Category Archives: Ohio

Freedom Index, Which Congressional Representative Protects Your Freedom

Posted on August 2, 2011 by | Leave a comment

On August 8, The New American published its Freedom Index. In it, researchers scored the votes of members of both he U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate based on ten bills of Constitutional significance. The ten bills included (1) H.R. 2 “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act”, (2) H.R. 4 called “1099 Reporting Requirement Repeal” that was also part of Obamacare, and (3) H.C.R. 35 was a resolution to defund Obamacare.

The House passed all three bills but the Senate only approved because of its direct negative impact on business.

Because the Freedom Index is based on the founding legal view that freedom is protected by the strict limitation of Constitutional precept to all other federal law making, a vote for each of the three bills received a For Freedom score and a vote against each of them were given Against Freedom score.

So, how do Greene County, Ohio representatives measure up to protecting our freedoms?

Steve Austria scored 100% on the three bills and 70% on all ten bills.
Rob Portman also scored 100% on the three pro-Constitutional healthcare bills.

The scores of other notable Ohio politicians include:

Mike Turner (R-Dayton) who voted for all 3 bills (100%).
Dennis Kuninich (D) who received a score of 0 and only 1 out of the ten (Libya Troop Withdrawl bill)
Sherrod Brown (D) did vote for HR 4 “1099 Reporting Requirement Repeal” and the only other bill voted for was the Ethanol Subsides Repeal bill.

It is also worthy of mention that only the above republicans voted for legislation to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood’s abortion business.

To read the entire Freedom Index report, go to The New American website www.thenewamerican.com.

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Posted in Greene County, health care, news, Ohio, politics

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A Responsible and Innovative Budget for Ohio

Posted on July 28, 2011 by | 1 comment

By State Representative Jarrod Martin

With a budget gap of $8 billion this year, the Ohio House has fought to put Ohio on more stable financial footing by crafting a sustainable, responsible budget. With innovative solutions that will lead to long-term stability for our state, we reexamined the size and scope of state government, invested in the things that matter, and did not raise taxes on Ohioans.

One of the priorities in this budget was Ohio’s education system. Nothing affects the future stability of a state as much as the education of its young people. We significantly expanded options for parents regarding which schools their children can attend. Additionally, the General Assembly has ensured that all school districts in Ohio receive at least what they received in state aid last year, which will maintain a quality educational structure for our children.

We also ensured that more Ohioans have access to our state’s higher education institutions as well. The Legislature fought to keep tuition at a more affordable level by capping the annual increases at 3.5 percent. We also included a provision to allow our state’s high school graduates who leave Ohio to return within a set time frame and receive in-state tuition.

An ongoing priority for the Ohio House is job creation and Ohio’s business climate, and this was reflected in the biennial budget. We aimed to attract more people to Ohio by eliminating the state’s death tax starting in 2013. This unfair and unnecessary double tax has compelled Ohioans to flee to other states to retire, farm and build their businesses without the hindrance of the state taking more from them. It also has contributed to Ohio’s notoriously burdensome and anti-business tax climate, which this Legislature is committed to rectifying during this General Assembly.

We also worked to strengthen Ohio’s businesses through the creation of InvestOhio, which allows Ohioans who make an investment in one of Ohio’s small businesses for two years to receive a tax credit of 10 percent. Not only does this encourage up to $1 billion in new, job-creating investments for the next two years, but it also encourages additional investment down the road. With healthy businesses in Ohio, there are more jobs for our communities.

To protect the most vulnerable in our communities, the Legislature allocated $31.3 million in fiscal year 2012 and $63 million in fiscal year 2013 over the executive budget for PASSPORT, which provides a home-care option for seniors. We also allocated an additional $7.5 million for mental health services.

