopholes, no efforts to build a central database to track the links between contributors and state contracts, and no meaningful enforcement mechanisms to ensure the law would be followed," Dennis J Willard, Akron Beacon Journal.

Dec 6: Testimony on House Bill 685

COLUMBUS -- "I am baffled by some provisions in the bill.  Why should the fiscal impact on businesses be the primary review criteria?   What about how the rules-making process benefits the public.  What about public safety? Consumer protection? What about implementing programs so intended beneficiaries actually benefit?  Shouldn’t the focus be on reining in waste, fraud and abuse and protecting our environment?," Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action. 22 KB doc.
Summary of House Bill 685
MORE ON MONEY AND POLITICS

Dec 3: District lines in Ohio foil Democrats

COLUMBUS -- "Generally, the party drawing the lines gains an advantage through gerrymandering techniques known as 'cracking and packing,' in which voters from the other party are either spread thin, diluting their effectiveness, or packed together, giving a district an unnecessarily heavy Democratic or Republican tilt. Redistricting cut up Franklin County in such a way that three Republicans now represent a Democratic-leaning county, Ohio’s second largest," Jonathan Riskind and Jim Siegel, Columbus Dispatch .

Nov 29: Issue 5 set election precedent

COLUMBUS -- "'They were greatly assisted by free media coverage prompted by the presence of Issue 4 (Smoke Less Ohio) on the ballot,' Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action said. 'The tobacco industry's attempt to trump SmokeFreeOhio was well publicized in newspapers and on television, and certainly contributed to public awareness of the differences between Issues 4 and 5,'" Paul Kostyu, Canton Repository.

Nov 28: Smoking Ballot Issue Sets Precedent

smoker
COLUMBUS -- "Issue 5 and the SmokeFreeOhio campaign set a clear precedent for future citizen initiatives," said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action. "In forty-three Ohio ballot campaigns by petition since 1950, Issue 5 marked the first example of a contested issue, requiring a 'yes' vote, in which citizen proponents had sufficient TV money and a simple message," release, Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action.


Nov 26: Patronage jobs turn over
Change from GOP administration opens many opportunities

COLUMBUS -- "Gov.-elect Ted Strickland will oversee 4,756 patronage or non-civil service jobs once he's sworn in Jan. 8. Another 3,142 patronage jobs are controlled by other officeholders in the courts and legislature. 'The Democrats are looking at this time period as a big job fair,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a non-partisan public advocacy group. 'A cynic might say, 'It's their turn at the trough,'" Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer.
Nov 22: Political ads outpace election coverage on Cleveland, Columbus TV stations

CLEVELAND -- "Catherine Turcer, the legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, an advocacy group, said the silver lining is that both Cleveland and Columbus stations devoted a significant amount of their election coverage to Ohio's new voting procedures that required people to show identification. 'They did a great job of getting the word out,' she said," Mark Naymik, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Snapshot of Ohio Broadcasts


Nov 21: Local TV devotes 2.5 more air time to political ads vs. election coverage

CHICAGO, IL -- "In the month leading up to the recent 2006 mid-term elections, local television news viewers got considerably more information about campaigns from paid political advertisements than from actual news coverage, a new study shows... These findings come amid studies consistently showing that voters look to local television newscasts as their primary source of information about elections," press release, Joyce Foundation.

Snapshot of Ohio Broadcasts


Nov 19: How The Blade uncovered Ohio's rare-coin scandal

TOLEDO -- "On April 3, 2005, The Blade began a series that would evolve into one of the most important stories ever told by the newspaper. It initially focused squarely on the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s $50 million investment in rare coins with Tom Noe, a Toledo-area coin dealer and influential Republican power broker. Over the last 19 months, the project grew into a wide-ranging examination of influence-peddling and corruption in state government," Dave Murray, Toledo Blade.

Nov 14: Noe guilty of theft, faces jail

TOLEDO -- "Former coin dealer Tom Noe was convicted Monday of turning a $50 million investment from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation into a personal checking account and spending it on his whims and debts... 'It's really important for Ohio to heal from what Tom Noe did,' said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a public watchdog group. 'We were really taken advantage of, and we deserved justice with a long prison sentence,'" John Caniglia, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

TOLEDO -- Noe guilty 29 times; former-coin dealer will face a minimum of 10 years in state prison, Mike Wilkinson and James Drew, Toledo Blade.

