The rare special session that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has called to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden appears on Ohio’s fall ballot could take several days. Due to differing interpretations of the proclamation DeWine issued Thursday, the Ohio Senate scheduled a single day of activity for Tuesday but a spokesman said the Ohio House plans to begin with two days of committee hearings before taking its vote Thursday.
Quick Read
- Special Session for Ensuring President Biden Makes Ohio’s Fall Ballot Could Take Several Days
- Session Called by Governor: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has called a rare special session to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden appears on Ohio’s fall ballot.
- Duration and Schedule: The session could take several days. The Ohio Senate has scheduled a single day of activity for Tuesday, while the Ohio House plans two days of committee hearings before a Thursday vote.
- Chamber Coordination: A Senate spokesman indicated that the upper chamber might convene Tuesday and then recess to await House action.
- Ongoing Negotiations: State Rep. Bill Seitz and state Sen. Rob McColley, both Republicans, are leading negotiations between the chambers on a solution.
- Legislative Goal: The legislation needs to move Ohio’s Aug. 7 ballot deadline so that it falls after the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
- Past Precedents: Ohio has adjusted the deadline in the past for candidates of both parties.
- Current Roadblock: The Senate’s version of the bill includes a prohibition on foreign nationals donating to Ohio ballot campaigns, which has stalled it in the House.
- Governor’s Proposal: DeWine urged legislators to pass the combination measure during the special session.
- Democratic Opposition: Democrats oppose the proposal, arguing it includes additional requirements intended to make future ballot campaigns more difficult.
- Potential House Bill: A “clean” House bill containing only the adjustment to Ohio’s ballot deadline may also be considered.
The Associated Press has the story:
Special session for ensuring President Biden makes Ohio’s fall ballot could take several days
Newslooks- COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) —
The rare special session that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has called to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden appears on Ohio’s fall ballot could take several days. Due to differing interpretations of the proclamation DeWine issued Thursday, the Ohio Senate scheduled a single day of activity for Tuesday but a spokesman said the Ohio House plans to begin with two days of committee hearings before taking its vote Thursday.
A Senate spokesman said it’s possible the upper chamber can convene Tuesday and then recess to wait for the House.
Negotiations between the chambers on a solution to Biden’s ballot conundrum began Friday. State Rep. Bill Seitz told reporters during a conference call that he and state Sen. Rob McColley, both Republicans, are leading the talks.
The legislation needs only to move Ohio’s Aug. 7 ballot deadline so that it falls after the Democratic National Convention where Biden will be formally nominated, which is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. Ohio has moved the deadline in the past for candidates of both parties.
But the Senate sent its version of the ballot fix to the House after attaching a prohibition on foreign nationals donating to Ohio ballot campaigns, stopping it in its tracks.
DeWine urged legislators to pass the combination measure during the special session — but Democrats have balked, saying the proposal goes beyond the foreign nationals ban to add requirements intended to make it more difficult to mount future ballot campaigns in the state.
That’s after Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved three ballot measures last year, including a constitutional amendment protecting access to abortions opposed by Republicans and an initiated statute legalizing adult-use marijuana.
A “clean” House bill containing only the adjustment to Ohio’s ballot deadline may also be considered.
