Ohio Republican Party Jumps Shark

ORP FAILS TO ENDORSE JOHN BECKER

The Enquirer is reporting that the Ohio Republican Party has failed to endorse John Becker and two other area Republican state representatives because they DARE to hold the line on spending.

John Becker has done more for the Ohio Republican party than anybody I know. He has fought the good fight with friends in the Tea Party and other conservative groups that the ORP was an organization worth investing time and energy. His dedication to that cause is one of the reasons why WMD has restrained itself from completely and utterly abandoning any and all hope that the ORP could be reformed. All of that is nothing.

THIS is how the Ohio Republican Party rewards people who have differing views. Where's the 80% with us bullshit line now?

I had always suspected that Bill Batchelder was a tool. That he has allowed this nonsense confirms what I have always suspected. This guy is a loser and I'm grateful that he can do us no more damage thanks to term limits.

These idiots have even recommended endorsing Peter Beck. That dude is going to prison.

SERIOUSLY.

I can't stand this much Stupid.

Batchelder on Beck

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today released the following statement regarding the allegations facing Representative Peter Beck:

“Representative Peter Beck has served the Ohio House of Representatives and the people of the 54th District honorably and has done great work as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. However, given the serious nature of the charges facing Representative Beck, it is my belief that it is in the best interest of the Ohio House, the people of his district, and his family for him to resign from the Ohio House at this time.

“It is of the utmost importance that members of this sacred institution protect the public’s trust and be a voice for their district. While there is always a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, it is my belief that these very serious allegations could cause a distraction to the good work of the Ohio House of Representatives. Therefore, I believe this action would be in the best interest of not only the residents of the 54th House District and the members of the Ohio House of Representatives, but also Representative Beck and his family.

“There are several important initiatives currently being considered by the Ways and Means Committee that will continue uninterrupted. These are proposals that will have a long-standing impact on the state of Ohio, and Ohioans can rest assured that we will continue the diligent work on these issues.”

Ohio House Sends State Operating Budget to Governor

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House of Representatives today voted to pass Amended Substitute House Bill 59, the state operating budget designed to improve Ohio’s business climate, invest in schools, help Ohioans access the care and services they need, give Ohioans greater ability to obtain higher education, and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Ohioans.

Am. Sub. H.B. 59 makes comprehensive reforms to Ohio’s state government structure in an effort to create a more attractive and jobs-friendly environment for Ohioans. The budget builds upon Governor Kasich’s strategic vision that he proposed to the legislature in February.

“We have made a concerted effort to help Ohioans get back on their feet while also investing in our schools, job training and community services,” said Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina). “I am very proud of the work that the legislature has done, alongside our governor, to set our state back on course toward long-term growth and prosperity. Just two years ago we filled an $8 billion budget deficit without raising taxes—and today, we are providing all Ohioans with a significant tax reduction and investing in the things that matter most.”

“Ohio's taxpayers will receive a lower tax burden and improved funding for education and health care services from the state budget,” said Chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster). “I believe this budget will help our state grow stronger in many ways than would otherwise be the case because of the $2.7 billion tax reduction over these next three years and the improvements in basic services delivered primarily by our community partners.”

The budget enacts reforms and efficiency measures in numerous components of state government, particularly in the following key areas:

Reducing the Ohioans’ Tax Burden Through Common-sense Reforms

Working with Governor Kasich and the Ohio Senate, the Ohio House of Representatives crafted a series of meaningful tax reforms to allow Ohioans to keep more of their hard-earned money and to make Ohio more conducive to business growth. To accomplish these goals, Am. Sub. H.B. 59:

Provides nearly $2.7 billion in tax relief to small businesses and taxpayers by instituting a 50 percent small business tax cut for Ohio businesses and a 10 percent personal income tax reduction over the next three years.

Moves Ohio away from the income tax—which punishes success—and toward consumption-based taxes by adjusting the base sales tax rate from 5.5 percent to 5.75 percent.

Simplifies Ohio’s overall tax structure by equalizing sales taxes on Internet goods, goods purchased through a catalog, and digital goods.

Reforms the Commercial Activity Tax by establishing a tiered minimum tax structure based on gross receipts.

