Ohio House GOP

State Legislators Address Blanchard River Flooding

2012-01-30T17:48:00.002-05:00

State Representatives Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) and Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon), along with State Senator Cliff Hite (R-Findlay), today held a press conference at Bindel’s Appliance (Main St., Findlay) to discuss the flooding of the Blanchard River and announce a Constituents’ Call to Action in order for residents to offer feedback on what should be done to correct the problem.

Bindel’s Appliance is one of the many businesses throughout Hancock and Putnam counties that has been affected by the flooding of the river. The lawmakers are asking for business owners and residents along the river to participate in the Call to Action by taking a brief online survey at http://tinyurl.com/78m4czd by February 20th. The survey has also been mailed to nearly 1,200 residents in both counties who live along or near the Blanchard.

“This is both an engineering issue and a funding issue,” Representative Sprague said. “After we receive strong feedback and have meetings with various officials, we are going to come back and let the community know how things are going.”

Representative Wachtmann highlighted the work that has already taken place in making state officials aware of the issue.

“It is critical as we move forward to continue the great relationship among people from both Putnam and Hancock counties,” Representative Wachtmann said. “While there is concern about what a community project is as we choose our budgeting priorities, this is a project that is truly a multi-county need.”

In 2007, the State of Ohio authorized a total of $9 million over six years to assist with flood mitigation. To date, only $3 million of that money has been officially distributed.

“There has been a lot of work done for flood mitigation in the watershed,” Senator Hite said. “Because of the private-public partnership, I believe we can achieve our goals of obtaining better flood mitigation in the area.”

The legislators ask that residents contact their offices regarding any questions on the process of filling out the Call to Action survey. They were joined at the press conference by officials from Putnam and Hancock counties, as well as officials from Ottawa and Findlay.

Representative Newbold to Host Office Hours in Lisbon

2012-01-30T16:31:00.002-05:00

State Representative Craig Newbold (1st District - Columbiana) has announced he will be hosting office hours on Thursday (2/2/12) from 1 to 3 PM at the Lisbon Lepper Library (303 East Lincoln Way, Lisbon, Ohio 44432). This is an opportunity for constituents to express any issues or concerns with their representative. The guidelines for the office hours are as follows:

• Individuals will be required to fill out an information form.
• Representative Newbold will meet with one individual at time. (Please no appointments at this time. The representative will meet with constituents as they arrive. Appointments may be made for another date).
• Each individual will have a maximum of 20 minutes to meet with Representative Newbold depending on turnout (if there is no one waiting that time can be extended).

Rep. Conditt and Rep. Beck Attend Grand Opening of Middletown Health Center

2012-01-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

State Representative Margaret Conditt (R-Liberty Twp.) and State Representative Peter Beck (R- Mason) presented a House commendation to the Middletown Health Center in celebration of the facility’s grand opening on January 29, 2012.

“I am very excited to have this new facility in my district providing needed services at an affordable cost,” Representative Conditt said. “Also, I am pleased to note that this expansion could add up to 10 new jobs as the additional space will allow Middletown Health Center to offer additional services.”

Primary Health Solutions received a $4.7 million federal grant for the construction of this building in Middletown. The 22,000 square-foot health facility will offer after-hours care, pre-natal care, expanded dental, behavioral health, laboratory and pharmacy services, for the residents of Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, Liberty Township, Trenton, West Chester, Franklin, Oxford, and Cincinnati.

“I would like to congratulate Middletown Health Center on this very important occasion,” said Representative Beck. “Providing quality and accessible health care services is vital to the community, and I applaud the Middletown Health Center directors, managers, and employees for continuing to make a difference and look for ways to meet the needs of their community. This great accomplishment and each and every individual who helped bring such an invaluable asset to the area should be proud.”

Following the grand opening ceremony, both representatives toured the new facility, accompanied by board members of Primary Health Solutions.

Representative Dovilla Applauds Committee Passage of Public Corruption Legislation

2012-01-30T15:05:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) applauded the committee passage of House Bill 323.

House Bill 323, sponsored by Representatives Dovilla and Anielski, will add the felony offenses of extortion and perjury to the list of crimes which will result in the forfeiture of retirement benefits or termination of disability benefits in the event an individual serving in a position of public trust is convicted.

“Like most residents of Cuyahoga County, I have been angered by the pervasive corruption permitted to occur at all levels of government in our county,” said Dovilla. “It is well past time to hold public officials accountable and demand transparency in the administration of our public offices. The hard-working taxpayers of this county should not be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring indicted politicians such as Jimmy Dimora and Frank Russo enjoy taxpayer-subsidized golden parachutes into retirement after squandering hundreds of thousands of dollars – limited taxpayer funds which could have gone to support our schools, public safety officers, and communities.”

House Bill 323 is currently waiting to be scheduled for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

Column from Rep. Nan Baker: Repurposing Resources to Accommodate Growing Businesses

2012-01-30T13:41:00.002-05:00

We have had an encouraging year with a drop in the unemployment rate and successful results in the arena of job creation. We are moving in the right direction after a series of very financially difficult and unstable years. While the pain of the financial crisis is still able to be felt, the wound is beginning to heal for Ohio. The key to keeping job creation and economic recovery headed in the right direction is developing legislation that is both innovative and resourceful. It is in the spirit of innovation and resourcefulness that I introduced House Bill 18.

H.B. 18 is a bill that accommodates future growth by using resources that Ohio already has in its possession. In recent years, economic hardship has forced businesses both large and small to leave Ohio, abandoning their operating buildings in urban, suburban and rural settings. These buildings sit vacant in areas that are full of citizens that need jobs and are ready to work. Areas with high percentages of vacant properties are also areas that have high unemployment rates.

H.B. 18 gives an incentive to businesses that are out of space, adding new employees and need to relocate. The bill authorizes a $500 per-employee grant for a business that occupies a facility that has been vacant for 12 months, increases its payroll by hiring new employees, and employs either 50 employees or 50 percent of its Ohio employees at the vacant facility. A larger employer, for example, may have thousands of employees nationwide but would only have to locate 50 employees in an abandoned building. For smaller companies expanding their payrolls and needing a larger facility, such as a hair salon, hardware store or pizza parlor, 50 percent of their payroll would have to be added for this bill to take effect. For example, if a hair salon that has six employees needs to add three more hair stylists, this incentive would help pay for an extra three salon chairs or building repairs. Ten employees, perhaps a hardware store, would need to add at least five more employees to manage the added projected sales an expansion into a larger facility would bring. This incentive will give the business owner an incentive to stay in Ohio, or if out of state, come to Ohio and consider locating to a vacant building.

As these vacant buildings begin to be filled and provide jobs to local citizens it will make the local economy more enticing for other businesses to enter. H.B. 18 creates the opportunity to revitalize communities that are in desperate need of economic development. The bill creates an environment in which businesses are able to expand and new jobs are created in communities that are in great need. By occupying previously abandoned buildings, property values increase and therefore local governments and schools receive a higher return on property taxes.

As you can see, with House Bill 18 the benefits come full circle. This bill has the potential to revitalize communities and sets the tone for developing innovative legislative solutions to the task of job creation in the future. The economic multiplier of purchasing foreclosed homes, positive business growth, additional purchases, investment, more employee hires and returning blighted areas into safe neighborhoods – cites back to prosperity – is immeasurable.

Column from Rep. Anne Gonzales: Immunizing our Firefighters and EMTs

2012-01-30T09:51:00.000-05:00

We all teach our children safety measures and do our best to be cautious in our everyday lives, hoping to avoid a life-threatening situation. However, emergencies still happen. Our communities count on firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to protect our wellbeing under the most dire of circumstances. These courageous individuals have dedicated themselves to serving the public, often at great personal risk.

It is imperative that nothing impede the smooth operations of our local fire and emergency medical service (EMS) departments. To this end, Rep. Kristina Roegner and I have introduced House Bill 244, legislation that allows authorized paramedics to immunize EMTs or firefighters against influenza. The bill requires emergency medical service organizations to create protocols which paramedics must observe when administering the vaccine.

House Bill 244 will provide flexibility to our EMS and fire departments, while also giving them an opportunity for cost savings. Currently, contractors must be hired to immunize firefighters and EMTs. Our emergency service providers should be able to pick an option that works best in their schedules. This legislation is a commonsense move. When we depend so much on our firefighters and EMTs, they should not be inconvenienced by an unnecessary law.

This bill has also drawn support from local leaders in emergency service. Columbus Division of Fire Medical Director David Keseg has offered testimony in support of House Bill 244, stating that it will help to lower the risk of EMS providers spreading influenza to the public. He also pointed out that paramedics are already trained to perform these vaccinations, but current law limits their ability to do so.

The bottom line is simple: No one should be at risk of contracting influenza from a firefighter or EMT, individuals who work to save our lives, not endanger them. Influenza is a serious and sometimes deadly disease, especially for infants and the elderly. House Bill 244 provides an easy way to ensure that our emergency service providers do not expose the public to this illness. Furthermore, it is only logical to allow paramedics to administer an immunization for which they are already trained. I am confident that this legislation will improve the functioning of local fire and EMS departments across Ohio.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Judge Philip Rose to Be Appointed to 87th District Seat

2012-01-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced that Judge Philip H. Rose has been selected by the House Republican Caucus to be appointed to the vacant 87th House District seat.

“Our caucus is honored that Judge Rose will be joining the Ohio House of Representatives,” said Speaker Batchelder. “He is a longtime devoted member of the community and I know that he will do good work for the residents of the 87th District during this interim period.”

Having previously served as chairman of the Ohio Judicial Conference from 2000-2002, Judge Rose currently works as an attorney at Oths, Heiser & Miller, LLC in Wellston and has maintained an extensive legal background. Among other positions, he previously served as the Vinton County Court of Common Pleas judge for the Probate and Juvenile division, acting county court judge for Vinton County, law director for the villages of McArthur, Hamden, and Zaleski, judge for various Common Pleas Courts for the State of Ohio, faculty member for the Ohio Judicial College, and chairman of the Family Court Task Force for the Ohio Supreme Court. He was admitted to practice law in all courts of Ohio and is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, Vinton County Bar Association, and Ohio Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (of which he is the past president).

In addition, Judge Rose served in the United States Army and was a special agent for U.S. military intelligence. He also spent 13 months in Korea as a liaison for Korean troops. He is a member of American Legion Post 303 and is chairman of the Children’s and Youth Committee. He also remains active in his community, serving as president for the board of commissioners for the Vinton County Department of Veterans Affairs and as a judge for the Vinton County Mock Trial Program.

Born in Athens, Judge Rose graduated from Ohio University and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He and his wife Renee have two children, Dr. Alyssa Rose-McIntyre and Taylor Quinn Rose.

Judge Rose will be sworn-in by Speaker Batchelder on Tuesday, January 31 during the regularly scheduled House Session and will be joined by Mrs. Rose and his youngest daughter.

Rep. Peterson's January legislative update

2012-01-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

Rep. Bob Peterson discusses the House's accomplishments in 2011 and what he hopes to accomplish in 2012.

Rep. Mike Dovilla’s Jobs Summit Fills Ehrnfelt Center

2012-01-26T14:31:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R–Berea) today hosted the 18th District Jobs Summit in Strongsville. Over 170 participants – including small business owners, representatives from the Fraternal Order of Police, Northern Ohio Fire Fighters, Cleveland Teachers Union, Sheet Metal Workers, Cement Masons, Pipe Fitters, local elected officials, and other interested stakeholders – gathered at the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center.

“Each of us in this room has an important role in bringing prosperity back to our great state,” said Dovilla. “To see our economy in Ohio become strong once again, we must engage in common sense initiatives, working in concert with one another to develop real world solutions to real world problems.”

Since January 2011, the Ohio legislature has enacted numerous measures to reduce taxes and regulations, eliminate an $8 billion deficit, hold state government accountable, and strengthen public education. These actions have already resulted in the creation or retention of more than 82,000 jobs, compared to 400,000 lost jobs over the previous four year period.

“Ohioans are tired of the politics of class warfare that divide and distract from the development of sound public policy solutions,” stated Dovilla. “I was encouraged by the open dialogue on education and workforce development issues that we were able to facilitate for district residents from a wide variety of professional backgrounds. We all recognize the challenging issues confronting our great state. Only by listening to one another and working together will we be able to lead Ohio to a brighter future for all of our citizens.”

In the first year of his term, Representative Dovilla has introduced ten bills that focus on his policy priorities of creating jobs, strengthening public education, protecting senior citizens, and advocating for veterans. His legislation includes House Bill 144, which simplifies the process for small businesses to incorporate and locate important information on Ohio’s online small business portal; House Bill 258, which provides a tax credit for individuals obtaining a bachelor’s degree or attaining journeyman status in the construction and building trades; and House Bill 331, which creates the Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council to attract and retain jobs in the technology sector.

Rep. Brenner to Honor National Champion OWU Men’s Soccer Team

2012-01-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

State Representative Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware) today announced that he will present awards and letters of recognition to the Ohio Wesleyan University men’s soccer team for winning the NCAA Division III national championship.

On Saturday, January 28th, Rep. Brenner will attend OWU’s men’s basketball game in Delaware at 3 p.m. and present certain letters to the soccer players at halftime. There, he will also formally invite the team, to a February 14th ceremony at the Ohio House of Representatives, where Rep. Brenner will present four Ohio House resolutions to the team and certain members.

One resolution will recognize the team as national champions. A second will recognize player Travis Wall, who earned first-team All-America honors from the NSCAA. A third will recognize assistant coach Brandon Bianco, who was named Assistant Coach of the Year for NCAA men’s soccer programs in the Great Lakes Region.

Finally, a fourth resolution will be awarded to coach Jay Martin, who, with this 608th victory, became the all-time winningest coach in college men’s soccer. Further, Martin has been named Regional Coach of the Year 15 times, NSCAA national Coach of the Year twice, received the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association’s Honor Award and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Honor Award.

Johnson, Kozlowski Sponsor Legislation to Ensure Teachers’ Due Process

2012-01-26T12:44:00.001-05:00

State Representatives Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpoint) today announced that they have introduced legislation to create a formal appeals process for school teachers who receive a letter of admonishment in their files from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).

Currently, when a complaint is filed and investigated, a letter of admonishment may be placed in his or her file as disciplinary action. Although the teacher can respond in writing, there is no official appeals process to ensure that the letter of admonishment was fairly received.

“Our teachers are professionals,” Johnson said. “They deserve to be treated with respect, and they deserve due process.”

“Although we must be on the lookout for misconduct in our schools, teachers should have a right to argue against an action that will permanently affect their records,” Representative Kozlowski said. “This legislation gives them that opportunity.”

The legislation will allow a teacher to file notice with ODE within 30 days to request a hearing to appeal the letter of admonishment. There would be a public hearing with a three-person panel that would include representatives of the superintendent of public instruction, the Office of Educator Licensure, and the Educator Standards Board. The panel would then make a recommendation to the Ohio Board of Education to remove the letter of admonishment or allow it to remain.

“It is important that teachers have a right to defend themselves,” Representative Johnson said. “This legislation gives them the chance to formally argue their case and ensures that they will not be treated unfairly as they continue on with their careers.”

Rep. Duffey Helps to Keep SuperGames in Worthington

2012-01-26T12:28:00.000-05:00

CSI Ohio Eliminates Duplicative Regulation of Inflatable Rides

State Representative Mike Duffey today announced that SuperGames, a central Ohio nonprofit employer and leader in inflatable rentals, educational services and team building, would keep its headquarters in Worthington, Ohio following the elimination of duplicative state regulation impacting the company as well as recent outreach from the City of Worthington.

Rep. Duffey worked with SuperGames Director Gary Moore to address the problem after it came to the attention of Jeff Harris, economic development manager for the City of Worthington.

“The problem was when SuperGames set up inflatables at locations like university campuses, they were being charged inspection fees twice for exactly the same activity,” said Duffey. “It was hurting SuperGames and our job retention efforts in Worthington.”

To achieve this change, Rep. Duffey worked with Lt. Governor Mary Taylor’s office – CSI Ohio: The Common Sense Initiative – to eliminate duplicative regulation. Department of Agriculture regulated amusement rides as a core function, while Department of Commerce re-regulated them through the Ohio Building Code.

CSI investigated the issue and, after reviewing state law, determined that the equipment should be regulated only as amusement rides, so the Department of Agriculture will now be the sole agency overseeing inflatable amusements. The Department of Commerce will no longer regulate them.

“We appreciate the efforts of State Representative Mike Duffey,” said Gary Moore, Director of SuperGames. “By eliminating unnecessary red tape, SuperGames will be able to invest our savings in our staff, equipment and operations, and that will support job creation. We are a nonprofit employer, but we are doing our best to provide a good service and jobs at the same time.”

