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3 acquitted in Ohio teen's restraint death
Ohio's Otterbein College to become university
Ohio man, 63, found dead in snow with shovel nearby
Family says Rottweiler was trying to rescue owner, didn't kill her
Witness: Demjanjuk's statements inconsistent
Governor lashes out at critics of rail plan
Officials nix new taxes on Ohio amusement park
Ohio lawmakers work to dump driver late fees
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Brother now says former Akron doctor admitted poisoning wife
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Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
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Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Police: Man tries to buy crack with credit card
Police say couple had 50 stolen hubcaps
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
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Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Zips favored on road against MAC West leader
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Stephen Majors
Associated Press
POSTED: 01:20 p.m. EDT, Jun 19, 2009
COLUMBUS: A proposal tucked into the state budget plan would allow cash-strapped county governments to solicit advertising on their Web sites, a shift critics said would lead to conflicts of interest.
State Sen. Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, inserted the proposal into the state budget plan that lawmakers are negotiating. Seitz said he did so at the request of Hamilton County commissioners, who, like many in local government, are in desperate search of revenue during tough economic times.
''I'm doing this at the request of the people who run my county who, by the way, aren't even of the same political party as me,'' Seitz said. ''They are looking for every nickel in the couch, too.''
But the Ohio Newspaper Association is opposed to the move, saying it's a drastic shift in public policy that has negative implications for private industry and good government. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce said it has concerns as well.
Both organizations said the proposal won't get the public vetting that it needs when it's part of a gigantic two-year state spending plan.
''There are very serious concerns about the inherent conflict of interest that would be set up here,'' said Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association. ''You would have public elected officials who control all of these county offices and they would be out there soliciting advertisements.''
Deaner presented scenarios in which the same private firms that are seeking government contracts are also seeking to advertise on county Web sites, or wealthy individuals or political donors doing the same with the possible perception they're looking for favors.
Seitz threw the conflict-of-interest concerns back at newspapers.
''Who's to say that the advertisements in The Columbus Dispatch don't influence their editorial decisions?'' Seitz said.
Newspapers are also concerned about the competition for advertising dollars, a worry shared by business interests.
''We have some concerns,'' said Linda Woggon, vice president of governmental affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. ''We are trying to get a little bit more information about it.''
Lawmakers attempting to reach a budget agreement by the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1 are working off the Senate version of the budget, which contains Seitz's amendment.
COLUMBUS: A proposal tucked into the state budget plan would allow cash-strapped county governments to solicit advertising on their Web sites, a shift critics said would lead to conflicts of interest.
State Sen. Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, inserted the proposal into the state budget plan that lawmakers are negotiating. Seitz said he did so at the request of Hamilton County commissioners, who, like many in local government, are in desperate search of revenue during tough economic times.
''I'm doing this at the request of the people who run my county who, by the way, aren't even of the same political party as me,'' Seitz said. ''They are looking for every nickel in the couch, too.''
But the Ohio Newspaper Association is opposed to the move, saying it's a drastic shift in public policy that has negative implications for private industry and good government. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce said it has concerns as well.
Both organizations said the proposal won't get the public vetting that it needs when it's part of a gigantic two-year state spending plan.
''There are very serious concerns about the inherent conflict of interest that would be set up here,'' said Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association. ''You would have public elected officials who control all of these county offices and they would be out there soliciting advertisements.''
Deaner presented scenarios in which the same private firms that are seeking government contracts are also seeking to advertise on county Web sites, or wealthy individuals or political donors doing the same with the possible perception they're looking for favors.
Seitz threw the conflict-of-interest concerns back at newspapers.
''Who's to say that the advertisements in The Columbus Dispatch don't influence their editorial decisions?'' Seitz said.
Newspapers are also concerned about the competition for advertising dollars, a worry shared by business interests.
''We have some concerns,'' said Linda Woggon, vice president of governmental affairs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. ''We are trying to get a little bit more information about it.''
Lawmakers attempting to reach a budget agreement by the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1 are working off the Senate version of the budget, which contains Seitz's amendment.
"Ohio: Anything for a Buck."
That's a good, new state slogan
