News and Notes: Ohio

Some of what's happening today in the state that fought a boundary war with Michigan in 1835 over the "Toledo Strip":

Space Announces Law to Improve VA Health Care - Responding to the report on treatment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans by the Dole-Shalala commission (created in response to the exposure of poor facilities for out-patient care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center), Rep. Zack Space (D-Dover) today announced the Healthier Heroes Act. “Every single person who puts on a uniform in service to this country is a hero, and they should be treated as such,” Space said. “It is sad that it took the scandal at Walter Reed to create the impetus to do something about the system caring for our returning soldiers, but I am confident that this legislation will go a long way toward improving the care our newest heroes receive.” The proposed law would enact four recommendations from Dole and Shalala, including better coordination between the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, removing the two-year time limit for getting treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, extending TRICARE benefits for primary caregivers of members of the uniformed services who incur a serious injury or illness on active duty, and extending the Family Medical Leave Act to cover severely injured service members’ families up to 26 weeks.

Weirauch Declares Support for Striking GM Workers - Jumping on the UAW walkout that occurred this morning at 11:00 am, 5th Congressional District candidate Robin Weirauch (D-Napoleon) announced that she supports workers on the picket line and challenged Republican candidates State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) to join her. "It's time for General Motors to address the reasonable concerns of UAW workers and deal fairly," writes Weirauch in a press release. "Northwest Ohioans deserve to know where the candidates stand. I'm standing with working families. Will you stand with us?" Thousands of General Motors workers are on strike in Northwest Ohio, including 1,540 at a GM foundry in Defiance.

Board Certified Teachers Clustered in Wealthier Districts - A study by the Columbus Dispatch reveals that Ohio has plenty of board-certified teachers (2,629, which is fifth in the nation), but most work in richer districts with higher-performing students. Sixty-four percent teach in high-performing schools, and the richest 10% of districts have four times as many board certified teachers as the poorest 10%.

ABA Team Requests Death Penalty Moratorium; Strickland Will Think About It - As I reported on Wide Open today, the ABA Death Penalty Assessment Team for Ohio has release its 452-page report, revealing serious problems with how capital punishment is administered in Ohio, including racial disparity, inadequate representation, and failure to preserve biological evidence for DNA testing. The study says that Ohio meets only four of 93 ABA recommendations to ensure a fair capital punishment system, and asks Gov. Ted Strickland to halt executions to allow a review of the system. Strickland's spokesman says he'll read the report and think it over: "Capital punishment is something the governor takes very seriously and it would be irresponsible not to consider the report," spokesman Keith Dailey said.

Strip Club Referendum is Over 100,000 Signatures Short - Backers of a statewide referendum on a law regulating strip clubs will now get another 10 days to come up with an additional 115,906 signatures from registered voters. Fewer than a third of the 383,600 turned in on September 3 were valid.