Nov 13: Nice bonus: Bought-out workers still on job

COLUMBUS -- "But a government watchdog said private businesses can do what they want with their money, unlike school districts. 'The people who work for the schools work for taxpayers,' said Catherine Turcer, of Ohio Citizen Action. 'If they can replace the president of the United States every four years. I think they can replace a computer whiz,'" Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch.

Nov 9: Ohio gears up for a new course after elections

COLUMBUS -- "'Ted Strickland just won the governor's race by orchestrating a careful campaign whose message was essentially 'I'm Not Ken Blackwell,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a statewide consumer and environmental advocacy group," James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade.

COLUMBUS -- Strickland starts to work on planning the transition, "He bristled at a statement issued Wednesday by Ohio Citizen Action, which tracks campaign contributions, that characterized him as 'a candidate whose commitment to the interests of the coal-mining and coal-fired electric utility industry is unmatched since Jim Rhodes,'" Mark Rollenhagen, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

COLUMBUS -- New governor must balance bellwether state's many interests, Julie Carr Smyth, Akron Beacon Journal.

COLUMBUS -- Dann's corruption fight gets him elected attorney general, Steve Eder and James Drew, Toledo Blade.

Nov 8: Who does Governor-elect Ted Strickland owe? And what do they want from him?

COLUMBUS -- "Ted Strickland just won the governor's race by orchestrating a careful campaign whose message was essentially 'I'm Not Ken Blackwell.' While the campaign was successful in taking him to the governor's office, it does not give voters much information about what his agenda may be. The contributors to the governor's race, however, do have an agenda. In fact, an analysis of Governor-elect Strickland's contributor base in Congress and the 2006 governor's race, his record in Congress, and his gubernatorial platform show a candidate whose commitment to the interests of the coal mining and coal-fired electric utility industry is unmatched since Jim Rhodes. If carried out, this agenda will harm everyone who pays taxes, pays electric bills, or breathes," Catherine Turcer, Legislative Director, Ohio Citizen Action.


Nov 7: Legal challenges live, die on eve of Ohio election

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, of the political watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action, said Ohio law is unambiguous on the matter.'This is the first time in a general election that most of Ohio is using computerized voting. If you just think of how distrustful people are of that form of voting, we're talking about taking away a layer of transparency,' Turcer said," Julie Carr Smith, Contra Costa Times.

COLUMBUS -- Legal challenges loom over election, Jim Provance, Toledo Blade.
The Supreme Court's decision

Nov 6: Supreme Court orders the Secretary of State to respond

COLUMBUS -- "The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered the Ohio Secretary of State to respond by 1 pm today, to Ohio Citizen Action v. Blackwell.  Why is this important? 1 - It's the law. 2 - This is the first general election where all across Ohio voters will be casting ballots electronically. We want to be sure that the ballots they cast at the precinct match the vote count at the Board of Elections. There is enough public distress about the election. There is no reason to eliminate this important safeguard to transparency," Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action.
Full text of Complaint for an Original Writ of Mandamus
Full text of Relators Memorandum in Support of Complaint for an Original Writ of Mandamus

Nov 4: Court allows early tally of absentee votes

COLUMBUS -- "Also yesterday, attorneys for Ohio Citizen Action, a nonprofit government watchdog group, filed a lawsuit asking the Ohio Supreme Court to order that Tuesday’s election results be posted at precinct polling places at the same time that they are transmitted to county elections boards," Joe Hallett, Columbus Dispatch.

