Argument preferred form of combat for Democrat Jim Reese

COLUMBUS -- There was one more speaker waiting his turn at a February congressional forum in Newark when the crowd began to leave.

The event was sponsored by the Licking County Tea Party in a Republican county, with two GOP contenders debating first.

Disheartened, Democrat Jim Reese, of Gahanna, took the stage alone. His primary opponent was a no-show.

Read more in the Newark Advocate.

12 for ’12: Key issues for Ohio

Jan. 2, 2012, Marion Star

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

If Ohio's New Year's resolution is to have even more political bickering, maneuvering and nasty ads, 2012 could very well be its year.

Once again the state will be a hotbed for presidential campaign activity. There will be at least one referendum on the fall ballot, and the attacks are already flying in the U.S. Senate race.

And nobody will be snoozing in Columbus, either.

Here are 12 public policy issues that will be upcoming this year. They range from Medicaid, to school funding, to public pensions, to regulating our four-legged friends big and small.

Multiple primaries causing confusion

Dec. 5, 2011, Port Clinton News Herald

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

Ohio congressional candidates don’t know what their districts will look like, or even when their primary will be, but the secretary of state is asking them to have petitions submitted by Wednesday.

The two primaries, one March 6 and the other June 12, stem from the battle over the once-a-decade redistricting process. However, there’s still talk in the House of Representatives of moving up the later primary.

“Having two primaries is not an ideal situation,” Shannon Boston, a spokeswoman for Ohio House Republicans, wrote in an email. “... But we only moved the primaries that are affected by the situation we find ourselves in with the potential congressional map referendum.”

Having two primaries presents a complication for the secretary of state’s office and uncertainty for candidates seeking congressional seats. Here are some questions and answers about the situation.

Brown proposes consolidating student loans

May 26, 2011, Fremont News-Messenger

By Jessica Alaimo

Special to the News-Messenger

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown touted a plan Wednesday he said would make repaying college loans easier and cheaper, and make more grants available for low-income students.

Last year the federal government stopped contracting with private lenders to service new student loans, instead administering all payments through the U.S. Department of Education.

However, 6 million people found themselves caught in the middle when the transition took...

Bill would allow concealed weapons on corps properties

May 21, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

When Congress voted to allow guns in Ohio’s national parks in 2010, it did not include lands owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, wants to make sure people otherwise allowed to carry firearms can take them into these properties as well.

Gibbs’ 18th District includes all or part of 16 counties in rural southeastern Ohio, including Coshocton, Muskingum, Ross and Licking counties. Gibbs recently introduced the “Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act.”

Tiberi: Interim budget likely to be adopted

Apr. 12, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

This year’s federal spending debate will be a drama in three acts, said U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, who represents part of Licking County.

The first act concluded early Saturday, when Congress passed an 11th-hour deal averting a federal government shutdown. The stopgap measure includes about $39 billion in cuts.

The second debate also is under way, with the release of the Republican budget proposal for federal fiscal year 2012 last week.

Finally, this summer or fall, Congress will decide whether to raise the federal debt ceiling.

Shutdown would affect thousands

Apr. 7, 2011, Fremont News-Messenger

By Malia Rulon and Jessica Alaimo

WASHINGTON — If the federal government shuts down, the effects will ripple across Ohio. National parks will close. Federal agencies will shut their doors. Personnel dubbed “essential” may have to work without pay.

Ohio is home to 22,836 federal employees, according to an analysis of federal data conducted by Gannett’s Asbury Park Press.

If the government were to shut down for an extended period, many of those workers could be put on furlough and have their salaries frozen, and the work they do could come to a halt.

Official: Federal budget cuts would gut Ohio poison control centers

Apr. 1, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

The Central Ohio Poison Control Center — frequently a lifeline for those poisoned by opiates and addictive prescription drugs — stands to lose almost one-third of its funding under the proposed federal budget.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the first version of the budget in February. Among the cuts were $27.3 million — 90 percent of funding — to poison control centers nationwide, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

As poison control awareness week concluded last week, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, called for a full restoration of funding to the centers. He has an unusual ally — Attorney General Mike DeWine, a former Republican senator defeated in 2006 by Brown.

