Rotunda Rumblings
Final score: The new budget also provides $600 million towards a new Cleveland Browns stadium in suburban Brook Park by raiding the state’s unclaimed property fund, which now has a 10-year time limit on it before money reverts to the state. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the budget clears other roadblocks for Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, including relaxing the state’s “Art Modell Law” (which restricts Ohio pro sports teams from moving without local consent) and guaranteeing the Browns can keep their third of Cuyahoga County “sin tax” money even if they leave Cleveland.
Income tax drop: Gov. Mike DeWine signed Ohio’s new budget late Monday, leaving in place more than $1 billion in flat income tax cuts. Anna Staver reports thatthe biggest savings will go to Ohioans earning more than $100,000, The top tax rate will dropfrom 3.5% to 2.75% by 2026. Supporters call it overdue tax relief, while critics say it helps the wealthy while shifting costs to others.
Anti-abortion bill: In the absence of federal abortion protections, Ohioans took matters into their own hands in 2023 and enshrined reproductive rights into the state’s constitution. Now, a new bill in the General Assembly is directly challenging the will of the voters, Mary Frances McGowan reports. House Bill 370 seeks to “entirely abolish abortion in this state,” by granting legal personhood from the moment of fertilization. The legislation would extend criminal and civil protections to “unborn persons,” effectively making abortion a criminal act equivalent to homicide. The bill is expected to face steep odds for passage, with major anti-abortion organizations like Ohio Right to Life withholding their support.
Corona cash? A state appeals court on Monday held that Gov. Mike DeWine must try to get, and retroactively distribute, $900 million in special federal coronavirus unemployment benefits that he ended early in 2021. As Pelzer reports, a three-judge panel of the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court ruling in favor of the plaintiffs of a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 300,000 Ohioans eligible for the $300-per-week benefits. DeWine cut the payments off in June 2021, a couple months before the benefits program ended. DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost have yet to say whether they’ll appeal the decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Workman advances: A Senate committee on Thursday signed off on the nomination of Ohio’s Jeremiah Workman to serve as the Department of Labor’s assistant secretary for veterans’ employment and training, Sabrina Eaton writes. The job would require Workman to administer programs that provide employment and training for veterans. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee voted 13-10 to send Workman’s nomination to the full U.S. Senate, which must approve the nomination before he can take office.
Back to Haiti: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published in the Federal Register on Friday an announcement that it was terminating the Temporary Protective Status in September for 300,000 Haitians, including over 10,000 who live in Springfield. “After reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. Government agencies, the Secretary determined that Haiti no longer continues to meet the conditions for designation for TPS,” said the notice of the program ending, which began in February with a decision signed by Secretary Kristi Noem. A Haitian community leader in Southwest Florida told WGCU this decision will “bury them alive,” as the country remains dangerous.
Snackin’ with Acton: Heading into the governor’s race, Democratic former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton’s strength of being the calming, informed presence who guided Ohioans through the beginning of the pandemic is also her biggest liability, Liz Skalka writes for Politico Magazine. Although Acton stands by her health orders – including sending kids home from school - GOP frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy is already pouncing on her decisions that today’s science now show to have been unnecessary.
Israel fatigue: In the GOP, an emerging generational divide on Israel can be illustrated by a debate night organized by Miami University’s College Republicans. While most of the group felt the U.S. needs to back its longtime ally in its war in Gaza, a loud and vocal contingent expressed frustration over the party’s support. Nationally, more Republicans under age 50 are weary of U.S. support over Israel’s wars in Gaza, Lebanon in recent years, the Washington Post’s Terell Wright reports.
Cincinnati on ICE: Immigration arrests have cast a shadow over the local economy in Cincinnati’s East Price Hill neighborhood, which has a high proportion of Guatemalan immigrants, The Wall Street Journal reports. The East Price Hill arrests rattled a neighborhood where many newcomers are in the U.S. illegally but have managed to work. Traffic to many local businesses is suffering as the immigrants stay home.
Lobbying Lineup
Seven retailers that registered to lobby on the two-year state budget, House Bill 96.
1. Amazon.com Services LLC
2. Sheetz Inc.
3. Produce Perks
4. Phantom Fireworks Showrooms Inc.
5. Giant Eagle Inc.
6. Walmart Inc.
7. Discount Drug Mart
On the Move
Vice President J.D. Vance, a Cincinnati Republican, will attend a fundraising dinner to benefit the Republican National Committee on Nantucket, Tuesday, July 22, WBSM reports.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton has hired Phil Stein as her campaign manager. Stein most recently worked as senior advisor to Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi’s successful primary campaign for lieutenant governor earlier this year. Before that, he managed Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids’ campaign in Kansas and was deputy manager for U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer’s 2018 campaign in Virginia.
Birthdays
State Sen. Hearcel Craig
Samuel Dimon, legislative aide to state Sen. Theresa Gavarone
Blaine Kelly, Key Bank’s state government relations manager
Isaac Rogers, senior legislative aide to state Sen. Lou Blessing
Straight from the Source
“In one word, it’s terrifying to see all of these attacks on the queer community, especially the most marginalized and the most vulnerable part of our community, the trans community.”
- Jim Obergefell of Sandusky to NPR’s Leila Fadel. Obergefell’s lawsuit against Ohio resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing same-sex marriage nationwide 10 years ago. While polling shows most Americans support marriage equality, transgender youth are under attack. The U.S. Supreme Court two weeks ago ruled that state bans on gender-affirming care for minors are allowed.
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