Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and David Vitter (R-La.) no doubt thought they were being clever. They crafted an amendment that would force members of Congress to get their coverage through a public insurance plan, if the public option were included as part of health care reform. [...]
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the selection of an Ohio integrated biorefinery project to receive more than $19.9 million in Recovery Act funding to accelerate the construction and operation of a pilot scale facility. Today’s selection is part of 19 [...] 
Breaking a three-day stalemate, the Senate approved an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women.
The vote was 61 to 39, with three Republicans joining 56 Democrats and the two independents [...]
Only 11,000 jobs lost in November, Unemployment rate dips to 10 percent
The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 10 percent in November as employers cut the smallest number of jobs since the recession began. The better-than-expected job figures are a rare note of encouraging news for the [...]
Next week 192 countries will participate in the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen — the first step in setting new international commitments for carbon reduction. We want to be sure your voice is included in the debate.
Low-and middle-income Ohioans pay a much greater share of their income in state and local taxes than the state’s most affluent do, according to a study released last month by Policy Matters Ohio.
Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-17) announced the launch of his official online social network, http://timryan.ning.com. Starting today, individuals can sign-up on the site to watch videos, read blog posts, create groups and events, and start discussions. This new tool was created on the online platform Ning.com, [...] 
Visiting Marietta on Tuesday, Secretary of State and U.S. Senate hopeful Jennifer Brunner touted a new Web resource her office developed and launched.
Brad Blog reports on the story which we first posted on Monday.
ACORN Lawsuit in OH a Victory for Democracy
Republican Secretary of State defied federal electon law
Hundreds of thousands of voters likely to benefit from settlement...
Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-17) testified at the House Education and Labor Committee’s hearing on the Delphi bankruptcy’s impact on workers’ and retirees’ pensions and benefits. The hearing is result of a request Congressman Ryan made to Committee Chairman George Miller (Committee on Education and Labor) and Subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews [...]
Newt Gingrich is set to speak in Cincinnati this evening on jobs. In his latest column on the subject, he points readers towards American Solutions, his “tri-partisan” 527 group for more “solutions for creating jobs and prosperity.” Looking to get a preview of his speech, I took his [...]
(December 2, 2009 – Columbus, OH) – For their dedication to the prevention of the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, four community-based programs and one professional recently were recognized by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS).
Ohio’s 2009 Exemplary Prevention and [...]
In another of her resume building policy speeches, Sarah Palin, real America's sweetheart, has signed on to strike new ground as the Keynote Speaker at International Bowling Expo 2010.
ARLINGTON, TX--(Marketwire - December 2, 2009) - The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), the bowling industry's leading' [...]
Congratulations to Equality Ohio contest winners Hallie Bourne & Jeannette Birkoff!
Their video "Bits and Pieces" is the fifth installment of Equality Ohio Education Fund’s Our Stories project; a real story from real Ohioans about what it could be like if Ohio were to become a state where everyone can [...]
GOP Quickly Goes to War 
In announcing his 18-month escalation strategy for Afghanistan, President Obama underscored his view that “Islamist extremism in the region remains an enduring threat to the security of Americans.” Obama revealed, “In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were [...]
If abstinence-only education is the cure for teen pregnancy and STDs -- a dinosaur of an idea many Ohio legislators seem to cling to -- then surely fasting is the antidote to the childhood obesity problem.
The latest manifestation of this kind of science-avoidance, platitude-laden ProlifeSpeak happened Nov. 18 at the [...]
Asked on MSNBC Tuesday to comment on Vice President Cheney's criticism of the president's war strategy, National Security Council chief of staff Denis McDonough retorted: "For someone who's been so wrong for so long, it's very difficult to comment."
Saying the war in Afghanistan had been "adrift" under the [...]
Republicans appear to realize that Democratic budget plan they roundly opposed as a tax increase is the best way to solve the budget issues currently facing the state, but try to provide themselves with as much political cover as they can while passing the budget.
Senate Republicans [...]
The stimulus bill enacted this year has resulted in as many as 1.6 million jobs saved or created this fall, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Monday evening.
The nonpartisan CBO said in a legally mandated report that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [...]
The D.C. City Council voted 11-2 in favor of same-sex marriage Tuesday morning.