CSI Ohio was launched on January 10, 2011 by Gov. John R. Kasich to reform Ohio’s regulatory policies to help make Ohio a jobs and business-friendly state. CSI Ohio reviews and eliminates excessive and duplicative rules and regulations that stand in the way of job creation.

Reps. Boose and Hackett Introduce Bill to Make Local Governments More Efficient

2012-01-26T11:32:00.002-05:00

State Representatives Terry Boose (R-Norwalk) and Bob Hackett (R-London) have announced that they introduced House Bill 430, which will increase the competitive bidding thresholds for county, municipal and township governments.

Under current law, in order for local governments to make purchases that exceed $25,000, they must open up the purchase to a public bidding process, where they then select the lowest bidder. The threshold for emergency purchases was $50,000. In order to meet the rate of inflation over the past eight years, this bill will increase these thresholds to $50,000 and $100,000 respectively.

“Simply stated, $25,000 is not the same as it was eight years ago,” Rep. Hackett said. “Updating the minimum bidding thresholds will help local governments attain essential products and services more efficiently. At the same time, it allows small businesses that wish to avoid the bidding process to compete for business.”

“These provisions were addressed last year in the budget regarding local municipalities and townships,” Rep. Boose said. “This legislation will simply bring counties up to the same bidding levels.”

The legislation will now be assigned to a committee and will undergo extensive consideration.

Rep. Buchy Honors St. Henry Girls’ Volleyball Team

2012-01-25T17:50:00.000-05:00

State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today presented a resolution to the girls’ volleyball team from St. Henry High School on the floor of the Ohio House of Representatives in recognition of its state championship title. He was joined by State Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina).

“These girls embody the principles of hard work and dedication,” Representative Buchy said. “They are a group of outstanding individuals, and I applaud them for their achievements.”

The girls’ volleyball state championship title marked the seventh for St. Henry High School, making it the winningest Division Four volleyball team in state history in terms of state championships.

The school has the 14th most state titles in all sports in Ohio.

Ohio House Passes Legislation to Make Asbestos Litigation More Transparent

2012-01-25T16:50:00.000-05:00

Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 380, legislation designed to bring transparency and accountability to asbestos-related litigation.

According to an overview of asbestos bankruptcy trusts released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, there were 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts with assets of more than $36 billion as of 2011. These trusts are a major source of funding for asbestos claimants and exist entirely outside the tort system. There is no limit to the number of trusts against which a claimant may file, nor is there a monetary cap on the amount a claimant may recover in the aggregate from the trusts.

In Ohio, there is no statewide requirement that asbestos claimants disclose in court if they are also pursuing recovery from the bankruptcy trusts. House Bill 380 addresses this issue by improving disclosure and transparency in the asbestos litigation process by requiring claimants seeking recovery from defendants in Ohio’s courts to disclose and pursue viable claims against the bankruptcy trusts. It is not designed to limit a claimant’s access to recovery from the trusts or defendants, nor does it limit a claimant’s ability to be fully compensated for their injuries.

“House Bill 380 is based on the premise that openness in legal proceedings is good and helps ensure that justice is fairly administered for all parties,” said Representative Blessing, who sponsored the legislation. “Any instances of fraud have the potential to deprive future claimants of fair compensation by depleting the resources of defendants and trusts. It is important that we address this issue here in Ohio now because this is an issue that has become particularly rampant in our court system.”

Among other provisions, the bill:

• Requires a clamant to provide all parties in the action a sworn statement identifying all existing asbestos trust claims made by or on behalf of the claimant and all trust claims material pertaining to each such identified claim

• Permits a defendant in the action to file a motion for an order to stay in the proceedings if a defendant in good faith believes that the claimant has not submitted a legitimate claim to an asbestos bankruptcy trust

• Specifies that the claimant has the burden of proof by preponderance of the evidence of the allegations in the claimant’s response

• Permits the parties in the action to introduce at the trial any trust claims material to prove alternative causation for the claimed injury, death, or loss to prove a basis to allocate responsibility and to prove issues relevant to an adjudication of the asbestos claim

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber that was widely used in industrial products throughout much of the 20th century and is now known to be toxic. It has been linked to several diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.

House Bill 380 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Ohio House Concurs on Senate Changes to Bill Enacting Fraud-reporting Mechanism

2012-01-25T16:46:00.001-05:00

State Representative Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives concurred on Senate changes to House Bill 66, which will codify a reporting mechanism for Ohio citizens and public employees to report the fraud, waste and abuse of tax dollars.

Specifically, House Bill 66 will require the Ohio Auditor of State to maintain the Ohio Fraud Reporting System for anonymously reporting fraud and compel government entities to provide information about the fraud reporting system to their employees. Under the Ohio Whistleblower Protection Act, it also protects those employees who report the misuse of public resources to the toll-free hotline, Auditor of State’s web site or through the U.S. Postal Service.

“I am pleased to see House Bill 66 head to the Governor’s desk for his signature,” said Representative McGregor. “This legislation will help Ohioans protect our valuable resources from fraud and theft, making sure taxpayers’ dollars are being used as intended.”

According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, nearly half of all fraud that is detected in government agencies is reported through tips. The median amount of loss and waste that is experienced by an entity is reduced by 50 percent for organizations with an anonymous fraud hotline.

House Bill 66 passed unanimously. It will now be sent to Governor Kasich for his signature.

Kozlowski Announces Tax Credit for Hotel Ashtabula Building Project

2012-01-25T11:53:00.000-05:00

State Representative Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) today announced that the Ohio Department of Development has approved an application for a historic preservation tax credit to be used on the renovation project for the Hotel Ashtabula building on Main Avenue in Ashtabula.

The total tax credit of $639,350 will assist in allowing Signature Health, a leading mental health provider in Ashtabula County, to relocate its offices and 45 jobs to the building.

“I am pleased that our community is receiving the benefit of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. This is the first time that the program has been used on a project in Ashtabula,” Representative Kozlowski said. “It is important that businesses are not only able to expand in today’s economy, but also that they have more opportunity to use buildings that are currently vacant.”

Closed since 1985, Hotel Ashtabula is one of the most prominent structures in Ashtabula. It has hosted many significant guests, including Bob Hope.

Rep. Roegner Welcomes Alex Duquenne, Ashley Mosteller to Statehouse

2012-01-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

In an effort to help give young people firsthand experience in the day-to-day work of a state lawmaker, State Representative Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) welcomed two individuals from the 42nd District to Columbus—one as an office intern and one as a shadow for the day.

Alex Duquenne of Hudson is a sophomore at The Ohio State University who is majoring in public affairs. She has interned in Rep. Roegner’s office for a year, assisting the representative with various legislative and constituent issues over the course of her internship.

“It’s nice to be able to apply the skills I learn in the classroom in a real-life setting,” said Duquenne. “As an intern in Rep. Roegner’s office, I get to see state government in action.”

Ashley Mosteller, who shadowed Rep. Roegner for the day, graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in international relations and Spanish. Originally from Hudson, she also interned for the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

“I greatly enjoyed my visit to Representative Roegner’s office,” Mosteller said. “It was exciting to gain a firsthand look into the legislative process and the daily work of a public policymaker in our state’s capital.”

“It is a pleasure to see these young women take an interest in state government,” said Rep. Roegner. “My office is always open to constituents interested in state issues.”

Anyone who is interested in shadowing Rep. Roegner or interning in her office may contact her at (614) 466-1177, emailing District42@ohr.state.oh.us, or writing to State Representative Kristina Daley Roegner, 77 South High Street, 11th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Constitutional Modernization Commission Accepting Applications for Public Appointments

2012-01-24T15:24:00.002-05:00

Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chairs of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, announced that they are currently accepting applications for 20 open public member seats on the Commission.

Per the procedure adopted by the legislative members of the Commission on December 28, 2011, interested applicants should send a cover letter and a resume to each of the co-chairs by January 31, 2012 at:

Speaker William Batchelder, Co-Chair
Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
District69@ohr.state.oh.us

Rep. Vernon Sykes, Co-Chair
Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
john.meacham@ohr.state.oh.us

The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission is a bipartisan committee charged under R.C. 103.61 with examining the state constitution and making recommendations to the Ohio Legislature. Under the statute, appointees to the Commission shall serve without compensation for terms that expire on January 1st of every even-numbered year. A summary of H.B. 188, which established the Commission, is available online at:

http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses129/11-hb188-129.pdf.

Terhar Honors Cincinnati La Salle State Champion Track & Field Team

2012-01-24T15:16:00.000-05:00

Rep. Louis Terhar (R-Cincinnati) today honored the Cincinnati La Salle High School boys’ track and field team on the floor of the House of Representatives for winning the 2011 state championship.

Coached by Frank Russo, La Salle scored 36 points to edge out runner-up Centerville, which scored 34 points. The title was the school’s second boys’ track and field state championship, with the first dating back to 1994.

“I am extremely proud of the effort put forth by these young men, and I know they made the whole city of Cincinnati proud with their accomplishments,” said Representative Terhar. “I want to further commend Coach Russo for his strong leadership in molding these young men into scholars and leaders as well as athletes.”

Along with being acknowledged on the House floor, the team was also recognized by Senator Bill Seitz on the Senate floor in the afternoon.

Representative Dovilla Announces Senate Passage of Elder Abuse Awareness Legislation

2012-01-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) today announced that the Ohio Senate voted to pass House Bill 215, which would designate June 15th of each year as “Elder Abuse Awareness Day.”

House Bill 215 specifies that this annual designation be made to increase public awareness of the innocent victims of elder abuse. The bill, which the House passed in June by a vote of 93-4, passed the Senate unanimously.

“I am gratified by the Ohio Senate’s passage of House Bill 215. The goal of this legislation is to shine a spotlight on the often unrecognized issue of elder abuse,” said Dovilla. “Since the introduction of our bill last spring, I have been working with Attorney General DeWine to reform the way Ohio handles cases of elder abuse. Soon, we will introduce additional legislation which will propose meaningful and life-saving changes to the manner in which Ohio’s adult protective services agencies care for our senior citizens.”

The need for this legislation was brought to Representative Dovilla’s attention by Kathi Lowery, Senior Director for the City of Olmsted Falls, in a fine example of a constituent illuminating an issue on which she and others sought action from their state government.

House Bill 215 will now move to the governor for enactment into law.

Ohio House Passes Legislation to Allow EMTs to Administer Immunizations

2012-01-24T13:05:00.001-05:00

State Representatives Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) and Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) have announced that the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 244, which permits authorized paramedics to administer immunizations for influenza to firefighters or emergency medical technicians.

Under current Ohio law, local fire and EMS departments need to hire contractors to provide the immunizations. H.B. 244 provides an option that fire and EMS departments currently do not have, which will offer increased flexibility for scheduling purposes as well as cost savings.

“House Bill 244 will allow fire departments to run more cost effectively, while also enhancing public safety within our communities,” Rep. Gonzales said.

In the House Health and Aging Committee, Columbus Division of Fire Medical Director David Keseg testified in support of H.B. 244, saying that this legislation will decrease the spread of influenza from EMS providers to the public they serve. Further, he noted that paramedics are already trained to administer flu immunizations, but the current legal authority to do this was limited.

"I am delighted that the Ohio House passed House Bill 244, a common-sense bill that not only provides cost savings and scheduling flexibility for local fire departments and paramedics, but also should protect the public, whom they serve, from contracting the flu," said Rep. Roegner.

H.B. 244 passed unanimously and will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.

Column from Rep. Wachtmann: Drawing New Congressional Lines in Ohio

2012-01-24T10:26:00.000-05:00

The criticism constantly swirling around the redistricting process over the past couple of months has certainly worked to the Democrats’ favor. From the beginning of the process, they apparently were only interested in obstructing the process and standing in the way of the legislative lines being drawn.

At the beginning of the process, Republicans and Democrats were given equal amounts of public money. The purpose of this money was to conduct research and generate new congressional maps. Only after seeing each map could the two sides come together and make revisions and concessions. Republicans used their resources for the intended purposes—drawing a new map. Meanwhile, however, Democrats were using their money to hire Innovation Ohio, a liberal think tank designed to help the party with matters that they obviously believed were more important, such as generating a negative PR campaign against Republicans and assessing possible violations.

Knowing this, it is not surprising that at the time the first map was to be debated on the House floor, Democrats were unable to offer a map of their own. In fact, the only map they ever introduced came from a Republican state legislator in Illinois. So, in that way, perhaps they can argue that they reached across the aisle—just not with anyone from this state.

That Democrats have criticized the congressional map is fair. Voicing concerns and opinions in a public setting is what being a legislator is all about. But for them to continually sling rocks and arrows at Republicans, without submitting a map of their own is irresponsible and, frankly, unfair to the taxpayers they represent.

Despite the highly contentious atmosphere generated by the drawing of new district lines, I am happy with the final product. House Bill 369, which established the new boundaries, passed through both the House and Senate with vast bipartisan support. Because of Ohio’s slowing population growth over the past decade, the state has lost two seats in Congress. We took a bipartisan approach to cutting these seats, including drawing two Republicans into a primary and two Democrats into a primary.

It repealed the provision in the previous redistricting bill that established two primary dates, rightfully restoring a single primary date. The bill also addresses the contempt and anger that many people have against this process by establishing an eight-member, bipartisan panel of legislators that will propose ideas for how district lines should be drawn in Ohio. Those meetings are already underway.

My goal is that, by the next time these lines need to be drawn, legislators will be forced to add two congressional seats, as opposed to subtracting them. For that to happen, we must remain committed to our primary goal in the legislature: bringing jobs back to Ohio. We are off to a good start, and I expect more good things to come.

Rep. Christina Hagan Announces the Winners of the House District 50 Essay Contest

2012-01-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

Representative Christina Hagan (R-Alliance) today proudly announced the winners of the House District 50 essay contest. Stark County students were encouraged to submit a one-page essay on how to get involved to make their community a better place to live.

The 3rd place prize was awarded to Crystal Constable from Massillon. Crystal believes that providing additional sidewalks would better assist her community. She also suggested that trees around the power lines would provide a safer environment.

The 2nd place prize was awarded to Emily Caldwell from Canal Fulton. Emily believes that preventing drug abuse is critical to making her community a better place to live. She also thinks it is important to improve area schools. Emily feels the issue of school bullying needs to be addressed to keep kids safe and to help them focus in school.

The 1st place prize was awarded to Heather Bomba from Massillon. Heather believes that community involvement is relatively simple. She suggests in her essay that visiting with the elderly, volunteering at an animal shelter, or cleaning a park are easy ways to help, even if you don’t have any money.

Essay contest prizes range from a signed book from the Speaker of the House William Batchelder to creating a PSA on community involvement.

Rep. Dovilla Announces “Legislator for a Day” Reading Program

2012-01-20T13:10:00.001-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) has announced a renewed partnership with the Cuyahoga County Public Library on his “Legislator for a Day” reading program. Children in grades one through six may participate in the program by visiting the Berea, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, or Strongsville branches of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, picking up a bookmark, and recording five books that they have read on the back of the bookmark. Once the books have been read and recorded, participants should return the bookmark to the library no later than Friday, February, 24, 2012. The completed bookmark serves as an entry form for each child, who will have the opportunity to be randomly selected as a “Legislator for a Day.”

“We were overwhelmed by the extremely positive response we received from across the district and our librarians last year,” said Dovilla. “One of the best gifts we can provide our children is encouraging them to read about Ohio government and the rich history of our great state, as well as other topics which they are interested in exploring.”

Each participating library branch will have one child selected to become a legislator for a day. Winners will receive a VIP tour of the Ohio Statehouse, which will include participating in a mock legislative hearing and enjoying lunch with State Representative Mike Dovilla.

For more information, please contact Rep. Dovilla’s office at (614) 466-4895 or district18@ohr.state.oh.us.

Column from Rep. Sears: New Programs a Priority for Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

2012-01-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

As a long-time advocate for employee benefits, I am excited that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The BWC has a long legacy of protecting Ohio workers and creating programs that speak to the best interest of both Ohio business owners and their employees. The BWC has been especially successful in its 100th year when it came to creating programs that protect and benefit Ohio workers.

One of the great programs created this past year by the BWC is the Destination: Excellence Program. This program aims to improve return-to-work rates by rewarding employers for building a risk management plan that focuses on safety, prevention, and returning injured employees back to their jobs more quickly. The plan offers seven program options to best fit the unique needs of employers and their businesses.

