November 4, 2011

Representative Anielski Honors Solon Seniors

State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) visited the Solon Senior Center during the center’s senior luncheon and bingo to honor four residents who recently celebrated milestone birthdays. Jill Frankel, Director of City of Solon Department of Senior Services, facilitated the surprise for the seniors.

“I am always grateful to be invited to participate in ceremonies held by the Solon Senior Center,” said Rep. Anielski. “It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to recognize the true pillars of our community who have lived, worked, raised families and volunteered countless hours to transform our city into a welcoming place for new generations.”

The Department of Senior Services in Solon provides various activities and tools tailored to engage adults over 60 years of age. Regular events are coordinated throughout the calendar year and anticipate upcoming special events for the holiday season.

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Congressional districts according to H.B. 369

To determine the index, we used five races, two of which yielded losses for Republicans (2006 Attorney General, 2008 Presidential), two of which yielded wins for Republicans (2004 Presidential, 2006 Auditor), and one that yielded a plurality for Republicans (2010 Gubernatorial).

Using the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting's own scoring, these districts yield 10 competitive districts (45.0% - 55.0% Index).

Under the current map that passed in 2001/2002, voters gave Democrats a 10-8 congressional advantage in 2008 and Republicans a 13-5 advantage in 2010. Therefore, according to H.B. 369, each party loses one seat, respecting the voters' decision about what their congressional delegation should look like.

H.B. 369 Congressional Map

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November 2, 2011

Rep. Lynn Slaby discusses HJR 1

Rep. Lynn Slaby discusses HJR 1, which raises the mandatory retirement age for judges.

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Column from Rep. Kozlowski: A Productive Meeting on the Lake Erie Correctional Institution

With our state finances under strain, I knew coming into the state legislature in January that some changes would have to be made in order to balance the books. One of those changes that I supported included privatizing some of Ohio’s prisons, and the Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LaECI) ended up being selected as one of the prison to be sold and operated by others—purchased by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for $72.7 million.

I have had a number of questions about how the privatization of LaECI would affect our local area. In order to discuss the sale and transition of the prison, I was pleased to invite local officials, such as the city planner, law director and council members of Conneaut, to a meeting I held in Columbus, along with Director of Rehabilitation and Correction Gary Mohr and staff of Senator Capri Cafaro.

We have worked with Conneaut City Council to set up a follow-up meeting to engage all interested parties in the transition of the facility to CCA and to work to find a remedy on the questions of jurisdiction.

This move and other plans for Ohio’s prisons will save about $13 million each year and help to ease overcrowding. Additionally, over $1 million in real estate revenue will be generated annually. The Conneaut School district will be receiving the largest portion of the real estate revenue, and the city of Conneaut, Ashtabula County and the Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus will also share in the revenue we receive.

CCA is expected to employ nearly 280 people, not including contract positions such as food service positions, dietician technicians, warehouse/sanitation workers and various medical positions. CCA will be retaining the same number of jobs currently at the prison when it takes over. With the contract positions included, the number of jobs is closer to 300.

After speaking with CCA, I was pleased to know that they will be giving all those currently employed by the state at the prison the option of applying for the jobs. The former employees of LaECI will be receiving preferential treatment during the hiring process, a provision that I advocated to write into state law. The hiring process is currently underway, with interviews for correctional officers just wrapping up and other interviews to come shortly. Near the end of the year, my understanding is that the warden will be reaching out to city and county leaders to review current practices and form partnerships.

The transition of the prison is a huge positive for city of Conneaut, and I was happy with the conversation we were able to have about LaECI at the meeting. While a few questions still remain about the transition, our upcoming follow-up meeting will help in moving towards a solution on the questions that still remain.

I want to assure you that my job as a state representative is not about creating top-down laws from state government, but rather to truly represent the people of the 99th House District and serve as a liaison between you and those who work in our state government agencies. It’s my hope that we can continue to capitalize on these relationships—at the state and local level—that will benefit the people of Ashtabula and Trumbull counties.

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November 1, 2011

Rep. Sears Shadows Home Care Nurses, Gains Greater Perspective on Services

In observation of National Home Care Month this November, State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.) shadowed field nurses at Heritage Health Care to observe the challenges they face and to help enhance vital services for vulnerable Ohioans.

