Watchdog group aims to turn lights back on with open records

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A government watchdog group hopes to turn the lights back on at the Ohio Statehouse by opening long-closed records to see who is influencing the legislative process after a $1.3 billion nuclear plant bailout that is now under federal investigation. The records surround discussions and decisions at the Legislative Service Commission. That's a nonpartisan agency that assists lawmakers with the drafting and researching of legislation. The records are also called bill files and include memos from a bill’s sponsor.  They also contain material provided by lobbyists who asked the House or Senate sponsor to propose it.