Another BWC program that seeks to keep employees healthy and productive is the new Wellness Grant Program. The Wellness Grant Program is a four year $4 million plan that awards companies up to $15,000 to create employee wellness initiatives. This program will help employers meet the challenges related to rising incidences of obesity and chronic disease, as well as an aging workforce. All of these factors contribute to workplace injuries and slow the recovery of injured workers.

Additionally, there is the Grow Ohio Program. This program speaks specifically to employers. It is designed to help boost economic development by creating options for new employers that can decrease their premiums by up to 53 percent. The Grow Ohio Program and similar efforts are crucial to creating an environment in Ohio in which businesses are able to thrive and expand.

Aside from program building, the BWC has made it a priority to cut down unnecessary spending through a series of efforts. The BWC has saved Ohio’s private employers $65 million in premiums by reducing the average base rates by four percent. Next, it has reduced Public Employer rates by five percent, thereby saving local governments $22 million a year. Lastly, the BWC has saved an additional $80 million by reducing its budget by 12 percent over the next two years.

The combination of creating excellent programs for Ohio’s workforce, alongside accomplishing major reductions in unnecessary spending, has fostered a healthier environment for the Ohio job market. It has been a remarkable year for the BWC, and I have no doubt that the momentum it has gained in its 100th year will continue into the future as we continue to serve the needs of Ohio’s workforce.

Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement Regarding Ohio’s Unemployment

2012-01-20T11:00:00.000-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today released the following statement regarding the announcement of the drop in Ohio’s unemployment to 8.1 percent:

“Eighteen months ago, Ohio was at a crossroads, facing over 10 percent unemployment for more than a full year, some of the highest Ohio had seen in decades. Today, it was announced that our state’s unemployment rate continued to drop and is now at 8.1 percent.

“As I have said before, House Republicans have been working every single day to ensure Ohio’s economy gets back on the right track and we are starting to show real, tangible signs of improvement. Job creation has always been our number-one priority and our work from this session is truly bearing fruit.

“Governor Kasich has shown a great willingness to think outside the box—starting with JobsOhio—and make the difficult but necessary decisions in order to ensure the long-term financial stability of our state. I applaud Governor Kasich for his leadership and for never losing sight of his vision of a new day for Ohio.”

Rep. Dovilla Presses Ohio Turnpike Commission to Take Action on Noise Barriers

2012-01-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) recently sent a letter to Richard Hodges, Executive Director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, asking him to take action on noise mitigation along the toll road running through Berea, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Township, and Strongsville.

“Several neighborhoods throughout the 18th House District are subjected to constant noise and vibration after the construction of two additional lanes with no consideration of noise barriers,” said Dovilla. “This not only impacts the quality of life for residents who have lived here for decades, but also has the potential to decrease property values.”

In 2009, the Ohio Turnpike Commission received an analysis of the most cost-effective barrier to reduce noise levels for residential neighborhoods adjacent to the turnpike. Since the receipt of this report over two years ago, no action has been taken on implementing the findings.

“I urge the Ohio Turnpike Commission take immediate action to place appropriate signage banning the use of the ‘Jake brake,’ along the suburban corridors,” stated Dovilla. “In addition, I request that in the next budget cycle, a line item dedicated to the construction of noise barriers be approved.”

The text of the letter follows:

January 17, 2012

Mr. Richard Hodges

Executive Director

Ohio Turnpike Commission

682 Prospect Street

Berea, OH 44017-2799

Dear Executive Director Hodges:

Thank you for the opportunity to visit with you shortly after your appointment with the Ohio Turnpike Commission (OTC). We appreciate your leadership of our state’s toll road, a transportation asset of particular importance to northern Ohio.

As you know, the Turnpike traverses each city and township in the 18th House District – Olmsted Township, Olmsted Falls, Berea, Strongsville, and North Royalton – and includes a key interchange, exit 161 at Interstate 71, which provides access to Cleveland’s southwestern suburbs.

While the addition of a third lane in each direction on the toll road over the past several years has been a beneficial investment in terms of supporting our state’s trucking industry and broader concerns related to economic development, it has not come without a price. The construction of substantial concrete wall in what used to be a grassy median today serves as a noise reflector that has a significantly detrimental impact on the quality of life in neighborhoods and subdivisions that lie adjacent to the Turnpike.

Several of the communities in the district I represent are now subjected to persistent noise and vibration of their residences from the toll road. This situation not only creates an unpleasant living environment for my constituents, but also has the potential to drive down property values at a time when many northeast Ohioans have already experienced a precipitous drop in the value of their houses.

I have reviewed the November 2009 TranSystems report to the OTC, which detailed the results of two noise barrier pilot projects in noise sensitive areas, a “T”-Top concrete noise barrier wall along the perimeter of the road in Berea near Sprague Road, and median-mounted acoustic panels near West 130th Street, the Strongsville-North Royalton municipal boundary. It is my understanding that the “T”-Top walls proved a “cost-effective and viable option for future noise mitigation.” Yet, this solution has not been implemented beyond the testing phase, which was concluded over two years ago.

I write, therefore, to request that the Ohio Turnpike Commission take under consideration in its next budget cycle the pressing need to fund a specific line item dedicated to erecting appropriate noise mitigation technology in suburban areas where such devices are deemed necessary.

I further request that the Commission take immediate action to place appropriate signage along sections of the toll road in my legislative district and similar suburban areas that ban the use of the compression release engine brake, commonly called a “Jake brake,” which is a specific cause of loud noise emanating from the Turnpike. Local ordinances in several locations already prohibit their use, and additional notification to truck drivers will help ensure compliance.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these requests. I look forward to continuing our work together on the Commission.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL D. DOVILLA

State Representative

18th House District

cc: Speaker William G. Batchelder

Senator Thomas F. Patton

Mayor Cyril M. Kleem & Berea City Council

Mayor Robert A. Stefanik & North Royalton City Council

Mayor Robert G. Blomquist & Olmsted Falls City Council

Mayor Thomas P. Perciak & Strongsville City Council

Olmsted Township Trustees

Grossman Introduces Bill to Require Notification about Relocation or Termination of Physicians

2012-01-18T17:31:00.003-05:00

State Representative Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) recently introduced legislation to require health care entities to notify patients when their physician’s employment has been terminated by that health care entity.

Specifically, House Bill 417 will require the health care entity or physician to give notice to patients in the event that the physician will no longer be practicing in that specific entity and provide the following information: the physician’s name and any information provided by the physician that the patient may use to contact the physician, the date on which the physician ceased or will cease to practice as an employee of the health care entity, and contact information for an alternative physician employed by the health care entity.

“An ongoing issue facing the medical world is the relocation or termination of physicians without the proper notification to their patients,” said Rep. Grossman. “This leaves the patients unsure of where to turn and how to go about finding the physician that has moved. This legislation would give patients stability in the choice and the continuation of care from their current physicians without the worry of losing contact with their physician in the event of relocation or termination.”

House Bill 417 will now be assigned to a House committee.

Rep. Ron Maag discusses the House's work to fix Ohio's economy in his legislative update

2012-01-18T16:05:00.000-05:00

Rep. Andrew Brenner discusses his support for pro-life legislation

2012-01-18T15:57:00.001-05:00

Representative Peter Stautberg Presents House Commendation to Hyde Park Health Center

2012-01-18T14:50:00.000-05:00

State Representative Peter Stautberg (R-Anderson Twp.) recently presented a House commendation to Hyde Park Health Center in celebration of the facility’s 50 years of providing high-quality health care services to the community.

Originally dedicated in 1962 as Hyde Park Villa, Hyde Park Health Center is a state-of-the-art, 226-bed assisted living and skilled care facility offering a range of specialized services, including physical rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, assisted living, and Alzheimer’s/dementia care. One of the few senior communities that provides a full-time, on-campus chaplain and chapel space, it strives to uphold the values of dignity, integrity, compassion and quality of life.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to present this House commendation to the Hyde Park Health Center,” said Representative Stautberg. “Since its founding, the center has been a backbone of the Cincinnati community and has provided high-quality services to our neighbors.”

Representative Stautberg presented the commendation at a rededication event in the Terrance Auditorium.

Rep. Dovilla’s Education and Economic Development Legislation Supported by Small Business

2012-01-18T14:05:00.001-05:00

North Royalton resident and small business owner Greg Kelley, co-founder of Vestige Ltd., submitted testimony to the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee regarding House Bill 331, legislation Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) introduced to spur job creation. H.B. 331 would bring together business, educational institutions and government to study the state’s cybersecurity operations and offer recommendations to accelerate job creation in the cybersecurity industry.

“I wish to thank Representative Dovilla for sponsoring this bill,” wrote Kelley. “House Bill 331 would go a long way towards supporting our industry by helping to set a direction for the private and public sector as they decide how best to secure their data and IT infrastructure. It would also help companies such as ours grow and by doing so, add jobs in our state.”

Founded in 2004, Vestige is a company consisting of electronic evidence experts. With offices in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Vestige employs 11 individuals who provide computer forensic, incident response, electronic discovery, and IT auditing services.

In response to Mr. Kelley’s testimony, Representative Dovilla stated, “It is crucial that our state remain competitive in attracting and retaining the best talent in the nation in one of the fastest growing industries.” Dovilla continued, “I am committed to working with our small business owners, union representatives, and educational institutions to ensure we create jobs in northeast Ohio. On January 26th, I will be hosting the Jobs Summit in Strongsville to identify further actions we can pursue to make Ohio more competitive and place our state back on a path to prosperity.”

House Bill 331 is one of several bills Representative Dovilla has introduced to advance his goal of making Ohio a more business-friendly state with lower taxes and fewer regulations that promotes economic development and job creation. The legislation will remain before the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee for additional hearings in the coming weeks.

Rep. Jim Butler invites constituents for conversation at Wright Memorial Public Library

2012-01-18T10:33:00.001-05:00

State Representative Jim Butler (R-Oakwood) invites the public to discuss state and local issues in a relaxed and open setting. He will be available at the Wright Memorial Public Library from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6th to meet with constituents of the 37th Ohio House District, which includes the communities of Oakwood, Kettering, Moraine, Miamisburg, Miami Township, West Carrollton and Patterson Park in Dayton.

Who: Representative Jim Butler (R-Oakwood)

Where: Wright Memorial Public Library, 1776 Far Hills Ave, Oakwood, OH 45419

When: 1:00PM-3:00PM, Monday February 6th, 2012

House Republicans Outline Priorities, Initiatives for 2012

2012-01-17T16:10:00.000-05:00

On the heels of a successful first half of the General Assembly that saw the passage of more than 90 bills that address issues from regulatory reform and the creation of JobsOhio to prescription drug abuse, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and members of the House Republican Caucus today unveiled their legislative priorities for 2012 at a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse.

“It was not too long ago that this state faced an $8 billion budget hole that was created when the former administration wrote short-term checks with disappearing ink,” said Speaker Batchelder. “In 2011, this caucus faced one of the greatest challenges ever put onto the plate of a legislature—deciding whether to fill an enormous deficit by either reducing state spending or by raising taxes on every family in Ohio. We defied the skeptics; we filled this deficit without raising taxes, we kept vital services intact and protected our state’s most vulnerable. The second half of the General Assembly will be focused on building upon this strong foundation that we have worked so hard for and bringing about a brighter, more prosperous Ohio in a number of ways.”

The priorities outlined by House Republicans include a close analysis, fact finding, and making recommendations for revising Ohio’s school funding formula, which in 1997 was deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. Despite the court ruling, Ohio’s school funding system has not undergone any transformative changes that have wholly fixed the root of the problem. To address this issue, House Republicans announced that they will initiate comprehensive, bipartisan hearings on both the funding formula and student achievement, which will be led by Representative Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) throughout the duration of 2012.

“The goal of these discussions will be to figure out how we can make our schools and students more successful in a cost-efficient manner for Ohio’s taxpayers,” said Rep. Amstutz. “We want to create a new model of achievement and accountability that will benefit all of Ohio’s students and give those from disadvantaged geographic regions an equal chance to succeed. We will work diligently on legislation to incorporate the findings into practice and place Ohio’s schools back on track with an equitable and fair funding formula. The goal of any legislation implemented is to create an equitable funding formula and to develop a more accurate measure of success and achievement for our students.”

The House Republican Caucus also laid out a proposal to implement the recommendations of the JobsOhio report through the creation of the Development Services Agency. The proposal will complete the transition to a lean, streamlined public/private partnership free of the cumbersome bureaucracy that characterized Ohio’s economic efforts in the past. Additionally, the caucus discussed strategies for implementing the findings of the Ohio Workforce Development Study Committee, specifically focusing on helping career tech schools and community colleges to prepare a ready workforce, as well as training Ohioans for imminent shale and energy jobs.

“We continue to strive to get unemployment down, help Ohioans find work, and create new opportunities for Ohio well into the future,” said Speaker Batchelder. “We have maintained a focus on jobs throughout 2011—from passing several tax credits to encourage economic investment and job retention, to exploring our energy potential that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs— and Ohioans can expect that we will continue this focus into 2012 and beyond.”

The caucus has also revealed plans to reform the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, building upon existing reforms to go further in assisting injured workers while identifying other cost-saving possibilities.

Other legislative items that the House Republican Caucus intends to address include:

• The Great Lakes Compact

• Casino and gaming laws

• Healthcare exchange

• Laws pertaining to exotic animals

“We have tackled the issues that are most important to the people of this state, and we will continue to do so for as long as we have the privilege of leading this House,” said Speaker Batchelder. “There is much time and energy that we must be prepared to invest in order to revive the state of Ohio, and we are ready to do the work necessary in order to breathe new life into this state and be able to compete nationally. We’ve come a long way, but we have much, much farther to go—we are just getting started.”

Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Encourage Growth of Agricultural Businesses

2012-01-17T16:08:00.001-05:00

State Representatives Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) and Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) recently introduced legislation to modify the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, which supports Ohio’s agricultural community by permitting the Ohio Treasurer of State to invest in eligible lending institutions that then lend money to an eligible agricultural business at a reduced interest rate.

Specifically, House Bill 415 will increase the maximum amount that the treasurer may invest in agricultural linked deposits from $125 million to $165 million. It also would increase the maximum amount that can be loaned from $100,000 per application to $150,000 per application.

These increased amounts are recommended by the Treasurer of State due to the growth of the state’s investment portfolio and will serve to boost Ohio’s agricultural community.

"The Treasurer of State's Ag-Link Deposit Program enables our state to provide low-interest working capital loans that help farmers and the agricultural community,” said Representative Sprague. “This bill will update the program to keep up with the rising cost of farm inputs, and the new limits will ensure the program is relevant in future years."

“This pro-jobs legislation is needed to help address the needs of the agriculture industry, a crucial component of Ohio’s economy,” Representative Hill said. “By increasing the maximum low-interest loan amount to $150,000 per applicant, farmers will be able to increase investment in their businesses. This translates to more jobs for Ohioans and will grow the economy.”

Reps. Sprague and Hill unveiled the legislation at a press conference with State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City)—who sponsored the companion legislation, Senate Bill 281—and representatives from the Ohio Treasurer of State’s office and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

“With this legislation, the State of Ohio can continue to build upon the already 40,000 farmers that this program has helped over the past 25 years,” said Senator Beagle. “The dollars that are loaned through the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program become direct investment in communities across Ohio through purchasing of equipment, feed, supplies, and seeds.”

“Ag-LINK seasonal startup loans can help farmers invest in much needed supplies like feed, seed, fertilizer and fuel that are crucial to a successful business. Ohio farmers deal with enough red tape, and that's why we have streamlined and improved the program over the years,” said Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, whose office administers the Ag-LINK program. “This legislation will help codify some of these important changes going forward, which should make it easier for more Ohio farmers to take advantage of Ag-LINK.”

"Expansion of the Ag-LINK program has long been supported by the Ohio Farm Bureau and our farmer members,” said Beth Vanderkooi, Director of State Policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. “We appreciate the leadership of Representatives Sprague and Hill, Senator Beagle and Treasurer Mandel in helping to make the program more accessible to Ohio's farmers. We look forward to working with legislative leadership and stand with our colleagues in agriculture in urging swift passage of H.B. 415 and S.B. 281."

House Bill 415 will now be assigned to a House committee.

Rep. Sears Receives “Legislator of the Year” Award from Podiatric Medical Association

2012-01-17T11:44:00.000-05:00

State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.) was recently awarded the “Ohio Legislator of the Year 2011 Award” by the Ohio Podiatric Medical Association’s Board of Trustees.

The greater American Podiatric Medical Association, which is headquartered in Bethesda, MD, is the leading resource for foot and ankle health information and represents the vast majority of an estimated 15,000 podiatrists nationwide.

