Anyone who has ever cleaned out his or her car, looked under some couch cushions or cleared out an old junk drawer knows that a bit of pocket change here and there can add up to quite a bit of money. In these desperate times as a state, I believe that our government officials must take this idea and see to it that we are saving our pennies on the state level.

This is a critical time for Ohio. In an effort to turn our sour economy around, it’s important that our state Legislature enact solutions that are innovative enough to make a real difference. Saying that we will create jobs and cut spending is certainly the right idea, but the devil is in the details.

That’s why I am supporting a number of ideas that my legislative colleagues at the House of Representatives have recently put into legislation. These are exceptional bills that are certain to be a positive step in overcoming our financial turmoil.

One of the bills is House Bill 2, which will go a long way in eliminating millions of dollars in wasteful government spending. The bill would require the Ohio Auditor of State to conduct a performance audit of select state agencies every two years. Not only will this effort make the agencies more efficient, but it will save taxpayers a lot of money.

At a time when the state must be spending frugally, I want you to have the peace of mind of knowing that your money is not being wasted due to a bureaucratic system that is not operating as well as it could and should. Auditing these agencies will help us in the short term as well as the long term, ensuring that our families and businesses will not be hindered by higher tax rates and disorganized government in the future.

Another recently introduced bill is House Bill 17, which is also aimed at helping families and businesses. The bill allows for a $2,400 income tax withholding credit for an employer who hires and employs an individual who was previously unemployed. I believe that efforts such as this one, in conjunction with other job-focused bills, will produce the results that revitalize our economy.

The goal of House Bill 17 is to put people back to work, which is certainly one of my top goals for the 129th General Assembly. It also eases the financial strain that our businesses are currently facing, allowing them to grow and add employees. When more people are employed, they are better able to take care of their families. And when our families are strengthened, our state and its economy are strengthened as well.

As your representative, I will continue to keep you in the loop as we make the decisions necessary to save Ohio’s dollars. It is my hope that many more of these positive measures will be coming our way in the future.

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