"It was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit with a client of Heritage Home Healthcare,” Sears said. “Home-based health services provide not only a preferred way of receiving care, but also a more affordable way of receiving care. It's comforting to know that our community has resources like this available while we make important transitions in health care."

Home care allows thousands of Ohioans—including medically fragile patients, mentally handicapped patients, senior citizens, and many other children and adults—to remain with their families in the comfort of their homes. With the help of professionally trained health care staff, home care offers dignity and independence as well as vital health services.

“Home health care allows patients of all ages to be cared for in the comfort of their own home, regardless of their medical condition, so that they may be close to their loved ones,” said David Walsh, CEO at Heritage Health Care. “During this month and every month, we honor our patients and recognize the staff for their significant commitment to care for those patients.”

Heritage Health Care is a member of the Ohio Council for Home Care and Hospice and is a northwest Ohio-based and locally owned home health organization that offers a full range of home care services to 60 counties in the state of Ohio.

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Representative Dovilla Commends Berea City Schools

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) recently presented commendations to the Berea City School District for its rating of Excellent on the school’s 2010-2011 state report card from the Ohio Department of Education.

“As a proud alumnus of the Berea City Schools, I am pleased that this school district has continued to provide a world-class education for the students in our community,” Dovilla said. “This rating is a reflection not only of the successes our faculty, staff and administrators are achieving but also of the outstanding support our community provides.”

Representative Dovilla joined Superintendent Mike Sheppard for this special presentation before the kick-off of the annual Berea - Midpark football game at the George Finnie Stadium in Berea.

The data for school district ratings and individual school building ratings can be viewed on the department’s website at: www.ode.state.oh.us.

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Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement on Ohio Democratic Party Press Conference

In response to today’s press conference by Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) issued the following statement:

“Once again, I am compelled to remind the chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party that Democratic members of the House and Senate voted in favor of the Congressional map in House Bill 319. Unquestionably, this fair and legal map meets and exceeds state and federal requirements for congressional redistricting.


“Chairman Redfern seems intent on misleading the public about the map that was adopted by the General Assembly. By his actions, Chairman Redfern clearly opposes:


• Creating a new, heavily Democrat-leaning seat in Franklin County;
• Protecting a majority-minority seat in Cuyahoga and Summit counties;
• Drawing two incumbent Democrats together and two incumbent Republicans together – a fair scenario for each party – upon Ohio’s loss of two Congressional seats;
• Drawing a third-term Democrat incumbent into the same seat as a Republican who has been in office for ten months to create a heavily Democrat-leaning district in Franklin County. In House Bill 319, Republicans went out of their way to protect a minority seat in addition to adding a seat that can be won by a minority.


“Despite innuendo otherwise, House Republicans are continuing to work with the elected Republican and Democrat members of both houses of the General Assembly, and I am delighted to continue working with them. It is my hope that deliberations will continue in the coming days.”

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Rep. Casey Kozlowski discusses "Noble November"

State Representative Casey Kozlowski discusses the importance of volunteering and being involved in our communities.

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October 31, 2011

Column from Speaker Batchelder in the Post: Approaching Business With Common Sense

The Post, 10/26

As I have addressed the problems facing small businesses in the past, I mentioned a regulatory bill called the Common Sense Initiative, but I would like to elaborate on just how important this bill is to improving Ohio's business climate.

In many cases, getting businesses the permits they need from the state has been a cumbersome process that takes longer than in other states--and in some cases, the regulations are applied inconsistently. In addition, Ohio has often gone above and beyond the requirements placed upon businesses by the federal government, requiring more at the state level and hindering us in attracting more jobs to our state. This could not continue, and so we did something to address it early in this General Assembly.

Through the Common Sense Initiative, we are helping small businesses across the state by reducing and eliminating burdensome, costly, and duplicative rules that hurt jobs and raise overhead costs. We felt that it was necessary to reexamine our regulations as a means of reviving Ohio's ailing economy.