“It is a privilege to work on behalf of all Ohioans to improve health care outcomes in our state, and I am honored to have received such a distinguished award from the Podiatric Medical Association, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of its clients,” said Rep. Sears. “Quality health care improves the lives of Ohioans, and ensuring these benefits are available to our residents served by our Medicaid system is critical.”

In addition to this award, in 2011 Representative Sears was presented the Champion for Children’s Health Legislative Award, the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers Legislator of the Year Award, the 2011 Hero Award from the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice, and the Defender of Liberty Award from the American Conservative Union.

Rep. DeVitis Releases Statement on Diebold’s Global Headquarters Move to Summit County

2012-01-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

With the news that Diebold signed an agreement to purchase 55 acres of land in Green to construct its global headquarters, State Representative Anthony DeVitis (R-Green) released the following statement:

“I am very pleased to hear that Diebold plans to invest further in the 43rd House District at Union Square in Green, which will retain and create many more jobs and revenue in Summit County. I would like to personally thank Governor Kasich, Mayor Norton, the leaders of Summit County, and the Summit County Port Authority for finalizing this agreement and for their display of how a cooperative effort between governmental entities can result in job growth and opportunities for Ohioans. I am hopeful that this example of collaborative success will encourage other communities in their efforts to bring forth jobs, economic stability, and provide a better future for Ohio families.”

Representative Gonzales Honors City of New Albany for Prestigious Fiscal Awards

2012-01-13T11:56:00.002-05:00

State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) recently presented a House commendation to the members of New Albany City Council to praise the city’s excellence in financial reporting and to commemorate its receipt of two prestigious budgetary awards.

The city was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for meeting the highest quality standards for record keeping and financial reporting. Additionally, New Albany was awarded the “Making your Tax Dollars Count Award” from Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost, recognizing the city as a responsible guardian of the public purse and demonstrating New Albany’s commitment to careful spending.

“The citizens of the City of New Albany should be very proud of their elected officials and staff for their fiscal responsibility as demonstrated by these awards,” Representative Gonzales said.

Column from Rep. Al Landis: A Banner Year for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

2012-01-12T15:44:00.000-05:00

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in Ohio. During its time in Ohio the BWC has proven to be an organization that successfully navigates the bureaucracy separating employees from key government agencies and provides protection to injured employees and business owners alike. While its track record may be time-tested, the ways in which the BWC serve Ohioans is not outdated. With the creation of new programs and major reductions in spending, 2011 was an especially innovative year for the BWC.

Reducing unnecessary spending, getting injured workers healthy and productive more quickly, and promoting safer working conditions were the goals for 2011, and the BWC certainly delivered. Through a series of efforts the BWC saved Ohio’s private employers $65 million in premiums by reducing the average base rates by four percent. It reduced Public Employer rates by five percent, saving local governments $22 million a year. Furthermore, the BWC saved an additional $80 million by reducing its budget by 12 percent over the next two years.

Beyond the reduction of unnecessary spending, many programs were created to ensure that employees are cared for, while maintaining proper protection for employers. One of these initiatives is the Grow Ohio Program, which is designed to help boost economic development by creating options for new employers that can decrease their premiums by up to 53 percent.

Destination: Excellence is a new rating program introduced last year. The program aims to improve return-to-work rates by rewarding employers for building a risk management plan that focuses on safety and prevention, as well as returning those who are injured to their jobs more quickly. The plan offers seven program options to best fit the unique needs of employers and their businesses.

The BWC also unveiled its new Wellness Grant Program, a $4 million, four-year program that awards companies up to $15,000 to start up employee wellness programs. This will help employers meet the challenges related to rising incidences of obesity and chronic disease, as well as an aging workforce. All of these factors contribute to workplace injuries and slow the recovery of injured workers.

The BWC worked very hard this year to initiate plans that offer comprehensive care to business owners and employees. Likewise, the BWC was able to save Ohio businesses and governments $165 million by cutting costs and adjusting its budget. I will continue to work with fellow House members and the BWC to enact further changes that will lead to more positive change in the future.

Rep. Hall to Chair Bipartisan Hearing on Seismic Activity in Northeast Ohio

2012-01-11T15:30:00.001-05:00

State Representatives Dave Hall (R- Millersburg) and Sean O’Brien (D- Brookfield) announced a bipartisan hearing for Tuesday, January 17th at 10am to address recent seismic activity in Youngstown, Ohio. The hearing will take place at Youngstown State University and will include a panel of geologic, seismic and oil and gas industry experts.

Panelists include: Dr. Robert Chase, Chair/Professor for the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Marietta College; Dr. Jeffrey Dick, Professor of Geology at Youngstown State University; Tom Stewart, Executive Vice President of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association; and David Hill, President and Consulting Geologist of David R. Hill, Inc.

Representative Hall, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, has been asked by members of the House and Senate to chair the bipartisan hearing.

“It is critical that the people of Ohio, especially those in the greater-Youngstown community, receive accurate information about our state’s geological makeup and the geophysics of developing our natural resources” Hall said. “Representative O’Brien and I have asked several prominent experts to testify at this special hearing. Misinformation leads to misunderstanding and fear, so it is vital that we learn from specialists in these fields. By addressing this incident quickly and directly, we can ensure that Ohioans are informed and have a better understanding of this dynamic industry.”

Representative O’Brien serves the southeastern portion of Trumbull County, which is directly above the seismic activity’s epicenter.“My office has received significant amounts of constituent correspondence vocalizing public, environmental, and geological safety concerns in light of the most recent earthquake in the Mahoning Valley. This hearing provides myself, as well as our state leaders, the opportunity to publicly discuss fact-finding testimony surrounding the earthquake’s occurrence from leading experts in the field.”

The event will be held in the Chestnut Room of the Kilcawley Center, at Youngstown State University.

Representative Dovilla to Host Jobs Summit to Focus on Job Creation

2012-01-11T14:28:00.001-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R–Berea) today announced he will be hosting the 18th District Jobs Summit in Strongsville on Thursday, January 26, 2012. Invited participants include small business owners, public employee union representatives, members of the construction and building trades, local elected officials, and other interested stakeholders.

“My top priority in the Ohio legislature is creating an environment that will allow businesses to flourish and create jobs,” said Dovilla. “To see our economy become strong once again, we must ensure the more than 3,000 small businesses throughout the 18th District have the tools they need to engage in the robust economic development that will return Ohio to prosperity. Our Jobs Summit will identify actions we can pursue to make Ohio more competitive and place the state back on a path to prosperity.”

Since January 2011, the Ohio legislature has enacted numerous measures to reduce taxes and regulations, eliminate an $8 billion deficit, hold state government accountable, and strengthen public education. These actions have already resulted in the creation or retention of more than 82,000 jobs, compared to 400,000 lost jobs over the previous four year period.

“I believe Ohioans are tired of partisan bickering and the ‘blame game’ that pits citizens and sectors of our economy against one another,” stated Dovilla. “Good public policy is produced by elected officials who are fully accountable to their constituents. We must engage in common sense initiatives, working in concert with one another to develop real world solutions to real world problems. As a solution-oriented listener, I am committed to working with everyone who wishes to have a productive, results-driven conversation about how we can all work together to create jobs and build a bright future for Ohio.”

In the first year of his term, Representative Dovilla has introduced ten bills that focus on his policy priorities of creating jobs, strengthening public education, protecting senior citizens, and advocating for veterans. His legislation includes House Bill 144, which simplifies the process for small businesses to incorporate and locate important information on Ohio’s online small business portal; House Bill 258, which provides a tax credit for individuals obtaining a bachelor’s degree or attaining journeyman status in the construction and building trades; and House Bill 331, which creates the Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council to attract and retain jobs in the technology sector.

Rep. Robert Sprague's January legislative update

2012-01-11T13:07:00.000-05:00

Representative Robert Sprague discusses the House's successful efforts to fill an $8 billion deficit without raising taxes on Ohioans, as well as the House's other work to create jobs.

Column from Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl: Reviewing 2011 in Ohio

2012-01-11T12:53:00.000-05:00

As we move into the Year 2012, it is only natural for each of us to contemplate the events of the past 12 months. In my role as your state representative, I too find myself reflecting on the legislative activity of 2011 as I gear up for another productive year. I am proud of the work my colleagues and I have done since January 2011, and I would like to take some time to review a few of the most pivotal pieces of legislation passed by the 129th Ohio General Assembly so far.

From the very beginning of 2011, the state legislature had to confront Ohio’s bleak economic climate. The state unemployment rate in January 2011 was sitting at a distressing 9.4 percent, while Ohio’s poor economic atmosphere was pushing businesses outside of our borders. Meanwhile, unnecessary government restrictions were only worsening the situation. The 129th General Assembly inherited an Ohio that was losing industrial opportunities, but we pledged to reverse this toxic trend, bringing jobs back in-state and signaling that Ohio is once again “open for business.”

My colleagues and I knew that we had to focus on job creation in order to reach these important goals. Accordingly, our first collective action was to pass House Bill 1, legislation that established JobsOhio. This non-profit economic development entity promotes the growth of Ohio’s private sector and job market by catering to the needs of business.

In March, the legislature also passed a bill to form the Common Sense Initiative Office (CSI). The office focuses on eliminating cumbersome barriers in state government that hinder business success. By reviewing regulations set forth by state agencies, the CSI can effectively pinpoint unnecessary rules, freeing up businesses to create more jobs and operate more efficiently.

While job creation was a central objective in 2011, the House worked hard to improve Ohio in other ways. Above all, it is crucial that we safeguard the wellbeing of all Ohioans. To this end, I sponsored House Bill 64 to categorize certain synthetic cannabinoids, known as Spice or K2, as Schedule I controlled substances. These dangerous drugs have become a major problem in Ohio, capable of causing serious health problems in users. I am proud to say that, starting in October 2011, it is no longer legal to buy, sell or possess Spice. This is a key step in protecting our population, and in particular, Ohio’s youth.

Overall, the House made great strides in the Year 2011. Our economic situation has improved drastically, and our job market is poised for future growth in 2012. We have also worked to protect the welfare of our citizens and ensure a safe environment for our children. I am confident that we can maintain the same momentum in the second half of this legislative session, and I wish you and your family a happy New Year.

Column from Rep. John Adams: Understanding the Importance of our Founding Documents

2012-01-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

Many of you probably remember the response given three years ago by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when asked by a reporter, “Where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?”

She responded, “Are you serious?”

Her obvious disregard for the importance of our nation’s premier founding document should disturb every American. Regardless of your opinion on the health insurance mandate, hearing a high-ranking public official intentionally sidestep such an important question should prompt all of us to reevaluate the respect that is given to our Constitution.

This education should begin in our schools. It is critically important that our youth grow up with the understanding that the U.S. Constitution actually grants the federal government very limited powers, as opposed to giving wide-ranging control to the hands of politicians in Washington.

That is why I authored a bill that requires the State Board of Education to incorporate the teaching of important founding documents in the state’s school system. Under the Senate vehicle, Senate Bill 165, social studies standards for grades 4 through 12 would feature academic content regarding the original texts of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance and Ohio Constitution. The new standards would also include an end-of-course American history and government examination as a component of graduation tests.

The bill also requires the State Board of Education to remodel the state’s curriculum and assessments (during the existing ongoing assessment revamp process so that no extra money is required) to include these new social studies guidelines. Finally, it allows teachers with valid educator licenses in social studies to continue teaching these subjects without acquiring further licensing. The bill is not focused on placing burdens on teaching positions, but rather on placing more emphasis on ensuring that our country’s future gain a comprehensive understanding of our history.

Implementing this curriculum would not add unmanageable burdens on schools because, frankly, these texts should be taught anyway. While emphasizing math and science in public education is important, we should not overlook the value of learning about our nation and state’s founding documents. As Mrs. Powell asked Benjamin Franklin as he left the Constitutional Convention, “What have you given us?”, Mr. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Unless our school children understand the basics of the founding of our country, we will not be able to keep the republic that Benjamin Franklin and the other Framers of our Constitution fought and died for.

This bill passed through the House with bipartisan support, which indicates that this is not an issue that divides Republicans and Democrats. Rather, we can all agree on the importance of learning about the documents that have shaped and guided our nation.

Rep. Anielski Introduces Legislation Inspired by Broadview Heights Resident

2012-01-10T17:46:00.000-05:00

State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) introduced a bill today that aims to address the issue of cyber-stalking and cyber-harassment.

The idea behind the legislation came from working with a resident of Broadview Heights, Lori Siwik. Siwik approached Representative Anielski hoping to change the Ohio Revised Code after she and her family fell victim to a cyber-harassment and cyber-stalking case in which an individual sought to stalk and defame her and her husband in several ways, including through the use of a website created specifically for that purpose.

“I am happy that this very important legislation has been introduced,” said Siwik. “It will help protect individuals and families by giving them a criminal recourse with law enforcement and the legal system that my family and I did not have when we were cyber-stalked and harassed.”

At the time, Siwik was advised by local law enforcement and the local prosecutor that, because of the way the law was written currently, there was nothing they could do about cyber-stalking. Representative Anielski’s cyber-stalking bill would assist local law enforcement by expanding the offenses of menacing by stalking and telecommunications harassment. It would also prohibit a person from knowingly causing another person to believe that an offender will cause physical harm or mental or emotional distress to the other person’s immediate family.

“This piece of legislation is a direct result of working with my constituents and understanding their concerns,” said Representative Anielski. “I am pleased to be able to carry this legislation in the House on behalf of Lori Siwik, and I am hopeful that the modification presented, if enacted, will bring help to those who may struggle with the unfortunate circumstances of cyber-stalking in the future.”

This legislation is supported by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. It will soon be assigned to a House committee and undergo thorough consideration.

Rep. Anthony DeVitis to Hold District Office Hours

2012-01-10T15:54:00.002-05:00

State Representative Anthony DeVitis (R-Green) today announced that he will be holding district office hours on Friday, January 27th. No appointment is necessary to attend these office hours and everyone is encouraged to participate.

“It is important that I take the opportunity to connect with the residents of the 43rd Ohio House District,” Rep. DeVitis said. “These office hours will provide a valuable chance for my constituents to speak with me about their concerns and how I can best serve them in Columbus.”

The office hours will take place at the Green Branch Library (4046 Massillon Rd., Uniontown, Ohio 44685) from 4 to 5 p.m.

If you are unable to attend the office hours, Rep. DeVitis encourages you to contact his office by phone at (614) 466-1790 or by email at district43@ohr.state.oh.us.

Rep. Pelanda Reports State Funding for Veyance Technologies

2012-01-09T16:39:00.002-05:00

State Representative Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) has announced that the State Controlling Board approved the release of $2 million for the purchasing of machinery and equipment at Veyance Technologies, Inc. in Marysville. According to documents from the Office of Budget and Management, Veyance Technologies has committed to creating 15 new, full-time jobs and retaining 398 jobs in Union County.

“This is certainly great news for the people of Union County,” Pelanda said. “The creation of jobs at Veyance Technologies is an indication of economic growth in the area, and its expansion will benefit workers and consumers alike.”

Founded in 1997, Veyance Technologies produces equipment, such as conveyer belts, industrial hoses and military tank tracks. The company’s recent expansion will be focused on the agricultural industry.

The appropriation comes at the request of the Ohio Department of Development in the form of a Facilities Establishment Fund.

Rep. Christina Hagan to Serve on Advisory Council for Aging

2012-01-06T12:32:00.000-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) recently appointed State Representative Christina Hagan (R-Marlboro Twp.) to serve on the Ohio Advisory Council for Aging during the 129th General Assembly. The advisory council reviews plans, budgets and issues that impact older Ohioans and advocates specific administrative and legislative actions.

“I look forward to serving on this council and finding solutions to the issues that our older generation faces,” Rep. Hagan said. “I am honored that Speaker Batchelder entrusted me to serve in this capacity and am eager to join my colleagues on the committee.”

Rep. Hagan also serves on the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and the House Public Utilities Committee. Additionally, she serves on the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission.

Legislation Would Name Hamilton County Highway After Fallen Marine

2012-01-05T17:06:00.002-05:00

In honor of a local Marine who died in combat while serving in Iraq, State Representatives Louis Terhar (R-Cincinnati) and Peter Stautberg (R-Anderson Twp.) recently introduced legislation that designates a portion of State Route 264 in Hamilton County as the “Sergeant David Kreuter Memorial Highway.”

Sergeant David Kreuter had graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1997 and joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1998 after his first year of college. His company—Lima Company based in Columbus—was activated in 2005 and deployed to Iraq the first week of March. Just several weeks before he was scheduled to return home from Iraq, Sgt. Kreuter was one of 14 Marines in an amphibious vehicle who were killed by a roadside bomb in August 2005.