In 2008, Rep. Michele Bachmann’s district had the highest number of foreclosures in Minnesota and the highest rate of foreclosures. Now, as 2009 draws to a close, that trend continues. According to new data from HousingLink and county sheriffs’ offices, the Sixth Congressional District is [...]
Lee Fisher Announces the Endorsement of Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman
Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman today announced his support for Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
“Lee Fisher is exactly the kind of leader Ohio needs in the U.S. Senate,” Mayor Coleman said. “I have [...]
The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NHTF) is dedicated solely to achieving socially just public policy that assures people with the lowest incomes in the United States have affordable and decent homes.
Please call your Representative and both of your Senators on December 1 or 2.
[...]
YouTube can be a powerful tool championing the rights of individuals and promoting free expression. This month, during International Human Rights Day, we're partnering with Morgan Freeman and Amnesty International to encourage you to become advocates for equality and justice, through
In Toledo yesterday . . .
Police arrested a man on suspicion of swiping a Salvation Army kettle full of donated money and pushing one of the Christian charity’s bell ringers to the ground when she tried to take it back.
But the "real Spirit of the [...]
Tuesday, December 1 at 11pm
Federal Building, 200 N. High, at Spring and High Streets
Please join us at the federal building for a half hour to protest the escalation of the war.
Also, Mark Stanbery has written a draft letter to the editor on the subject. Please [...]
Hundreds of Thousands of Low-Income Ohioans to Benefit
Cleveland, OH--Low-income Ohio citizens will be ensured access to voter registration at Ohio public assistance offices as a result of a settlement agreement submitted to Federal District Court Judge Patricia A. Gaughan over this past holiday weekend.
The settlement successfully [...]
Super Weed Can’t Be Killed: Thanks Monsanto; The Scarecrow Chronicles
It was bound to happen. The first weed to develop a resistance to chemicals has shown itself. Pigweed is invulnerable to man-made herbicides. Monsanto says it’s the farmers’ fault. Corporate farms are in huge trouble because they can’t [...]
The Supreme Court today threw out a ruling of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that had ordered the government to disclose photographs of detainees being abused by U.S. officials. The ruling was widely expected, given that Congress had recently changed the Freedom of Information [...]
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: A party both united and divided
The Republican rank and file is largely in sync with GOP lawmakers in their staunch opposition to efforts by President Obama and Democrats to enact major health-care legislation, but a new Washington Post poll also [...]
Senate Democrats will return to Washington Monday to begin a long-awaited floor debate on the health-reform bill they hope to pass before Christmas. But it’s hardly the last battle they’ll be forced to wage on the health-care front.
As tough as the upper-chamber debate promises to be, [...]
My opposition to Columbus' casino-in-progress isn't vehement or any way morality-based, it's just a Not in My Neighborhood kind of thing.
Yes, it bothers me that Franklin and surrounding counties voted against Issue 3 to allow casino gaming in Ohio, but a casino will be foisted on us anyway. And it [...]
This is comprehensive legislation designed to address our nation's vulnerabilities to cyber crime, global cyber espionage, and cyber attacks. It would establish a new Cybersecurity Advisory Panel within the White House and stream-line the cybersecurity effort through all levels of government. The bill also calls [...]
In the midst of these challenging times for our nation, President Barack Obama used his weekly address to express gratitude to America’s military men and women and their families, and give thanks for our nation’s many blessings.
He also discussed the steps his administration is taking to repair the damaged [...]
AEP gets stimulus grant for $150 million 'smart-grid' project
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
About 110,000 central Ohio customers of American Electric Power soon will have advanced-technology meters, giving them the ability to track when they use the most power and thus reduce their electricity bills.
It's all part of a [...]
The Obama Administration and Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, announced a major smackdown on lobbyists in September.
Today the media finally picked up on it.
White House initiative to limit influence could affect thousands
Hundreds, if not [...]
White House Eyes Afghan Exit by 2017
War Not Going to Last Forever, Spokesman AssuresAt age 69, I’m not quite old enough to qualify for America’s “Greatest Generation” and yet I’m a bit too old to be a Boomer. But there’s one thing at least most of us geezers have in common these days: we’re the most entitled older generation in our nation’s history.
Are [...]
Just in case your GOP relatives want to lecture you about the socialist politics of the "DumocRATS" and the failure of our Marxist Messiah Obama over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
The Maryland Millionaire Count, Tax Scams, and Train Wrecks
In a capitalist system, investors make [...]