Nov 3: Ohio Citizen Action v. J. Kenneth Blackwell et al filed with Ohio Supreme Court at 5 PM
Calls for posted election results at each polling place

COLUMBUS -- "At 5:00 PM Friday, attorneys for Ohio Citizen Action filed with the Ohio Supreme Court 'an original action for a Writ of Mandamus, compelling Respondents to comply with their clear legal duty pursuant to Revised Code § 3505.30 to post summary statements of election results at each polling place . . . .Respondents must make every effort to assure Ohio voters that their votes will be properly and accurately accounted for and that no element of fraud or vote manipulation will occur,'" Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action.
Full text of Complaint for an Original Writ of Mandamus
Full text of Relators Memorandum in Support of Complaint for an Original Writ of Mandamus

Nov 2:  Compromise relaxes voter ID rules

COLUMBUS -- "New identification requirements will be in force on Election Day, but a court settlement reached last night is designed to relax those standards enough to assure that no legitimate voter will be turned away," Jim Provance, Toledo Blade.

COLUMBUS -- Vote law challenge settled in U.S. court, ID definition broadened for in-person voting Nov. 7 and for all absentee ballots, Mark Rollenhagen, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

COLUMBUS -- Parties settle voter ID lawsuit, Mark Niquette and Kevin Mayhood, Columbus Dispatch.

Nov 1:  Ohio election rules in limbo a week before vote

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer with Ohio Citizen Action says voter confusion is rampant.. 'It's actually likely to be even worse this year. We have new machines and on top of that we have these new voter identification rules,'" Jo Ingles, National Public Radio.

Oct 31:  Follow the money

COLUMBUS -- "Compare contributions to the major party candidates for governor, attorney general and justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. This analysis examines both monetary and in-kind contributions from January 1, 2005 to October 4, 2006," Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action.
COLUMBUS -- Voters Q & A, Columbus Dispatch.

Oct 27:  Judge suspends voter-ID directive
Many absentee voters provide wrong numbers

COLUMBUS -- "Thousands of Ohioans got a reprieve from having their absentee votes thrown out when a federal judge last night halted state voter-identification requirements," Kevin Mayhood , Mark Niquette and Alan Johnson, Columbus Dispatch.

Oct 25:  Some Ohio counties won't post voting results in each precinct

CLEVELAND -- ""Anything that makes the process less transparent is a terrible idea when so many people are questioning the outcome of elections,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action in Columbus,'" M.R. Kropko, Associated Press.

Oct 20:  Candidate says he won't pay debt to Pepsi

COLUMBUS -- "Republican Greg Hartmann, who likes to talk on the campaign trail about his business experience, left the private sector owing Pepsi Cola Bottling Group more than $15,000 — a debt that has grown to $29,000 and that he says he has no plans to pay... Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group, said, 'Maybe he doesn't believe he owes that money but that's too bad. That's not what the court decided,'" Laura Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.

Oct 19:  Candidate says campaign money appears to buy seats on high court

COLUMBUS -- "Earlier Wednesday, political watchdog Ohio Citizen Action released a report that found insurance companies, health care providers and fellow lawyers topped the lists of contributors to Republican candidates, while Espy got the most from lawyers, his political party and labor unions," John McCarthy, Associated Press.

Oct 18:  Contributions to candidates for Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court

COLUMBUS -- "Robert Cupp raised twice as much as his opponent Ben Espy, according to a study released today by Ohio Citizen Action.  The top fundraiser Terrence O’Donnell has already raised $874,311.  He faces William O’Neill, who has pledged to take 'no money from nobody.' O’Neill has not reported receiving any campaign contributions" Catherine Turcer and Jason Danklefsen, Ohio Citizen Action.
Oct 17:  New report seeks change in Ohio’s political culture

town cryer
COLUMBUS -- "'Ohio’s democracy and state government face serious challenges, including public corruption, a flagging economy and relatively low levels of educational attainment,' says a new report titled 'Reforming Ohio’s Democracy: What’s wrong, what we can do about it.' The report is the work of political scientist Herbert Asher of The Ohio State University, Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, Daniel Tokaji of Ohio State’s law school, and Ann Henkener and Peg Rosenfield," Paul E. Kostyu, Canton Repository.

Oct 13:  Study: Election coverage fairly brief

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer of the government watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action lamented as a "significant problem" the idea that local TV news devotes so little time to explanatory journalism. 'Right now we are being pummeled by these 30-second political advertisements,' she said, 'and yet our viewers are left with very little political information,'" Molly Willow, Columbus Dispatch.