“As a retired Navy Commander, I cannot think of another bill that I would be more proud to introduce as my first than HB 401. Sergeant Kreuter was a true American hero, and the least I can do to honor his service is rename a portion of State Route 264,” said Representative Terhar.

“As a fellow graduate of St. Xavier High School, I am privileged to help honor and recognize the immense sacrifice of Sergeant Kreuter and his family,” Representative Stautberg said.

Specifically, the portion of S.R. 264 from the municipal corporation of Cleves and extending east to the intersection with South Road would be named in honor of Sgt. Kreuter.

Sprague Applauds PUCO Approval of Rail Crossing Upgrade in Kenton

2012-01-05T15:54:00.000-05:00

State Representative Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) today announced that, according to a release from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the PUCO approved authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing CSX to install flashing lights and gates at a grade crossing in Hardin County.

Specifically, CSX will install lights and gates at the South Wayne Street (513-768N) grade crossing in Kenton. Funding for the upgrades will come from the State Grade Crossing Safety Fund and the railroad will be responsible for completing construction of the upgrades by October 4, 2012.

“Our region boasts inherent logistics and distribution advantages for companies, and our rail and road infrastructure will be a key driver of Northwest Ohio's regional economy in the years ahead. I am pleased to see that we are enhancing safety for residents of Kenton in addition to keeping these economic assets working well for our district,” Representative Sprague said.

The PUCO is responsible for evaluating Ohio’s public grade crossings to determine the need for installing active warning devises. For more information on Ohio’s grade crossings, please visit http://gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov/.

Rep. Brenner Presents Local Athletes with House Commendation

2012-01-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

State Representative Andy Brenner (R-Powell) today presented a House commendation to the St. Francis DeSales High School girls’ soccer team for winning the state championship in November. The team bested Toledo’s St. Ursula Academy in a 2-0 victory at Crew Stadium.

“I am very proud of the team for bringing the championship title home and making our community proud,” Brenner said. “I feel very fortunate to represent such talented athletes in the Statehouse. As leaders both on and off the field, I am confident these girls will continue to make us proud and be successful in the future.”

The victory marks the Stallions’ first state championship in 13 years. Rep. Brenner awarded the commendation to the team at the high school.

Representative Christina Hagan to Hold District Office Hours in Louisville

2012-01-05T14:15:00.002-05:00

State Representative Christina Hagan (R- Alliance) has announced that she will hold district office hours in Louisville on Monday, January 16th as a way to directly connect with the residents of the 50th House District.

Office hours will be held from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at Thompson Dairyland in Louisville located at 7519 Columbus Road, Louisville.

As state representative of the 50th Ohio House District, Representative Hagan invites all residents of her district to participate in the office hours event, to share their views and discuss solutions to state issues.

Column from Rep. Bob Peterson: Reflecting on 2011, Looking Forward to 2012

2012-01-05T14:10:00.002-05:00

Last week, I attended several swearing in ceremonies for newly elected and reelected public servants. These are always heartwarming and exciting gatherings of families and friends as they look to begin or continue their service to their community. As I climbed the stairs of the Ross County Court House to their courtroom, I reflected to my wife, Lisa, that exactly one year ago, I was getting sworn in as a State Representative. While I remember with pride with my hand on a Bible promising to defend the Constitution like it was just yesterday, I also remember the months of work and effort spent rebuilding Ohio.

What a year 2011 was for me and my colleagues in the Ohio Legislature. Ohio was faced with a historic budget deficit and was losing jobs at a faster rate than other states. Serving on the Ohio House Finance Committee, I and my fellow committee members spent many weeks discussing and debating the budget and ultimately developed and passed a budget that balanced the $8 billion deficit, while preserving an income tax cut and abolishing the Death Tax. This was achieved primarily by finding ways to make government more efficient and accountable to the taxpayers.

Recognizing the challenges facing businesses trying to expand or locate in Ohio, the legislature passed a series of bills that has allowed Ohio to become more competitive in attracting and retaining jobs. The Common Sense Initiative, JobsOhio and performance audits of certain state agencies—along with many other bills—have focused on the twin goals of making sure every tax dollar is wisely and appropriately spent and getting Ohioans back to work. While 2011 was a good start to building a more prosperous Ohio, I and my fellow House members are committed to growing and bringing companies back to Ohio to create more jobs for citizens in the state.

I had the honor and pleasure of having two bills that I introduced passed by both the Ohio House and Senate; these were later signed into law by the Governor John Kasich. House Bill 128 with Representative John Carey allowed Emergency Medical Services to more effectively staff their ambulances so the injured victim can receive medical treatment as quickly as possible. House Bill 225, which I joint sponsored with Representative Al Landis, eliminates outdated mandates on local governments, while giving them the flexibility to more efficiently serve the public. This bill over time will save local governments and taxpayers millions of dollars.

While debating, writing and voting on legislation in the Statehouse is very important, the most rewarding part of my job representing the 85th House District is serving the citizens of Ross, Pickaway and Fayette counties by addressing their concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact my office with your thoughts and concerns.

Column from Rep. Casey Kozlowski: Working for More Jobs in 2012

2012-01-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

Ohio’s economy ended the year 2011 on a positive note. It appears that jobs are filtering back into the state and that we are becoming more competitive on a national scale. This is a positive indication that businesses are hiring and that Ohioans are returning to work.

The state’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.0 percent in October to 8.5 percent in November, the largest decrease from one month to the next for nearly 30 years. Ohio’s unemployment rate is now lower than the national average. This is surely welcomed news for a state that has been one of the hardest hit in the nation during the economic recession of the last few years.

It was apparent from the beginning of the General Assembly that Ohio was in desperate need of jobs. In response to this need, the House passed JobsOhio, a non-profit program dedicated to making Ohio more business-friendly and, thus, more competitive with other states. It was the first of many jobs-related bills to pass through the House. The impact that JobsOhio has made just in the first year has been astounding, and I believe that the creation of jobs in 2012 will be more robust and will occur more rapidly than it did this year.

Sometimes regulations look good on paper, but prove ineffective and unnecessary in the real world. An expanding regulatory climate not only places unwieldy, job-killing restraints on businesses, but the enforcement of such duplicative rules places additional costs on taxpayers. The Common Sense Initiative, also passed early in 2011, will comb through state regulations in an effort to eliminate repetitive rules and restraints.

While a number of businesses left Ohio over the past few years, many of the facilities that once housed those businesses have remained, resulting in hundreds of vacant buildings. Last month, the legislature sought to solve this problem by passing House Bill 18. Under the bill a businesses seeking to expand and relocate will receive a tax incentive. This will not only encourage businesses to stay in Ohio, but also to utilize existing facilities in areas that were hit hardest during the economic downturn.

Throughout 2011, I have had the opportunity to meet with various business owners in the 99th House District, an experience that has been invaluable to me as a legislator. They have shared with me their ideas and concerns about getting Ohio’s economy back on track. I believe that together we have made a lot of progress this year, and I am excited about the future. Please feel welcome to share your ideas with me as we move into 2012.

Representative Gonzales to Hold District Office Hours in Westerville

2011-12-28T09:28:00.000-05:00

State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) has announced that she will hold district office hours in Westerville on Thursday, January 12th as a way to directly connect with the residents of the 19th Ohio House District.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Westerville Library (located at 126 South State Street Westerville, OH 43081).

As state representative of the 19th Ohio House District, Representative Gonzales invites all residents of her district to participate in this office hours event to share their views and discuss solutions to state issues.

Column from Rep. Anthony DeVitis: Ready to Serve the 43rd House District

2011-12-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

On December 14th, I had the honor of being sworn in as a member of the 129th General Assembly in the Ohio House of Representatives. I look forward to serving the citizens of the 43rd House District. My colleagues and I in the Legislature have been working in earnest on the issues that matter most to the people of this state.

Ohio has been hit hard over the past few years by the economic downturn, and the Legislature has worked hard this year to bring positive change to our state. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with my fellow legislators to strengthen our economy and get Ohioans back to work. Serving as a state representative is a major responsibility, but I welcome its challenges, and I am eager to interact with my constituents in the 43rd House District.

There should always be an open line of communication between government and the people it serves. Therefore, I encourage you to voice your ideas and concerns about the district and the state of Ohio with me. Together, we can help secure a brighter future for our great state.

To strengthen our economy, Ohio must become more attractive to business owners and entrepreneurs. As a small business owners myself, I know that only by creating jobs can we hope to overcome the current fiscal crisis. By developing new ideas to spur economic development and working to lower our tax burden on citizens, we can once again see Ohio prosper.

It is truly a privilege to have the opportunity to serve you in the state Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to address these very important issues. Ohio is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, with a vast amount of resources unlike anywhere else in the country. The future is bright for our great state, and finding solutions to the issues most important to you is my highest priority.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Appointments to Constitutional Modernization Commission

2011-12-21T14:23:00.000-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has appointed State Representatives Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Lynn Slaby (R-Copley) to serve on the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, a bipartisan committee that will be responsible for examining Ohio’s Constitution and making recommendations for modernization to the Ohio Legislature. Additionally, the speaker himself will serve on the commission with Representatives Huffman and Slaby.

“I have full faith that my esteemed colleagues Representatives Huffman and Slaby will serve the people of Ohio well in this additional capacity,” Batchelder said. “Both of them bring a unique breadth of experiences and perspectives to the table that, I believe, will make discussions on Ohio’s Constitution very productive and engaging. I look forward to serving with them on the commission and ensuring that the Ohio Constitution best serves the citizens of our great state.”

The commission is charged with studying the Constitution of Ohio, promoting an exchange of experiences and suggestions respecting desired changes in the Constitution, considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of the Constitution, and making recommendations to the General Assembly from time to time for the amendment of the Constitution.

In total, the commission will be composed of 32 members, 12 of which will be appointed from the General Assembly—three appointed by the Senate president, three by the Senate minority leader, three by the House speaker, and three by the House minority leader. The 20 additional members are appointed by a majority vote and are selected from outside of the General Assembly.

Rep. Young joins Gov. Kasich in announcing creation of 75 jobs at STERIS

2011-12-21T09:34:00.000-05:00

The News-Herald, Dec. 21

Gov. John Kasich appeared Tuesday at STERIS Corp. in Mentor to help the company announce plans for a new fabrication center that will create 75 new manufacturing and engineering jobs.

Kasich said the effort is part of his JobsOhio initiative, which is a private, nonprofit corporation designed to lead the state’s job-creation efforts to attract and retain jobs.

Read more and view the video at the following link:

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2011/12/21/news/doc4ef0d577066c7781005046.txt

Rep. Grossman Receives Legislator of the Year Award from County Engineers Association

2011-12-20T14:47:00.001-05:00

The County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO) recently presented the CEAO Legislator of the Year Award to State Representative Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City) for her outstanding contributions to the state of Ohio.

Each year, the County Engineers Association selects one representative and one senator who help the organization the most throughout the year. Through Rep. Grossman’s efforts in re-instilling wheel or axel load weight limits on vehicles that transport certain specific materials that exceed the existing gross vehicle weight limit by more than 5 percent or 7.5 percent, the Ohio Department of Transportation and the county engineers saved potentially $60 million that may have been needed for bridge maintenance and repairs.

Since 1940 the County Engineers Association of Ohio has worked to provide the highest quality transportation, drainage, surveying and land record keeping services. County engineers are responsible for the maintenance, repair and capital improvements of county highways, roads and bridges in Ohio. They are also responsible for 29,000 miles of urban and rural roadways and 25,600 bridges that are vital to the combined growth and prosperity in the state of Ohio.

Column from Rep. Andy Thompson: Ohio’s Economic Progress in 2011

2011-12-20T09:56:00.000-05:00

With the first year of the 129th General Assembly nearly in the book, it's an ideal time to recap what has happened thus far. A lot of progress and positive changes have been made in Ohio on the job creation front, and the same kind of effort must be made next year to continue that trend.

With a state unemployment rate having hovered above 9%, it is obvious that getting people back to work must be our first prerogative. From the time the House first convened in January to our sessions held just last week, the legislature has worked hard to seek innovative ways to stimulate job creation in Ohio. We just received word that, during the month of November, Ohio had its biggest decrease in unemployment in 30 years. Apparently Ohio's efforts are starting to bear fruit.

The first bill passed out of the House (HB 1) created JobsOhio, a non-profit panel of experienced private business experts to look for ways to make Ohio more economically competitive. They work with businesses that are interested in coming to the state and express to them all that our state has to offer. We have seen increased interest by businesses looking to relocate from another state and create jobs, and we've done a better job of retaining those businesses that might have left, including Edgetech, a company that recently announced it would remain in Cambridge and actually add 100 jobs. Senator Troy Balderson and I worked with Governor Kasich to make that possible, and that's great news for our part of the state. Meanwhile, credit agencies are lauding our efforts to make Ohio more fiscally sound, while downgrading the federal government. We need to stay the course.

A booming economy depends not only on a strong private sector, but also on a government that is accountable to the taxpayers. In order to meet that responsibility, I proudly supported House Bill 2, which allows the Auditor of State to conduct performance audits on state agencies. This will help ensure that all of our state agencies funded by the taxpayers are running smoothly and efficiently, without redundancies or waste. It is especially critical in times like these that we make every effort to get the most out of every tax dollar spent. I spoke with representatives in State Auditor Dave Yost's office last week; the results of the first performance audits will be available very soon. I'm also going to work with the auditor's office to see how we can reduce the cost of audits for those government subdivisions who receive clean audits.

One major initiative that has received a lot of attention has been the development of Ohio’s natural resources by drilling for oil and natural gas under the state’s surface. Certainly I and many others have discussed it on numerous occasions. More than 800,000 wells have been drilled in Ohio since the 1950s by utilizing hydraulic fracturing without a single confirmed case of water contamination, according to the Ohio Engineers' Association. Though we should always be cognizant of environmental concerns, the opportunity that natural gas and oil production presents for Ohio is encouraging. Most estimates predict that about 200,000 jobs can be created from this development, many of which will be created in the 93rd District and adjacent counties. Already we are seeing booming retail sales of automobiles, farm equipment and other amenities. Hotel rooms are booked; many for an entire year in advance. Now we need to explore how we can capably undertake the massive workforce development this shale play will require over the next decade.

The mission of the 129th General Assembly is simple: Reduce the cost of doing business in Ohio by lowering the tax burden and keeping government from standing in the way of free market growth. Ohio’s economy is beginning to move forward once again, and I have faith that we will see even more progress made next year.

State Representatives Lead Economic Trade Mission to Turkey

2011-12-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

State Representatives Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), Peter Beck (R-Mason), and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) recently led a trade mission to Turkey with the goal of exporting more Ohio products and to encourage economic growth in Ohio.

The economic mission led the group through the country beginning in Istanbul and continuing through Ankara, Kayseri, and Izmir. The specific goal was to highlight the Wilmington Airpark’s ability to serve as the regional export hub for agricultural products. The representatives were assisted by Janelle Mead with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Tim Sword of the Ohio Department of Development, Highland County Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer, Clinton County Economic Development Director Bret Dixon, and Ben Webb, legislative aide to Representative Rosenberger.

“This mission gave us an important opportunity to sell our great state and, most importantly, our region and our workforce,” said Representative Rosenberger. “We’ve got to compete in a global market, and that requires that we step up and sell our area, our goods, and the importance of our regional location being within 61 percent of the United States and Canadian manufacturing base.”

The trade delegation met with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, along with other government officials at the provincial and local level. The group visited with the country’s major news outlets, both print and television. Representatives Rosenberger, Beck and Peterson were interviewed on the Samanyolu Television Network, the Turkish equivalent to our major television news networks.

“In meeting with the companies and government officials, we were able to gain a better understanding of ways in which both Turkey and Ohio can foster mutually friendly trade relations and gained valuable contacts,” said Commissioner Shaffer. Shaffer joined the mission because part of the export process between the United States and Turkey involves operations in Highland County.

The delegation also met with companies interested in furthering trade relations in Ohio and the United States market. Seventeen companies representing 50 different businesses sat down with the delegation to discuss trade opportunities in the aerospace, automotive, agricultural, machinery, and defense industries. One company has identified itself as an interested party to utilize the livestock export abilities of the Wilmington Airpark.

“Turkey is a large growing economy and desires the high quality meat products, animals, and machinery that we in Ohio produce,” said Representative Peterson. “I am very optimistic that Ohio will be able to increase our exports to Turkey.”

