Ohio HB 79 is indeed a humdinger. Donovan O’Neil of AFP Ohio explained why. Fortunately for ratepayers the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee cancelled a vote on the bill that was scheduled for today.
Release time for religious instruction isn’t a ‘local rule’ issue; it’s a parents’ rights issue
One of the straw man arguments - that even misinformed Republicans are making - is that requiring schools to create a policy permitting release time for religious instruction (RTRI) violates local rule authority granted to school boards and districts. That issue has been settled for decades.
But the heart of the matter is this: RTRI law clarification language should be combined with HB 8 - Parents’ Bill of Rights - because RTRI is a parents’ rights issue.
LifeWise Founder/CEO Joel Penton joined The Windsor Report to discuss parents’ rights and how a combined HB 8 clarifies permissions that will limit religious bigotry already exercised by a few Ohio school boards who chose to ignore legal precedent and the spirit of the law to cancel RTRI programs.
Hear the full interview with Penton by clicking the link in the comments section below.
Why hasn’t release time for religious instruction reform already happened with a Republican supermajority in the Ohio General Assembly?
Even New York requires schools to permit release time for religious instruction
LifeWise Founder/CEO Joel Penton joined The Windsor Report to discuss RTRI - it's voluntary, off-site, does not erode core class time, is constitutional, and has case law to support its operation.
Why hasn’t the Republican-rich legislature put “shall” into the Ohio revised code to require districts to create policies permitting release time for religious instruction? New York, run by a supermajority of Democrats, has a law stating that districts “shall” allow release time for religious instruction.
Catch the full interview with Penton by clicking the link in the comments section below.
LifeWise Academy
The Windsor Report: Joel Penton, Founder/CEO LifeWise Academy
This morning, I asked LifeWise Founder/CEO Joel Penton about pivoting his ministry to the release time for religious instruction model, RTRI for short.
LifeWise RTRI programs are in 31 states and 600 schools. Their signature campaigns have them slated for 6,000 public school districts across America.
✅ Filling a demand, as evidenced by the massive interest
✅Off-site, voluntary instruction
✅Constitutional: supported by Supreme Court Decisions, federal legal precedent, and Ohio Attorney General opinions
It’s hard to believe that a Republican supermajority in the Ohio General Assembly is dithering to pass the consolidated Parents’ Bill of Rights - a bill that not only prohibits schools from keeping secrets from parents but, with Senator Andrew Brenner's amendment, requires districts to permit in their policies release time for religious instruction. Both of these matters are at the heart of parental rights.
You can hear my full interview with Joel today on The Windsor Report. The show starts at 5 p.m. on 98.9FM The Answer in Columbus, Ohio.
LifeWise Academy
Question of the week: Why are some Ohio school districts banning LifeWise Academy?
For people of faith, there may be a resolution for this attack on Christianity - maybe.
LifeWise Academy Ohio House GOP Ohio Senate Republicans State Senator Andrew Brenner - Ohio 19th Senate District Senator Matt Huffman
VIDEO: Is Intel’s Ohio One project in jeopardy after chipmaker’s financial losses, CEO retirement? Ohio Lt. Gov Jon Husted answers that question.
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted Jon Husted Intel
Watch or listen to the full interview with Husted by clicking the appropriate link in the comment section below.
ICYMI
Eliminating qualified immunity is a bad idea. Proponents will list outliers and fail to recognize inappropriate and illegal conduct already pierces the veil of immunity. Do you know what officers stand to lose at the hands of politically-motivated officials or bad faith lawsuits? Eliminating qualified immunity protections will push out good cops. Do we want second-rate, third-rate, fourth-rate officers protecting our communities? Hard “no.”
VIDEO: Using artificial intelligence to slash bureaucratic bloat; economic development: Husted on priorities for 2025
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted joined The Windsor Report for a one-on-one discussion last week. I asked him what is on his priority list for 2025. This is what he said.
You can see the full interview by clicking the links in the comment section below.
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted Jon Husted
‘It was necessary’: OH Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Ohio ‘Bathroom Bill’
“Crazy” is what we would have said a decade ago about the need to pass a law to make sure males go to male restrooms and private spaces and females go to female restrooms and private spaces.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted ( R ) appeared on The Windsor Report with The Ohio Press Network Editor-in-Chief Jack Windsor to address red-hot relevant topics ranging from "Is the Intel Ohio One project in trouble?", the Ohio “Bathroom Bill”, to whether Husted is being considered by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to replace VP-elect J.D. Vance in the U.S. Senate or if he will instead set his sights on a run for governor in 2026.
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted Jon Husted Governor Mike DeWine
VIDEO: Face-to-Face with Jon Husted
Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted ( R ) appeared on The Windsor Report with The Ohio Press Network Editor-in-Chief Jack Windsor to address red-hot relevant topics ranging from "Is the Intel project in trouble?", the Ohio “Bathroom Bill”, to whether Husted is being considered by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to replace VP-elect J.D. Vance in the U.S. Senate or if he will instead set his sights on a run for governor in 2026.
Jon Husted Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted
ICYMI: Congressman Warren Davidson
(Click the link in comments to hear the full interview with Davidson)
Biden's Pardon Is A Bigger Deal Than You Think... | GYG Podcast Ep. 152
Joe and Jack Windsor of the Ohio Press Network discuss Korea's implementation of Martial Law, President Biden's pardoning of his son and what it means, the media's response to Biden's presidency ending, predictions on what Elon and Vivek will do with the Department of Government Efficiency, and a recent Act Blue controversy.
Grab Your Gear
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