Helps seniors remain in their homes by authorizing the Homestead Tax Exemption for low-income seniors as well as those who currently receive the exemption.

Eliminating a flawed taxpayer subsidy that paid a portion of homeowners’ property tax, ensuring that the homeowners themselves—not seniors or low-income Ohioans—pay their own property taxes.

Strengthening Services that Ohioans Rely On

Am. Sub. H.B. 59 prioritizes community services and resources to help Ohioans with the unique circumstances they face. Members of the Ohio House believe in helping those who need assistance the most and giving families additional options for overcoming their personal challenges. Among other provisions, Am. Sub. H.B. 59:

Allocates $33 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding to assist the unemployed in getting back to work.

Increases funding to local governments for addiction services by $20 million annually and for mental health by $30 million annually.

Restores funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) so they can continue to serve those Ohioans who are most in need.

Increases funding for the PASSPORT program, allowing more senior citizens to receive vital care within the comfort of their homes.

Increases funding for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank by $2 million over the biennium.

Providing Vital Resources for Primary and Secondary Education

Education has continued to be a priority for the Ohio House, and the biennial budget includes numerous provisions to provide a competitive education for Ohio’s students. Am. Sub. H.B. 59 provides per pupil funding for economically disadvantaged aid particularly to rural and lower wealth school districts and ensures that all of Ohio’s more than 600 school districts receive at least the same amount of state aid that they received in fiscal year 2013. Furthermore, more than 70 percent of school districts will receive an increase in state aid. Am. Sub. H.B. 59 also:

Increases funding for special education, disadvantaged aide, and school transportation

Provides additional funding for school districts for every child in grades K-3 to implement the Third Grade Reading Guarantee through the “K-3 Literacy” program.

Increases funding for career-technical education by more than $200,000 over the biennium

Creates the “Straight A Fund” to provide schools with grants to implement their best reform ideas

Making Higher Education More Accessible, More Affordable

The state budget takes significant strides to ensure that those who seek advanced degrees are able to afford an education and receive the tools they need to be successful. Am. Sub. H.B. 59:

Caps tuition increases at 2 percent annually for all state schools

Permits schools to participate in a “cohort plan,” which allows universities to institute a stable, four-year cost of education, capped at a one-time increase of the tuition cap plus the five-year CPI average.

Increases funding for co-op internships by $6 million in fiscal year 2015

Provides more than $2.2 million in additional funding for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, which provides grants to Ohio residents with the highest levels of financial need

Increases the Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) Fund by $125,000 over the biennium to help Ohioans who are preparing for their GED exam.

“Chairman Amstutz, Vice Chairman McClain and the members of the Finance and Appropriations Committee did a fine job crafting this budget, and I am very grateful for the time they put into this effort,” said Speaker Batchelder. “Rest assured that the benefits of this forward-thinking budget will be reflected for years to come within Ohio’s communities, in Ohio’s schools, and in the paychecks of Ohioans.”

Ohio House Finance Committee Unveils Biennial Budget Sub Bill

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee today introduced Substitute House Bill 59, the two-year budget proposal that refines the recommendations in Governor Kasich’s executive budget proposal that was introduced in the House in February.

Building upon the Governor’s strategic vision, the bill continues to make sweeping policy reforms in all areas of government in an effort to make Ohio’s state government more efficient, effective and focused on providing tangible results for Ohioans.

“Governor Kasich laid out a powerful, forward-thinking budget, and we believe we have built upon those proposals in a way that will have a positive impact on all Ohioans,” said Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina). “Providing healthcare and employment services, as well as reforming state tax policies and funding schools, are continuing themes in both the House and executive versions of Sub. House Bill 59. The substitute bill that was introduced today is the product of countless hours of discussion and a thorough examination of the way our state government operates.”

Providing Permanent Income Tax Relief & Continuing Further Tax Reform

Reforming Ohio’s tax structure is one of the key issues included in Sub. H.B. 59. The bill initiates meaningful income tax reform to stimulate job growth and put more money back in Ohioans’ pockets. It permanently reduces income taxes by 7 percent in FY 2014, which will provide nearly $1.5 billion in income tax relief over the next two years.