“This was a unique opportunity as it was the first time a delegation from Ohio was able to meet with Turkish officials and business leaders to discuss job creation and expanded trade between our states,” said Representative Beck.

“One of the key components was to identify backhaul opportunities to compliment Ohio’s livestock export operations,” Director Dixon said. “Representative Rosenberger pulled together an incredible team where doors were opened in the Turkish business community and government, which otherwise would have never been possible.”

Representatives Rosenberger, Beck, and Peterson are dedicated to creating job growth in Ohio and are committed to travel anywhere to encourage and grow business in Ohio.

The Niagara Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to improving relations between Turkey and the United States, sponsored the trade delegation.

All four elected officials and the legislative staffer paid their own airfare and traveled at no expense to the taxpayers.

Representative Gonzales to Hold District Office Hours in Canal Winchester

2011-12-19T13:31:00.000-05:00

State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) has announced that she will hold district office hours in Canal Winchester on Thursday, January 5th as a way to directly connect with the residents of the 19th Ohio House District.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Canal Winchester Town Hall (10 N. Night Street).

Rep. Mike Henne Applauds Ohio’s “Race to the Top” Grant

2011-12-19T10:15:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Henne (R-Clayton) has announced that the state of Ohio will receive up to $70 million in federal “Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge” grants, which will be utilized to better prepare disadvantaged children for kindergarten.

The competition focuses on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting states’ efforts to increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and ensure that any use of assessments conforms with the recommendations of the National Research Council’s reports on early childhood.

“Many of the schools in my district and the Dayton area participated in Race to the Top, and I am proud to see that our teachers’ and students’ hard work is paying off,” said Henne.

A total of 35 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, competed for a share of $500 million. Other states who were awarded grants are California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Washington.

Rep. Hill Releases Statement on Creation of Jobs in Muskingum County

2011-12-16T13:57:00.000-05:00

With the news that Halliburton may create more than 300 jobs in Muskingum County over the next three years, State Representative Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) released the following statement:

“I am very pleased to hear that Halliburton plans to invest in an operations hub in the EastPointe Business Park, which will bring much-needed jobs and revenue to Muskingum County. This is yet another example of how the policies that the House Republican Caucus has developed and implemented are having a positive impact in our community and state. Just today, it was also announced that unemployment in Ohio dropped half a percent to 8.5 percent, which is a positive sign that we are moving our economy in the right direction with common-sense leadership on Ohio’s most important issue—improving the environment for businesses and job creation.”

Column from Rep. Gonzales: Looking Back at Key Moments of 2011

2011-12-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

We have passed legislation so far in the 129th General Assembly on a wide range of topics, including job creation to abortion to military voting. I am proud of the work that has been done and the progress that Ohio has already made.

There are a couple of bills I sponsored, however, that I am especially proud of because they deal with issues that are very close to my heart. House Bill 62 passed through the House in early June with vast bipartisan support. The bill essentially increases the penalty for purposely harming health care professionals from assault to a fourth degree felony. Health care workers and people associated with that line of work perform an essential service to our safety and well-being. Therefore, I believe it is important to do what we can to protect them while on the job, and I think HB 62 goes a long way toward ensuring this protection.

Additionally, I am working to pass House Bill 244, which grants greater protection to firefighters and emergency medical technicians. It is important that our public safety workers be healthy so they can perform their job to the best of their abilities. HB 244 allows the paramedics within medical service organizations to administer flu vaccines to public safety workers. To ensure that the immunizations are administered properly and consistently, each organization will be required to establish written procedures and training that the paramedics must follow.

While I firmly believe that each of these bills are incredibly important, I have received no greater satisfaction than when I am able to see directly the positive impact on a constituent. Earlier this year, my office received information about a paralyzed Westerville man who was in need of a wheelchair.

In June 2009, Barry Crider applied for a motorized wheelchair, but because of a common error his application was denied. A month later, he was denied the ability to have the chair, a decision which Mr. Crider had 90 days to appeal. However, he never received the letter in the mail that would have notified him of that information.

Then in August 2009, Mr. Crider learned that a chair would no longer be allowed under his current medical benefits. An entire year and a couple of denials later, Mr. Crider still had not received his chair.

After my office heard of this situation, I worked with Mr. Crider to solve the problem. After three months, we finally resolved the issue and a chair was granted to him. This situation showed me first-hand that the actions legislators make are not regulated solely to the House floor, but that we all have a responsibility to do whatever we can to help the individuals we represent.

No piece of legislation can equal the satisfaction that I felt while helping a constituent in need. The 19th House District is so special because of the people who live within it. I wish everyone within the district a joyous holiday season, and I look forward to seeing or hearing from you again soon.

Column from Rep. Henne: Honoring Men and Women of Distinction

2011-12-16T12:13:00.000-05:00

On November 29th, I had the privilege of attending a ceremony that honored many of the brave Ohioans who lost their lives fighting for our country. Since 2009, the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction has been given to men and women from our state who have shown true leadership and courage on the battlefield. While it is sad that they were unable to join us and receive their award in person, the significance of their service will remain with us forever.

The Ohio House and Senate came together in the House chamber for a joint convention to express our appreciation for the fallen heroes. Of course, the list of honorees was too long—far too many lives lost—but it was humbling to see that so many individuals were willing to sacrifice their lives to keep our country safe.

We all must understand just how steep the price of freedom can be. That the ceremony was held just a couple weeks after Veterans Day was appropriate because it served as another reminder to everyone in the chamber that there has been a lot of blood poured and lives lost to make this nation truly exceptional.

If you are a family member or a friend to one of the individuals honored that day, then I extend to you my sympathies and prayers. But I also would like to simply say thank you. Life has not been easy for you, or for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one in combat. While some of us might occasionally take our military for granted, you have lived each day filled with hope, despair, anxiety, and, in the end, immense sadness. Like House Speaker William Batchelder mentioned in his speech, sacrifices were not only made by those in uniform, but by their families as well.

As we transition into a season that brings happiness and good cheer to so many of us, we should at least take some time to reflect on what makes it all possible. This is a time of year when many of us often throw around words like price and cost. After taking part in the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction ceremony, those words now have a whole new meaning.

Terhar Announces ODOT Funding for North Bend Road Project

2011-12-16T12:08:00.000-05:00

State Representative Lou Terhar (R-Green Township) today announced that Ohio Department of Transportation will release $500,000 to help fund the widening of North Bend Road in Green Township, which will accommodate the opening of Mercy Hospital.

Construction of the hospital, which is set to open in 2013, will bring approximately 2,000 jobs to Green Township. The hospital will be approximately 550,000 square feet with 250 beds, and it will include new services for—among other things— heart surgery, cancer treatment and maternity care.

“I want to express my gratitude for the $500,000 in ODOT assistance to ensure a safe and efficient traffic situation on North Bend Road in Green Township,” Representative Terhar said. “The addition of Mercy Hospital West and its creation of 2,000 high-end jobs will be greatly facilitated by the North Bend Road improvements. Additional medical related jobs will follow because the traffic issues will be alleviated by the road improvements that this money will enable.”

JMA Engineering has been working on the project for the past several months, with Green Township already committing $5 million to the project.

Rep. Sears Applauds Passage of Medicaid Incentive Bill

2011-12-15T16:15:00.003-05:00

State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.) applauded the passage of Senate Bill 264, which creates a quality incentive payment structure for nursing facilities to receive payment under Medicaid.

The bill aims to improve nursing home quality in Ohio by establishing 23 accountability measures. These measures were selected by the Nursing Quality Subcommittee of the Unified Long-Term Care System Advisory Workgroup, which included governmental and nursing stakeholders, as well as legislators such as Representative Sears.

“This bill received input from a wide range of parties, including legislators, facility operators, state administrators and consumer advocates,” Rep. Sears said. “The measures laid out in this legislation allow the state to begin the process of funding measurable outcomes, instead of simply funding full beds.”

Senate Bill 264 requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to award a nursing facility one point for each accountability measure that it meets, and a facility must earn at least five points in order to receive full payment. Each nursing facility would receive a quality incentive payment of $3.29 per Medicaid bed day for each point it earns, with the possibility of earning $16.44 per Medicaid bed day.

Additionally, the bill provides for a qualifying nursing facility to receive a quality bonus if it is awarded more than five points for meeting accountability measures. It also provides for a nursing facility to receive a quality bonus if the residual budgeted amount for quality incentive payments for the fiscal year is greater than zero.

“Ensuring quality in our Skilled Nursing Facilities is paramount to the residences and families of our state. This legislation begins the process of recognizing the facilities that are committed to providing a high quality of life. In this way, Ohio is a leader for other states to follow,” Rep. Sears said.

The bill passed through the House with a vote of 94-0. The Senate concurred with House changes and the bill now only waits for the governor’s signature to become law.

Kozlowski’s Jobs Bill Passes General Assembly

2011-12-14T20:23:00.003-05:00

State Representative Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) today announced that the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 243, with the Ohio House voting to concur on the Senate amendments to the bill shortly thereafter.

House Bill 243, which was jointly sponsored by Rep. Ron Young (R-Painesville) and originally passed from the Ohio House in June, strives to lighten burdensome, bureaucratic permit restrictions on economic development. It eliminates two restrictions on the A-3a liquor permit, which would allow more distillers to obtain the permit and thereby expand business opportunities and tourism in Ohio.

“At a time when businesses in Ohio are struggling to grow, this legislation allows for the expansion of micro-distillers and boosts tourism,” Representative Kozlowski said. “Those who visit distilleries and wineries for taste tests can purchase the products on location, and it is sure to benefit the many wineries we have in our area of the state.”

According to current law, an A-3a permit can only be obtained in counties with at least 800,000 residents and may be issued to only one micro-distiller in that county—limiting permit holders to just three counties statewide.

The legislation, which Representative Kozlowski jointly sponsored with Representative Ron Young (R-Leroy Twp.), removes the 800,000 county population requirements and allows micro-distillers to acquire this permit and begin operations as boutique producers in other areas of Ohio.

House Bill 243 now awaits the signature of Governor John Kasich.

Landis, Peterson Legislation to Make County Government More Efficient, Create Jobs

2011-12-14T20:18:00.000-05:00

State Representatives Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) and Al Landis (R-Dover) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives concurred on Senate changes to Substitute House Bill 225, which strives to provide greater flexibility for governments in an effort to make county, municipality and township governments more efficient.

Rep. Peterson has released the following statement in response to the passage of Sub. H.B. 225:

“As a former county commissioner, I was often surprised to discover that the Ohio Revised Code occasionally limits local governments’ ability to take advantage of efficient, common sense practices. H.B. 225 provides flexibility and efficiency to local governments. I appreciate the broad and bipartisan support this bill received.”

Rep. Landis has released the following statement in response to the passage of Sub. H.B. 225:

“After passing out of the House, the Senate made a number of additions to the bill that I feel further improved the bill. This bill allows local governments of all kinds to utilize smarter, business-like approaches. It gives them the flexibility to operate more efficiently and economically. We have continually been asking local governments to look for other ways to operate more efficiently, and this bill gives them the tools to do that.”

As a result of new community authority from this legislation, approximately 3,000 construction jobs and 4,500 permanent jobs may be created because of concurrence on this legislation.

H.B. 225 originally passed from the House in June with widespread bipartisan support. It will now be sent to the governor for his signature.

House Passes Revised Congressional Map with Strong Bipartisan Support

2011-12-14T19:31:00.002-05:00

House Bill 369 reunites Ohio’s primaries to single day in March

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) announced today that a revised congressional map has passed the Ohio House with strong bipartisan support. The new map, found in House Bill 369, was introduced by State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) in early November after working closely with members of the House Minority Caucus.

“This map represents the second fair and legal map passed by the Ohio House of Representatives in recent weeks,” Speaker Batchelder said. “I am pleased that the House Republican Caucus has led the charge in not only passing a competitive congressional map, but also in ensuring that Ohioans have only one state and federal primary in 2012.”

Among other things, the bill reunites Ohio’s primaries to one day on March 6, 2012 and will save the state $15 million by doing so. It also creates a bi-partisan legislative task force to review congressional redistricting and issue a report to the General Assembly next year. The filing deadline for presidential and congressional candidates will be reopened to a December 30, 2011 deadline if signed into law.

“This bill contains a number of positive provisions, including reuniting Ohio's primaries and saving the taxpayers $15 million,” Rep. Huffman said. “The House Republican Caucus never stopped negotiations with the members of the House Minority Caucus and incorporated a number of their suggestions in this bill. We appreciate their support of House Bill 369.”

House Bill 369 passed with a vote of 77-17 and contains an emergency clause which, if passed by the Ohio Senate, will take effect upon the governor’s signature.

Am.Sub.HB369 Map

Legislation to Encourage Business Expansion into Vacant Facilities Passes Ohio House

2011-12-14T17:13:00.000-05:00

Continuing their focus on jobs and economic development, members of the Ohio House of Representatives today passed legislation that aims to encourage businesses that are out of space, have a need to add new employees and therefore may need to relocate to a larger place to invest in communities that have been hard-hit by the difficult economy.

House Bill 18, sponsored by State Representative Nan Baker (R-Westlake), authorizes a $500 per-employee grant for a business that expands into a facility that has been vacant for 12 months and creates new jobs. For larger companies expanding their payrolls and moving into a vacant building, at least 50 new employees would have to be added for this bill to take effect. For smaller companies expanding their payrolls, such as a hair salon, hardware store or pizza shop, 50 percent of their payroll would have to be added for this bill to take effect. For example, if a hair salon owner that has six employees needs to add three more hair stylists, this incentive would help pay for that person’s extra three salon chairs or building repairs, or a hardware store that employs 10 employees that hires at least five more employees to manage the added projected sales an expansion into a larger facility would bring.

“Because of a loss of business in Ohio over the past decade, there are many vacant buildings throughout Ohio that are in perfectly good shape but have simply been forced by the economy to shut their doors,” Representative Baker said. “This legislation is intended to allow businesses to expand without having to wait for new construction. It would also support our local businesses and encourage them to reuse abandoned buildings, which would breathe new life into areas that have been affected by job loss.”

Additional provisions in the legislation specify that an employer may receive no more than one grant per newly created job and limits the program to three years to give the Department of Development an opportunity to review the program for its effectiveness. Depending on the economy at the time of review, this bill can be reintroduced. It also authorizes the award of grants from the Facilities Establishment Fund or from unencumbered funds available to any entity performing job creation or other economic development functions for the state.

“I’m very pleased that House Bill 18 passed from the Ohio House with bipartisan support,” Representative Baker said. “This legislation is another example of our creativity towards creating the environment to retain, create and bring jobs to Ohio. It is a significant step toward helping our communities that have suffered the mass exodus of large and small businesses that left behind abandoned and vacant buildings dotting urban, suburban and rural landscapes. New and expanding companies can revitalize these buildings and will be entering economies full of citizens that need jobs and are ready to work. The economic multiplier of positive private sector business growth, additional purchases, investment, more employee hires and returning blighted areas into safe neighborhoods – cities back to prosperity – is immeasurable. As I continue to say ‘It’s All About Jobs!’”

House Bill 18 was originally introduced during the 128th General Assembly as House Bill 437, which was part of the “Future of Ohio” jobs package—a collection of 10 bills that aimed to facilitate economic growth and job creation in Ohio. It passed by a vote of 81-12 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Tony DeVitis Sworn In as State Representative of the 43rd District

2011-12-14T15:21:00.002-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has announced that Tony DeVitis, of Summit County, today was sworn in as state representative of the 43rd Ohio House District.

“I am honored to join the General Assembly and to serve the people of the 43rd House District,” Representative DeVitis said. “It is truly a blessing to live in a country that is free and that has provided me this great opportunity.”

“Representative DeVitis will be a fine addition to this caucus and to this institution as a whole,” Speaker Batchelder said. “He brings a variety of public and private sector experience to the table, which I believe will serve him well in this capacity. I am confident that he will be a faithful, dedicated public servant for the 43rd District and look forward to serving with him.”

An 18-year resident of Summit County, Representative DeVitis is the owner and vice president of the family-owned DeVitis & Sons, Inc., an Italian specialty food store in North Hill. He served as Councilman for Ward 3, where he served as the Chair of the Rules and Personnel Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, a member of the Finance Committee and was the Council President Pro Tem.

Representative DeVitis and his wife, Kathleen, have two children, Evelyn and Clark.

Rep. Roegner Applauds Passage of Electric Utilities Securitization Bill

2011-12-14T15:14:00.001-05:00

State Representative Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 364, which establishes standards for the securitization of costs for electric distribution utilities.