This General Assembly has been entirely focused on getting our state in order and providing a brighter future for all Ohioans. Your phone calls, e-mails and letters continue to help my work in the Statehouse by keeping me informed and guiding my decision-making in Columbus. If you have other ideas for getting Ohio back on track, I may be reached by calling (614) 644-6020, e-mailing District70@ohr.state.oh.us, or writing to State Rep. Jarrod Martin, 77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215

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Posted in economy, Ohio, politics

Stop Gov. Kaisch from Selling Roads to the Highest Bidder

Posted on July 28, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Don’t let Governor Kasich sell or lease the Ohio turnpike. Why should we pay foreigners for the privilege of riding on our own money-generating highway system that we built and paid for? It is currently earning approximately $250 million a year for Ohio. We would only gain a one-time infusion of additional money to pay current bills that your kids and future generations will be paying for many years to come.

This sale has major functional problems. Previous sales in other states have lessened their ability maintain and care for their roads and has prevented them from implementing needed expansion. This has also curtailed their ability to make proper decisions that affect local businesses.

We will have inadequate control of future toll increases. Indiana mistakenly sold their toll road system to a foreign company. Drivers complain that the prices have doubled over 5 years. The cost to travel the Ohio turnpike today is $15; in just 5 years time your cost could be $30 or more!

Tell Governor Kasich Ohio is NOT for sale!

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Posted in economy, Ohio, politics, taxes

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Pro-Life Governor Signs Late-Term Abortion Ban to Save Lives

Posted on July 27, 2011 by | Leave a comment

(Columbus, OH) – On July 20, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed H.B. 78, the Late-Term Abortion Ban. This new law, supported by Ohio Right to Life, is the most important piece of pro-life legislation that Ohio has passed in years and is part of an overall national strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade. The legislation was advocated for by its sponsors Rep. Joe Uecker (R -Loveland), Rep. Kristina Roegner (R-Cuyahoga Falls) and Senator Peggy Lehner (R- Kettering).

“In order to protect life, it takes compassionate leadership from our elected officials. By signing this critical pro-life legislation, Governor Kasich demonstrated to all Ohioans that the health and welfare of mothers and their unborn children are of paramount importance to the state of Ohio,” said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director for Ohio Right to Life. “According to the Department of Health, an abortion took place in Ohio last year when the baby was 35 weeks old. From now on, these babies and their mothers will be protected,” said Gonidakis.

This legislation bans post-viability abortions except when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger. Up to this point in Ohio, a woman could legally have an abortion up to and through her ninth month of pregnancy. With today’s signature by Governor Kasich, babies who can live outside of their mother’s womb will no longer be subject to death by abortion.

The bill passed the Ohio House of Representatives earlier this year with an astounding 65 to 33 bi-partisan vote. Last week, through the leadership of pro-life Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), Senator Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) and Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro),the bill passed the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan vote.

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Our Nation’s Birthday, Moment to Celebrate Democracy

Posted on July 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment

By Congressman Sherrod Brown

Independence Day is an opportunity to commemorate the founding of our nation, as well as the promise that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are rights – not privileges.

Every American should have access to the tools needed to build a meaningful life.

Elementary students in Elyria deserve to learn from the latest text books. Grandparents in Grandview should never be forced to choose between buying medicine or a meal. And firefighters in Fairfield have earned the right to fight a fire with reliable, modern protective gear.

In a democracy, national priorities should reflect the needs of all citizens – not just the privileged.

Two hundred and thirty-five years after British subjects declared themselves United States citizens, Americans must continue the journey toward becoming a more perfect Union.

We’ve made tremendous strides in guaranteeing fundamental rights to education, health, and safety. Ohio established free, public education in 1825. Today – with the support of some $400 million in “Race to the Top Funds” – Ohio schools are working to build on proven models of success and to empower students with the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills needed to embark on 21st century careers.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, public health resources in Ohio were consumed by the fight against tuberculosis and the cholera epidemic. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, children can now remain on their parents’ health insurance until they reach 26 years of age. Seniors can receive annual wellness visits that will not only keep them healthier, but will also reduce costs by helping avoid illnesses. And we’re investing in preventive care and reforming our delivery system so that medical practitioners are rewarded for the outcome of their patients, not how many tests are ordered.

Public safety has also improved. In 1853, Cincinnati established the first fully-paid, professional fire department in the United States. It would take another decade for the first self-contained breathing apparatus to be invented. Today, professional firefighters can breathe safely while communicating with one another in a black, smoke-filled building.

