Ohio Senate Debates Fate of Ride Sharing

If this article is right, today in the Ohio Senate there is a hearing about a bill that would regulate ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

The gist of the bill is to set up the policies under which these companies would operate in Ohio for the foreseeable future.  Requiring these outfits to be permitted by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio is really the only way to make sure that there are some standards being met by the companies.

For the most part, this blog advocates an open market.  The more the merrier.  Competition is good for business and consumers alike.  It may seem odd that we advocate any regulation at all of this industry, but there have been a number of incidents with these enterprises that have made the need for a watchdog present.

The bill has already passed the Ohio House, so if it gets through the Senate it will be off to the governor for signature.  Uber has been planning a large expansion in Ohio, so the issue is a hot one.

Guest Column by Rep. Bob Gibbs

By Rep. Bob Gibbs

On April 13, 2011, President Obama revealed his plan to cut the national deficit. In an address at George Washington University, he said, “We have to live within our means. We have to reduce our deficit, and we have to get back on a path that will allow us to pay down our debt. And we have to do it in a way that protects the recovery, protects the investments we need to grow, create jobs, and helps us win the future.”

And now, well over a year later, our national debt has surpassed $16 trillion for the first time in American history. That number equates to $50,950 in debt for every single person in the United States. If these disturbing statistics are any indication of the President’s idea of living within our means, the thought of his Administration in the White House for four more years is truly frightening.

Our financial house is spiraling out of control and instead of facing that reality, the President is pushing a destructive agenda that includes a massive tax hike at the end of this year that would result in an increase in taxes on small businesses of $232 billion in 2013. The last thing we need to be doing is holding small businesses back from infusing new jobs into our economy, trapping them in federal bureaucracy.

In August, I voted for the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act, which would decrease the Obama Administration’s ability to place harmful regulations on America’s small businesses. By combating the red tape that restrains our economy, House Republicans are working hard to get America back to work. Instead of placing more harmful regulations on America’s job creators, we should be fighting the burdensome and unnecessary red tape that is restraining our economy.

Government spending has increased by $800 billion in only two years under President Obama. The Republican House has passed a budget that would cut government spending to shield taxpayer dollars from unnecessary and reckless wasting. We cannot afford the President’s budget plan, which is fueled by more squandering away of money we simply don’t have.

12.5 million Americans are out of a job and our unemployment rate has hovered over eight percent for 43 consecutive months. That is unacceptable. President Obama’s misguided policies have continued to lead us further into this economic crisis, and the American people have endured this long enough. The Obama Administration’s job-killing policies have plagued this country for far too long, and the state of our economy is a direct result of his failed principles.

OHIO LIBERTY COALITION COMES OUT AGAINST KASICH PLANS FOR TAX INCREASE

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Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Liberty Coalition today came out against Governor Kasich’s proposed tax increase on the Ohio oil and gas industry. Tom Zawistowski, President of the OLC said, “What Governor Kasich is proposing is unnecessary and unwise. Under the current rules, the severance tax on oil and gas produced $11 million in state taxes in 2009, and by 2014 it is projected by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce to increase to $433 million per year. If the Governor wants to cut personal income taxes he can use that new money to do so. It is unnecessary to raise taxes when this industry is already on track to dramatically increase tax revenue. It is also unwise to throw roadblocks in front of an industry that is critical to the economic future of our state. Some companies are already leaving Ohio. That is not what we want.”

He went on to explain, “We understand the argument that the Governor wants to bring energy taxes in line with other states, but we do not agree that this is what Ohio should do. If we have a tax advantage then we think we should exploit that advantage and use it to attract more businesses. Then we will get more tax revenue from taxes generated by ‘downstream’ industrial and business activity.”

Zawistowski concluded by saying, “From a TEA Party perspective, to raise taxes on one group to give a tax cut to another group is simply redistribution of wealth. It is not the Governor’s job to pick winners and losers; his job is to run the state government as efficiently as possible. If he wants to cut taxes, he should cut state spending so he can cut taxes. We will encourage our member groups to contact their state senators and house representatives and ask them to oppose the Governor’s proposal.”

The Ohio Liberty Coalition is a coalition of liberty group leaders whose purpose is to unite conservative grassroots organizations for greater effectiveness in the state and nation, and to provide resources for member organizations to strengthen their groups. The OLC currently has over 75 liberty-minded groups across Ohio who are members of its coalition.

Ohio House Passes Collateral Sanctions Legislation to Remove Barriers to Employment

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COLUMBUS—State Representative Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives has passed House Bill 524, collateral sanctions reform legislation that focuses on the elimination of barriers that ex-offenders often face when trying to obtain jobs after their release from prison.

