Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, several crazies in the Ohio General Assembly have come up with H.B. 287, which would require "the written informed consent of the father" in order for a woman to have an abortion.

Yes, you read that right. The father of a fetus would have to approve an abortion. Naturally, such a law probably wouldn't be signed into law by current Gov. Ted Strickland, who, as far as I know, is not crazy. Even the bill were signed into law, any number of abortion rights groups would immediately sue, and try to get an injunction enjoining enforcement of the law, which they would get, because any court would rule that such a law places an undue burden on a woman's right to an abortion, as provided for in a whole host of abortion cases (which I won't look up the citations for right now; use your imagination).

But that's not at issue. What's at issue is that there are still people who are writing crap like this. One of the bill's co-sponsors is Rep. Tom Brinkman, whom you might remember from a few years ago. Mr. Brinkman was named a SEDHE Villain of the Forever in 2005 when he sued Miami University (Yours Truly's alma mater) for providing domestic partner benefits in violation of the recently-passed Ohio constitutional amendment which prohibits a state entity from providing marriage-like benefits to unmarried couples. Mr. Brinkman continues his douchebaggery even today as he attempts to take Ohio back to the 19th century, when women were beaten, and not only did they keep quiet about it, but they enjoyed it!

[Found via The Consumerist.]

Posted by Mark at 4:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TOLEDO, Oh. -- Remember Thomas Noe? He was the custodian of the Ohio workman's compensation rare coin fund. And, coincidentally, that rare coin investment mysteriously disappeared in 2004. The New York Times reports, "Mr. Noe was supposed to use state money to buy and sell rare coins as an investments for the compensation fund. Instead, prosecutors said, he used some of the money to pay off his own business debts and to finance a lavish lifestyle. They said he falsified records to conceal the illegal activity." Some of the money was funneled to the Ohio Republican Party. The investigation into the disappearance of the rare coin money uncovered a host of illegal activity within the halls of the statehouse in Columbus, most notably Gov. Bob Taft's failure to report gifts and golf outings. Taft was convicted of a misdemeanor for that, but nonetheless holds the dubious distinction of being the only Ohio governor to be convicted of a crime while in office. Noe, on the other hand, was sentenced to eighteen years in prison.

Is this too long? I submit that betraying the public trust is a very serious crime. Even though no one died, our democratic system took a hit. For this, Noe should be punished. So, too, should key figures of the Bush Administration who allow ridiculous things to happen. These people include Vice President Cheney, for endorsing torture and issuing unconstitutional signing statements, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, for his illegal, poorly-justified, warrantless wiretapping program. We're going to spend the next two years -- and more -- untangling what it is that's been done behind our backs for five years.

Posted by Mark at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)