Specifically, House Bill 364 would allow electric utilities in Ohio to issue securitization bonds, which are bonds whose interest and principal are secured by a specific charge collected from all utility customers through a non-bypassable charge.

“In these difficult economic times, I am delighted to sponsor this bill, which will help save every Ohioan who pays an electric bill money,” Roegner said. “While the language in the bill is complex, the concept is quite simple. With the provisions in this bill, utilities can exchange high interest debt for low interest debt, the savings then passed on to the customer.”

The following provisions, which are key to achieving AAA ratings for the bonds, would be included:
• The financing order is irrevocable and remains in effect until the bonds are fully paid
• The customer charge is non-bypassable
• Annual automatic true-up adjustments ensure timely and sufficient collection of debt service
• The state pledges not to interfere with the collection of the charges

House Bill 364 will allow utilities to replace high-interest, short-term debt with low-interest, long-term bonds and achieve AAA ratings for their bonds. The benefits of AAA bond ratings are both a lower interest rate and a longer financial term, which will reduce utility and monthly customer rates. The customers will benefit from a reduced carrying cost for the bond versus the utilities’ weighted average cost of capital, translating into lower utility bills.

According to the legislation, the securitization bonds are not the debt of the state and the state does not pledge its credit to support the bonds. The state only pledges that it will not take or permit any action that interferes with the securitization bonds until the bonds are paid in full.

Currently, there are 19 other states that allow securitization bonds for electric utilities: California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

House Bill 364 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Column from Rep. McGregor: Transportation Budget Includes Many Innovative Changes

2011-12-13T19:23:00.000-05:00

During each General Assembly, many important budget decisions must be made, which usually determines funding and finance appropriations for the state over the next two years. Part of this process involves passing and implementing the transportation budget for the state. As the chairman of the House Transportation Subcommittee, I was able to see this process play out first-hand, and I believe the decisions and provisions laid out in the transportation budget will lead to many positive changes.

The transportation budget, or House Bill 114, allocates $7 billion for transportation-related projects throughout the state. One of the most revolutionary components of the bill was to permit the state and private groups to collaborate to complete road work, which will enable the state to benefit from the ingenuity and efficiency of the private sector. This has the potential to both increase the amount of resources available to complete a project, as well as cut costs for the state.

Additionally, the budget establishes a system that allows companies to renew commercial vehicle registrations online using a credit card, as opposed to carving out time during the day to visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The resources are obviously available to do more work online, so I think we should continue looking for ways to harbor the added efficiency that comes with using them.

A hot topic floating around Ohio recently, especially in the northern portion of the state is the potential privatization of the turnpike. Although the transportation budget bill did not address this issue, we have discussed it thoroughly in committee and will continue debating the merits of the idea. Some estimates have suggested that privatizing the turnpike, which has already been done in Indiana, could save the state up to $2.5 billion. Conserving tax dollars is always an important priority, so that is certainly an investment worth looking into. But again, at this time, nothing has been settled regarding the matter.

What the transportation budget does accomplish, however, is provide greater flexibility over public revenue by using resources that have been available to us for a very long time, namely the private sector and the Internet. As we move into next year, I will continue working with my fellow legislators to look for additional ways to put taxpayer dollars to smarter use, and I am always more than willing to discuss state-related issues with my constituents in the 72nd District.

Rep. Anielski Tours The Oaks of Brecksville nursing facility

2011-12-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) this week toured The Oaks of Brecksville, a recently opened nursing facility within the 17th Ohio House District.

The Oaks of Brecksville offers rehabilitation suites and psychological services, as well as specialization in orthopedic rehabilitation, joint replacement recovery, post acute cardiac and stroke therapy. Inpatient and outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies are also offered.

“I had a wonderful time visiting with the residents and staff of this facility,” Representative Anielski said. “As one who has had loved ones in need of services such as these, I can say with certainty that The Oaks of Brecksville is an important resource for our community.”

The grand opening of the facility was held on September 8th. It has the capacity to hold more than 80 residents.

Representative Mike Duffey Honors Local Athletes on the House Floor

2011-12-13T16:41:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) today honored the Thomas Worthington High School girls field hockey team for winning the state championship and finishing the 2011 season with an impressive 20-0-1 record. He presented a House resolution to the team before the full House during session.

“As a graduate of Thomas Worthington High School and former Cardinal athlete, I was happy to present this resolution to the field hockey team honoring their success at the state tournament,” Duffey said. “They are a remarkable group of young athletes. Under the great leadership of Coach Simonetti-Frost, this team has won the state tournament twice in the past five years. Their success is a testament to their hard work, talent and dedication; they really make the Worthington community proud.”

The team consists of Kieran Ford, Kasey Hohlbein, Tonycia Melfe, Cami Mullins, Anna Schomaker, Elle Simmons, Katie Holman, Lauren Geiser, Olivia Smith, Nina Devine, Sam Kuehnl, Sophie Tikson, Natalie Rabold, Devan Chakroff, Veronica Nunez, Christina Mertz, Maddie Goelz, Katie Jones and Ellen Westfall.

Rep. Carey Announces Designation of Ohio Coal Miners Week

2011-12-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

State Representative John Carey (R-Wellston) has announced the passage of House Bill 207, which designates the week in which Labor Day occurs as Ohio Coal Miners Week.

The designation is intended to honor the citizens of Ohio who have worked and continue to work in coal mines in the state. The legislation originally designated the first week in April, but Representative Carey offered and received favorable support to change the date to coincide with the annual Wellston Coal Festival.

“Every year the week of Labor Day, citizens of Wellston celebrate their rich heritage of coal mining during the Wellston Coal Festival,” Representative Carey said. “It would only make sense to designate that particular week in honor of Ohio coal miners.”

Rep. John Adams: Teaching Historical Documents Will Improve Our Children’s Education

2011-12-13T16:23:00.000-05:00

Following the passage of Senate Bill 165 from the Ohio House of Representatives, State Representative John Adams (R-Sidney) released the following statement:

“I am glad to see that the House passed this legislation today with bipartisan support. This is a concept that will help tomorrow’s leaders have a better insight into how these documents led to the system of government that we have today. By giving our children a more comprehensive understanding of our heritage, we are better preparing them to be productive Americans and Ohioans who realize the value of hard work, dedication and liberty.”

S.B. 165 requires the State Board of Education to incorporate into the state social standards, for grades 4 to 12, academic content regarding the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance, U.S. Constitution, and Ohio Constitution by July 1, 2014.

Additionally, it requires the State Board to revise the state model curricula and achievement assessments in social studies to include the new academic content. It also specifies that a valid educator license in social studies is sufficient to teach the additional American history and American government content required by the bill.

S.B. 165 will now be sent back to the Ohio Senate for concurrence.

Ohio House Passes Legislation to Safeguard Residents of Nursing Homes Against Sex Offenders

2011-12-13T16:20:00.001-05:00

In an effort to protect many of Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens, the Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 24, which would require long-term care facilities to notify residents and resident sponsors when a convicted sex offender is being admitted to the facility.

The legislation addresses a loophole in which the residents of a neighborhood where a long-term care facility is located are required to be notified by a sex offender residing there, but the residents living within the facility are not required to be notified by the managers of the facility.

“This is a common-sense piece of legislation that will have a tremendous impact on our most vulnerable population—those living in nursing homes,” said State Representative Courtney Combs, who sponsored House Bill 24. “It will give peace of mind not only to those who reside in these facilities but to their families as well. I am very pleased to see House Bill 24 pass on the House floor with unanimous support because it will help keep our communities and our loved ones safe.”

When enacted, House Bill 24 will require a manager of a long-term care facility to notify all residents of the facility, as well as the sponsor of each resident, when a specified type of tier III sex offender/child-victim offender has moved in to the facility.

It will also direct the Ohio Department of Health to compile, maintain and update twice per year a list that contains the name of each long-term care facility, the county in which it is located, and its address and telephone number. The Department of Health must provide the list, upon request, to the sheriff who is required to provide community notification.

House Bill 24 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate, where it will receive further consideration.

Ohio House Passes Bill to Redefine Agriculture to Include Algae Production

2011-12-13T15:06:00.001-05:00

State Representatives Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) and Lou Gentile (D-Steubenville) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill 276 from the Ohio House of Representatives.

House Bill 276, which Buchy and Gentile jointly sponsored, clarifies the definition of agriculture as it pertains to Ohio zoning laws, a change that will enable farmers to use farm byproducts for bio-energy production without cumbersome regulations that currently deter this environmentally friendly activity. The bill also adds algaculture to the definition of agriculture, clarifying the farming of algae as an agricultural process under Ohio law.

“By including algaculture under Ohio agricultural law, we are promoting Ohio as a state committed to new forms of agriculture,” said Buchy. “Potential expansion of the industry in Ohio is expected and jobs will be available as the industry expands.”

House Bill 276 defines the production of bio-energy from anaerobic digesters as agriculture in nature if at least 50 percent of the feedstock that was used to produce the fuel was derived from land under common ownership. This advancement will allow farmers to use anaerobic digesters as a part of a nutrient management plan or to consume any other agricultural organic byproduct.

“This bill is about being green,” Gentile said. “By using more of our agricultural products available on the farm, we are keeping the excess nutrients from polluting our environment. As energy sources become scarce, Ohio agriculture can be the source of renewable product replacements.”

House Bill 276 also defines algaculture—the farming of algae—in the Ohio Revised Code as agriculture. Algae can be harvested from controlled water sources and turned into fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and many other products. The vote today was the first step in Ohio’s potential move to be the first state in the country to recognize algaculture as an agricultural process.

"This bill encourages economic growth and seeks to protect our environment by using agricultural products in new ways,” said Gentile. “Algaculture has the potential to remove phosphorous from water before it reaches larger bodies of water and affects recreation and natural habitats.”

In House Bill 276, algaculture is defined throughout the Ohio Revised Code to be treated as an agricultural commodity. Algae thrive off nutrients commonly known to pollute rural waterways. The advancements of algaculture and anaerobic digesters are expected to aid in the cleanup of Ohio water by aiding in the removal of phosphorous and other nutrients.

“In western Ohio we are taking water quality seriously,” Buchy said. “The farming of non-toxic algae in a controlled environment and the use of anaerobic digesters will aid in keeping phosphorous out of our rivers and streams. For farmers in Mercer, Darke, Shelby, and Auglaize counties, digesters and algae ponds will go hand-in-hand to keep nutrients out of Grand Lake St. Marys and keep algae from growing in places that we don’t want it.”

House Bill 276 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Rep. Hayes Announces Grant for Job Creation in Perry County

2011-12-13T08:53:00.002-05:00

State Representative Bill Hayes (R-Harrison Twp.) today applauded the release of $60,000 to Southern Perry Incubation Center for Entrepreneurs as part of a larger effort to assist the creation and retention of private-sector jobs in Perry County.

The grant is a part of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund’s Microenterprise Business Development Program, which offers grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to assist in the development of local microenterprise businesses and create and retain long-term jobs in the private sector. Microenterprises are defined as for-profit entities with five or fewer employees, one of whom owns the business.

“My top priority is getting Ohioans back to work, and this grant is yet another example of our leadership in the area of job creation,” Hayes said.

Southern Perry Incubation Center for Entrepreneurs offers training and technical assistance through business development classes, one-on-one counseling, mentoring, incubator space, referrals, and business finance opportunities to non-bankable LMI applicants for amounts ranging from $500 to $20,000.

According to documents from the Office of Budget and Management, the organization will continue its Microenterprise Assistance Program to assist unemployed or underemployed LMI individuals who live in or plan to start their business in Perry County. It will continue to focus on the five townships of southern Perry County, which are traditionally underserved by existing economic development agencies.

Column from Rep. Kozlowski: An Economic Opportunity Worth Pursuing

2011-12-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

Ashtabula County is close to embarking on an alternative energy project that could potentially bring up to 1,200 jobs to the area. These jobs would provide a much-needed boost as we continue the effort of rebuilding our economy.

The project, introduced by Aloterra Energy, includes establishing and cultivating a fast-growing perennial grass from Asia known as Miscanthus giganteus. Once harvested, this grass can then be pelletized and used as an alternative fuel. I have been working closely with Growth Partnership, which has assisted businesses in Ashtabula County since 1990, and the Farm Bureau in order to make this endeavor a reality.

Also covering Lake, Geauga and Trumbull counties, this project represents another step forward in the effort to find alternative and renewable energy sources in the United States. With the nation’s current debt predicament growing steadily every year, hopefully we can begin to make a serious effort to reduce our massive spending—hundreds of billions of dollars each year—for oil overseas.

Additionally, this has the potential of being an effective job-creating opportunity for Ashtabula County, a county with an unemployment rate that is almost a full percentage point higher than the state average. Utilizing our soil in an environmentally friendly way is a substantial and sustainable way to keep jobs in the county.

Thanks to funding from the federal Biomass Crop Assistance Program, or BCAP, the project has the monetary legs to move forward. BCAP provides growers of Miscanthus grass with up to 75 percent in crop-sharing assistance until the crop has an opportunity to be established.

During tough economic times, it is important that we consider all options, and do what we can to capitalize on opportunities when they are presented to us. I believe the production and eventual use of Miscanthus giganteus grass to produce alternative, clean energy is an avenue worth pursuing for Ashtabula County, and I will continue to work with the departments and agencies responsible for implementing this program.

Rep. Gonzales Applauds Creation of High-tech Network in Ohio

2011-12-12T18:42:00.002-05:00

The State Controlling Board today approved the transfer of $8.1 million from the Third Frontier Project for the Ohio High Speed Research Network project in Columbus.

According to documents from the Office of Budget and Management, the Ohio High Speed Research Network will create a high-tech research environment by creating a 100 gigabit-per-second corridor through the heart of Ohio. This corridor would provide JobsOhio—the lean, economic development entity that was established through House Bill 1—the tool it needs to entice and retain businesses to Ohio.

“The Ohio High Speed Research Network project is aimed at creating jobs and retaining jobs for Ohio,” said State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville). “It is vital to Ohio’s growth to invest in higher-education to train and develop a high-tech workforce.”

Higher education research uses leading-edge technology to create new business opportunities and jobs for the state. Ohio’s medical corridor would provide the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Children’s Hospitals with unlimited capacity to transmit vital research, imaging and health information.

With the implementation of the state-of-the-art 100 gigabit-per-second research, education and innovation network, designed to support the next generation of business applications, Ohio will:

• Retain existing employers such as NASA, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Battelle, Procter & Gamble, Cleveland Clinic, and Children’s Hospitals by enabling their ability to leverage the research network;

• Attract new employers with access to the research network and its stakeholders, including 90 four-year and two-year colleges and universities and local and state governments;

• Attract researchers and research funding

Ohio’s High Speed Research Network will establish Ohio as a technology leader by building a new research broadband along the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton corridor. Researchers need access to this platform today to build the new business applications that will drive future development.

Rep. Matt Huffman discusses revisions to H.B. 136, the school choice bill

2011-12-12T16:52:00.001-05:00

News Conference Bullets

School Funding Chart Board

Rep. Landis Applauds Funding for Project to Create Jobs in Tuscarawas County

2011-12-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

State Representative Al Landis (R-Dover) is pleased to announce the State Controlling Board’s release of $1 million from the Facilities Establishment Fund to Tremcar U.S.A., Inc., located in Dover. This investment will help create much-needed jobs in Tuscarawas County and drive economic activity to the region.

According to documents from the Office of Budget and Management, the funds will be used for the purchase of machinery and equipment in support of the company’s expansion project. As a result of the project and state assistance, Tremcar has committed to create 145 new, full-time jobs and retain 55 existing, not-at-risk jobs in Dover.

“Tremcar U.S.A. has been a very valuable company to Tuscarawas County and we appreciate their continued commitment to our county and our workforce,” Landis said. “Their commitment to staying in the area and expanding will not only help the local economy but will help many families find jobs. We look forward to many more years of continued growth and working with them.”

Tremcar is a family-owned manufacturer of tank trailers for the North American market. The company’s production output includes stainless steel farm pickup tank trailers, stainless steel chemical tank trailers, stainless steel food grade tank trailers, aluminum dry bulk tank trailers, aluminum petroleum truck mounts, aluminum petroleum trailers, stainless steel and aluminum crude oil/ethanol tank trailers, aluminum vacuum trailers, and hot product/asphault train trailers.

The project entails Tremcar beginning to manufacture tanker trailers that will haul petroleum, crude oil and chemicals. Tremcar will invest $1.8 million in the purchase of machinery and equipment to enable the company to provide northwestern states and western provinces with crude oil tankers for transportation.