 

Collateral sanctions are restrictions, disabilities, or penalties beyond the direct punishment imposed on individuals at the time of sentencing. The legislation, which was jointly sponsored with Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus), updates Ohio’s criminal statutes to ensure that those who might have a previous conviction or plea of guilty can obtain employment without facing an unnecessary barrier.

 

“House Bill 524 is a jobs bill that offers ex-offenders more opportunity to be contributing members of society and not recidivate,” Representative McGregor said. “It’s important to that our criminal statutes make sense, and this bill makes important common-sense reforms while also helping to keep Ohio’s prison population down. I’m extremely pleased to see its passage.”

 

One in every six Ohioans are ex-offenders. By reducing collateral sanctions, the legislation will increase employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records, thereby likely reducing recidivism and potentially increasing payroll tax revenues for local communities.

 

House Bill 524 will now move to the Ohio Senate for further debate and consideration.

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Ohio House Passes Bill Revising State Tax Credits

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COLUMBUS—State Representatives Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) and Peter Beck (R-Mason) today announced that the Ohio House has passed legislation that makes a series of revisions to various tax credits in the state.

 

“The most basic need of state government is to provide a healthy environment for businesses to be born and thrive, bringing jobs to our people,” said Representative Gonzales, who cosponsored the legislation with Representative Beck. “Today we successfully renewed and expanded a program encouraging investment and job creating ventures.”

 

Among other changes, House Bill 511:

 

·         Eliminates the Industrial Technology and Enterprise Advisory Council, which was created to approve tax credits for investments in development and technology, and transfers the duties of the council to the Third Frontier Commission

·         Increases the maximum amount of investment tax credits that can be issued from $45 million to $51 million

·         Increases the annual limit on venture capital loan loss tax credits available to people who lose money after lending to the state’s venture capital loan program

·         Increases the amount of principal and interest payments that may be paid to lenders each year

·         Relaxes limits on how much the program’s investments may be concentrated in two or more venture capital funds that are under common management

·         Adds requirements to the selection criteria in order for investment funds

·         Specifies that the investment fund administering the program, as well as any fund managers employed by the administrator, must have a “significant presence” in Ohio in order to administer the program

 

HB 511, one of 10 bills included in the Mid-Biennium Review, passed the House 91-5. It will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

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Ohio's Emerging Jobs-Friendly Climate Continues to Spur Investment

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COLUMBUS—Gov. John R. Kasich today announced that several economic development projects are on track to positively impact communities across the state. Adding to the long list of companies choosing to expand in Ohio or move operations here, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) today approved eleven projects brought to them by JobsOhio, the state’s private, not-for-profit economic development entity. In all, 885 jobs are expected to be created, while 952 jobs will be retained and more than $38 million in new capital investments will be made. Highlights from Monday’s TCA meeting include: · Apex Industrial Technologies, LLC, a high-tech, internet-based company expects to expand operations and create 100 full-time positions that will provide robust, low-cost, and “Behind-The-Firewall” vending solutions for supplies. The project is expected to generate $6.9 million in additional annual payroll and retain $2.9 million in existing payroll. The TCA approved a 55 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. · A manufacturer of fittings for the chemical, plumbing and power tool industries, the G&G Manufacturing Co., is expected to expand operations in Cincinnati (Hamilton Co.), creating 100 full-time positions and generating $5.4 million in additional annual payroll. The TCA approved a 55 percent, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. · Alexander Mann Solutions Corporation is expected to add 300 full-time positions as a result of the company’s new location project in Cleveland (Cuyahoga Co.). The proposed project support clients worldwide and will establish activities around talent sourcing and recruitment/HR administrative services. The TCA approved a 65 percent, eight-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Additional Approvals by the TCA Leyshon Miller Industries, LLC (LMI), (Location TBD) expects to create 60 full-time positions, generating $1.8 million in additional annual payroll (and retaining $1 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in a to-be-determined location. LMI offers a wide range of expertise in product development, design, mechanical engineering, solid modeling, engineering analysis, rapid prototyping, and rapid production. The TCA approved a 55 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Oxford Consulting Group, Inc., (Location TBD) is expected to create 45 full-time positions, generating $4.2 million in new annual payroll (and retaining $5.2 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in a to-be-determined location. Oxford Consulting is a leading information technology consulting firm serving businesses throughout the U.S. The TCA approved a 50 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Central Ohio Closed Loop Refining and Recovery, Inc., City of Columbus (Franklin Co.) expects to create 55 full-time positions, generating $1.3 million in new annual payroll as a result of the company’s new location in the City of Columbus (Franklin Co.). The company plans to process old Cathod Ray Tubes (CRTs) where lead is extracted from funnel glass. The TCA approved a 40 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Northeast Ohio ArtiFlex Manufacturing, LLC, City of Wooster (Wayne Co.) expects to create 50 full-time positions, generating $2.2 million in additional annual payroll (and retaining $22.1 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in the City of Wooster (Wayne Co.). Artiflex is a joint venture between the Gerstenslager Company (a subsidiary of Worthington Industries) and International Tooling Solutions, LLC (ITS). ArtiFlex will offer an integrated solution for engineering, tooling, stamping, and assembly. The TCA approved a 50 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Plasticolors, Inc., City of Ashtabula (Ashtabula Co.) expects to create 50 full-time positions, generating $1.7 million in additional annual payroll (and retaining $7.5 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in the City of Ashtabula (Ashtabula Co.). Plasticolors provides pigment dispersions, chemical dispersions, and additives to the thermoset plastics, paint, and coatings industries in the United States and internationally. The company serves customers in the automotive, appliance, equipment, electrical, consumer, and construction industries. The TCA approved a 50 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Valtronic Technologies (USA) Inc., City of Solon (Cuyahoga Co.) is expected to create 50 full-time positions, generating $2.3 million in additional annual payroll (and retaining $4.1 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in the City of Solon (Cuyahoga Co.). This company works in the development and production of micro-electronics, mechanical parts, and complex systems. The TCA approved a 45 percent, five-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Western Ohio JJR Solutions, LLC, City of Beavercreek (Greene Co.) expects to create 25 full-time positions, generating $1.4 million in additional annual payroll (and retaining $1 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in the City of Beavercreek (Greene Co.). JJR Solutions, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), focuses on delivering solutions, products, and services in the form of Information Technology to the federal government and commercial organizations. The TCA approved a 45 percent, five-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project. Total Quality Logistics, LLC, City of Centerville (Montgomery Co.) is expected to create 50 full-time positions, generating $1.9 million in new annual payroll (and retaining $1.1 million in existing payroll) as a result of the company’s expansion project in the City of Centerville (Montgomery Co.). Total Quality Logistics is the nation’s third largest freight brokerage firm. Founded in Cincinnati, the company works with companies nationwide to facilitate freight movements. The TCA approved a 45 percent, six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project.

