Ex-President Donald Trump touts J.D. Vance during Ohio rally: Capitol Letter

Rotunda Rumblings

An opportunity on Vance: For many candidates operating in Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate major, an endorsement from ex-President Donald Trump can be a easy political victory. However for J.D. Vance, a former prolific Trump critic, the story is way more difficult. Andrew Tobias and Seth Richardson take an in-depth take a look at the probably results of the endorsement, and lingering questions and resentments some Ohio Republicans nonetheless have. Richardson additionally has a take a look at Vance’s first public look at a Delaware County rally with the previous president since Trump dropped his endorsement.

A glance bach: President Joe Biden tapped former U.S. Lawyer for the Northern District of Ohio Steve Dettelbach to go the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Earlier than his affirmation, Adam Ferrise takes a deep take a look at Dettelbach’s historical past as a federal prosecutor, politician and personal legal professional. Dettelbach’s nomination additionally comes as gun violence has surged throughout the nation, together with in Cleveland, and as extra states, together with Ohio, have rolled again restrictions on gun homeowners.

Pay up: FirstEnergy Corp. reached a $37.5 million settlement to resolve 4 lawsuits filed by ratepayers who sued the Akron-based utility over the Home Invoice 6 scandal, firm’s CEO Steven Strah advised buyers Friday. Jeremy Pelzer experiences that the information is hardly a shock, as FirstEnergy advised federal regulators months in the past that it put aside the cash to settle the fits that say the corporate dedicated civil federal and state anti-racketeering violations.

Hey large spenders: Advert spending within the Ohio Republican Senate major was approaching $50 million as of final week, setting the state heading in the right direction to high the earlier document for spending in a Senate race from 2016, Richardson experiences. That’s largely on the backs of spending by the candidates, from their private funds, with extra private cash within the major than some other within the nation.

Justice league: Within the newest spherical of marketing campaign finance experiences, Ohio Supreme Court docket Justice Jennifer Brunner out-raised Justice Sharon Kennedy for chief justice by about $51,000. Laura Hancock has particulars on fundraising from the opposite courtroom candidates, together with Patrick DeWine, Marilyn Zayas, Patrick Fischer and Terri Jamison.

White Home certain: Oberlin Excessive College’s Kurt Russell, who was named “2022 Nationwide Instructor of the Yr” by the Council of Chief State College Officers, obtained an invitation to the White Home subsequent week the place President Joe Biden and First Woman Jill Biden will honor him. Sabrina Eaton experiences that the White Home says Russell will go to the White Home subsequent Wednesday and ship remarks together with Biden, the First Woman and U.S. Secretary of Training Miguel Cardona.

Snitches get horse tablets: A small group of Home Republicans renewed their effort to broaden COVID-19 victims’ entry to unproven, ineffective medicines like ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and different medication Jake Zuckerman of The Ohio Capital Journal experiences that the laws would compel well being departments to enter into agreements to “promote and enhance distribution” of the medication. The laws additionally has a provision (like Texas’ abortion regulation) that may permit residents to sue well being departments into compliance.

Full Disclosure

5 issues we discovered from the March 30, 2022 monetary disclosure kind filed by state Rep. Adam Chook, a Clermont County Republican:

1. Apart from his 2021 legislative wage of $73,735, Chook obtained someplace between $50,000 and $99,999 from the State Academics Retirement System final 12 months.

2. Aside from his STRS retirement fund, Chook’s investments final 12 months included a Voya mutual fund and one other mutual fund via Putnam.

3. Sooner or later in 2021, Chook owed greater than $1,000 to Regional Acceptance Company (an auto finance firm), Chase Visa, Superior Credit score Union, Residence Depot and Park Nationwide Financial institution.

4. Sooner or later final 12 months, Chook’s marketing campaign owed him greater than $1,000.

5. Final 12 months, the Ohio Home reimbursed Chook $2,521 for mileage and $1,430 for lodging. Different journey reimbursements Chook obtained final 12 months included $271 from the Ohio Home GOP’s marketing campaign arm and $143 from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

On The Transfer

Bernie Moreno, the previous Republican U.S. Senate candidate, has endorsed JD Vance within the GOP Senate major.

Former state Rep. Ron Younger has introduced his retirement from the Board of Lake County Commissioners efficient Might 4. In a launch, the Painesville Republican mentioned he’s retiring after his spouse Kathy died in 2020, he obtained coronavirus twice, and he obtained remedy for acute leukemia.

Birthdays

Mary Degenaro, ex-Ohio Supreme Court docket justice and chief authorized counsel for state Auditor Keith Faber

Alicia Reece, Hamilton County commissioner and former state consultant

Straight From The Source

“You understand that I don’t have a bone in my physique that’s homophobic, racist.”

– State Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Clermont County Republican, talking with the Cincinnati Enquirer about why she launched Home Invoice 616, which, amongst different issues, would ban faculty curricula addressing sexual orientation and gender identification between kindergarten and third grade. Schmidt objected to the laws being referred to as a “Don’t Say Homosexual” invoice, saying there’s no anti-LGBT language within the invoice.

Capitol Letter is a each day briefing offering succinct, well timed data for many who care deeply concerning the choices made by state authorities. If you don’t already subscribe, you’ll be able to enroll right here to get Capitol Letter in your e mail field every weekday without cost.