Among other changes, the bill:

Exempts grain elevators from the commercial activity tax (CAT)

Lowers the motor fuel tax on liquefied natural gas to 28 cents per gallon

“We remain committed to continue working with the Governor on reforming Ohio’s tax code within the budget-making process,” Chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) said. “We believe that the targets set by the administration for providing individuals and businesses with relief from the state income tax remain within a reasonable range. However, we decided that it is advisable to hold back a range of potential means of lowering the income tax until additional analysis is conducted.”

Helping the Unemployed Find Work

The House version of the budget includes a strong effort to help Ohioans find gainful employment, access important job resources, and improve their employability. A variety of funding initiatives, which total $250 million over two years, have been included in the state budget, including:

$75 million increase per year in additional funding for employment services and job readiness
$30 million increase per year in additional funding for local governments for mental health services
$20 million increase per year in additional funding for local governments for addiction services
$6 million funding increase for job co-ops and internships

“We heard compelling testimony from a variety of witnesses that low-budget, community-based programs often provide the most cost-effective results,” said Chairman Amstutz. “We are focusing our efforts on assisting potentially employable individuals with overcoming the personal challenges that prevent them from obtaining or keeping a job.”

Primary & Secondary Education: Ensuring Money Follows the Child

Education, a continuing priority for the Ohio House, has received particular care and consideration in Sub. H.B. 59. The budget builds upon sound principles in the executive proposal for primary and secondary education by making changes to target more state aid increases to rural and lower wealth school districts.

“We applied a number of refinements to the education items and funding mechanisms that the governor proposed, but the general construct of the administration’s recommendations remains throughout,” said Chairman Amstutz.

Among other proposals to boost Ohio’s schools and educational standards, Sub. H.B. 59:

· Ensures that none of Ohio’s 600+ school districts will receive less state aid than they did in FY’13

· Increases funding for career-technical education to prepare high school students for future career opportunities

· Increases funding for special education, disadvantaged aid, and transportation

· Provides core funding levels to allow all schools to be competitive

· Provides additional funding for school districts to implement the Third Grade Reading Guarantee through the K-3 Literacy Program

Higher Education: Making College More Affordable

Additionally, Sub. H.B. 59 takes significant strides to improve Ohio’s higher education through comprehensive policy improvements. Among these proposals are:

Moving funding for Ohio universities to an outcome-based system rather than a population-based system

Giving families peace of mind in their child’s tuition costs by capping tuition increases at 2 percent for all state schools. Additionally, the bill allows schools to participate in a newly adopted “cohort plan,” which allows universities to institute a stable, four-year cost of education, capped at a one-time increase of up to 6 percent that cannot change from year to year

Providing $1.1 million in additional funding for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant

Increasing funding for the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Fund by $250,000 over the biennium, to help Ohioans who are preparing for their GED examination
Increasing funding for co-op internships by $6 million in FY 2015

“We took strides to make it more affordable to obtain a higher education degree and to give Ohio’s students the necessary tools to succeed in the future,” said Rep. Amstutz.

Healthcare & Medicaid: A long-term, fiscally responsible plan that assists Ohio’s families

Healthcare is a major component of this budget, and the House worked to institute policies that will positively affect all Ohioans. Major spending reductions in Sub. H.B. 59 are a result of the removal of the Medicaid eligibility expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act, an action the House has elected to take because there remain too many uncertainties with the federal program to warrant the expansion’s adoption.

“We have struggled the most with the questions around expanding Medicaid eligibility under the so-called Affordable Care Act,” said Speaker Batchelder. “Our members spent countless hours in hearings, analysis and discussion regarding ways to approach the needs of Ohioans in poverty as well as those without health insurance. However, there is not a consensus that extending Medicaid coverage is a sustainable or effective solution to the needs of adults living below the poverty line. We will further examine the federal program as implementation details continue to come forth, especially considering the ongoing gridlock involving the federal budget and growing uncertainty over sustainability of federal borrowing and spending.”

“There were many health-related variables we considered in this budget,” said Chairman Amstutz. “There is compassion for our citizens faced with barriers of addictions and mental illness, which they must overcome to achieve stable, meaningful employment. Given this common interest, we are calling for an all-hands-on-deck focus on comprehensive solutions that are based at the community level, as well as for the creation of a bipartisan legislative committee to keep a finger on the pulse of the Medicaid issue. We recognize that Medicaid is an area that will continue to require considerable discussion in the coming months and years, as it is an issue that is important to the well-being of all Ohioans.”

In addition to maintaining current Medicaid eligibility rates and establishing a joint study committee to monitor the issues surrounding Medicaid, Sub. H.B. 59 focuses on those who need help, ideally to the point where they no longer rely on public assistance. The budget accomplishes this by increasing funding to local governments for addiction services and mental health, as well as increasing temporary workforce funding for individuals in need.

Other initiatives included in Sub. H.B. 59 include:

Increasing funding for the Local Government Innovation Program by $4 million per year

Creating the Local Government Exchange, which is an effort to encourage more local governments to publish information on the internet to help reduce costs and increase transparency

Establishing the Ohio Oil and Gas Fund, using proceeds from drilling on state lands: 50 percent of royalties from drilling will be invested in Clean Ohio programs and the remaining 50 percent invested in our state parks

Increasing funding for RECLAIM Ohio, a funding initiative that encourages juvenile courts to develop or purchase a range of community-based options to meet the needs of juvenile offenders or at-risk youth

Increasing funding for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank by $2 million over the biennium

Making additional modifications to human trafficking law

Increasing funding for the Ohio Historical Society, Ohio Arts Council and the Hayes Presidential Center

“This budget upholds our commitment to Ohioans to assure their ability to be healthy, prosperous and self-sufficient,” said Speaker Batchelder. “With the help of many interested parties who came to the Statehouse and shared their views with the committee, we have addressed many issues that will have a profound impact on the daily lives of Ohio’s citizens. We will continue to strengthen Ohio’s economy and job climate in everything we do, whether that means keeping our taxes competitive or improving the quality of life in Ohio. I am proud of the work that Chairman Amstutz, Vice Chairman McClain, and all the subcommittee chairs have done on this budget proposal, and I look forward to working with the Senate to further strengthen the bill.”

Constitutional Modernization Commission Offers New Public Input Opportunity on Website

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and State Representative Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), who serve as co-chairs of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission (OCMC), today announced that the OCMC website now allows public input in an effort to make the commission more transparent and accessible.
Members of the public are able to submit suggested changes, hot topic issues that need to be addressed, and items that they believe should be added to the Ohio Constitution. The Submit Your Ideas page can be found at: http://ocmc.ohio.gov/ocmc/submitideas.

“Public feedback is essential to the work of the Commission, and in a continuing effort to make our state government more open to the people, providing a means for Ohioans to submit their suggestions will help the Commission to be reachable by all of our citizens,” said Speaker Batchelder. “We greatly value public input and believe that the resources on the website will be greatly beneficial to those who are interested in updating Ohio’s Constitution.”
“It is so important to have civic engagement throughout this process,” said Rep. Sykes. “We greatly enhance our democracy when we can provide channels for Ohioans to interact with their elected and appointed officials on issues of importance. I look forward to seeing some of the suggestions and opinions as we move forward.”

The OCMC was established by the passage of House Bill 188, which was signed into law in July 2011. The Commission is charged with studying the Ohio Constitution, promoting an exchange of suggestions and respecting desired changes in the Constitution, considering the problems pertaining to the amendment of the Constitution, and making recommendations from time to time to the General Assembly for the amendment of the Constitution.

The Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Select Committee, Process for Hearing Election Contest

Release:

COLUMBUS— Pursuant to Article 2, Section 21 of the Ohio Constitution, Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced that a House Select Committee has been established to hear the election contest O’Farrell v. Landis in the 98th House District, which was recently delivered to the House from the Ohio Supreme Court.

“We will have a full, fair and deliberative process over the next several weeks on this election contest,” Speaker Batchelder said. “I am confident that the select committee will do their due diligence over the coming weeks in order to make a recommendation to the full House.”