CSI Ohio Facilitates Change in BWC Classification to Small Businesses

Release:

Columbus – Lt. Governor Mary Taylor today announced that CSI Ohio: The Common Sense Initiative and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) worked together to reverse a change in classification of deputy registrars that was increasing premiums for these small business owners by 975 percent over the previous year.

“This is a great example of CSI Ohio bringing a state agency together with our business community to solve a problem,” said Taylor. “The reclassification of deputy registrars may seem like a small change, but it has a tremendous impact on the survival of these small businesses.”

Ohio Deputy Registrars are independent businesses who compete for contracts from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to manage government transactions such as drivers’ licenses and automobile titles. Despite being classified for years as “clerical” for the purpose of workers’ compensation premiums, registrars have recently been reclassified as “retail” in a series of audits conducted by BWC. Retail businesses have significantly higher premiums.

Listening to both sides, Lt. Governor Taylor’s CSI Ohio office questioned whether deputy registrars were actually equivalent to retail businesses. CSI Ohio facilitated a discussion between the Deputy Registrar Association and BWC, after which BWC agreed to research the matter further, and ultimately decided to adopt a new classification to cover these types of operations. The new classification will be based directly on the actual experience ratings of deputy registrars, which will lead to much lower – and more fair – premium amounts.

“If government is going to help business thrive in Ohio, we have to look at ways to regulate with common sense,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Stephen Buehrer. “We’re pleased to work with the deputy registrar industry to ensure their workers’ compensation premiums accurately reflect the risk they bring to our system.”

Ohio Deputy Registrar Association president Aldo Filippelli praised the cooperation between CSI Ohio and BWC, stating, “It is because of Lt. Governor Taylor’s dedication, outreach, and leadership that I attribute the return of deputy registrars to a more appropriate classification.”

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 is reviewing Ohio’s regulatory system to eliminate excessive and duplicative rules and regulations that stand in the way of job creation. Ohioans with ideas on cutting this red tape are encouraged to visit the CSI website and submit their ideas at www.governor.ohio.gov/CSI.

NFIB Launches Campaign to Highlight Regulatory Burden on Ohio Small Businesses

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Washington, D.C. – The nation’s leading small-business organization, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today launched a new campaign targeting the increasing number of regulations handed down by the Obama administration that are hampering small business’ ability to create jobs and economic growth. The multi-year effort aims to give voice to small businesses, which create two-thirds of the net new jobs in the U.S. each year. NFIB President Dan Danner joined NFIB Vice President/Ohio Executive Director Roger R. Geiger to announce Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations.