Progress in our educational institutions, public health, and safety could not have happened without industrious Americans pushing for improvements. Time is not enough to usher in lasting change. It also takes human effort.

And, it is only with continued advocacy that we will be able to move closer to achieving a more perfect Union.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are easier to secure when everyone who wants to work has a job.

That is why America must reinvest in our most important industries. In Ohio, where agriculture remains our largest sector, we must continue to support small farmers and planters who deserve to carry on their family legacy of providing the food that feeds and fuels America.

Manufacturing is another critical industry for America – and our state. Ohio is home to more than 21,000 manufacturing companies. Three of the top twenty manufacturing cities in the U.S. are located in the Buckeye State. By establishing a National Manufacturing Policy – employed by so many industrialized countries – we can ensure that this vital industry remains strong in the 21st century and continues to lead our economic recovery.

We can ensure that Ohioans are equipped with the skills needed to fill good-paying, high-tech jobs. Legislation – like the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act, which I recently introduced ­– can create partnerships among community colleges, labor, workforce boards, and emerging industries to rejuvenate American manufacturing.

Yes, there are challenges to be met. But, as Americans, we also have a wealth of opportunities to do great things.

Since our founding, Ohio has been a state of vanguard achievements. Innovative Ohioans built the first successful airplane, invented the modern traffic signal, completed the first orbit of Earth by an American, and eight Ohioans have led as President of the United States.

Today’s schoolchildren, senior citizens, public servants, and all Americans have a role to play in creating the country our founders envisioned.

With common-sense legislation and concrete leadership, we can continue to honor our founders and achieve an even better future.

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Posted in history, Holidays, Independence Day, Ohio, politics

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Ohio Legislature Passes Pro-Life State Budget

Posted on July 1, 2011 by | Leave a comment

(COLUMBUS) – Today the Ohio Legislature passed a state budget which includes multiple pro-life amendments. The state budget, House Bill 153, now advances to pro-life Governor John Kasich. Among other things, the state budget contains Ohio Right to Life amendments that will protect taxpayer dollars from paying for abortion. The first amendment bans abortions from being performed in public hospitals. The second amendment prohibits abortion coverage in insurance plans of local public employees.

“These two pro-life amendments will ensure that Ohio taxpayer dollars are not funding abortion,” said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life. “It is crystal clear that a vast majority of Ohioans oppose all forms of taxpayer funding of abortion.”

Additional pro-life amendments were also included. One measure requires the Ohio Department of Health to apply for federal abstinence education grants to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies. The final pro-life amendment preserves the right of student groups to use and benefit from school funds and facilities, therefore protecting the rights of pro-life groups on college campuses.

House Bill 153 will be signed into law on June 30th by pro-life Governor John Kasich, who Ohio Right to Life fully expects to support each of these life-saving measures. Ohio Right to Life expresses its sincere gratitude to Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), Senator Shannon Jones (R-Springboro), Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Senator Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), along with Speaker of the House Bill Batchelder (R-Medina) and Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) for their pro-life leadership in the General Assembly.

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CSI Ohio Reforming State Regulatory Environment One Rule at a Time

Posted on June 29, 2011 by | 3 comments

By Lt. Governor Mary Taylor

When Avon Mayor Jim Smith read an article about the launch of CSI Ohio: The Common Sense Initiative in January, he sat down and drafted a letter to me. Smith’s letter detailed a problem that was keeping a local small business from being competitive, growing and possibly adding more jobs in Lorain County.

Custom Culinary, a local food manufacturer, was being bogged down by a senseless government regulation that prohibited it from purchasing bulk quantities of alcohol for the production of soups, sauces and purees. For one recipe, some of the company’s 39 employees had to pour 140,000 pounds of wine into a vat of sauce one bottle at a time. The process was time consuming, costly and kept the business at a competitive disadvantage. It took just three days for CSI Ohio to identify a common sense legislative solution to Custom Culinary’s problem, something Mayor Smith had pleaded with others for years to fix.