Oct 12:  Local TV newscasts average 36 seconds of election coverage

MADISON, Wisconsin -- "Most people get their news from network television. However, more time is devoted to teasers and introducing the news than actual election coverage. Broadcasters have an obligation to voters, and they’re not living up to their part of the deal," Catherine Turcer, Ohio Citizen Action.
Oct 10:  Business backing ads for GOP pair in top court races
Ohio coalition spends $1.3 million

COLUMBUS -- "The Partnership for Ohio's Future is successor to Citizens for a Strong Ohio, which last week lost its latest appeal of an Ohio Elections Commission finding that it illegally used corporate cash in a failed attempt to unseat Justice Resnick in 2000... 'A train wreck is still a train wreck, even if you see exactly what happened to the wheels...,' said Catherine Turcer, of government watchdog Ohio Citizen Action. 'They're trying to buy a philosophy,'" Jim Provance, Toledo Blade.

Oct 9:  Ohio needs a governor who doesn’t just look good on a horse

COLUMBUS -- "On the same day of the debate, a new report landed on my desk. The brutally frank assessment of Ohio’s condition included practical ideas for reform. It should be the textbook from which the debate on fixing Ohio starts. It’s titled 'Reforming Ohio’s Democracy: What’s wrong, what can we do about it,'" Joe Hallett, Columbus Dispatch. Column published Sunday, October 8.

Oct 4:  Poll: Ohio economy needs fixing
Voters give Dems edge; Blackwell, Strickland meet tonight

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a nonprofit public advocacy group, said state candidates might be out of touch with what's most important to Ohioans this year. 'A lot of their campaign ads are about taxes,' Turcer said. 'Candidates talk about taxes, taxes, taxes so long that, after a while, people become anesthetized,'" Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer.

COLUMBUS -- Watchdog group says study on justices' votes in cases involving contributors shows need for change, "Catherine Turcer with the watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action says this shows it's time for Ohioans to make some changes in the way judges and justices are elected, but that Ohioans shouldn't assume that there is always a sinister connection between judges and their contributors," Statehouse News Bureau.

Oct 3:  Overview of Ohio's shortcomings released

COLUMBUS -- "Today, a working group composed of representatives of Ohio's leading civic organizations and prominent scholars unveiled a wide-ranging report on Ohio's democracy. The report, entitled Reforming Ohio's Democracy: What's Wrong, What Can We Do About It, examines systemic problems in the state's political system, which reduce citizens' confidence in government and politics," press release, Ohio Citizen Action.

Oct 2:  Campaign cash mirrors a high court’s rulings


Justice Terrence O’Donnell, a Republican member of the Ohio Supreme Court, voted in favor of his contributors 91 percent of the time.

COLUMBUS -- "As the amounts rise, questions about whether money is polluting the independence of the judiciary are being fiercely debated across the nation. And nowhere is the battle for judicial seats more ferocious than in Ohio," Adam Liptak, New York Times.

Sep 26:  In Ohio, a battle of databases

CINCINNATI -- "Ken Mehlman, chairman of the Republican National Committee and one of the principal architects of the GOP turnout apparatus nationwide, said a top-notch voter identification and turnout effort matters more in a congressional race than a presidential one because there is 'much less of a public dialogue' about individual House contests," Chris Cillizza and Jim VandeHei, Washington Post.

Sep 21:  Support for electronic filing of Senate candidates' campaign-finance records gains momentum

WASHINGTON, DC -- "In the next few weeks leading up to Election Day, money will pour into candidates' coffers and voters will be able to see which lobby groups are trying hardest to buy their lawmakers' favor. Except if the candidates happen to be running for Senate. In one of the most controversial quirks in election law, candidates for Senate are not required to file their campaign-finance reports electronically," Jeffrey Birnbaum, Washington Post.

