Rotunda Rumblings

In the wind: Boat dealers and Lake Erie enthusiasts are ramping up their criticism of a proposed six-turbine wind energy project in Northeast Ohio, fearful it could lead to a full-on wind farm on the lake, per cleveland.com’s Laura Johnston. The opponents say they want to slow the project down for environmental study reasons, though the project has received approval from 14 federal, state and local agencies.

Give us some love: Would you like to show your support for Capitol Letter, plus get exclusive insider information on Ohio government and politics? Consider Project Text. For $3.99 a month, you can get behind the scenes insights and observations via text messages from the reporting team who puts together our essential daily newsletter.

Courtside: The ACLU of Ohio said major reforms are needed in more than 300 mayors courts, including calling for their elimination in Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton and Summit counties, cleveland.com’s Pete Krouse reports. The ACLU cited evidence of the courts that handle traffic violations and small misdemeanors showing “compelling evidence of racial disparities.”

Can’t place the face: Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said Monday that Republican President Donald Trump doesn’t understand the effect repealing Obamacare would have on people because he doesn’t know anyone who would be negatively affected, cleveland.com’s Seth Richardson reports. Brown was joined in Cleveland by Secundra Beasley, an East Cleveland woman diagnosed with mental health disorders who said she would suffer if Obamacare is upended.

Brown book: Brown says he’ll publish a new book in November called “Desk 88,” about “eight progressive senators who changed America,” Eaton reports. All of them once occupied the desk he currently uses on the Senate floor. It should go on sale in November.

Cash challenged: Days before he launched his presidential campaign, Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan’s congressional campaign account contained just $67,192, far less than any other Congress member from Northeast Ohio. Presidential candidates usually stockpile campaign cash before kicking off their campaigns, cleveland.com’s Sabrina Eaton reports. Many of the Democratic candidates seeking the White House have already raised several million dollars, but Ryan has not released that fundraising tally.

Space race: Ex-Democratic congressman Zack Space has signed on to be treasurer of Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan’s presidential campaign. “I am a believer in Tim Ryan,” says Space, who ran for Ohio Auditor in 2018 against Republican Keith Faber. Space told Eaton that Ryan’s ability to talk to rural voters and factory workers will be important to his success as a nominee.

Money Moves: Ryan won’t be getting Cardi B’s vote this time around, despite her curiosity about the candidate. Per GQ, the current Queen of Hip Hop is a Bernie-bro through-and-through (though she still likes Ryan).

Break on through: Axios’ Alexi McCammond writes that a focus group of Ohio voters who flipped parties in past presidential elections and voted for Trump in 2016 list their favorite 2020 candidate as Barack Obama. Of course, Obama isn’t running and McCammond deduces none of the Democratic candidates have broken through with rural voters. Members of the group also said they wanted a sense of normalcy in politics, McCammond writes.

Swing away: The eternal question on everyone’s mind heading into 2020, including Roll Call’s Ben Peters, is whether Ohio remains a swing state given recent trends. Peters examined Trump’s 8-percentage point victory in 2016 and the GOP’s dominance in congressional and statehouse races, but some of the experts he spoke to weren’t ready to write off the state just yet.

Road warrior: Gov. Mike DeWine said the newly-passed gas tax will provide nearly $255 million for improvements to the Interstate 70 and 71 interchange in Columbus, the Columbus Dispatch’s Randy Ludlow reports. The next three phases of the project will result in less congestion and safer roads, DeWine said.

Kids’ jackpot: Ohio intercepted, or is in the process of intercepting, around $10 million of Ohio Lottery, casino and racino winnings that state law says need to go to gamblers’ children. Before winners get paid out, their names are cross-checked with a database for delinquent child support, cleveland.com’s Laura Hancock reports.

Denson deals: State Rep. Sedrick Denson, a Cincinnati Democrat, had his felony drug possession charge stemming from his DUI arrest in March dropped, the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Jackie Borchardt reports. Denson was charged with possession of a single Adderall pill, but pleaded the charge down to a misdemeanor before having it quashed after completing a drug education course. A felony would have prevented Denson from serving in the legislature.

Congrats! To Emily Benavides, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman’s communications director, for her wedding to Mike Thom, political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Benavides and Thom traveled to Marbella, Spain, for the nuptials.

A Latta Liz Cheney: Liz Cheney, Wyoming’s lone U.S. House member and daughter of Republican former Vice President Dick Cheney, was the headliner for U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s 2019 Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner on Monday. Cheney, who was first elected in 2016, is the third-highest ranking member of the Republican House caucus.

Casting Vance: St. Louis native Gabriel Basso has been cast as the lead role inspired by Ohio native JD Vance in the upcoming Ron Howard-directed film based on Vance’s best-selling book “Hillbilly Elegy,” per the Journal-News. Basso’s most notable films include “Super 8” and “The Kings of Summer.”

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the April 9, 2018 financial disclosure form of state Sen. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican.

1. Schuring reported earning $25,000 to $49,999 from the University of Mount Union. His legislative salary was $65,193.

2. His sole reported investment of more than $1,000 was in the Public Employee Retirement System.

3. He reported owing $1,000 or more at some point in 2017 to TW Schervish, Robert Schuring, Robert Gasser, Donald Wilson, Kohl’s, OneMain Financial and CSE Credit Union.

4. Schuring reported more than $10,000 in travel reimbursements, including $6,158.88 from the House for mileage, $468 from the National Conference of State Legislatures, $1,209.52 from the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee, $1,805.90 from the Committee to Elect Cliff Rosenberger, $555.97 from his campaign account and $8 from the Department of Homeland Security. In an addendum, he added another $415.70 in reimbursements from his campaign account.

5. Schuring reported receiving gifts valued at $75 or more from the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Texas Department of Public Safety, former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and GOP donor Ginni Ragan. Schuring also received an award plaque from Ohio Jewish Communities Inc. valued at $65, a small business advocate award worth $57.95 from the Greater Cleveland Partnership, a DVD and book worth $30.63 from Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, a meal and beverages from the Cleveland Museum of Art worth $41.78, and tickets to the Ohio State-Penn State football game on Oct. 28, 2017 valued at $280 from Ohio State University.

On The Move

Gov. Mike DeWine announced several appointments to state boards including:

-Robert C. Smith of Westlake to the JobsOhio board of directors for a term ending July 5, 2019.

-Robin J. Heise of Yellow Springs to the Ohio Historical Records advisory board for a term ending March 31, 2022.

-Richard C. Rooney of Chillicothe to the Ohio Historic Site Preservation advisory board for a term ending Jan. 14, 2022.

Birthdays

State Rep. Brett Hillyer

Carla Carvalho, legislative aide to state Rep. Thomas West

Straight From The Source

“I kind of don’t get it. It’s funny — the folks who have called me... are mostly calling with, ‘what’s this about?’”

- Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart, a Democrat, on Youngstown-area U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s Democratic presidential primary campaign.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.