Gov. John R. Kasich and I developed CSI Ohio to do exactly what it did for Custom Culinary: solve problems. Since it was launched on January 10th, CSI Ohio has been busy developing a process to hold state government accountable for implementing business regulations that incorporate the principles of transparency, consistency, predictability, flexibility and balance. As agencies develop new regulations and review existing ones, CSI Ohio will require them to analyze the regulation’s impact to business. The questions we are asking include the following: What are you trying to accomplish through the regulation? How will you know if it’s been successful? What types of businesses are impacted and how much will it cost Ohio’s job creators?

The state’s new rule review program is off to a productive start. Agencies are pulling back regulations that don’t meet the common sense test. They are identifying alternative regulations that are just as effective but have less impact on business and job creation. And perhaps most important, they are bringing stakeholders and interested parties into the process of developing regulations, not just commenting after the fact.

For example, in March, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio rescinded administrative rules that would have applied the same standards meant for cross-country semi-truck drivers to small business owners (such as landscapers, builders and event supply companies) with vehicles between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds. In April, the Ohio Optometry Board withdrew a rule that would have changed the terms of contracts between licensed optometrists and retail stores for providing eye care services. And more recently, CSI Ohio worked with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to complete the delivery of a long-awaited package of general permits that had lingered at the agency for the past ten years.

We most certainly have our work cut out for us as we move forward and begin to see tangible results, but we need your help as well. Feel free to contact us via email at CSIOhio@governor.ohio.gov or visit us online at www.governor.ohio.gov/csi to get routine updates and to let us know about senseless government rules or regulations standing in the way of job creation.

Mary Taylor is Ohio’s 65th Lieutenant Governor. She was sworn into office on January 10, 2011, the same day Governor John R. Kasich named her to lead CSI Ohio: The Common Sense Initiative to reform Ohio’s regulatory policies, and serve as the director of the Ohio Department of Insurance.

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Posted in business, economy, Ohio, politics

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The State of Ohio’s Economy

Posted on June 27, 2011 by | 1 comment

By Daniel Downs

The Ohio Monthly Financial Report came out earlier this month. In it, the Office of Budget and Management summarizes the economic condition of the state relative to both the Midwest region and the nation. Economic criteria covered by the Report include growth of the economy, employment, consumer income and spending, manufacturing, construction, as well as government revenues and expenditures.

Economic growth as measured by GDP continues at a slow pace. Leading economic indicators decreased in April. Contributing to the slight decline of the economy is supply chains disruptions to automakers caused by the Japan earthquake and the negative impacts of flooding, tornadoes and fires here in the United States. Even so, the Ohio Coincident Economic Index continues to report increased growth. In fact, the 12 month rate of change increased to 6.3percent–the fastest since the 1990s.

Ohio gained 8,600 new jobs in April while unemployment decreased from over 9 percent to 8.6 percent, which 0.4 percent less than the national average. Employment increased in all sectors except local government. Unfortunately, Ohio has 357,000 fewer employed citizens than before the recession.

After decreases in unemployment claims during the first three months of 2011, Dayton area unemployment increased from 2,878 to 3,461 or 20 percent, according to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information. This was reflected by a small decline (0.1%) of employment in April. In spite of occasional increases and decreases, Dayton area employment growth has remained flat for over a year unlike the rest of Ohio.

While Ohio jobs increased, manufacturing production decreased in April. Because of the impact of the Japan disaster, this trend is expected to continue to the end of the year.

Nationally, commercial construction increased, but remained flat throughout the Midwest. Private residential construction showed the same trend. The Dayton area was no exception. Private residential building permits increase 26 percent. Housing prices however continue to fall in Ohio and throughout the nation.

Some question the accuracy of the Case/Shiller Home Price Index. Yet, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) also shows similar declines in home prices. For Ohio, the FHFA reports a 2.9% decline in home values for the first quarter of 2011, which is 6.7% less than in 2010.

Ohio personal income exceeds that of the national average. Personal income increased 3% during the fourth quarter of 2010, which is 3.8% above the previous year. Personal spending has kept pace with increased income. At least part of the increase has gone not for more products but for the same products at higher prices like gas and food. In other words, real disposable income is unchanged.

In places like Xenia, real income is even less because of collectively self-imposed higher taxes.