Local Students Visit Statehouse, Learn About Legislative Process

2011-12-08T16:59:00.003-05:00

Local students participated in State Representative Mike Henne’s “Legislator For a Day” program at the Statehouse in Columbus this week. The 4th grade students were selected based on essays that they had written about famous people from Montgomery County.

The winners were Madelaine Gregory, from Helke Elementary School in Vandalia, and Michela Harrison, from Monticello Elementary School in Huber Heights. Both of them wrote about the importance of the Wright Brothers.

The winners and their families spent the day learning about the legislative process and touring the Capitol, including being introduced by Representative Henne during an actual legislative session.

“It was wonderful to have Madelaine and Michela come and learn about Ohio’s government while at the Statehouse,” Representative Henne said. “It’s my hope that more students from the 36th House District will have opportunities like this to meet with me and develop an understanding of what a state representative does.”

Rep. McGregor December legislative update

2011-12-08T16:28:00.000-05:00

Rep. Ross McGregor discusses House Bill 66, which requires the Auditor of State to establish a fraud reporting system for filing anonymous complaints of fraud and misuse of public funds by public offices.

Representative Matt Huffman Introduces Bill to Reunite Primaries in May

2011-12-08T16:26:00.000-05:00

Today, State Representative Matt Huffman (R-Lima) offered the following statement after introducing a bill that reunites Ohio’s primaries to one date on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012:

“There has been a great deal of discussion and interest regarding having two primary dates in Ohio over the last several weeks. We believe it is in Ohio’s best interest to have a single primary date and this legislation will move all primaries to Tuesday, May 8th, 2012.

"Under this bill, the filing deadline for candidates for president of the United States and the United States House of Representatives will be on March 9th, 2012. Moving the primaries to this date will result in ensuring Ohio returns to one primary for all local, state, and federal candidates."

"We look forward to moving quickly on this bill next week.”

Tony DeVitis Selected as State Representative of the 43rd District

2011-12-07T17:58:00.003-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has announced that the House Republican Caucus selected Tony DeVitis of Green to serve as state representative of the 43rd Ohio House District. He will be sworn in during House session on Wednesday, December 14th.

“Representative DeVitis is an experienced and accomplished public servant who will serve the House well,” said Speaker Batchelder. “His extensive background in business and economics will add a valuable voice to the legislature in our mission to bring jobs to the State of Ohio.”

An 18-year resident of Green, DeVitis is the owner and vice president of the family-owned DeVitis & Sons, Inc., an Italian specialty food store in North Hill. He is currently serving his first four-year term as Councilman for Ward 3, where he serves as the Chair of the Rules and Personnel Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, a member of the Finance Committee and is the Council President Pro Tem.

DeVitis and his wife, Kathleen, have two children, Evelyn and Clark.

Rep. Anielski Testifies on Legislation Aimed at Giving Local Governments Flexibility, Cost Savings

2011-12-06T18:25:00.001-05:00

State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) today gave sponsor testimony on House Bill 347 to the Ohio House Local Government Committee. House Bill 347 would authorize legislative authorities of statutory non-chartered municipalities to have the option to reduce the number of council people as well as institute non-staggered terms of office. The bill strives to help local governments reduce costs by giving them more flexibility and options in how they operate.

“House Bill 347 gives the tools that are necessary for local governments to help them operate within their means.” Representative Anielski said. “As the proud representative of 17 municipalities, I understand that it is my duty to help those that I represent in providing them with options to control their costs. House Bill 347 provides local governments with flexibility to function with less council members, thus saving precious taxpayer dollars.”

This legislation is supported by the Ohio Municipal League and would have to be approved by a vote of the residents of the municipality. It now awaits additional testimony and further consideration in the House Local Government Committee.

Speaker Batchelder Honors Rep. Terry Johnson, 2011 Physician of the Year

2011-12-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

During today’s session of the Ohio House of Representatives, Speaker of the House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) honored State Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) for being awarded the prestigious 2011 Physician of the Year Award by the American Osteopathic Foundation.

The award honors the extraordinary accomplishments of an osteopathic physician who, throughout his or her service, brings a sense of pride to the profession and whose actions promote the science of medicine and the betterment of public health. It honors those who achieve greatness through integrity, commitment to service, and community involvement.

“I had the privilege of honoring a good friend and colleague who, throughout his life, has dedicated himself to serving others,” Batchelder said. “Dr. Johnson is a great man and a passionate, devoted physician who has touched the lives of those within the national medical community, as well as all Ohioans. As a servant of the people, his integrity is unparalleled and his commitment to bettering the lives of those around him unwavering. I feel very fortunate as Speaker of this institution to have such a fine and distinguished member as Dr. Johnson in our caucus, as well as to have the opportunity to honor him on the House floor for this remarkable accomplishment.”

Rep. Johnson’s receipt of the Physician of the Year Award by the American Osteopathic Foundation follows a string of other recognitions that he has received. In 2010 his Ohio University medical students selected him as the “Outstanding Family Medicine Physician” at Southern Ohio Medical Center. In 2011 the Ohio State Society of the American College of Osteopathic Physicians selected Dr. Johnson as the state “Family Physician of the Year.” He also received the Columbus Osteopathic Association William I. Linder, DO, Advocate Award in 2011.

In addition to serving in the Ohio House, Rep. Johnson practices family medicine in Lucasville and is also the assistant dean at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. He served as a colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard and as a commander in the National Guard Medical Detachment.

Rep. Johnson was presented the award at a special ceremony in Orlando, Florida on October 29th.

Ohio House Passes Legislation to Penalize Campaign Finance Violations

2011-12-06T16:19:00.002-05:00

In an effort to institute greater accountability in campaign finance, the Ohio House of Representatives today voted to pass House Bill 326, which imposes a criminal penalty on public officials who knowingly use public funds for political purposes.

This legislation—which was jointly sponsored by State Representatives Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) and Brian Hill (R-Zanesville)—institutes a penalty of a first-degree misdemeanor, similar to the penalty for other campaign finance law violations. Currently, the Ohio Revised Code specifies that it is illegal to use tax dollars for political purposes but does not include a criminal penalty.

“This bill is very straightforward,” McClain said. “It simply protects taxpayer dollars and I am pleased with the strong bipartisan support it received.”

“Today, taxpayers are one step closer to ensuring public officials are held accountable in the court of law for the misuse of our tax money to fund campaigns,” Hill said. “An open, honest, transparent and fiscally-responsible government is what our communities demand and is what I will continue to fight for.”

The need for House Bill 326 came to light after a recent audit of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) revealed that in 2007 and 2008, TARTA illegally loaned nearly $67,000 to Citizens for TARTA, the political action committee that gathers resources to fund TARTA levy campaigns.

House Bill 326 passed by a vote of 90-2 and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Rep. Dovilla Welcomes “Representative for a Day” Reading Contest Winners to Ohio Statehouse

2011-12-05T15:42:00.000-05:00

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R–Berea) was joined recently in Columbus by Strongsville residents Colleen and Rachel George, students at Whitney Elementary School, winners of the House District 18 “Representative for a Day” reading contest. The George girls were accompanied by their parents, Tom and Mary George.

“One of the great privileges of serving as state representative is the opportunity to welcome young citizens and their families to the People’s House,” said Dovilla. “The enthusiasm Colleen and Rachel brought with them to the Statehouse demonstrated how meaningful the “Representative for a Day” program is for future leaders of the Buckeye State. I plan to renew my partnership this winter with area libraries in order to provide more residents with this experience, which recognizes and rewards our children’s commitment to reading and learning.”

In partnership with the Cuyahoga County Library, Rep. Dovilla initiated the “Legislator for a Day” reading program. Children in grades one through six participated in the program by visiting the Berea, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls or Strongsville branches of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, picking up a bookmark and recording five books that they read on the back of the bookmark. The completed bookmark served as an entry form for selection as a “Legislator for a Day.”

Rep. Dovilla will announce another round of his elementary school reading contest in early 2012.

Column from Speaker Batchelder in the Post: Job opportunities coming to Ohio

2011-12-05T13:20:00.000-05:00

The Post, 11/29/11

When I wrote about Airborne Maintenance & Engineering Services creating 250 jobs in Wilmington and Omnicare Inc. creating 340 jobs in Cincinnati not long ago, I was certainly pleased to be spreading such good news. That was just the tip of the iceberg, though. There had been several job announcements in Ohio before that, and there have certainly been many since.

Just recently, more companies have announced new positions in Ohio, totaling more than 1,700 new jobs within our borders. From as far down as Mason--where a material-handling company called Intelligrated will build a new headquarters and add 200 engineering jobs and technical jobs--to the northern portions of the state--where Republic Steel announced 450 new jobs in Lorain--evidence is mounting that Ohio is open for business again.

Perhaps the most significant sign that our job creation efforts are paying off is that Chrysler has announced 1,100 new jobs at a Jeep complex in Toledo; this is an area, like others in Ohio, hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs in recent years. This Chrysler investment of $500 million is further proof that a business-friendly state that offers incentives to businesses is going to be the one that attracts the most jobs for its citizens.

There is little doubt in my mind that many of these companies looked elsewhere, but our state went out of its way to attract them and address their needs in a timely and responsible fashion so they would keep their jobs in Ohio. In fact, this was the thinking behind the creation of our state's private, non-profit group of business leaders--JobsOhio--that was created in House Bill 1 at the beginning of this year. House Bill 1 was the first bill introduced and passed by the Ohio House this year and further demonstrates our focus on job creation since the very first day of this General Assembly.

The House has also taken significant steps to keep jobs and our talented workforce in Ohio by providing incentives for Ohio's graduates to stay and work in Ohio, keeping small business owners and farmers in Ohio through the elimination of the estate tax, and setting up the Common Sense Initiative Office to ensure that our businesses are not harmed by overregulation.

There is no doubt that the Republican caucus at the Ohio House has been focused on job creation and fiscal responsibility from our first day forward. While we have accomplished much, there is always more that can be done and I welcome your input and ideas on job creation. I hope to continue focusing on ways to get Ohioans back to work, including retraining the current workforce. Additionally, there is more work to be done to lessen the tax burden on families and businesses.

As I have often said, actions of the government cannot create jobs, but they can certainly lead to an atmosphere that attracts and creates the opportunity for new jobs. So long as I am speaker, keeping Ohioans with jobs to support them and their families will be my top priority.

http://thepostnewspapers.com/medina/Opinion/copy_of_from-the-peoples-house-wadsworth-12-3

Speaker Batchelder Announces Applicants for 43rd House District

2011-12-02T18:16:00.001-05:00

Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and members of the House Republican Caucus today announced the slate of candidates who have applied for appointment to the 43rd House District seat, which was vacated following the departure of former State Representative Todd McKenney.

Applicants for the 43rd Ohio House District include:
• Anthony DeVitis (of Uniontown), small business owner and Green city councilmember
• Gary Peters (of Coventry Township), businessman with experience in state and local government
• Nick Skeriotis (of Suffield Township), president of S&K Asphalt and Concrete and a member of Portage County Republican Central Committee

The Speaker’s office will contact individual candidates who met today’s deadline with a time for an interview with the House Republican screening panel. State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) will serve as chairman of the screening panel and will be joined by Representatives John Adams (R-Sidney), Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City), Dave Hall (R-Millersburg) and Ron Young (R-Painesville).

The full Republican Caucus will vote on filling the 43rd House District vacancy following the screening.

Sprague to Host Informational Session on Livestock Care Standards

2011-12-02T11:46:00.000-05:00

State Representative Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) has announced that he will be hosting an informational session for area farmers and livestock owners to learn about Ohio’s new livestock care standards.

Joining Representative Sprague will be Interim Director Toney Forshey from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board Executive Director Michael Bailey.

The event will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8th at the Hardin County Fairgrounds Community Building. Guests are asked to RSVP to Megan Burke at (614) 466-3819.

“This is an excellent opportunity for those who will be affected by the livestock care regulations to come out and learn exactly what the new rules are and why,” Representative Sprague said.

The livestock care standards became effective September 29, 2011 and govern all aspects of animal care, including feed, water, housing, equipment, management, transportation, and health.

Rep. Gonzales Tours Mount Carmel Home Care

2011-12-02T08:44:00.002-05:00

State Representative Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) yesterday attended a tour of Mount Carmel Home Care to gain a greater perspective of the daily work of home care professionals, as well as the challenges they face and the scope of these vital services for vulnerable Ohioans.

The representative was hosted by Cindy Salvator, the Executive Director of the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice, who shared with Representative Gonzales the various ways that home care can provide cost-effective skilled and rehabilitative care. She then accompanied the Mount Carmel Home Care team to a current patient’s home to learn firsthand about the skilled nursing and therapy services provided by the agency and the long-term benefits to the patients receiving this care in Central Ohio.

“I truly enjoyed seeing the amazing work and services that these nurses provide to their patients,” said Representative Gonzales. “Their hard work and dedication is a true testament to them and their profession.”

Mount Carmel Home Care provides skilled nursing services, medical social work services, and physical, occupational and speech therapies to patients in the comfort of their own homes. These professionals work closely with patients, their families and physicians to promote patient health, provide effective disease and medication management, and prevent hospital readmissions by providing needed care, skilled assessments and education.

Jobs Bills by Kozlowski, Young Receive Unanimous Committee Support

2011-12-01T14:55:00.006-05:00

State Representative Casey Kozlowski (R-Pierpont) and State Representative Ron Young (R-Painesville) have announced that two of their jointly sponsored bills have passed from their respective committees in the Legislature, both with unanimous support from members on both sides of the aisle.

House Bill 243, which originally passed from the Ohio House in June and recently passed unanimously from the Senate Insurance Committee, strives to lighten burdensome, bureaucratic permit restrictions on economic development. It eliminates two restrictions on the A-3a liquor permit, which would allow more distillers to obtain the permit and thereby expand business opportunities and tourism in Ohio. According to current law, an A-3a permit can only be obtained in counties with at least 800,000 residents and may be issued to only one micro-distiller in that county—limiting permit holders to just three statewide.

Reps Kozlowski and Young’s legislation removes the 800,000 county population requirements and allows micro-distillers to acquire this permit and begin operations as boutique producers in other areas of Ohio.

“In a time when jobs are scarce and the population of Ohio has declined, the evolution of business expansion is essential to entice individuals to take root in this state and prosper,” Kozlowski said. “This bill would allow for the expansion of business for distillers in Ohio, as well as benefit the tourism industry for people who visit distilleries and wineries for taste tests and want to purchase the product on location. Because of population requirements, A-3a permits only benefit Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties. When we create laws that hinder business, we are limiting entrepreneurs and their ideas, jobs, investments and the economic growth this state needs.”

“We have an opportunity to help many of the businesses in our communities succeed while also increasing revenue from tourism. As lawmakers, we need to constantly seek ways to make Ohio marketable and make our state economy more attractive. House Bill 243 is another step toward this goal,” Young said.

Additionally, House Concurrent Resolution 22 passed from the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and will urge Congress to pass the “Short Sea Shipping Act of 2011” — a resolution sponsored by Congressman Steve LaTourette — which is a vital job-creating bill that will not only impact the Great Lakes region but the state of Ohio as a whole.

The “Short Sea Shipping Act of 2011,” or the federal H.R. 1533, would provide the necessary incentives for the further development of the United States shipping industry, which would also create jobs in the trucking industry, relieve traffic congestion on highways, and reduce greenhouse emissions.

Specifically, it would exempt from the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) any commercial cargo that is loaded at a port in the United States mainland and unloaded at another port in the United States mainland after transport solely by coastal or river route or unloaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System. Likewise, the bill’s exemption would apply to commercial cargo that is loaded at a port in Canada located in the Great Lakes Seaway System and unloaded at a port in the United States mainland.

“By enacting this resolution and urging the passage of House Resolution 1533, we would be giving cargo shippers an incentive to move cargo via marine mode,” said Kozlowski. “This legislation would also enhance our short sea shipping industry, create jobs, reduce highway congestion and improve the flow of commerce. I am pleased that it passed from House committee today with support from both sides of the aisle. This legislation will open the doors for Ohio businesses, and help Ashtabula and Conneaut ports.”

“House Resolution 1533 will directly benefit communities like Fairport Harbor, which will see new job growth borne from this revitalized short sea shipping. In the process, this will hopefully take away some of the highway congestion from shipping over land,” Young said. “From a macro perspective, this legislation is designed to help refocus the Great Lakes region on the virtues of intermodal shipping. As compared to land transportation, shipping via waterways is much more cost-effective, requires much less infrastructure development and maintenance, burns less fuel per ton, and is thus more environmentally friendly.”

Having passed from House committee, H.C.R. 22 now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives.