July 13, 2017 •
Former Major Lobbyist Moves from Big House to Halfway House
In preparation for his September release, former lobbyist John Raphael was moved from a federal prison in South Carolina to an undisclosed halfway house in Columbus. He had been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to a […]
In preparation for his September release, former lobbyist John Raphael was moved from a federal prison in South Carolina to an undisclosed halfway house in Columbus.
He had been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to a count of extorting campaign contributions from a red-light-camera vendor to city officials. Despite the city doubling its number of cameras from 2005 to 2010 from said vendor, no city officials have been charged.
According to one of his attorneys, his post-release plans are “up in the air.”
March 23, 2017 •
Drug Price Relief Act Expected to Appear on Ohio Ballot
The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act is expected to appear on the ballot in November, 2017. The proposed initiated statute would prohibit the state from purchasing a prescription drug unless the net cost of the drug is equal to or […]
The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act is expected to appear on the ballot in November, 2017.
The proposed initiated statute would prohibit the state from purchasing a prescription drug unless the net cost of the drug is equal to or less than the lowest price paid for the drug by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA).
It could directly impact more than 4 million individuals served by state programs including those on Medicaid, individuals participating in state retirement programs, and those receiving care through other state programs such as the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) commissioned Vorys Health Care Advisors (VHCA) and Health Management Associates (HMA) to create an independent and objective analysis of the potential impact of the proposed act.
Results of the analysis show it is highly unlikely the proposed act could be effectively implemented; moreover, it is highly likely it would fail to achieve its purpose and negatively impact non-targeted entities via increased prescription drug costs and limited availability of certain medications.
March 2, 2017 •
Ohio Rep. Greta Johnson to Resign to Take Summit County Position
Ohio state Rep. Greta Johnson announced her resignation this morning, effective at the end of the month. She is stepping down to take a position as deputy law director for Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. Johnson was elected in 2014 […]
Ohio state Rep. Greta Johnson announced her resignation this morning, effective at the end of the month.
She is stepping down to take a position as deputy law director for Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.
Johnson was elected in 2014 to represent District 35. Prior to serving in the Legislature, she served as a prosecutor in Mahoning County and Summit County, as well as with the city of Akron.
The House Democratic Caucus will soon announce the process for selecting her replacement.
February 28, 2017 •
Ohio Secretary of State Raises Campaign Contribution Limits
The Ohio Secretary of State Campaign Finance Division recently released revised contribution limits. The new limits are effective February 25, 2017, through February 24, 2019. Among the changes, the limit individuals, political action committees (PACs), and political contributing entities (PCEs) […]
The Ohio Secretary of State Campaign Finance Division recently released revised contribution limits. The new limits are effective February 25, 2017, through February 24, 2019.
Among the changes, the limit individuals, political action committees (PACs), and political contributing entities (PCEs) may give to statewide or state legislative candidates increased from $12,532.34 per election period to $12,707.79 per election period.
The secretary of state adjusts statutory contribution limits in each odd-numbered year based on the Consumer Price Index.
September 28, 2016 •
Columbus, OH City Council Approves Emergency Legislation on Ethics
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther signed emergency legislation yesterday creating a City Council Ethics Policy. The ethics policy aligns with state ethics law as well as with an executive order signed by Ginther in May 2016. Ginther’s executive order was immediately […]
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther signed emergency legislation yesterday creating a City Council Ethics Policy. The ethics policy aligns with state ethics law as well as with an executive order signed by Ginther in May 2016.
Ginther’s executive order was immediately effective for executive branch public officials and employees. The new City Council policy has nearly identical provisions on prohibited conduct and financial disclosure, but is applicable to all public officials and city employees.
Effective immediately, public officials and employees may not solicit or accept gifts or employment from anyone doing business with the city. They also must wait at least one year after leaving public service before representing any person or entity before any city department or division with respect to a matter they personally participated in while serving with the city.
Designated officials and employees must also file financial disclosure statements each year. The statements must include a description of each gift, or aggregate of gifts, exceeding $75 from certain sources during the previous calendar year.
Photo of Mayor Andrew Ginther by David Paul on Wikimedia Commons.
September 16, 2016 •
Cleveland, OH to Consider Raising Minimum Wage in 2017 Special Election
Cleveland City Council approved a proposal this week to put a minimum wage increase before the voters in a 2017 special election. If passed by the voters, the proposal would increase the city minimum wage to $12 per hour in […]
Cleveland City Council approved a proposal this week to put a minimum wage increase before the voters in a 2017 special election.
If passed by the voters, the proposal would increase the city minimum wage to $12 per hour in January 2018 and increase the wage $1 annually thereafter for three additional years.
The issue will appear on the ballot on May 2, 2017.
Photo of the Cleveland skyline by Eric Drost in Wikimedia Commons.
August 23, 2016 •
Ohio Bill Could Eliminate Unnecessary Elections
Recently introduced legislation could eliminate unnecessary elections if only one person is on the ballot. The special primary set for September 13, for example, will cost taxpayers $500,000 despite there being only one person on the ballot to become the […]
Recently introduced legislation could eliminate unnecessary elections if only one person is on the ballot.
The special primary set for September 13, for example, will cost taxpayers $500,000 despite there being only one person on the ballot to become the Democratic nominee going into the November special general election.
Ohio Sen. Frank LaRose, who introduced Senate Bill 347, believes forcing county boards of elections to hold uncontested primary elections is a waste of both time and resources. His proposal would remove the requirement to hold a primary when only one candidate is certified and would allow the secretary of state to declare the lone candidate the party’s nominee.
August 10, 2016 •
Special Primary Election to be Held for Ohio’s 8th Congressional District
A special primary election will be held on September 13, 2016, to fill a general election ballot vacancy for Ohio’s 8th Congressional District. Democratic nominee Corey Foister withdrew from the race to pursue an out-of-state opportunity he said he couldn’t […]
A special primary election will be held on September 13, 2016, to fill a general election ballot vacancy for Ohio’s 8th Congressional District.
Democratic nominee Corey Foister withdrew from the race to pursue an out-of-state opportunity he said he couldn’t pass up.
Steven Fought, a former congressional staffer from Toledo, was the only Democrat to file for the special election ballot. In November, he will challenge recently elected Republican U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson for the seat in former House Speaker John Boehner’s district. Davidson won a June 7 special election to complete Boehner’s term and is seeking a full term in November.
July 7, 2016 •
Ohio Legislator Seeks to Eliminate Certain Special Elections
Ohio Sen. Kris Jordan recently introduced a bill to eliminate special elections in February and August. His proposal is the result of historically low voter turnout in Ohio special elections. Fewer than 10 percent of residents usually participate in any […]
Ohio Sen. Kris Jordan recently introduced a bill to eliminate special elections in February and August.
His proposal is the result of historically low voter turnout in Ohio special elections. Fewer than 10 percent of residents usually participate in any special election, and an election can cost the state $4 to $6 million.
June 7, 2016 •
Ohio Voters to Fill Boehner’s Seat
Voters in six Ohio counties will decide today who will fill the congressional seat left vacant by former House Speaker John Boehner. Republican Warren Davidson is facing off against Democrat Corey Foister and Green Party candidate Jim Condit Jr. The […]
Voters in six Ohio counties will decide today who will fill the congressional seat left vacant by former House Speaker John Boehner.
Republican Warren Davidson is facing off against Democrat Corey Foister and Green Party candidate Jim Condit Jr. The winner will complete Boehner’s term.
Low voter turnout is expected with no other races on the ballot.
April 12, 2016 •
Ohio Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Amend Campaign Finance Law
Ohio Rep. John Becker recently introduced campaign finance legislation to simplify and modernize current state law. House Bill 502 would put an end to paper filing for local candidates and committees and phase in electronic filing over the next 3 […]
Ohio Rep. John Becker recently introduced campaign finance legislation to simplify and modernize current state law. House Bill 502 would put an end to paper filing for local candidates and committees and phase in electronic filing over the next 3 years.
County-wide candidates could begin filing electronically in 2017, school board candidates in 2018, and city and village candidates in 2019. Local filings would be submitted in the same manner as state filings on the secretary of state’s website.
Other provisions of Becker’s proposal include rounding contribution limits to the nearest $100, eliminating campaign finance filing requirements for committees and political contributing entities raising or spending less than $2,000 in a reporting period, delaying post-general campaign finance reports until the first week of January, and eliminating the itemization requirement when reporting income or expenses for a single entity totaling less than $100.
April 5, 2016 •
Proud to Be a Sponsor of Ohio Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting
State and Federal Communications is excited to be a Bronze Sponsor of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Legislative Reception in Columbus, Ohio on April 5, 2016! The keynote speaker for the event is former Speaker of the […]
State and Federal Communications is excited to be a Bronze Sponsor of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Legislative Reception in Columbus, Ohio on April 5, 2016! The keynote speaker for the event is former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner.
State and Federal Communications President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz and a team from the company are in attendance.
March 30, 2016 •
Columbus City Council Passes New Ethics Legislation
The Columbus City Council passed three new pieces of ethics legislation on Monday, March 28, strengthening financial disclosure provisions and amending city campaign finance and lobbying laws. Ord. 0084-2016 requires lobbyists to file updated registration statements in January, May, and […]
The Columbus City Council passed three new pieces of ethics legislation on Monday, March 28, strengthening financial disclosure provisions and amending city campaign finance and lobbying laws.
Ord. 0084-2016 requires lobbyists to file updated registration statements in January, May, and September of each year. Knowingly failing to register as a lobbyist will be a third degree misdemeanor, while knowingly filing a false statement will be a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Although state campaign finance laws apply to municipal elections, Ord. 0087-2016 requires additional election period communication disclosure statements to be filed with the Franklin County Board of Elections and with the city clerk if contributions or expenditures for the reporting period equal or exceed $10,000.
Among other changes, Ord. 0086-2016 expands financial disclosure requirements for public office holders and candidates, requiring a description of each gift or aggregate of gifts over $75 from certain sources.
All three ordinances go into effect September 28, 2016.
March 21, 2016 •
Proposed State Ballot Initiative Includes Revolving Door Provision for Ohio Legislators
Attorney General Mike DeWine recently approved language for a proposed ethics amendment to the Ohio Constitution. The proposal includes a revolving door provision, including a two-year ban on former legislators doing business with the Legislature. The issue must be reviewed […]
Attorney General Mike DeWine recently approved language for a proposed ethics amendment to the Ohio Constitution. The proposal includes a revolving door provision, including a two-year ban on former legislators doing business with the Legislature.
The issue must be reviewed by the Ohio Ballot Board to determine how it should appear on the ballot. Supporters of the amendment must gather at least 305,591 signatures of registered Ohio voters in order to reach the fall ballot.
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.