Sep 16:  Beavercreek's credit card spending under scrutiny
Questionable charges prompt a change in policies

BEAVERCREEK -- "Hadley contends that city officials did not intentionally misuse the credit cards. 'I think the policies in the city are too lax, and they are using' the credit cards based on their interpretations, the mayor said. Such logic is irresponsible, said Catherine Turcer, legislative director of the government watchdog organization Ohio Citizen Action. 'That's the kind of logic that teenagers use,' Turcer said," Ismail Turay Jr. and Ken McCall, Dayton Daily News.

Sep 15:  Ohio Congressman is said to agree to plead guilty

WASHINGTON, DC -- "Representative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio, has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to his dealings with the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawyers and others with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday. A guilty plea would make Mr. Ney, a six-term congressman, the first member of Congress to admit to criminal charges in the Abramoff investigation," Philip Shenon, New York Times.

Statement of Congressman Robert W. Ney

Sep 14:  Landmark survey released:
Midwesterners consider state government reform

CHICAGO, IL -- "'Ohioans demand and deserve better form their state government. It's time for our elected officials to stop sitting on their hands or wringing them. It's time for change in Ohio,' says Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action," Joyce Foundation.
Sep 12:  Noe sentenced to 2 years in prison

TOLEDO -- "Prominent Republican contributor Thomas W. Noe was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison today for illegally contributing $45,400 to President Bush's re-election campaign. That's less prison time than prosecutors sought but more than the probation requested by Noe, who also was fined $136,200 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service upon release," Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch.

Sep 10:  Ex-BWC pair now running related firms
2 joined agency contractors tied to political donations

COLUMBUS -- "'Golden parachutes' is how Catherine Turcer, legislative director of Ohio Citizen Action, referred to former administrator William W. Pfeiffer's 1995 departure from the bureau and his reappearance as the head of CareWorks, and Daniel Neubert's 2001 resignation from the bureau and his new job as executive director of 1-888-OhioComp," James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade.

COLUMBUS -- Ohio official says trip for business, not football, "All the more reason not to have taxpayers foot the bill for his trip, said Catherine Turcer, of the government watchdog Ohio Citizen Action. 'They can put a nice bow on it, but it's still a junket,' Turcer said. 'It's still taking advantage of taxpayer money,'" Akron Beacon Journal.

COLUMBUS -- Survey of state lawmakers reveals nuanced views on money, issues, "'It’s always easier to point fingers at other people than to own up that you were influenced by money,' said Catherine Turcer, of the watchdog group Ohio Citizen Action," Jim Siegel, Columbus Dispatch.

Sep 9:  BWC change paid off for politicians
1990s overhaul created new source of donations

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, the legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog, said the flood of contributions from the managed-care program provides more evidence that 'money rules Ohio' and that change is needed. She said elected officials are telling Ohioans: 'Look over here at that good policy decision while we open the floodgates of campaign contributions. It's a magic show,'" James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade.

Sep 8:  Noe has suffered enough, defense attorney tells court

COLUMBUS -- "''It's going to take a long time before the state of Ohio recovers from Tom Noe,' said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a public watchdog. 'To suggest that he paid the price because he has suffered a bit is ludicrous. The gall of that attorney, to think that he would put this in a court brief,'" John Caniglia, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

CLEVELAND -- Firms reap millions in BWC deals; political contributors get big managed-care pacts, James Drew and Steve Eder, Toledo Blade.

Sep 7:  That's not confetti, that's campaign cash
Strickland, Blackwell raise $21 million

COLUMBUS -- "Add another title to the contentious race between Democrat Ted Strickland and Republican Ken Blackwell to become Ohio's next governor: Most Expensive Ever... Among Strickland's biggest contributors was the Ohio Democratic Party, which chipped in about $150,000, bringing its overall contributions to about $1 million," Aaron Marshall, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

COLUMBUS -- Strickland leads money race, He, Blackwell waging Ohio’s most expensive run for governor, Mark Niquette, Columbus Dispatch.