Climate Emails Stoke Debate
The New York Times
By KEITH JOHNSON
The scientific community is buzzing over thousands of emails and documents -- posted on the Internet last week after being hacked from a prominent climate-change research center -- that some say raise ethical questions about a group of [...]
The Noble Peace recipiant prepares the US for our next war.
Obama Threatens Iran with New Sanctions
STEVEN ERLANGER
The New York Times
November 20, 2009
Senior officials from Western powers discussed the possibility of new sanctions on Iran on Friday for flouting the United Nations Security Council’s demands [...]
Is Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray the new Andrew Cuomo? It’s a comparison made not unconvincingly by the AmLaw Litigation Daily’s Ben Hallman, following Cordray’s move to sue credit-ratings companies Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, alleging they gave inflated ratings to mortgage-backed [...] The most rigidly conservatives members of the Republican National Committee are circulating a proposal to establish a purity test for the party's candidates.
If adopted, the party would withhold money from any contender who disagreed with conservative principles on more than two of 10 essential issues identified by [...]
Recovery Act funding will upgrade the electrical grid, save energy and create jobs COLUMBUS, OHIO – At an event in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon, Secretary Chu announced that the Department of Energy is awarding nearly $79 million for projects in Ohio to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies [...]
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS, who don't believe in conventional medicine, are nonetheless keen to grab some of the cash the government will soon be splurging on health reform.
Church leaders want health insurers to reimburse "spiritual health" practitioners who pray for the sick, reports the Washington Post.
A' [...]
Fomer Ohio Governor Dick Celeste has posted an editorial to the Huffington Post today.
President Obama will announce within days whether he will send more troops to Afghanistan, the White House said after he met with his national security team Monday night.
"After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision [...]
Chris Matthews corners Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin, who has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., from receiving Holy Communion due to his views on abortion.
In the interview Mathews exposes the moral hypocrisy at the heart of the Church's abortion position: If it's really and truly murder, you're talking about prosecuting' [...]
Leaders of the pressure group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), on Monday took their message of peace to the White House in the United States, where they were presented with a prestigious human rights award by US President Barack Obama.
Award winner Magodonga Mahlangu and WOZA co-founder Jenni Williams, both travelled [...]
Cross-posted at DailyKOS.com
Last Friday, I broke the story that the major unions in his home county of Scioto had rescinded their endorsement of State Rep. Todd Book for the OH-02 congressional seat: [www.dailykos.com]...
I also reported indications from confidential sources that Book was preparing to withdraw from the [...]
Prisons donate to food pantries
Inmates harvested 106,734 pounds of winter wheat, corn and other crops this fall from state prison farms and donated it to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, according to prison officials.
The offenders harvested the food between August and October at [...]
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of a new report highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform for Ohio. Health Insurance Reform and Ohio: The Case for Change is available now at www.HealthReform.gov.
“Families, seniors and businesses are all suffering under the health care status quo,” said Sebelius. [...]
From Politico [emphasis added]:
Additionally, POLITICO has learned that Beck’s 9.12 Project is co-sponsoring a march on Washington on Sept. 11, 2010 to voice unhappiness with the agenda of President Obama and the Democratic congress, and that the group will also become involved in voter registration drives.
The [...]
Gov. Strickland had some of the strongest words of disdain for Senate Republicans and Sen. Bill Seitz, in particular.
Senate Republicans put forth a truly odious bill that would balance the budget by cutting money from a fund that prevents families from becoming homeless and relying on liquor profits, casino [...]
Cross-posted at DailyKOS
Prior to another recent Thanksgiving in OH-02, the big news in the district was that my neighbor Terry’s two full-grown African lions escaped and were found "molesting" cars on the highway. This year competes for drama. On Tuesday, November 17, the Ohio division of the Tri-State Building [...]
COLUMBUS – Senator Sue Morano (D-Lorain) held a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse today addressing the problem of wage theft in Ohio. Members of the labor and religious communities joined Senator Morano at the conference. November 19th is the National Day of Action to Stop Wage [...]
If Democrats can't make something out of this they deserve to lose their majority and be sued for political malpractice.
Today, Senate Republicans blocked Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) attempt to pass legislation to stop credit card interest rate hikes.
Dodd went to the Senate floor to' [...]
