OHIO CITIZENS SUBMIT AMENDMENT TO STRENGTHEN TERM LIMITS – As a response to the General Assembly’s war on term limits, a group of Ohio citizens has launched a petition drive to enact stronger term limits for legislators.
Eight is Enough Ohio turned in 1,742 signatures Friday to certify a constitutional amendment petition that will limit State House and Senate members to no more than eight lifetime years in one chamber, and no more than 12 lifetime years in the legislature.
Under current law, members can serve for life, as long as they don’t stay in one chamber for more than eight consecutive years.
“The General Assembly’s sneak attack on term limits, through the ruse of a commission, is a slap in the face to the people of Ohio,” said Eight is Enough Chair Ray Warrick, who also serves as Chair of the Warren County GOP. “Our amendment will deliver what Ohioans really want: stronger term limits and fewer career politicians.”
In addition to creating a lifetime limit, the new amendment will begin to count partial terms against term limits. This will end the practice of legislators using appointments to skirt term limits and stay in office longer.
Now that Eight is Enough has submitted its initial signatures, the Attorney General has until Sep. 8 to certify the amendment petition. Once that happens, the group can begin its full effort to put the amendment on the fall 2016 ballot.
STATE MEETING PLANNED – The Local Government Innovation Council will meet on Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in Columbus at the Vern Riffe Building, 77 South High Street, on the 19th Floor, Room 1960. The Council will be reviewing projects for funding from a pool of applicants in their 14th round. The Council oversees programs which help communities in their efforts to promote collaboration among governments and cut costs for the services they provide.
NEW DATA SHOWS MORE EYE INJURIES DUE TO BASKETBALL THAN ANY OTHER SPORT – More than 6,000 Americans suffered an eye injury related to playing basketball in one year, according to estimates by Prevent Blindness. In fact, the top five sports with the most eye injuries were basketball, water and pool activities, use of guns (air, gas, spring, and BB), baseball/softball and football.
According to the National Eye Institute, every 13 minutes an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury. Eye injuries from sports may include infection, corneal abrasions, blunt trauma, inflamed iris, fracture of the eye socket, swollen or detached retinas or a traumatic cataract. In the worst cases, some injuries may result in permanent vision loss.