“In NFIB’s history, few issues have been more important to America’s small businesses than bringing balance to the federal regulatory process,” Danner stated. “Complying with federal regulations is incredibly costly to small businesses - the average business pays over $10,000 dollars per employee to stay in line with government rules.”

According to a report conducted for the Small Business Administration’s office of advocacy last year, government regulations currently cost the U.S. economy $1.75 trillion a year, or more than 12 percent of our national GDP. In the last five years, there has been a 60 percent increase in pending federal regulations that are defined as “major” or “economically significant” – costing the economy $100 million or more.

“Ohio small businesses already face high regulatory compliance costs which are limiting their ability to grow,” added Geiger. “The state unemployment rate continues to hover dangerously near nine percent, yet federal oversight agencies are intent on increasing the number of growth limiting regulations. This simply isn’t the time”

Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations seeks to ensure that the administration includes independent analysis of the long-term impacts of federal regulations on jobs, economic growth, and other indirect costs like retaining American industries in the federal regulatory process moving forward.

Over the next several months, the coalition will work to bring personal stories of those facing economic hardships as a result of regulations to the national spotlight. The campaign will also release state economic and other analysis to expose the heavy regulatory burdens suffered by small business owners.

Small Businesses Want Sensible Regulation

The NFIB have launched a new website worth checking out that tells the local stories of businesses in our communities who want smart and sensible regulation instead of the hard-core smack-down they are receiving from bureaucrats today.

It is an interesting site with some valuable information and factoids like this from our good friend, Sen. Rob Portman:

Since 2005, there has been a 60% increase in pending federal regulations that are defined as “major” or “economically significant” – costing the economy $100 million or more. There were 224 “economically significant” rules issued last year, an increase of 22 percent over 2009. This represents the highest number recorded since the government kept count. (Federal Regulation: A Review of Legislative Proposals, Part I, Senator Rob Portman, June 23, 2011, page 2.)

Make no mistake, this isn't about giving politicians cover, it is about removing the barriers to economic freedom for job creators and job "sustainers" right here in our own backyards.

Who knows more about business...some unnamed, unconcerned, and unelected bureaucrat or your local small business owner/operator? If we want to get our economy going again, we need to support the people who are working hard and working smart. America is the greatest nation on God's green earth, but we could all use a little more freedom to make things just that much better for all of us.

Ohio Legislature Appointments to Small Business Advisory Council

Speaker Batchelder:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced the individuals he has selected to serve on the Small Business Advisory Council, a nine-member board that was established in Senate Bill 2 as part of the Common Sense Initiative (CSI).

“I am pleased to announce that I have selected two outstanding gentlemen—Michael Baach of Medina and Michael Canty of Cleveland —to help guide Ohio’s efforts to improve our business climate and create jobs,” Batchelder said. “I am confident that with the extensive business experience that these individuals possess and their direct knowledge of how to create jobs, they are more than qualified to serve in this capacity.”

Baach is the president and CEO of Philpott Rubber Company in Brunswick, which provides polymeric systems that extend the life, add strength and eliminate electrochemical corrosion in industrial, retain and governmental assets. He has led the company to record years in sales and profits since joining the company. He also served as economic development director for the City of Medina in 2006.

Canty is the owner, president and CEO of Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding, a Cleveland-based company that designs and produces custom engineered products for the power generation, aerospace, semiconductor, and oil and gas markets, both domestically and internationally. He has more than 30 years of small business experience, including business start-ups, turn-around ventures, and strategic growth initiatives for private companies.

The Small Business Advisory Council is charged with advising the CSI and the lieutenant governor on the adverse impact that government regulations have on small businesses. Each member must possess a background of small business and represent businesses of various types, sizes and geographic locations throughout the state of Ohio.

Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor today announced her five selections for the advisory board, with two additional members to be appointed by Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond).

The CSI was established in January 2011 to make Ohio more attractive to business by reforming its regulatory policies, ensuring that excessive or burdensome regulations do not obstruct job creation or retention.

Baach and Canty will officially commence their new positions on Wednesday, when their appointments are journalized by the House.

Senate President Tom Niehaus:

(Columbus) - Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus today announced his selections for two appointments to serve on the nine-member Small Business Advisory Council established as part of CSI Ohio, the Common Sense Initiative.

The Senate President appointments are:

* Thomas Demaline, President of Willoway Nurseries, Avon

* Crystal Faulkner, Founding Partner, Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens LLC, Cincinnati

"Our state needs to attract and create jobs, and this council will provide critical guidance as we work to understand what our entrepreneurs and small business owners need to be successful," said Senator Niehaus. "These two individuals have successfully started and grown their own businesses. Their insight and knowledge will be a great asset as CSI reviews the many rules and regulations that hinder innovation and job growth in Ohio."

