Outgoing Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp had reached his term limit as a representative and is leaving a long career in public service.  As a State Representative, he was key to finding a solution to the state’s school funding problem.  For years, the funding formula was considered unconstitutional, and for three years Cupp and other law makers met with school officials and financial experts around the state to develop a plan that would be considered fairer to all school districts.  The plan was adopted in 2021 as part of the two-year state budget and looked at both local incomes and property values to determine how much of the schools budget the district can cover on its own, before the state puts in their share. 

On January 3rd, Bob Cupp will be turning his gavel for Speaker of the Ohio House over to State Representative Derek Merrin.  Jeff Fitzgerald sat down with Cupp to talk about his 40 years of public service, starting at Allen County Commission to state lawmaker.

Cupp has served as an Allen County Commissioner, a judge on the 3rd District Court of Appeals, an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, and as a State Senator and Representative. Since 2020, Cupp has been Ohio’s Speaker of the House, but he has hit his term limit and will be out of office at the end of the year. But we had to ask, is that the end of a long political career?

The latest proposal to give Ohio's governor more power over-seeing K-12 education cleared the Ohio Senate last week. The bill would significantly change decision making about academic standards, on guidance on curriculum, and on school district ratings.  If passed, the state education department will be run by a director appointed by the governor rather than the state board of education and the superintendent that the board hires.  Supporters of the bill say the changes would promote more accountability and transparency.  But teachers’ unions and advocacy groups say lawmakers are rushing the bill.  The 2,000 page bill only has  around a week to get Ohio House approval before the legislative session ends. Speaker of the House Bob Cupp says discussion are ongoing. 

Ohio's top Republican lawmakers are taking their case to the U.S. Supreme Court on how the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on the drawing of the congressional districts in the state.  Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp and two other ranking Republican members of the state legislature filed an appeal with the nation's highest court about the rejection of the congressional map.  The lawmakers said in a statement that, "The 4-3 decision of the Ohio Supreme Court encroached on this legislative authority in multiple ways and that action deserves to be tested in the U.S. Supreme Court."  The Ohio Supreme Court twice rejected the Congressional map saying that the drawing of the 15 Congressional districts favored the Republican party in both cases.   The map that is being used for the November General Election was one state lawmakers approved in March.   The Ohio Supreme Court also rejected the drawing of the Ohio house and senate maps five times with the same ruling.  The U.S. Supreme Court will have to choose to hear the case for it to move forward. 

The State Controlling Board approved $800,000 to help move Gressel Drive in Delphos to make way for a $25 million expansion of Lakeview Farms The 100,000 square foot expansion of their plant will add a new production line, and warehouse space to the existing building. 

COLUMBUS – Bob Cupp, Allen County State Representative and Ohio House Speaker (R-Lima) today announced the approval of significant funding for Allen County roadwork improvements and state building renovations. The two projects were approved today by the State Controlling Board. “I am pleased that these projects in Allen County can proceed with the release of these funds,” Cupp said. “These initiatives will provide additional development and jobs for the region, which has consistently been a focus through legislation in the House.”

That from the Ohio Department of Education Chancellor Randy Gardner during his tour of the Apollo Career Center. He was in town kicking off “In Demand Jobs Week” which is designed to promote and advocate technical career centers. He had the chance to talk with administrators, students, and employers who have benefited from Apollo graduates.

Senate President Matt Huffman explains, “I think the issue as it relates to the redistricting commission re there 4votes for any map that the Ohio Supreme Court in it’s current make-up will rule constitutional. And I don’t know if that’s, frankly if that’s possible to happen.”

The Allen County Museum and Historical Society look at the past and towards the future, during their annual meeting.