Politics

PATASKALA, OH - Former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is among nearly three dozen Ohio officials who are throwing their support behind Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney.

Romney's campaign released a list on Wednesday of Ohioans backing his bid for presidency in 2012 as the GOP front-runner visited the state. The list consisted of state senators, state representatives and several mayors. Other supporters included state and county Republican Party officials.

Ohioans will be able to vote this November on whether they want to participate in the national health care overhaul.

Secretary of State Jon Husted said Tuesday that opponents to the overhaul collected nearly 427,000 valid signatures to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot. The measure needed roughly 385,000 signatures.

At question is a proposed amendment to Ohio's Constitution to keep people from being required to buy health insurance or face penalties. The federal mandate would go into effect in 2014, when new competitive insurance exchanges are scheduled to open.

Tea party activists in House Speaker John Boehner's district are offering him encouragement in the debt crisis negotiations.

They say they want to show support for Boehner's tough position in the showdown in Washington.

A couple hundred supporters, rallied Monday afternoon in West Chester Township. Boehner and other congressional leaders are working to find agreement on a deficit reduction plan with a stated Aug. 2 deadline

Cincinnati tea party leader Mike Wilson says he and others want Boehner to make sure there are significant federal spending cuts.