Sep 6:  Noe didn't use public money for Bush gifts, feds say

COLUMBUS -- "Noe deposited 'substantial sums' from the coin investment he managed for the bureau into his checking account before and after he reimbursed friends for contributing to Bush... 'We need a severe penalty so that this never happens again,' said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a public watchdog. 'This isn't just about punishing Tom Noe. It is about setting an example,'" John Caniglia, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Sep 4:  Labor supporting Strickland over Blackwell
Unions' endorsements and cash are overwhelmingly going to the Democrat in the race for governor

COLUMBUS -- "From Jan. 1, 2005, through June 2, Strickland received contributions of $697,420 from labor organizations and individuals identified as working for union groups, according to an analysis by Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan advocacy group," William Hershey, Dayton Daily News.

Sep 2:  Voter-registration rules tossed
Ohio penalties go too far, federal judge decides

CLEVELAND -- "A federal judge threw out new state rules governing voter-registration drives yesterday, saying they appear to violate the First Amendment and hurt efforts to sign up new voters. U.S. District Judge Kathleen O’Malley issued an order from the bench halting enforcement of the registration rules," M R Kropko, Columbus Dispatch.

CLEVELAND -- Ruling erases election overhaul, Voter registration can continue as is, federal judge says, Mike Tobin, Cleveland Plain Dealer.

CLEVELAND -- Part of voter bill blocked, Sections of House Bill 3 `undermine the purpose of the National Voting Rights Act,' judge says, Lisa A. Abraham, Akron Beacon Journal.

Sep 1:  Penalty rises for 4 GOP campaign ‘conduits’

COLUMBUS -- "'It is so frustrating because you want the kind of penalties that make it so clear that this should never ever happen,' said Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a public policy advocacy group. 'Clearly, you need to get the message that money laundering is wrong, but so were the other ethics violations,'" Mike Wilkinson, Toledo Blade.

COLUMBUS -- Ohio to delay destruction of presidential ballots, Ian Urbina, New York Times.

Aug 29:  Blackwell won't press for disclosure on attack ads aimed at Strickland

COLUMBUS -- "Common Sense Ohio, a newly formed nonprofit organization, is running TV and radio ads that criticize the Democratic candidate for governor... Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action, a nonprofit government watchdog group, said if you want to follow the money, you need to know who is writing the checks," Laura A. Bischoff, Dayton Daily News.

Aug 27:  Politics of ethics play out on trail

COLUMBUS -- "When top ethics watchers were asked if anyone from the camps had asked for advice on these issues -- including Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles, Ohio Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe, Ohio Ethics Commission Executive Director David Freel, Common Cause of Ohio's outreach director Samuel Gresham, and Ohio Citizen Action lobbyist Catherine Turcer -- each responded monosyllabically and emphatically: 'No,'" Dennis J Willard, Akron Beacon Journal.

Aug 21:  Where do DeWine, Brown get money?
Candidates for Senate share some sources, but the gap is always large when they do

COLUMBUS -- "Sen. Mike DeWine criticizes his opponent, Rep. Sherrod Brown, for being in the pocket of organized labor, while Brown says DeWine is too beholden to the energy industry, the drug industry and Wall Street. But an analysis of the two candidates' campaign contributions by Political MoneyLine, a Web site that tracks money in politics, finds some surprises," Jessica Wehrman, Dayton Daily News.

Aug 7:  Voters need to show IDs on Tuesday
Ohio special election will test new Republican-backed law that aims to reduce poll fraud

COLUMBUS -- "Tuesday's special election will be the first test of a new state law requiring voters to have approved identification to cast a ballot. The law, which Republicans say they created to curb voter fraud, concerns Democrats because they believe groups such as the poor, mentally challenged and elderly may not have their votes counted," Patrick Cain, Akron Beacon Journal.
Aug 6:  New registration rules stir voter debate in Ohio

CLEVELAND -- "'All this flak about Jive Turkey is a red herring,' said Catherine Turcer, the legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a nonpartisan government watchdog group in Columbus. 'Yes, his name showed up on a voter registration card along with Dick Tracy, Mary Poppins and Michael Jordan. But none of them showed up at the polls, which is really what matters, and cases like theirs were a total rarity that did not justify such restrictive new measures,'" Ian Urbina, New York Times.

