Capital Blog

If only it was this easy to get the IRS to do anything. Continue reading →

Corey Roscoe, Ohio campaign coordinator for Mercy for Animals, speaks to the media during a press conference near the Statehouse about a hidden video the group took at Buckeye Veal in Apple Creek, near Wooster:

Here is Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, a member of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, responds to criticism from Mercy for Animals that the voter-approved board is not moving quickly enough on animal care standards (she attended the press conference):

Here’s the statement released today by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation concerning the video:

It is disappointing that as Ohio’s farm community demonstrates a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue, activists continue divisive attacks that threaten to undermine important progress Ohio is making in its consideration of animal care issues.

Last year, Ohio voters said the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board was the appropriate approach to address difficult animal care questions. One of the board’s first actions was to make the study of veal production methods a priority.

The veal sub-committee of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board has been very active and is meeting regularly.  We anticipate that they will be making recommendations to the board for its consideration in the very near future.

Ohio Farm Bureau and other farm organizations have taken the lead by recommending that the board adopt standards consistent with the American Veal Association’s transition to group housing.

The board now has the responsibility to thoroughly consider how livestock care standards may be implemented to ensure animal well-being and provide a path forward for Ohio’s farmers and consumers. The board, which includes veterinarians, hunger advocates, farmers, a humane society representative, food safety experts and others, has taken this charge seriously. The task should not be rushed; the board should be given an appropriate amount of time to do its job.

Emotional videos and heavy-handed political intrusions are not helpful in achieving the board’s goals.

Performance Audit released by Auditor Mary Taylor today (had to split into two documents because of the size): Continue reading →

Turns out the farm at the center of a new undercover video from Mercy for Animals already is converting to group housing and away from the single-stall/crate setup the animal welfare group is attacking. Here’s a statement released by Buckeye Veal late Monday night:

Media Statement — Buckeye Veal
Released Monday, August 30, 2010

“For more than 30 years, Buckeye Veal has been committed to quality calf care and we take our commitment to providing for the well-being of the veal calves at our farm seriously. We take very seriously any allegations made about our farm, especially those that suggest mistreatment of our animals. Continue reading →

David Pepper, Democratic candidate for state auditor, released his Pepper Plan for the office this morning. Here’s a copy. Waiting for react from Republican auditor candidate David Yost: Continue reading →

Here are the clips from John Kasich’s press conference today, where he announced plans to reform the state’s small business regulations. Republican state lawmakers Keith Faber and James Zehringer and Kasich’s running mate, Mary Taylor, offer comments and answer reporters’ questions:

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Here are the clips from the launch of the Ohio veterans bonus application process, with Gov. Ted Strickland, AG Richard Cordray, Treasurer Kevin Boyce and Vets Service Director Bill Hartnett:

Here’s a quasi-gaggle that took place during the presser, with questions on clemency for Kevin Keith, embryonic stem cell research and bears:

Here’s the official release: Continue reading →

Here are the clips from today’s announcement by Gov. Ted Strickland and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle concerning Ohio being named among Race to the Top recipients:

Here’s the official release:

Ohio Wins $400M in Race to the Top Funding Continue reading →

Here’s all of the paperwork that has been submitted to Gov. Ted Strickland’s office to date from people who want to be on the new casino control commission (CLICK “continue reading” to view, in case that’s not obvious to you):
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House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder and fellow Republican Reps. Lou Blessing and Cheryl Grossman call out Gov. Ted Strickland on outsourcing, campaign contributions and China votes:
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