Rotunda Rumblings
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s argument for merit pay for teachers, claiming that Ohio is “not attracting the very best” educators, comes as President Donald Trump and his federal government efficiency initiative target thousands of (in Trump’s words) “crooked” and “dishonest” federal employees.
As Jeremy Pelzer writes, critics of Ramaswamy, who co-chaired Trump’s efficiency initiative until last month, argue that it demonstrates how he and Trump are “similarly out of touch.” Ramaswamy and others argue that he is actually attempting to foster unity in order to improve Ohio schools and reward effective teachers.
Ohio’s tech gamble:
Intel’s chip manufacturing plants in central Ohio are unlikely to open before 2030. The $28 billion megaproject has been delayed yet again, according to reports released on Friday. The first factory was supposed to open in 2025, but experts told Anna Staver that it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Intel will be able to open the New Albany site on its own.
The company has been struggling financially, and the CEO resigned late last year. A partnership with Taiwanese manufacturer TSMC is rumored to be in the works. Intel says it is committed to the Ohio One operation.
DEI offices closed:
In response to Trump’s executive orders, Ohio State University has closed two offices dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sixteen positions will be eliminated. On February 15, the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to college administrators across the country informing them that if racial diversity efforts do not end, they will lose funding.
According to Laura Hancock, this has prompted other Ohio schools, including Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, and Cleveland State University, to review their programs.
War on drugs:
The Ohio Senate passed a proposed recreational marijuana crackdown last week, posing new legal risks for adults who use cannabis, particularly renters.
According to Jake Zuckerman, the legislation could criminalize marijuana-related lease violations, impose mandatory jail sentences for passengers who smoke or vape marijuana in a vehicle, and other provisions.
No stalking:
A bipartisan Ohio duo in the United States House of Representatives has reintroduced legislation that would prohibit the use of personal tracking devices to track people without their consent, writes Sabrina Eaton.
The “Stop Electronic Stalking Act” sponsored by Akron Democrat Emilia Sykes and Columbus Republican Mike Carey is similar to Ohio legislation recently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.
Sykes introduced state anti-stalking legislation while serving in Ohio’s House of Representatives before being elected to Congress.
Finding religion:
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Pope Francis’ criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, but did not address any of the specifics or the pontiff’s apparent criticism of Vance’s own use of Catholic tradition to justify such policies, according to the Associated Press.
Vance, a Catholic convert, spoke Friday at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington. The Cincinnati Republican attempted to downplay the controversy, stating that he and his family pray for Pope Francis every day while the 88-year-old pontiff is hospitalized for pneumonia and other health issues.
Throwdown:
Vance was at the center of a confrontation between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday in the Oval Office. The Associated Press has more on the fight, which took place in front of reporters and cameras. Zelenskyy had questioned Russia’s commitment to diplomacy.
Vance, a vocal opponent of US support for Ukraine, chastised Zelenskyy for failing to say “thank you” to Trump during the meeting, telling him, “With respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.” As reporters watched the scene unfold, the three statesmen kept talking over each other and pointing.
Ohio reaction:
Following the exchange, Republican members of Congress from Ohio took to social media to praise Trump’s approach. “Finally, we have a President who will speak the truth and stand up to Washington’s never-ending wars,” said U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno. “President Zelensky did not help himself with the comments he made in the Oval Office today,” said U.S. Senator Jon Husted.
“Today’s Oval Office meeting was a missed opportunity for Ukraine, not President Trump,” said US Representative Max Miller. Democratic U.S. Representative Greg Landsman disagreed, saying, “It’s a Russia First policy, and their fixation on dictators over democracies is insane – and ultimately very, very dangerous.”
To the Walz:
When it comes to the scurrilous rumor that Haitians in Springfield were eating dogs and cats (which they weren’t), 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz believes he took the bait.
According to Brooke Spurlock of the Dayton Daily News, Walz told a podcaster that he was “sucked into” doing what Trump and Vance wanted – a discussion about immigration – and that his focus on the claims “didn’t do a damn bit of good electorally.”
Shopping cart:
The price of groceries is about to rise as Trump’s tariffs go into effect. According to Alexander Coolidge of the Cincinnati Enquirer, analysts expect tariffs on Mexico and Canada to hit Americans’ shopping carts, citing $150 billion in foreign food imports, half of which come from our northern and southern neighbors.
Hub-bub:
DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel were in Youngstown on Friday to kick off Ohio’s fourth “innovation hub,” a $62 million project aimed at boosting the region’s aerospace and defense industry.
According to David Skolnick of the Youngstown Vindicator, the hub will receive more than $27 million in state funding over the next four years and is expected to create up to 750 new jobs.
Work it:
On Friday, DeWine formally submitted the state’s request to the federal government to impose a work or study requirement for healthy adults under the age of 55 to qualify for Medicaid.
This would be the first requirement in the program’s history, which offers health insurance to children, the disabled, and low-income adults. Lawmakers directed Ohio to seek the federal waiver in the previous two-year operating budget.
Full Disclosure
Here are five things we learned from the Feb. 17, 2024 ethics disclosure form filed by state Rep. Mark Sigrist, a Columbus Democrat, about his 2023 finances:
1. In 2023, his income sources included his Grove City Council salary, a Honda pension, and retirement funds from an IRA account.
2. He owns Phoenix Events LLC, which organizes charitable 5K runs/walks throughout Central Ohio.
3. At no point in 2023 did he owe or receive more than $1,000.
4. He reported having no investments worth more than $1,000.
5. Sigrist also stated that he does not own any real estate, despite the fact that legislative candidates are not required to disclose their personal residence or property used for personal recreation.
On the Move
Vice President JD Vance is selling his house in Alexandria, Virginia, after moving to the Vice-Presidential residence on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory, according to the Washingtonian. Zillow indicates that the asking price is $1.7 million.
Straight from the Source
“I would hope that all of the stories of women dying because of restrictive abortion laws (nationwide) would help people understand what these restrictive abortion laws do.”
– State Rep. Anita Somani, a Columbus Democrat, speaks to the Ohio Capital Journal about a Democratic-backed bill aimed at repealing Ohio abortion laws after voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution in 2023.
