If you can't take away the keys

If you can't take away the keys from a drunk driver, the next best thing is to simply not get in the car. The Ohio GOP are legislating like drunk fools on a last chance binge. The House Democrats have had enough

If Republicans insist on rushing a series of major policy changes to the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives with little or no public debate in the waning days of the 126th General Assembly, they will do so without the support of Democrats.

House Democratic Leader Joyce Beatty announced today that, out of principle, her caucus will not support three Republican bills that are apparently headed for the floor of the House just days after being introduced. They are:

*House Bill 685, a proposal introduced on Nov. 16 by Rep. Keith Faber, R-Celina, to clog up state government’s administrative rule making process with red tape and bureaucracy. The bill is expected to receive a vote today in the House State Government Committee. As of Wednesday night, no one had appeared in State Government to testify in favor of the proposal other than Rep. Faber. At least two dozen individuals or organizations have expressed opposition.

*House Bill 694, a proposal introduced eight days ago by Rep. Kevin DeWine to make major changes to Ohio’s campaign finance laws. A vote on the proposal is scheduled today in the House Finance Committee.

*House Bill 695, a proposal introduced one week ago by Rep. Chuck Calvert to create an entirely new system of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics schools in Ohio. Calvert’s Finance Committee is expected to vote on the plan today despite concerns from educators.

“These proposals are just too important to be rushed through this chamber as the clock strikes midnight,” Beatty said today. “Good legislation demands an open, thoughtful public process. When legislation is rushed through in the dark of night, the public loses out.”

Beatty said Democrats find no redeeming value whatsoever to Faber’s rule-making proposal, which she termed a “paper pusher’s fantasy.” On the other hand, DeWine and Calvert have both put forward ideas that Democrats believe do deserve a serious discussion. Beatty said she’s very intrigued with Calvert’s proposal, and she noted that Democrats have put forward campaign finance bills of their own that have long languished in committees without serious hearings.

“We cannot, in good conscience, be expected to vote on these bills right now,” Beatty said. “These bills may contain serious unintended consequences or partisan Trojan horses. Or they may not. We just don’t know, because there has not been enough time for thoughtful public input and review.”

“We believe it’s best to take a deep breath and look ahead to next year, when we can work on these issues in a focused, bipartisan manner,” Beatty said.

All three of the proposals in question were introduced by Republicans just weeks after an election that saw Democrats pick up four out of five statewide executive offices and seven new House seats– the largest such gain for Democrats since 1972.

“Some of us do question the timing of these proposals,” Beatty said. “But the more important question is time. We just don’t have enough of it to do these bills justice.”

Well Done Dems.