The Ohio State House and SB 310

John and I got on the road early. But instead of work and school, we were headed to Columbus. We were going to attend the Senate Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources Committee opposition hearing regarding SB 310. A first for me. Outside of voting, I don’t get involved in politics.

But Rex is my son’s pet… And the CinCity Reptile Show was my cousin Big John’s baby. This was important.

The following snakes are considered “restricted snakes” in Senate Bill 310 as currently written:

• Green anacondas;
• Yellow anacondas;
• Reticulated pythons;
• Indian pythons;
• Burmese pythons;
• North African rock pythons;
• South African rock pythons;
• Amethystine pythons;
• Boa constrictors
• Species of the Family Atractaspididae (Mole vipers, stiletto snakes, burrowing asps)
• Species of the Family Elapidae (Coral snakes, cobras, tiger snakes, mambas)
• Species of the Family Viperidae (Pit vipers, adders, rattle snakes)
• Boomslang snakes (Tree snakes)
• Twig snakes
• Any other snakes designated by the Director (So anything can be added at any time later… I have an issue with that.)

So I took PTO, kept John out of school, and we headed for the State House. We were meeting John and Nikaya and the opposition group in the lobby at 9:30am.

The drive was easy, and I found a parking garage near the highway and John and I walked the half mile to the Statehouse. It was colder than I was expecting, but a beautiful bright morning.

We arrived at the State House.




I have never been to the Ohio State House before. I have never been to ANY State House before. And this was worth a visit, even without the hearing. The Rotunda is beautiful. The carved marble staircase, the ornate ceilings- it was amazing. I will do a post with more pictures later.

We went to the first hearing room to hear testimony for the committee members:

Senator Cliff Hite (Chairman)
Senator Tim Schaffer (Vice Chair)
Senator Lou Gentile
Senator Troy Balderson (Sponsor)
Senator Dave Burke-
Senator Capri Cafaro
Senator Gayle Manning
Senator Bob Peterson
Senator Joe Schiavoni

It was standing room only. John and I sat with Big John and Nikaya in the front row.

Chairman Hite stood with John for a picture before the first session (there were three over the course of a long day that included moving four times. It was clear they had not expected the crowd.)




John and I were interviewed for NBC after the first session recessed for lunch, and a documentary team interviewed both of us in the second (and larger) hearing room before the start of the second. I promised the woman working with the team that we would e-mail her pictures of John and Rex.

The testimony was informative and impassioned. Economic issues were raised along with alternative options for many of the concerning elements of the bill. The speakers were eloquent and represented many of the pet owners and businesses that would be financially and emotionally impacted by the ban. Big John shared what this will mean to his new business.

It was also brought up that certain groups currently pushing for passage of this bill are actually exempted from following the restrictive rules. Funny how that happens…

As evening settled in, I let John know we needed to head home- it is over two hours to get to the State House. With 15 speakers to go, we had to leave at 6pm. But Senator Hite promised to hear everyone…

As we walked back to the parking garage, John pointed out that politics was just like school: “You sit around all day listening and have recess.”

Smart kid!

John made the cut and was on the local news:
http://www2.ohio-votes.com/news/2012/mar/27/4/opponents-testify-against-exotic-animal-ban-ar-979902/