The Report also addressed where personal income was being spent. Retail sales were up in April because of Easter. Curiously, sales at drug stores, apparel stores, and auto dealerships were all down, but sales at luxury retailers significantly increased.

Who would have guessed that the federal stimulus (QE1 and QE2) would create inflation instead of inspiring the wealthy to create many more good new jobs? Maybe they did at luxury retailers.

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Posted in economy, news, Ohio

Pro-Abortion Legislation Introduced, Targets Pro-Life Healthcare Professionals

Posted on June 23, 2011 by | Leave a comment

(Columbus) – Planned Parenthood and pro-abortion legislators gathered at the Statehouse today to promote the so-called “Prevention First Act”. The bill would force pro-life pharmacists, religious hospitals and pro-life taxpayers to provide or subsidize the morning-after pill despite religious or moral objections. The legislation would also require persons who took and adhere to the original Hippocratic Oath to violate its requirement that “I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy”.

“The abortion industry, yet again, attempts to characterize this recycled legislation an effort to prevent unintended pregnancies. In fact, it will prevent the exercise of freedom of conscience,” said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director for Ohio Right to Life. “Violating the conscience rights of health care professionals could force some people to leave the profession, and ironically, decrease access to health care, rather than increase it,” said Gonidakis.

Although proponents claim requiring the provision of “emergency contraception” will decrease unintended pregnancies and abortions, a January 2007 Obstetrics & Gynecology study by leading proponents of the drug found that increased access to “emergency contraception” had not reduced the rates of abortion or unintended pregnancy.

Further, the so-called “Prevention First Act” would require hospitals to provide misleading information stating that “emergency contraception” does not cause an abortion or interrupt an “established” pregnancy. Pro-life Ohioans oppose the morning-after pill because it sometimes ends the life of a human embryo after fertilization by preventing implantation.

Ohio Right to Life expresses its opposition to the legislation for its blatant disrespect for the rights of pro-life Ohioans, and for its failure to respect the dignity of life by forcing increased distribution abortion-causing drugs.

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Ohio Is Mediocre When Comes to Taxing Beer and Its Consumers

Posted on June 13, 2011 by | 1 comment

Ohio beer drinkers have some good news from the Tax Foundation. In a recent study, the Foundation learned that Ohio is among the mediocre state when it comes to taxes. Out of all 50 states, Ohio excise tax of beer was a meager 18 cents, which earned Ohio the mediocre ranking of 28.

Ohio’s middle-of-the-road beer tax may be the result on only an average number of drinkers among both taxpayer and especially their political representatives. Many Ohioans and their representatives may drink the stuff, but when compared to the nation of drinkers as a whole, the number of Ohio consumers of beer is only average.

Sarah Palin’s state, Alaska, is ranked number #1 in the nation. That means two things: (1) Alaska taxes beer drinkers an outrageous amount of $1.07, the highest in the nation. It seems apparent that Alaskan officials do not even like the taste of beer. They want to dissuade the populace from consuming that stuff.

Only a few cents beyond Alaska is Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, and South Carolina. Except for Hawaii, I wonder if those southern states were originally prohibitionist. May be the citizenry and their politicians are smarter than others, or maybe they place a much higher value on getting drunk.

At any rate, the state with the lowest excise taxes on beer is Wyoming at 2 cents. That rate is in line with its cowboy history of two bit for a beer. Other states with only a few cents higher taxes include Missouri, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Kentucky.

Now, I’m wondering whether Missouri also keeps with its history of helping the pony express riders numb the pain from saddle sores. I imagine beer is as good as any painkiller. Wisconsin, on the other hand, is considered by some as the modern beer making capital of the United States. They would like to build a pipeline to transport their flammable fuel to every home. Then, there is Colorado known as Rocky Mountain high, which might be beer related but doubtfully so. The two surprises are Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The three things that come to mind about Pennsylvania is the Puritan taste for Rum, the Quakers religion, and the Constitution–not the love of beer. And, Kentucky used to be one of the moonshine states. Maybe Kentuckians traded the gut-rotting moonshine in for the more healthy brain numbing alcoholic beverage.

Ohioans can be glad politicians do not regard beer as a candidate for the sin tax–at least not yet.

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