Andrew Tobias

Billionaire makes huge contribution to political group backing Ohio GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy - Signal Ohio Jeff Yass's $10 million contribution to a pro-Ramaswamy Super PAC is the latest example of a billionaire helping fund a Republican Ohio political campaign.

“These fundraising numbers show that the momentum behind Vivek’s campaign to turn Ohio into a state of excellence is massive,” said Andy Surbian, chief strategist to the pro-Ramaswamy Super PAC.

signalohio.org/billionaire-...

Billionaire makes huge contribution to political group backing Ohio GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy

signalohio.org/billionaire-...

Dayton bike path stalled by Norfolk Southern's price of old rail The 'Flight Path' project got $1.5 million in federal funding two years ago. But Dayton officials say Norfolk Southern double its price.

The long-considered ‘Flight Path’ project got $1.5 million in federal funding two years ago. But Dayton officials say Norfolk Southern has doubled its asking price for the abandoned track to more than $7 million.

signalohio.org/dayton-bike-...

Ohio Republicans split LBGTQ rights proposal over gay marriage The Ohio Ballot Board said proposed anti-discrimination protections and the proposed repeal of the same-sex marriage ban were separate topics.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and other Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board said the new anti-discrimination protections and the proposed repeal of the same-sex marriage ban were two separate topics.

signalohio.org/ohio-republi...

DeWine sides with schools, libraries, Browns while signing budget DeWine kept many GOP priorities, including a tax cut for the state’s top one-fifth of earners and $600 million for the Cleveland Browns.

Gov. Mike DeWine uses budget vetoes to help schools, libraries and some on Medicaid

DeWine sides with schools, libraries, Browns while signing budget DeWine kept many GOP priorities, including a tax cut for the state’s top one-fifth of earners and $600 million for the Cleveland Browns.

Gov. Mike DeWine uses budget vetoes to help schools, libraries and some on Medicaid

Budget bill forces school districts to refund money Ohio school districts whose bank accounts grow too large will be forced to issue refunds to local property taxpayers under a new state law.

Ohio lawmakers have promised to refund billions in property taxes from school districts. But will tax bills really shrink?

signalohio.org/ohio-schools...

campaign to block anti-DEI education bill lacks voter signatures Senate Bill 1 now is set to take effect on Friday after a repeal campaign missed a deadline to submit hundreds of thousands of signatures.

"I know there are groups -- notably those that did not provide full-throated support -- that are salivating at the idea of getting the names addresses of those who signed," organizer Mandy Fehlbaum wrote in an email to supporters. "That's just now how we operate..."

campaign to block anti-DEI education bill lacks voter signatures Senate Bill 1 now is set to take effect on Friday after a repeal campaign missed a deadline to submit hundreds of thousands of signatures.

Update: The repeal campaign says it collected 194,981 signatures, about 54,000 signatures short of the bare minimum it needed.

Organizers also say they plan to shred the petitions they collected rather than sharing voter data with other groups.

signalohio.org/campaign-to-...

Campaign to repeal anti-DEI Ohio higher education tells state it lacks voter signatures needed to get on ballot - Signal Ohio Senate Bill 1 now is set to take effect on Friday after a repeal campaign missed a deadline to submit hundreds of thousands of signatures.

The campaign group working to repeal SB1 contacted the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office on Thursday and said it had failed to collect enough signatures. The law now seems set to take effect on Friday.

JD Vance tells Republicans in Lima that Ohio is a red state now JD Vance headlined an Ohio Republican Party fundraiser in his first public appearance in his home state since becoming vice president

Vance headlined an Ohio Republican Party fundraiser in his first public appearance in his home state since becoming vice president

signalohio.org/jd-vance-tel...

One person who won't be here is Gov. Mike DeWine. He told reporters yesterday he's too busy with the state budget bill to make it up here. Guess that rationale doesn't apply to Huffman and all the other legislators here. The bill is set to be approved as soon as tomorrow.

Rep. Rodney Creech, whose resignation Huffman recently called for, has reserved a whole table in the back

Plenty of familiar faces here, including Cory Bowman, Vance's brother who's running for mayor of Cincinnati, and some state legislators, including House Speaker Matt Huffman.

The view from the back of the room at the Veterans Civic Center in Lima. JD Vance is headlining a fundraiser here that will begin in about 25 minutes.

Ohio House Republicans float adding ‘draconian’ property tax proposal to state budget; driver's ed reforms hit the curb - Signal Ohio Ohio's House speaker isn’t ruling out adding the proposal to the state budget. And that’s freaked out local government officials.

Ohio House Republicans float adding ‘draconian’ property tax proposal to state budget; driver’s ed reforms hit the curb

signalohio.org/ohio-house-r...

Proposed bill would slash property taxes by billions but leave hole in school, city budgets - Signal Ohio House Bill 335 would eliminate what’s called “inside millage” – the portion of property taxes local governments can add without a vote.

Ohio House Republicans float adding ‘draconian’ property tax proposal to state budget; driver’s ed reforms hit the curb

Read this week's State Signals newsletter here:

signalohio.org/proposed-bil...

Sorry this got cut off. The X axis represents "economic severity of risk"

Good morning from the Statehouse, where lawmakers are getting a briefing on revenue forecasts as they prepare to finish a budget bill.

Here's a fun chart of risks/nightmare fuel from the DeWine Administration's presentation.

My favorite is "artificial intelligence dystopia."

*Correction to this. Kyle Strickland is with Ohio Progressive Collaborative, not the Ohio Organizing Collaborative

Ohio Democratic Party picks Kathleen Clyde, a former Northeast Ohio public official, to lead its comeback - Signal Ohio Clyde is a former state representative and ex-Portage County commissioner. She won with key backing from former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Ohio Democratic Party picks Kathleen Clyde, a former Northeast Ohio public official, to lead its comeback

signalohio.org/ohio-democra...

We almost got a non-vote. A committee member tried to nominate Stow City Councilman Kyle Herman, but Walters says he withdrew his candidacy.

Then, two committee members Armando Tayas and Jim Ryan (?), nominated Tamie Wilson. So we're going to get a vote after all.

Now for the vote. Members are nominating chair candidates. Kyle Strickland of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and Melissa Cropper of the Ohio Federation of Teachers are speaking on Kathleen Clyde's behalf.

Liz Walters is giving a farewell speech first. It's a mix of reflections and attacks on Republicans. "We have a president who launches crypto coins, trades on insider information and accepts bribes in exchange for favors as legal victims are disappeared to foreign prisons."

Welcome from the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189, where the Ohio Democratic Party's executive committee is meeting to pick a new chair.

Here's a picture of Kathleen Clyde, the frontrunner for the job, mingling before the meeting.

"Our hope is that the Members of the Executive Committee carefully consider their votes in light of this information and, if Kathleen Clyde is elected Chair, that the Party take care to prioritize the well-being and dignity of its staff," the email closes.

There's a last-ditch effort to block her selection. An email purporting to be from two anonymous former staffers got sent this morning to party leaders accusing Clyde of treating her former legislative staff.

The Ohio Democratic Party is meeting in Columbus tonight to pick a new chair. The odds-on favorite is Kathleen Clyde, after another candidate, Bill DeMora dropped out last week.

Ohio FOP vows to recruit pro-cop elected leaders The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police says a lack of support from officials in Akron and elsewhere means it has to get more involved in politics.

Ohio’s largest police union vows to recruit public officials more supportive of law enforcement

I heard from a couple sources today who pointed out Russo's announcement comes a day after she held a max-out fundraiser in Columbus.