Ohio anti-abortion activists disappointed with party's proposed toned-down stance: Capitol Letter (2024)

Rotunda Rumblings

Right to strife: Republicans are poised to pass an anti-abortion platform next week in Milwaukee, on the urging of former President Donald Trump, that no longer calls for a national ban and instead says abortion is a state issue. In Ohio, anti-abortion activists are not thrilled by this. They believe the proposal doesn’t go far enough and diminishes the work they’ve done for years to fight against abortion. Meantime, President Joe Biden says the softened GOP language is designed to deflect from the party’s extremism, Laura Hanco*ck reports.

The party line: Similarly, Sen. JD Vance is softening his stance on abortion – lining up his public position with Trump’s – as the former president weighs whether to pick Vance as his running mate. Per Andrew Tobias, Vance during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” said he supports a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that keeps FDA approval for a pill commonly prescribed by doctors in medication abortions. The comment drew rebukes from anti-abortion activists, who said Vance, who ran as an anti-abortion hardliner in 2022, would not have won the Senate nomination had he taken that stance back then.

Bus fare: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority has won a $10.6 million federal grant to replace diesel buses with electric ones in poorer areas with high ridership. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, it’s among a total of $1.5 billion or so in grants awarded to 117 projects nationwide, including four in Ohio.

Gag order: State Sen. Bill DeMora, a Columbus Democrat and leader of Ohio delegates at the Democratic National Convention, told the delegates in an email to not talk to the press about President Joe Biden’s fitness for office and whether he should drop out of the presidential race, reports Axios Columbus’ Tyler Buchanan. DeMora said he was asked to communicate this from the Biden campaign and the Ohio Democratic Party.

The trio: U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio has made the short list – with just Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum – of finalists former President Donald Trump is considering for vice president on his election ticket. The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake provides an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses each man would bring to the ticket.

On face value: Former President Donald Trump likes men to be clean-shaven, and U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s beard could be a disadvantage, reports The Bulwark’s Marc Caputo and Tim Miller. Why doesn’t the Ohio Republican shave it off? A Trump advisor said that Trump also needs someone who looks experienced, and “without the beard, Vance looks like he’s 12.”

Reelection and race: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, faces a tough reelection campaign, occupying a seat Republicans have targeted to flip. The New York Times’ Robert Jimison followed her on the campaign trail, which involves reminding voters of the work she’s done for the district. Sykes is a Black member of Congress who represents a majority white constituency, who has to keep the focus off President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump because many of her constituents have strong feelings about them.

Lobbying Lineup

Five organizations lobbying on House Bill 91, which would prohibit people from installing tracking devices without the property owner’s consent, punishable as a first-degree misdemeanor.

1. Apple Inc.

2. Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association

3. Ohio Bail Agents Association

4. Ohio Domestic Violence Network

5. Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission

On the Move

The Buckeye Firearms Association PAC’s endorsem*nt list for the 2024 general election includes Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bernie Moreno; 12 Republican congressional candidates, including Derek Merrin, Kevin Coughlin, and Orlando Sonza; 13 Republican state Senate candidates, and 59 state House GOP candidates.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee announced Tuesday the endorsem*nt of 70 bipartisan candidates for the Ohio General Assembly in the Nov. 5 General Election. In the Senate, the chamber endorsed 12 candidates – all Republicans. In the House, it endorsed 58 candidates, including 46 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, who is running for House and gunning for the speaker position, was endorsed in his House race, but the Chamber didn’t include current Speaker Jason Stephens among its endorsem*nts.

Birthdays

State Rep. Latyna Humphrey

Straight From The Source

“Their loss!

You are one of the best and smartest members of Congress.”

- U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, posting on X about U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, a Troy Republican who was kicked out of the House Freedom Caucus after he endorsed a primary challenger to the caucus’ chair. Greene was kicked out of the Freedom Caucus last year.

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