The Small Business Advisory Council was established in Senate Bill 2, sponsored by Senator Jim Hughes (R-Columbus), to advise the Governor, Lt. Governor and CSI Ohio on the effects Ohio's business regulations have on small businesses. Individuals appointed to this council must have a small business background and represent small businesses of various types, sizes and geographic locations throughout Ohio.

In addition to the appointments made by Senator Niehaus, the Lt. Governor will make five appointments and the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives will make two appointments.

Lt. Gov. Taylor Makes Appointments to Small Business Advisory Council

Release

Columbus – Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor today announced her selections to fill five seats on the nine-member Small Business Advisory Council established in state law as part of CSI Ohio: The Common Sense Initiative.

Taylor’s appointments are:

Orlando Alonso, President and General Manager of Columbus Pest Control, Columbus

Brandon Cohen, President and CEO of Ohio IT Alliance, Toledo

Richard Fedorovich, CEO of Bober Markey Fedorovich, a CPA firm, Akron

Michael Flowers, Vice President of KBK Enterprises, a real estate development company, Columbus

Dan Young, CEO of Young’s Jersey Dairy, Yellow Springs

“This is a great group of business leaders from communities across Ohio,” Taylor said. “They possess diverse small-business backgrounds and are able to provide exactly the type of guidance we need as CSI Ohio reviews government rules and regulations and identifies those that place unnecessary burdens on Ohio’s job creators.”

Taylor received nearly 240 applications to fill five seats on the nine-member Small Business Advisory Council. The council was established in Senate Bill 2 (Hughes), which requires each member to possess a small business background and represent businesses of various types, sizes and geographic locations within Ohio. The council is charged with advising the lieutenant governor and CSI Ohio on the adverse impact government rules and regulations have on small businesses and will meet at least quarterly.

In addition to Taylor’s five appointments, the president of the Ohio Senate and Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives will each appoint two additional members.

Taylor is leading CSI Ohio, which was launched on January 10, 2011 to reform Ohio’s regulatory policies and help make Ohio a jobs and business-friendly state. CSI Ohio will review Ohio’s regulatory system to eliminate excessive and duplicative rules and regulations that stand in the way of job creation.

St. Reps. Roegner, Thompson Offer Testimony to Assist Small Businesses

Release:

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and Andy Thompson (R-Marietta) today offered sponsor testimony on House Bill 94 before the Economic and Small Business Development Committee. This legislation would adopt a new small business rule review procedure by defining a process of regulatory reform. Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor also attended the hearing and offered proponent testimony.

 

House Bill 94 outlines the role of the Common Sense Initiative Office (CSI), which was established through Governor John Kasich’s Executive Order 2011-01K to evaluate all regulations from any state governmental agency. The CSI will determine if a particular regulation has an adverse effect on small business by assessing all new rules, while also reevaluating existing rules when they come up for periodic review.

 

“As a small business owner myself, I’m intimately aware of how much time and resources are spent dealing with regulatory compliance,” said Thompson. “The goal of the Common Sense Initiative Office is to reduce or eliminate any negative effect that any given rule would have on business. It will hold each agency accountable and develop customer service standards, which will also be a factor in performance reviews.”

 

“It is extremely important that Ohio’s regulations do not hinder the growth and prosperity of small businesses,” said Roegner. “The CSI will ensure that every regulation is easy to understand, effective, transparent, flexible and well-balanced.”

 

The Common Sense Initiative Office and corresponding Common Sense Initiative Council—which would consist of nine members—would be established in and report to the Office of the Governor. House Bill 94 does not require any appropriation.

Obama Racist Administration Going After Small Business Meyer Tool

The attacks on small businesses have come home. A local machine tool company is facing charges from the U.S. Labor Department that they racially discriminated in hiring. Of note is that this company was visited by George W. Bush during his Presidency. Could this be a situation of political payback? Here is the latest from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

The U.S. Labor Department has filed an administrative complaint alleging racial discrimination against a Camp Washington-based airplane engine parts maker six years ago.

The complaint, filed in Washington on Nov. 18 against Meyer Tool Co., says that the company did not appropriately consider minority candidates in the early 2000s as part of the federal affirmative action program. Meyer Tool is considered a federal contractor by the department, and therefore is covered by the program’s regulations.

Why is the complaint only now being filed? Could it be that Meyer is not bowing to Team Obama? Could be. Or, could it be that disgruntled minority applicants are making hay about discrimination that does not exist? Could be.

