On a lighter note

In 1933, the state of Ohio declared the cardinal to be the official state bird. The laws for state symbols and insignia are codified in General Provisions (sec. 5.03 for the state bird). This wonderful drawing was published in 1808 in American ornithology, or, The natural history of the birds of the United States : illustrated with plates, engraved and colored from original drawings taken from nature, by artist Alexander Wilson. The illustration can be found in the Library of Congress digital collection, The First American West, contributed by the Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Documents regarding the state AG

Transcripts concerning the Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann controversy have been posted on Openers, The Plain Dealer politics blog. Today, articles of impeachment were filed against Dann by the Ohio House Democrats. A copy can be found here. He is expected to resign soon.

Some new books on Ohio history

Ohio's rich history brings a flow of interesting books to the table. Ohio Oil and Gas by Jeff Spencer (Arcadia Publishing, Feb. 2008) looks into the history of the discovery of oil in Ohio. Ohio was once the leading oil-producing state (from 1895-1903). Marathon Oil (formerly the Ohio Oil Company) still operates out of some locations in Ohio.

Built to Move Millions: streetcar building in Ohio, by Craig Semsel (Indiana University Press, March 2008). The book "examines the manufacture of streetcars and interurbans within the state of Ohio between 1900 and 1940." It was during this time that Ohio "had more interurban tracks than any other state in the union."

Resource for Ohio economic data

The Cleveland-based Center for Community Solutions provides loads of economic, health and social data for the state of Ohio. The organization issued a new report yesterday on Employment and Productivity in NE Ohio, 2000-2007, Indicators of Industry Sustainability. The web site is a good source for state budgeting information, including a regularly issued publication State Budgeting Matters. Check their Public Policy Blog for updates. Community Solutions is a United Way agency, so it is no surprise to find a useful database of Ohio Nonprofit Financial Data.

Interstate compacts

Looking for a good list of interstate compacts? Try the American Bar Association's book: The Evolving Use and the Changing Role of Interstate Compacts: a practitioner's guide (published in 2006). The appendix contains a list of interstate regulatory compacts. While the list is a few years out of date already, (updated through July 1, 2005), it works as a master research tool to start.

Tracking Great Lakes Legislation

The Great Lakes Legislative Caucus tracks legislation for the states and provinces bordering the lakes. To keep up on the latest actions, federal and state see these pdf lists.

New edition of legislative guidebook

The Ohio Legislative Service Commission has issued its tenth edition of A Guidebook for Ohio Legislators (2007-2008). This is a most useful and detailed guide on the legislative process in the state.

Fav Chapters:

Ch. 2 The Legislative Branch
Ch. 5 Enacting Legislation
Ch. 6 Tools for Understanding a Bill
Ch. 8 The Ohio Budget Process

and Appendix C:
Directory of Legislative Information