Aug 2:  Crux of Noe case is how public trust was treated

COLUMBUS -- "What’s really bugging us about Tom Noe? Are we troubled that the rarecoin dealer might have misspent some injured-worker funds, or is it that state officials entrusted him with the millions in the first place? Or both? If our irritation stems from the first set of circumstances, those issues will be hashed out in court this fall," Ann Fisher, Columbus Dispatch.

Jul 26: Tracking influence at City Hall
45 declare on lobbyist registry

COLUMBUS -- "But Catherine Turcer, who works for the government watchdog Ohio Citizen Action, laughed at the notion that including zoning lawyers makes Columbus’ registry less insightful. 'Clearly, zoning lawyers are lobbying,' she said. 'They are working to affect one of the most important things in the city — land,'" Jodi Andes and Mark Ferenchik, Columbus Dispatch.

Jul 24:  Cash for a cause
Out-of-state donations pouring in for governor race

COLUMBUS -- "Millions in out-of-state campaign contributions have poured into the Ohio governor's race, much of it in the form of $10,000 donations, the largest allowed per election cycle under state law. An analysis reveals that Republican Ken Blackwell's out-of-town donors back charter schools and vouchers or support cultural positions against gay marriage," Cleveland Plain Dealer.

COLUMBUS -- Holy Toledo, Ohio’s gubernatorial race tests the power of the Christian right, Frances Firzgerald, The New Yorker.

Jul 10:  Election Corrections
America's voting machinery was supposed to be fixed, but the road to reform has been slow going

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- "The Rev. DeForest 'Buster' Soaries, a Republican and the first head of the EAC, arrived in Washington in late 2003 and found a commission lacking real power. 'Instead of hitting the ground running,' says Soaries, who resigned in 2005, 'we hit the ground looking for office space to borrow,'" Silla Brush, U.S. News and World Report. This story appears in the July 17, 2006 print edition.

Jul 8:  Taft to get reprimand under deal
Governor broke attorneys' professional behavior code

COLUMBUS -- "But Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, said the penalty is not tough enough on Mr. Taft. 'We can never discipline people in a way that is truly meaningful,' she said. 'Public humiliation simply is not enough. If it were, we would not have all the problems in government," James Drew, Toledo Blade.

Jul 4:  RIP for redistricting

TOLEDO -- "Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, described efforts to revive a proposed reform of Ohio's system for drawing state legislative and U.S. House districts as 'attempted to herd cats.' A forum planned for last Wednesday was canceled because not enough people planned to attend, Turcer said. There's always next year," Dayton Daily News.

Jul 3:  Conduits' ethical lapse

TOLEDO -- "All four were convicted of failing to file state ethics forms disclosing as gifts money that Noe had given them, which then was forwarded illegally to the Bush campaign. And all four either hold or have held elected office and together have nearly a century of experience in the public arena," Editorial, Toledo Blade.

Jul 2:  Investigators' handling of Noe case raises questions; just 1 of 24 alleged conduits prosecuted for donations

COLUMBUS -- "Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, said the decision to not charge the federal conduits or Ms. Perz for being a state conduit 'is about people passing the buck, so to speak. We let them off the hook, which then makes one wonder whether using conduits is so commonplace. It won't stop being ordinary or common if they don't do more than slap them on the wrist' she said," Mike Wilkinson and James Drew, Toledo Blade.

An Overview of Governor Bob Taft, Thomas Noe and the Bureau of Workers Compensation

Jul 1:  Report tracks origin of Taft donation
$2,500 gift linked to Noe was given during '02 event featuring Bush

COLUMBUS -- "Yesterday, Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, said it was noteworthy that the allegation that Noe used Ms. Perz as a conduit in 2002 and his guilty plea to federal charges of funneling money in 2003 both involved Columbus fund-raisers featuring Mr. Bush," Steve Eder and James Drew, Toledo Blade.



Money and Politics News from January - June 2006, Jul - Dec 2005, Jan - Jun 2005, Oct-Dec 2004, Jul-Sep 2004, Jan-Jun 2004, 2003, Oct-Dec 2002, Jul-Sep 2002, Jan-Jun 2002, 2001, Oct 1998 -2000