This defendant has a contractual obligation to provide equal employment opportunity,” said Patricia A. Shiu, director of the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. “The company failed to meet that obligation. So we will enforce the law and hold Meyer Tool accountable to the fair and reasonable standard that it not discriminate against any group of workers.”

The complaint says that 14 black applicants were denied for entry level positions based solely on their race during 2004. It also says that the company failed to keep all job applications for the previous two years as required, and failed to implement an appropriate audit system.

Company president Arlyn Easton said Wednesday that Meyer did not discriminate in his hiring practices, and that the complaint is only due to a bookkeeping error.

“We really don’t believe we did anything wrong other than not keeping appropriate records as a small company,” Easton said.

Meyer’s lawyer, Colleen Lewis, also said that the complaint is being brought based on statistical analyses on potential hiring patterns by the Labor Department.

“We feel strongly that those analyses are very flawed,” Lewis said. “And we are going to continue defending the company.”

The two sides had been negotiating a possible settlement for at least three years leading up to the filing, Easton said. It now goes before an administrative law judge to determine a finding.

If the judge finds in favor of the Labor Department, a potential class of affected potential workers could be created and the company could be forced to pay back wages or other penalties. But individuals would also have to prove they were in that potential affected class before becoming eligible.

The company also could lose its eligibility for federal contracts, if the ruling goes against it.

So, in order to be down with the struggle, Team Obama uses a flawed analytic tool and determines that this business is in breach of discrimination standards. Maybe Obama wants to award this company's contracts to other companies. Whatever the reason, the notion in this day and age of racial discrimination in a post riot Cincinnati is ridiculous. Meyer would have to be stupid to engage in such practices. And, the notion of affirmative action in itself is inherently discriminatory and racist. Of course, under normal circumstances, one may not question the Labor Department. However, given the racist policies of the Obama Justice (JUSTUS) Department regarding voter fraud and the Black Panthers, I think this too can be held up to scrutiny.

So for the sake of 14 workers 6 years ago, Team Obama is willing to destroy and bankrupt a company that is hanging on in an industry that continually seems to be leaving our shores. So much for keeping American jobs in America, Barry.

ALEC: Ohio Ranks 42nd in Economic Outlook

Release:

SIDNEY, OH - According to the latest edition of an annual study by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Ohio's economic outlook ranks 42nd out of the 50 states. As states face their toughest budgetary climates in a generation, the third edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index offers a clear cut roadmap to prosperity.

"We cannot spend, borrow, or tax our way into prosperity," said Representative John Adams, Ohio House Minority Whip and ALEC State Chair. "State government must learn to live within its means, as we continually look for ways to make our great state more competitive and cultivate a business climate that will produce jobs."

While the state boasts of leading the nation in "green job" creation, Ohio's anti-growth policies have taken their toll on the state's overall economic outlook. When you add Ohio's local income tax rates to the state income tax, taxpayers face some of the highest rates in the nation.

Additionally, the study gives Ohio substandard marks for its poor labor policy and one of the worst state-level death taxes in the nation. Among bordering states, Indiana ranks 20th, West Virginia ranks 27th, Michigan ranks 26th, Kentucky ranks 40th, and Pennsylvania ranks 43rd.

Co-author and renowned economist Dr. Arthur B. Laffer summarized the report's findings when he said, "Tax and economic policies are essential to the competitiveness of our states." Rich States, Poor States presents state economic outlook rankings based on public policies that have a proven impact on growth, revealing which states have the best chance of experiencing economic recovery, and which need to re-examine their policies before they can expect to see improvement.

Laffer and his co-authors, Stephen Moore, senior economics writer at The Wall Street Journal, and Jonathan Williams, director of ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force, analyzed how economic competitiveness drives income, population, and job growth in the states.

"Our research shows that states with responsible spending and competitive tax rates enjoy the best economic outlook," Williams said. "States do not enact changes in a vacuum - every time they increase the cost of doing business in their state, their state brand immediately loses value."

Take that Ted Strickland (and Jon Husted)!

Jungle Jim's International Market is Expanding

The Journal-News is reporting that Jungle Jim's has signed a lease for the old Bigg's location near the Eastgate Mall.  This is the first expansion that I am aware of that takes Jungle Jim's off the Butler County / Fairfield campus.  The expansion is expected to add 400 jobs to the local economy.

Obama's Jihad Against Business Could Screw Oil Slick Victims

Team Obama continues to demonize BP, despite the fact that they are the ones who are bearing the burden of paying for things and actually getting the resources to bear out there, while Thad and the gang pull over barges to make sure they have fire extinguishers and life jackets. Well, BP might just decide to seek bankruptcy protection as a result of all this negative press. In such a scenario, the real losers would be BP stockholders (many pension funds), as well as the victims of the oil slick. But, never let that get in the way of advancing the fascist/socialist/statist agenda! Can't make an omelette without breaking a few pelican eggs, right Barry? Check it out:

There is a reasonably high chance that BP could file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the next few years, or even months, and the result would be an “absolute horror” for the government, according to a bankruptcy expert.

