Come together: In the wake of the House Bill 6 scandal, Ohio House Democrats and Republicans have found an energy issue they can agree on: allowing utilities to voluntarily create their own energy-efficiency programs. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, new legislation has been introduced amid uncertainty by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio about what kinds of voluntary energy-savings programs are allowed under HB6, which gutted the state’s energy-efficiency mandates for utilities.
For the record: Vipal Patel, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, says Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was a cooperating witness in the HB 6 investigation, clearing up what he said was public speculation after it was reported that Yost had been interviewed by the FBI over a conversation he’d had with former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. As Andrew Tobias reports, the FBI interviewed Yost in July 2020 about his conversations from August 2019 with Householder, a primary target of the corruption probe. In a letter to Yost, Patel thanked him for his cooperation, saying it was an example to other public officials.
Afghanistan withdrawal: Frustrated by the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan after President Joe Biden’s decision to remove U.S. troops, Ohio’s Republican members of Congress are vigorously criticizing the decision while Democrats urge safe withdrawal of Americans and their allies from the country, Sabrina Eaton reports. “Afghanistan is now more likely to serve as a global launchpad for terrorism,” said a statement from Sen. Rob Portman. “I urge the president to be proactive in formulating a strategy for the fallout of this disastrous policy.”
Vaxx attacks: Another anti-vaccination bill was introduced in the Ohio House last week. House Bill 388, sponsored by Rep. Kris Jordan, a Delaware County Republican, would prohibit K-12 schools, colleges, child care centers, restaurants, barber shops, theaters, stores, airlines, inns, local government, state agencies and other places from denying service, treating differently or segregating unvaccinated people. People who violate provisions of the bill would face $5,000 fines for each violation. However, hospitals and health care facilities would be allowed to ask patients if they’re vaccinated. The bill applies to all vaccines.
According to Jim: Republican candidate for governor Jim Renacci, said Friday that JobsOhio, the state’s privatized economic development nonprofit, has “got to go” because they’re not “doing what’s necessary” to help create jobs in the state. Renacci, a former congressman from Wadsworth speaking at a City Club of Cleveland forum, also said his primary opponent, Gov. Mike DeWine, “overreacted” to the coronavirus crisis by imposing “draconian” policies. Renacci also called FirstEnergy Corp. “a good company” even though it admitted to bribing top state officials, suggesting that “politicians were asking for money” from the utility -- though, when challenged by moderator Dan Moulthrop, Renacci (a past recipient of FirstEnergy donations) said he thinks “both sides” will be found responsible.
In Labor: U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh will visit Ohio today, kicking off with a tour and media conference at a new First Solar panel production factory in Walbridge. He’ll then head to Dayton, where he’ll tour the Dayton Job Corps Center with Mayor Nan Whaley and then visit the On Purpose Academy childhood mentoring and learning center. He’ll end the day by touring a not-for-profit addiction recovery ecosystem called OneFifteen, where he’ll meet with leadership and patients and discuss his own journey with recovery.
Telemedicine: Ohio’s current rules allowing patients to be prescribed medication or recommended for medical marijuana through telemedicine are set to expire Dec. 31, leaving many who have benefited from the change in policy wondering what will happen, the Columbus Dispatch’s Titus Wu reports. However, some are concerned that telemedicine is partially to blame for the rise in opioid overdose deaths in the state, though drug harm-reduction advocates have labeled the idea “ridiculous.”
Poverty problems: Some in the state are worried about what might happen to the poverty rate as coronavirus pandemic benefits are set to expire, the Columbus Dispatch’s Ken Gordon reports. While some programs are now permanent such as advances on the child tax credit and expanded food-stamp benefits, others like the end of an eviction moratorium could throw people’s pocketbooks into chaos.
Bridging the divide: The Brent Spence Bridge on the Ohio-Kentucky border could be replaced if the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passes the House, though Republican members of Congress from the area are hesitant at best about supporting the deal, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Scott Wartman reports. Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky are against the package, while Cincinnati’s Steve Chabot remains undecided.
Short circuit: The New York Times’ Matthew Goldstein and Kate Kelly are out with a profile of Wall Street investor and researcher Nathan Anderson, head of Hindenburg Research. Hindenburg’s research has led to multiple investigations of companies, including Ohio electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors Corp., which is currently under investigation by federal agencies.
Five things we learned from the May 17 financial disclosure form of state Rep. Sedrick Denson, a Cincinnati Democrat.
1. Denson’s lone source of income was his legislative salary of $72,277.32.
2. Denson’s investments were a retirement fund through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and a mutual fund through Ohio Deferred Compensation.
3. The Ohio House of Representatives reimbursed Denson $2,472.30 in mileage and $329 for lodging.
4. Denson did not list any creditors or debtors of more than $1,000.
5. Denson has a fiduciary relationship with the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of National Action Network as a board member for the organization.
Lordstown Motors Corp. hired Eric Purcell as its new vice president of global quality. Purcell was formerly director of manufacturing at Tesla.
State Rep. Sharon Ray
Larry Parsons, Ohio House fiscal officer
Lauren Reid, Ohio House Republicans’ policy adviser
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve never heard of the Proud Boys. I haven’t watched the news since Jan. 6, and I’m not going to.”
-State Rep. Rodney Creech, a Preble County Republican, quoted in an Ohio Capital Journal story in response to a question about attending an anti-vaccination rally that may have included members of the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group.
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