On The Colbert Report last night, Stephen Colbert reviewed Sarah Palin's much-discussed new memoir, "Going Rogue: An American Life." The verdict? "A steaming pile of sh*t."
Watch It:
[...]
Ohio Senate Conservatives have proposed taking money from homeless to give the wealthy a tax break. No joke. Email them right now and help stop this.
Late yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee unveiled a proposal to balance the $851 million budget deficit which includes cutting the [...]
THE KNOCKOUT RALLY
The Ohio Democratic Party''s blueprint for victory
Monday, November 23, at 6:30pm
Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. in Downtown Columbus
At a time when many Democrats are hoping for at least a split decision in 2010, the state party is rolling out an aggressive pugilistic-themed pitch for a sweeping "knockout" victory over Republicans [...]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $4,442,207 National Emergency Grant supplemental award to assist approximately 1,630 workers affected by layoffs at businesses at the Wilmington Air Park in Wilmington, Ohio.
Women's Voices. Women Vote is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy C. Young as our Executive Director. She will be responsible for managing the organization's programs and overseeing its daily operations.
Late yesterday the Senate Finance Committee unveiled a proposal to balance the $851 million budget deficit which includes cutting the Ohio Housing Trust Fund by $30 million over the next two years.
“The Senate wants to cast off our state’s most vulnerable populations at a [...]
From Think Progress:
In a new interview with Newsmax, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin hinted that a “dream ticket” of Palin and Fox News host Glenn Beck is not out of the question:“I can envision a couple of different combinations, if ever I were to [...]
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last night, a health care reform bill that combines elements from legislation that passed two Senate committees. According to Reid, the CBO says the bill will cost $848 billion over 10 years while reducing the [...]
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) has been appointed by House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson to co-chair the Congressional Task Force on Job Creation. The task force will focus on bringing new and innovative ideas to the table that will create jobs and restore the [...] 
Conservatives Terrified of Bringing Terrorists to Justice
The men and women of our military fight every day to defend our judicial system, the constitution and the bedrock principals of American power. And conservatives who insists on disparaging these institutions for political gain denigrate the very core [...]
State Representative Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) and State Senator Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) today introduced legislation that will bolster Ohio schools and promote student success. The companion bills in the House and Senate position Ohio to access a share of the $4 billion “Race to the Top” fund initiated by the [...]
In advance of Sarah Palin’s stops in Ohio tomorrow please find below everything you need to know about Going Rogue – a memoir that has been received as 1) political payback for Palin’s rivals that adds to the tabloid nature of her profile rather than provide [...]
After the tragic shooting at Fort Hood by Major Nidal Malik Hasan, who reports now indicate had some contact with a radical Islamic cleric, during the Bush Administration, former Alaska governor, now book promoter and serial liar, Sarah Palin called for increased profiling of Muslims in the military [...]
A new study by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services adds some expert imprimatur to what many progressives have been saying all along: The Stupak amendment to the House health care bill--which will prevent millions of women from buying health insurance [...]
Senate Democrats -- with some significant help from Republican Senators -- absolutely shattered a Republican attempt to filibuster a nominee for the Court of Appeals (the intermediate federal appellate court, just below the Supreme Court). The vote was 70-29.
Democrats on Tuesday crushed [...]
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the appointment of Cristal Thomas, MPP, as the new Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Region V, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Republican President Richard M. Nixon's deep bow to communist Leader Mao Zedong in 1972.
Watch It:Watch a montage of Fox's absurd attacks about President Obama's bow to the Emperor of Japan, along with the video and images they ignored:
As shown not only did Presidents Nixon and Eisenhower [...]
WASHINGTON- The Strengthening and Updating Resources and Equipment (SURE) Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Kilroy on October 16th, was passed today by the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The SURE Act, which will allow first responders to maintain the capabilities necessary to prepare and protect [...]
House Republicans say they'll make Democrats feel the political heat for President Obama's decision to try Sept. 11 attack plotters in U.S. civilian courts by trying to force a vote on a bill to block those trials.
Republicans will launch a discharge petition -- which means' [...]
Nation Of Gandhis, Dave Harding, ProgressOhio, OHliz, User from Belpre, OH, Dennis Spisak, David Lore, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens, Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio, One Oar in the Water, Doug, Geoffrey Sea, Vanessa, User from Youngstown, OH, Lorraine Bieber, User from Columbus, OH, Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director, Jane Schiff, Michael Collins