Peter S. Kaufman, the President of investment bank Gordian Group and head of the firm’s Restructuring and Distressed M&A practice, told me that if he had BP’s ear, “I’d advise them to explore the option of bankruptcy.” If he had the government’s ear, he’d tell them to stop berating the company to the point where BP would find it appealing to use bankruptcy to limit its liabilities.

Obama's Plan WILL NOT Help Small Business...Will Tax Most likely 50% of Small Businesses More

Barack Obama's pitch is that he is a different, moderate Democrat who will cut taxes for 95% of Americans and will help small business. Well, since 40% of Americans don't pay income taxes and we further dismantled his tax plan earlier, let's get to the second part about small business. Patterico has an article that examines Obama and small business and finds the One to be wanting when it comes to friendliness to small business:

At tonight’s Town Hall Presidential debate, I think Barack Obama said this about his tax policies [EDIT: according to the CNN transcript]:

“Only a few percent of small businesses make more than $250,000 a year. So the vast majority of small businesses would get a tax cut under my plan.”

The US Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a “small business” according to its average annual receipts or the number of its employees. Here are examples from the SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards setting forth the maximum average annual receipts by industry that a business can have and still be classified as a small business:

Crop production of all types — $750,000
Animal production except for cattle & chicken/eggs — $750,000
Cattle feedlots — $2.5M
Chicken/egg production — $12.5M
Forestry & logging — $7M
Fishing — $4M
Irrigation, sewage, water supplies — $7M
Housing construction — $33.5M
Heavy and civil engineering construction — $33.5M
Dredging and cleanup — $20M
Concrete, framing, and other housing contractors — $14M
Car dealers — $23-29M
RV, motorcycle, & boat dealers — $7M
Furniture, hardware, clothing & sporting good stores — $7M
Electronic stores — $9M
Supermarkets, gas stations & department stores — $27M
Pharmacies — $7M

There are many more examples at the link. In addition, most of the industries in the Table — such as manufacturers of food, beverages, apparel, print, oil/gas, plastics, plumbing, machinery, computers, electronics, electrical, transportation, and furniture — are considered small businesses based on their total number of employees instead of average annual receipts. In those industries, the cut-off between small and large businesses ranges from 500-1,000 employees per business/industry.

It’s difficult for me to imagine a business that has 50 or more employees (let alone 500-1,000) that has receipts of less than $250,000 per year. And, given the SBA definitions of “small business,” it seems likely that many small businesses in a wide range of industries have receipts of more than $250,000 per year.

If so, it is appalling that Obama would imply that, if he is President, a small percentage of businesses exceed the $250,000 per year cut-off for increased taxation under his tax plan. In fact, the number of businesses subject to additional tax may be large and could well be the 50% number I think John McCain mentioned.

Yes, Obama is playing the numbers game, trusting that Americans will not put his math to the test. I hope and pray more Americans look at this and see it for the illusion, lie, and cannard that it is. Obama is going to raise taxes, and it didn't take the plumber confronting him to convince me of that. Look at all the debt he is going to add, over 1 trillion in NEW debt. How is he going to pay for it? Come on now. Look at the facts, figures, and figure it out. Obama is bad for America.

Favors for Oil Scandal

A reader brought this story to my attention a couple of days ago, but it was too late for me to address it then and I didn't want to cover it on 9/11. By now, you may have heard about this story; but if not, let me warn you that it will make you angry at all the parties involved.

There are two versions of this story, both by AP reporter Dana Cappiello, which is kind of odd in and of itself, but the stories are consistent in the details.

The Reader's Digest version is this: oil industry negotiators engaged officials from the Interior Department in various forms of unethical behavior including "influencing contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants and having sexual relationships with — and accepting golf and ski trips, snowboarding lessons and concert tickets from — oil company employees."

Am I surprised by any of this? Not really... This is Big Government at its finest. While I would like to think that the oil industry is more mature than this sort of behavior, the reality is that these people are in the business of making money and while I certainly don't condone these shenanigans, I certainly am not shocked to discover that it is happening.

It is disappointing though. We should expect more from people who represent us and our businesses. Sadly, the Marc Dann / Eliot Spitzer model of doing business with the government is becoming more common and I'm afraid that the shock value of these revelations is starting to wear off to the point that eventually this sort of thing won't even be news anymore. This...

