Ohio House adds “corrupt provision” to state budget aimed at protecting Justin Pizzulli.
The Ohio House version of the state’s 2 year budget includes a provision related not to the state’s finances, but to the operation of county party central committees. The addition will allow individuals to represent precincts they do not live in, and will directly benefit one of the newest additions to the Ohio House, Rep. Justin Pizzulli of Scioto County.
The new provision is outlined from line 46001 to line 46082 of the budget (Sub. H.B. No. 33). It allows county central committees to amend their bylaws in order to allow non-residents of a precinct to be appointed to fill vacant seats on the committee. Currently, state law and local by-laws allow for an individual to fill a seat only if he or she lives in the precinct in question.
Newly appointed Rep. Justin Pizzulli stands to benefit from this provision as he faces continued questions regarding his residency. In March, a local citizen filed a complaint with the Board of Elections alleging that Pizzulli does not live at the residence where he is registered. Pizzulli is a member of the Scioto County Republican Central Committee representing the seat where he is registered to vote. If the budget passes with this provision included, Pizzulli could be allowed to remain on the committee despite not living in the precinct he represents.
Scioto County GOP Chairman Rodney Barnett will also benefit from this addition to the budget. Instead of having to break the by-laws and force endorsements (like he did when the committee “endorsed” Pizzulli), Barnett will be able to stack the committee with more of his hand-picked minions. Increasing Rodney Barnett’s power is the least thing Scioto County needs considering Barnett’s silence when Mike Mearan served on the committee despite being under indictment for human trafficking, as well as Barnett’s mismanagement of the Scioto Childrens Services board which led to the deaths of several children.
This development comes after Justin Pizzulli was appointed the 90th district state representative in a historically divided 35-30 GOP-only vote. In that vote, 30 of Pizzulli’s colleagues in the house voted against him, stating they did not trust him to serve with integrity. Clearly, the 30 Republicans were correct, as the addition of this provision to the budget shows Pizzulli’s lack of integrity. Both he and the local party leadership are compromised.