Republicans move bill to teach positive impacts of Christianity in schools: Capitol Letter – Cleveland.com

Holy wars: GOP state lawmakers sent two bills to the opposite chamber this week that would put more religion in public schools. The House sent to the Senate a bill that would allow teachers to talk about the positive impact of religion and Judeo-Christian values. The Senate sent to the House a bill that would allow public schools to display the Ten Commandments as part of a list of “historical education displays,” Laura Hancock reports. Democrats say these bills violate the separation and establishment clauses of the First Amendment.
Don’t cry over spilled gravy: While Ohio legislators aimed to send intoxicating hemp regulations to Gov. Mike DeWine before the Thanksgiving holiday, lawmakers have fallen short. The House voted 52-34 to pass Senate Bill 56 shortly after 1 a.m. on Thursday, after the bipartisan conference committee advanced it, Mary Frances McGowan reports. The Senate, however, had already gone home by the time House members took their vote. The Senate plans to vote on the legislation on Dec. 9.
Vance touts jobs: Vice President JD Vance declared Thursday that stronger-than-expected September jobs numbers demonstrate that “Trump economic policies are actually working,” while defending the administration’s agenda despite continued affordability concerns, Sabrina Eaton writes. Speaking at a Breitart News event, Vance acknowledged that many Americans still feel economic strain despite the positive jobs report. “We get it, and we hear you, and we know that there’s a lot of work to do,” he said, asking voters for patience as the administration works to undo what he called the damage of the previous four years.
Deposed: Ohio State University football icon Archie Griffin was deposed by attorneys Nov. 9 as part of an ongoing lawsuit against the university over the sexual abuse of team doctor Dr. Richard Strauss, the Dispatch’s Max Filby writes. Details of what was said are scant at this time. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, a former OSU wrestling coach, was disposed in July. Filby also writes that lawyers want to depose retail mogul Les Wexner, who was a trustee during part of Strauss’ time at OSU.
Water you waiting for? After several years of work, a group of conservationists has developed the Ohio River Basin Restoration and Protection Plan to clean up the Ohio River, its wetlands and waterways that feed into it. The plan asks for $350 million a year from Congress for five years for cleanup and historic efforts being made on the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay and Everglades. NPR’s Morgan Watkins lists sites that have led to pollution, including mills in Steubenville.
 Referral: House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, a Champaign County Republican, referred Thomas Windom, a top aide to former special counsel Jack Smith, to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution over obstruction of a congressional investigation. Windom didn’t answer some of the committee’s questions in September. The committee is targeting Smith and his office for their investigations into President Donald Trump, Politico’s Hailey Fuchs reports.
Question: Who is the youngest lawmaker currently serving in the Ohio Legislature?
Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter.
Thanks to everyone who answered our last trivia question: Netflix’s new miniseries Death by Lightning is about one of Ohio’s native sons, President James Garfield. What was the name of his White House dog?
Answer: Garfield had a black Newfoundland dog named Veto. Garfield reportedly chose the name to remind Congress he wouldn’t necessarily sign every bill they sent.
Capitol Letter reader Rob Kirchstein was the first to email with the correct response.
Friday, Nov. 21: State Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur
Saturday, Nov. 22: Ex-state Rep. Nick Celebrezze, Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley, State Sen. Kristina Roegner
Sunday, Nov. 23: Lisa Peterson, communications director for Gov. Mike DeWine; William Dennison, Jr., Ohio’s 24th governor (1815-1882)
“Update: it turned into a 2:15am Taco Bell stop.”
– Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Republican, posting on X after the Ohio House remained in session until after 1 a.m. on Thursday. Stewart was referring to his prediction to reporters Tuesday that Wednesday’s House session would wrap up by the early evening. “It’s a question whether it’s a happy hour drink or an after-dinner drink,” he said at the time.
Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
As a statehouse reporter for Cleveland.com, I write about all things Ohio politics with a focus on elections, marijuana policy, social issues, budgets, redistricting, public pensions, immigration in Ohio and… more
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 10/1/2025).
© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here.
Ad Choices

source