DeWine authored the legislation establishing a national poison control hot line in 2002.

MAKING HIS OWN SPACE IN CONGRESS

Jan. 23, 2011, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Zack Space was undecided on a monumental piece of legislation, and everyone wanted his ear.

On March 19, he rang up some constituents. He was voting against the health care bill. His decision was final.

His cell phone rang 10 minutes later. Space, who had just started his fourth year at the Capitol, had to tell President Barack Obama no, he did not support the bill coming up for a final vote.

Next, Space called his priest.

It’s hard to be a centrist in Washington.

Space was elected to the U.S. House in the 2006 wave that brought Democrats to power in Congress. In November, he was cast out when the tides reversed. U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, beat him by 13 percentage points. Space even lost his hometown of Dover by 83 votes.

Thousands of area jobless face loss of benefits

Nov. 28, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

This holiday season brings uncertainty for the 3,795 people in Licking County who will lose their unemployment benefits between Tuesday and April if Congress does not approve another extension.

Statewide, 301,404 people will lose jobless benefits in the same window.

The U.S. House of Representatives denied an emergency extension Nov. 18, before its holiday recess. U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, voted against the extension, and U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, was not present for the vote.

Gibbs upsets Space in 18th District race

Nov. 3, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — U.S. Rep. Zack Space was one of five Ohio Democratic congressmen to join the ranks of the unemployed Tuesday evening, according to early election returns.

State Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, won in an upset, up 54 percent to 40 percent, as of 2:30 a.m. today.

He was leading in every county except Vinton and Athens. Gibbs beat Space in Licking County 10,318 to 6,564.

Panel: Gibbs complaint against Space has merit

June 18, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

There is reason to think U.S. Rep. Zack Space lied in a campaign ad, a panel for the Ohio Elections Commission determined Thursday.

The Dover Democrat has no plans to pull the ad despite a call to do so by his opponent, state Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville.

Gibbs filed a false-statement complaint after Space aired an ad accusing him of lying about his record as a tax cutter in the state Legislature. The ad also claims Gibbs voted for legislative pay raises and tax breaks for golf courses while ignoring Ohio families.

Gibbs declares victory in 18th District

May 12, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

State Sen. Bob Gibbs declared victory Tuesday in the 18th Congressional District Republican primary, despite the likelihood of an automatic recount.

Former state agriculture commissioner Fred Dailey, who trails Gibbs by 164 votes in unofficial results, refused to concede.

“I don’t know how you can declare victory when all the votes haven’t been counted yet,” Dailey said.

Diverse group seeks to challenge Space

Apr. 18, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — A state lawmaker. A former state lawmaker. A cattle rancher. An attorney and mother of five. A pastor. A business owner. A former football coach. An unemployed factory worker. That is the diversity of those vying for the Republican nomination in the 18th Congressional District. There is no clear frontrunner.

They come from different backgrounds and have different styles, yet their positions on the issues are similar. They think the path to a prosperous economy is through less government. They oppose the health care law in its current form, but support tort reform to lower medical costs. They are pro-life and pro-gun.

They all identify with the tea party movement that emerged one year ago and are actively courting its constituents. This means May 4 will be about identity politics.

Stimulus funding in Ottawa County: How big is our slice? Depends on how you cut the cake2

Feb. 27, 2010, Port Clinton News Herald

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News Herald

PORT CLINTON — One year after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act became law, it’s still tough to figure out exactly how many jobs it created or preserved in Ottawa County.

Depending on who is crunching the numbers, job-creation estimates range from four to 55. The amount of stimulus funding for the county’s municipalities and businesses is roughly $5 million.

The $787 billion package passed by Congress last February included:

■$288 billion for tax cuts and extended unemployment benefits.

■$224 billion in aid to state governments, funds for education, health care and entitlement programs.