The legislation, Senate Bill 2, established the Common Sense Initiative Office. It helps to consolidate certain functions of state agencies and is paid for with already existing revenue. The mission of the CSI Office is to hold state agencies accountable for the rules they implement, weighing the benefit of the rules against the adverse impacts they could have on Ohio businesses.

Visiting with small business owners on a very regular basis, I often hear about the struggles they are confronted with--especially in a down economy. Regulation by government is always one of those hindrances, but it does not have to be. Rather, government should be a business partner, helping them to grow and be successful.

Eliminating needless regulations can assist businesses by allowing staff to focus their efforts on business growth and serving customers, rather than spending their time and money trying to remain in compliance.

Make no mistake, some regulations make sense and work well, but they must be put in place with a common-sense approach, and that is what the Common Sense Initiative accomplishes. Although changes like this might seem minor in relation to all that businesses do, these are important steps in providing relief to the employees and owners of thousands of small businesses across our state. It is my ultimate hope that, over time, relieving businesses of these sometimes unnecessary burdens will free them to do what they do best: create jobs.

http://thepostnewspapers.com/norton/copy_of_from-the-people-house-wadsworth-10-29

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October 28, 2011

Representative Anielski Tours Koinonia Day Center

State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) today participated in a tour of the Koinonia Day Center, the largest private provider of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Cuyahoga County.

Koinonia, which employs more than 500 people, offers day support as well as vocational and career needs. Their mission is to partner with people who have developmental disabilities to achieve healthy, fulfilling, enriched lives.

“I was honored to receive an invitation to be a visitor at The Koinonia Day Center,” Representative Anielski said. “The Koinonia community utilizes the tools and resources of its staff and facility to assist and serve our friends and neighbors with developmental disabilities. The day center’s partnership with residential services helps each individual retain their independence while also providing the support services they need to succeed.”

Koinonia’s long-term care services are provided to individuals who live in 21 group homes, 50 supported living sites, and three host homes. Total enrollment in Koinonia’s residential, day, vocational and career programs is 424 participants. It is funded through Medicaid, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, private pay and donations.

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Column from Rep. Bill Hayes: Keeping Good Teachers on the Job

Whenever I hear about a young teacher being laid off, I think back to an article that ran in the Columbus Dispatch earlier this year. It referred to the Pickerington School District having to let go of a large number of teachers. Five of the teachers that were to be laid off were voted “Teacher of the Year” by their respective schools within the district.

The unfortunate story stemmed from Pickerington’s “last in, first out” policy, which determines all layoff decisions based on tenure. Simply stated, those with the least seniority are the first to go.

Senate Bill 5 implements a performance-based pay policy. That is, instead of all staffing decisions being decided by who has been on the job the longest, schools will also have the ability to look at someone’s talents. This would surely give schools a better opportunity to hold onto good teachers, such as those who are nominated “Teacher of the Year.”

But perhaps the bigger issue with the situation in Pickerington was that it was forced to lay off 17 percent of its teaching staff. When a school is near the verge of laying off one-fifth of its staff, then we are no longer only talking about young teachers. In fact, one of the laid off teachers had worked at the school for eight years.

The reason such drastic staff reductions were needed was because the school district had to cut $13 million from its budget. Schools all over the state have faced similar financial realities, and the loss of teaching jobs has been the result.

However, instead of making cuts solely by laying off teachers—which negatively impacts our children’s educations—Senate Bill 5 includes provisions that gives school districts greater flexibility over their budgets. Requiring that all school employees pay slightly more toward their healthcare and retirement frees up space for schools to keep more teachers on staff.

We should do whatever we can to keep good teachers in our schools. The simple, common-sense provisions in Senate Bill 5 will help make that possible.

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Rep. Wachtmann Attends The James Cancer Program Address

State Representative Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) recently attended the 2011 State of the Cancer Program Address, which was given by Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and CEO of the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

Caligiuri discussed past accomplishments as well as future endeavors in the effort to create a cancer-free world.

“Here in Ohio we are blessed to have some of the best cancer centers in the world,” said Wachtmann, who serves as chairman of the House Health and Aging Committee. “With cancer touching almost every family in Ohio, whether directly or indirectly, it is comforting to know we have some of the best cancer care and cancer research available right here in our home state.”

Ohio State University Medical Center is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer centers and one of only 7 centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials. NCI rated Ohio State University’s cancer program as “exceptional,” which is the highest rating available. U.S. News and World Report ranked Ohio State University Medical Center as one of the top 20 cancer hospitals in the nation.

Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee and Executive Vice President and Provost Joseph A. Alutto also provided remarks at the event.

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October 27, 2011

Representative Dovilla Recognizes Olmsted Falls National Merit Scholars

State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) presented commendations to seven Olmsted Falls seniors in recognition of their achievements in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

“Without question, these students are shining examples of the exemplary education Olmsted Falls City Schools are committed to providing our children,” Dovilla said. “Our community, our teachers, and the students’ families should take just pride in the accomplishments of these young adults.”

Recognized were National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists Pam Keller and Sohan Vartak, along with National Merit Commended Students Kristin Allen, Kevin Candow, Stephanie Kiroff, Hayleigh Sanders, Nicholas Wickham, and 2012 National Achievement Scholarship Program Semi-Finalist Amber Black.

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Column from Rep. Tim Derickson: Building upon Ohio's workforce

With the recent announcements by Smart Papers and Mohawk Fine Papers in Hamilton, it is crucial that we take a proactive stance on promoting workforce development to ensure the well-being of Ohioans and future economic growth and opportunity for this state. Now more than ever, we must prepare and educate ourselves on workforce development opportunities that exist for the unemployed, as well as “incumbent” workers.

We must focus our efforts on tools that protect and prepare our workers. “Workforce Development” has become synonymous with job creation and retention in today’s economy, and it is a critical component to job growth. To suggest “job growth” without developing our workforce would be futile.

OhioMeansJobs.com, a website that connects employers and job-seekers, cites that more than 50,000 jobs are available across the state for qualified workers. It is clear that an important focus for improving Ohio’s economy is a well-prepared and educated workforce, which is why I believe Ohio can do a much better job at providing development opportunities for our working citizens. In my role as a state representative, workforce development continues to be at the forefront of my efforts.

I have had the opportunity to travel the state in recent months, serving as chairman of the Ohio House Workforce Development Task Force. This is a bipartisan committee that solicited feedback from employers and employees, educational institutions, agencies, job seekers and students.

Five hearings were held throughout the state, and committee members listened to expert testimony from groups and individuals with practical knowledge in their respective workforce development programs. Experts from our own community provided the committee with very valuable insight. The Southwest Ohio regional hearing was held at Miami University’s Middletown campus, where we heard from 26 expert witnesses.

This timely matter brought about tremendous interest and participation at every hearing. When it was all said and done, we heard testimony from 85 witnesses, encompassing nearly 20 hours of discussion with the committee. While we anticipated hearing the effective aspects of many of our workforce development programs, we were also encouraged to hear ways that the various entities are improving at preparing Ohio’s workforce for jobs that are available today. Some of the open jobs in Ohio require a special certification; others require a college degree. All of them require a good work ethic and high character.

Locally, we are fortunate to be home to many schools offering classes that lead to college degrees or special certifications that prepare workers for jobs that currently exist. Workforce One is a local agency available to help prepare workers for finding jobs. The types of positions available in Ohio are diverse, so the training and education should match. Accordingly, Ohio must continue to promote a wide-range of education and training options for Ohioans.

All in all, the workforce development system must be effective, collaborative, and ready to meet the ever-changing needs of employment opportunities. There are many programs and agencies that have found ways to partner with employers in their communities, and there are other agencies that need help in identifying partners with whom to collaborate.

The statewide hearings affirmed what we already know to be true: Ohioans are hard-working, motivated, and dedicated individuals that steadfastly contribute to the livelihood of their families and to this state. It is one of our many hopes that our findings will begin to point Ohio back in the right direction.

I encourage you to log on to OhioMeansJobs.com and search for job opportunities that exist in Ohio. While this site is helpful, it is just one of many resources for unemployed and incumbent workers.

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October 26, 2011

Rep. Mike Henne's October legislative update

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