"During the course of our investigation, we learned that some RIK employees frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives,"

...is, I suspect, the tip of this particular iceberg. It is inexcusable for this type of behavior to be going on in the post-Enron world. Business AND Government needs to do more to ensure that ethical behavior is the standard and if that means a review of each and every deal over a certain dollar threshhold, then so be it. Of course, all that is going to do is create more red tape and run up the cost of business which is why it is in the interest of Big Business and Big Government to police themselves and to behave in a manner that reflects well on themselves.

Brown and DHL

I had to chuckle and the complete idiocy on display by Ohio's junior senator as reported by the Dayton Daily Democrat News. So you know what we're talking about, here is a taste of Jessica Wehrman's story:

After hearing of the thwarted petition delivery, Brown wrote Mike Schmitt, DHL Director of Hub Operations, July 3.

“Regardless of whether the dismissive treatment to which these individuals were subjected stemmed from a misunderstanding or was intentional, it must be rectified immediately,” Brown wrote. “I would like to personally deliver the petitions to you and discuss your company’s future role in Wilmington.”

DHL is under no obligation to stay in Wilmington. Businesses tend to thrive where business isn't considered a pariah. And in Ohio, business is not welcome.

The number of petitions and who signed them is not relevent to the discussion of DHL's future in Wilmington. And if I were in the position of making this decision, I'd be more inclined to let be known that it doesn't matter what Sherrod Brown thinks ought to be rectified immediately, it comes down to the very simple fact that the business climate in this state is in the crapper. Maybe Sherrod Brown ought to rectify that immediately...

A Summation of Ohio's Problems and How We Got Here

On the Miami Valley Conservative Alliance group message board, Martin Arbagi wrote a very good piece that I asked if I could share with you all...

As a long-time Republican and member of the Montgomery County GOP Central Committee, I must agree in part with the comments on Mr. Finn's _Wall Street Journal_ column. (For non-Ohioans who read this, Montgomery County is in SW Ohio, not far north of Cincinnati.) The Republican political pros with whom I come in contact almost on a daily basis are basically re-arranging the deck chairs on a sinking cruise ship.

The other side of the coin, however, is that many of Ohio's troubles have no remedy. The state, willy-nilly, is going through a wrenching re-adjustment as it moves from an economy based primarily on manufacturing to one based on ... what? And unfortunately, it is politically impossible for politicians in all but the safest GOP districts to say publicly what I have written above.

I have no set answers, only observations and recommendations:

1. Quietly and without fanfare, the GOP should encourage Ohio's remaining strengths. What are these? Well, one is agriculture. We are entering a boom time for farmers. Although the "population bomb" is a myth (the world's population is no longer growing significantly), living standards are rising. That means literally billions of newly middle-class Chinese, Indians, and others will want their bacon and eggs each morning, and steak dinners once a week. Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa are not the only agricultural states in the U.S. Ohio, with its abundant water, can and should expand its agricultural sector. And speaking of "abundant water," what about targeting industries other than agriculture whose manufacturing processes are water-intensive? I'm sure some other member of this group will point out the apparent contradiction. I just finished writing that manufacturing will never again play the role it once did in Ohio's economy. True. But it will continue to make some contribution, and low-cost water should play a role in this.

2. The emigration from Ohio may not be entirely unhealthy. We need fewer Ohioans, but richer ones.

3. Education is a real problem, and Governor "Taxin' Ted" Strickland is not solving it. The focus should be on K-12, not on higher education. Recall that one fundamental error African countries made as they became newly independent in the 1950s and '60s was to emphasize higher education. This helped cripple them. Most newly-independent Asian nations, however, spent their meager resources on K-12 schools. Their best and brightest could always attend college in the USA. Ohio's public higher education system is bloated, redundant, and inefficient. And, unfortunately, efforts to reform K-12 education have, as Mr. Finn noted in his original column, become mired in psychobabble and bureaucracy.

I'm not sure that I agree with Martin's second point (I'd love to hear more on that subject, actually), but the first and third are exactly on point...

The takeaways...as I see them...for the Ohio GOP and its candidates, are these:

Focus on Ohio's strong agricultural prowess.

Devise plans to expand the occupational areas in which Ohio can compete.

Hammer home the idea that Ohio's public K-12 educational institutions are fundamentally flawed and in dire need of attention.

Note that in that last item I did NOT say that K-12 public education needed more dollars...

Here's a few ideas that I would add to the list that Martin didn't address:

Ohio ought to become a leader in alternative energy by building nuclear power facilities.

Ohio ought to reduce the tax burden facing the business community and property owners.

Specifically, the Commercial Activities Tax needs to be publicly executed in a particularly gruesome display of cruel and unusual punishment.

Feel free to throw your ideas in to the comments section...

UPDATE: I inserted the link to Mr. Finn's WSJ column.