Thanks to three area legislators and Gov. Ted Strickland, all-electric discounts are back -- for now -- while the PUCO chair and other Strickland commissioners "work to determine the best long-term solution." Full story »

Thomas Suddes says the Statehouse is turning its attention to a favorite election year pastime -- carving up Ohio's capital budget. Full story »

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland had a good week. That's a big election-year plus, though it's a long way from now until the Nov. 2 tally. A Quinnipiac University poll showed Strickland had a 44-39 lead over his GOP challenger, former U.S. Rep. John R. Kasich, "up from a 40-40" deadlock in November. (The Connecticut university's name is pronounced KWIN-uh-pe-ack.)... Full story »

If you want Ohio politicians to give you the time of day, the annual fee -- as totaled by one of the wisest of Capitol Square's magi -- is now more than $130,000. In 2008, it would have been $119,000. That's a 9.2 percent increase over two years -- far more than the all-items Consumer Price Index, which over... Full story »

Thomas Suddes warns that a new passenger rail corridor will only be the latest big idea to put a long-term drain on Ohio's treasury. Full story »

In a brazen betrayal of Ohio's voters, the General Assembly -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- looks the other way while payday lenders, the business world's vultures, keep gouging Ohio borrowers. In 2008, 3.4 million Ohioans -- almost 64 percent of those voting -- voted "yes" on Issue 5, which capped annual percentage rates (APRs) on payday loans at... Full story »

A State of the State speech by Ohio's governor is as much pageantry as Ohio's down-home General Assembly ever musters. And for a governor seeking re-election, as Democrat Ted Strickland is, a State of the State is a "free media" bonanza -- a no-cost campaign ad. So last week Strickland sprang some interesting ideas, despite some mindless snickering by Republicans,... Full story »

Candidates for governor (or anything else) always say they want to campaign on "ideas." (Yeah, right.) So here are potential entrees for Democrat Gov. Ted Strickland's and GOP challenger John R. Kasich's smorgasbord: Kasich's running mate, State Auditor Mary Taylor, and Strickland's, former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Yvette McGee Brown, are superlatively qualified to be lieutenant governor. But... Full story »

Logic and popularity aren't like a horse and carriage, which is why Democrats' attacks on Republican John Kasich's vow to gradually repeal Ohio's income tax may go wide of the mark. Facts or no facts, Kasich's idea has curb appeal to voters tired of inch-by-inch "change" in Columbus. Likewise, Democratic State Chairman Chris Redfern's swipe at Kasich running mate Mary... Full story »

The General Assembly will soon decide if a new Casino Control Commission will be master -- or servant -- of Penn National's and Dan Gilbert's (and maybe other people's) new Ohio casinos. A draft bill to create the commission appears to limit taxpayers' rights (under the Open Records Law) to see complete casino-licensing files. That's a red flag. Another:... Full story »

The 2010 gubernatorial campaign between Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland and his Republican foe, former U.S. Rep. John R. Kasich, could -- could -- offer Ohioans the debate they need about what Ohio spends, and why, and where. True, a golfer's adultery or White House party-crashers will always draw a bigger audience, even though "budget" is a two-syllable word for... Full story »

No. 1 on the list: Repeal term limits. Term limits are the biggest reason why the General Assembly has turned into a zoo -- or, on its more dignified days, a fraternity house.  Full story »

If you want to know the difference between constructive leadership in Columbus and safe-seat hot air from some Republicans, here are four names that mean "leader": Republican Senate President Bill Harris, of Ashland. Democratic House Speaker Armond Budish, of Beachwood. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. Republican state Sen. John Carey, of Jackson County, southeast of Columbus. Their hard work --... Full story »

The only differences between the Republican-run Ohio Senate and the Ringling Bros. Circus are that the Senate doesn't charge admission (unless you lobby) and Ringling clowns are professionals. That's why there's nothing funny about the low comedy that Republican state senators are staging in Columbus. Consider the priorities: Unemployment is worse in Ohio than nationally, and -- remarkably --... Full story »

Here's the deal with Statehouse shrieking over when to renew the Third Frontier, Ohio's job-development program: In 2011, Ohio will run out of Third Frontier money. Gov. Ted Strickland and House Speaker Armond Budish, of Beachwood, want to ask Ohioans, in May 2010, to extend the program by letting Ohio sell more Third Frontier bonds. Keep in mind, they're... Full story »