CELEBRATING THE STARK COUNTY POLITICAL REPORT'S 1000TH BLOG: BLOGGER MARTIN OLSON TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF STARK COUNTY STATE SENATOR KIRK SCHURING'S (CO-SPONSOR) SB 191 (CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING)

The Stark County Political Report has come a long way since yours truly started blogging in March, 2008.

This blog is the SCPR's 1000th blog.

As promised at the outset, the Stark County Political Report posts at least one blog each and every day "no matter what: - travel, sickness and a hugely busy schedule"

Reports have emanated from San Antonio, Texas, Colorado Springs, Colorado and from the border of the Rocky Mountain National Park (Grand Lake, Colorado).

There have been many milestones for the SCPR since March, 2008.

As readers know, yours truly has dug into the political and governmental nitty-gritty that lies hidden to many because they are hidden in the bowels of the political and government counsels of Stark County.

The Report's efforts and thoroughness have been recognize by local media.  The SCPR appears as a regular guest on the Pat DeLuca Show (Q92) as a political commentator and analyst.  The Report has been invited (at The Report's request) to videotape a discussion of Issue 5 (the sales/use tax) on 1480 AM WHBC's "Points to Ponder."

One of the projects that is near and dear to the SCPR is the quest "to follow the money."  At the state and national level, there are ample resources to find out who the big contributors are to political candidates.

But not at the local level.

Months ago, the SCPR approached Stark County state Senator Kirk Schuring (Republican - 29th) to introduce legislation to require local (county level and below) candidates to report  the occupation or employer for campaign contributions of $100 or more received from financial supporters.

Even though the SCPR has been frequently critical of Senator Schuring in these pages, he didn't hesitate in the slightest to agree to attempt to amend existing law which requires state level candidates to report the $100 and up occupation/employer information.

 Joining him as a co-sponsor is state Senator Tim Grindell  (Republican - 18th).

The Report thanks Senators Schuring and co-sponsoring this legislation and looks forward  (at the invitation of Senator Schuring) to appearing before the State & Local Government & Veterans Affairs Committee at a "2nd" hearing (Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 10:00 AM) on the bill as Senators Schuring and Grindell guide the bill through to enactment.