Speaker Batchelder named the following House Members to serve on this select committee:

· Rep. Matt Huffman – Chair

· Rep. Peter Stautberg – Vice chair

· Rep. Mike Dovilla

· Rep. Dorothy Pelanda

· Rep. Gerald Stebelton

· Rep. Kathleen Clyde – Ranking Member

· Rep. Mike Curtin

· Rep. Chris Redfern

· Rep. Fred Strahorn

The first of several hearings are expected to begin in the month of March. A hearing schedule and location of these public hearings will be made available in the near future. This committee is not a standing House Committee; as such, members serving in leadership positions will not receive any additional stipend for their service.

The last election contest occurred in the 1980s in the Ohio Senate and in the late 19th century in the Ohio House. The committee membership will be journalized this week and the committee will be dissolved pending their final recommendation to the full House.

St. Rep. Becker Receives Appointment

Release:

COLUMBUS - Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has appointed State Rep. John Becker (R-Union Twp.) to serve on the Clermont County Board of Trustees Transportation Improvement District.

The appointment became effective January 18th and will correspond with Rep. Becker’s work on the Ohio House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee.

“I’m pleased to receive this appointment and look forward to further serving the residents of Clermont County,” Rep. Becker said.

Rep. Becker is currently serving his first term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He represents the 65th House District in northwestern Clermont County, which includes Loveland, Milford, Newtownsville and Owensville, as well as Goshen, Miami, Stonelick, Union and Wayne townships.

Ohio House Republicans Introduce First Legislative Initiatives

Release:

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House Republican Caucus today introduced its first set of bills that strive to accomplish a variety of goals, from improving workforce development efforts and revising school safety laws, to assisting local governments with efficiency measures.

“While these 10 bills are not part of an official House Republican “priorities list,” they reflect some of the bigger issues we will face in the first six months,” said Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina). “These are the first in a series of many important bills that we will be introducing over the course of this General Assembly as we work to boost workforce development efforts, improve our tax climate, enhance local government operation, improve health care, and create a better quality of life for all Ohioans.”

The legislative initiatives that the House Republican Caucus introduced are as follows:

House Bill 1 (Derickson, Romanchuk) – Ohio Means Jobs. This legislation rebrands Ohio’s patchwork of workforce centers, currently referred to as “One-Stops,” as “Ohio Means Jobs _____ County” to ensure consistency, reduce public confusion, and connect these centers directly to OhioMeansJobs. It also requires all workforce investment boards to use OhioMeansJobs as the only job matching tool by July 2013 to streamline job-matching services, reduce duplication, and maximize this increasingly important benefit to Ohioans.

House Bill 2 (Derickson, Brown) – Helping the unemployed get back to work. This bill requires that all applicants for unemployment insurance register with OhioMeansJobs prior to applying for benefits and requires applicants to make direct contact with their local One-Stop (or future OhioMeansJobs office) by the eighth week of unemployment benefits. This will ensure that unemployment insurance applicants are maximizing their job search opportunities and make it easier for the applicant to navigate the many different services that currently exist.

House Bill 3 (Sears, Kunze) – Improving health insurance oversight. In order to protect our competitive marketplace, it is important that we control the regulatory authority over the sales, solicitation and recommendation of health insurance options. This legislation provides for the certification and oversight of health exchange navigators, and adjusts continuing education requirements for insurance agents. It outlines the scope of practice of a navigator, as well as specific requirements for licensure and ethics requirements.

House Bill 4 (Stautberg, Blessing) – Local Government Performance Measure Grant Program. This legislation creates 100 micro-grants to help Ohio’s local governments improve government efficiency, maintain vital services, and save taxpayer dollars in an effort to make Ohio more competitive. These grants will give local entities the tools to efficiently manage functions and services by using performance measurements and benchmarking. The funds will be repurposed from the existing appropriation of $36 million in unused loan dollars from the Local Government Innovation Fund.

House Bill 5 (Grossman, Henne) – Municipal income tax uniformity. This legislation seeks to make Ohio’s municipal income tax system as fair and uniform as possible throughout Ohio’s more than 600 taxing municipalities. Among other provisions, it creates uniform treatment of filing requirement, defines “resident” to eliminate the requirement that someone can be a resident of an Ohio city without being a legal resident of the state of Ohio, and creates a uniform net operating loss carry-forward period of five years.

House Bill 6 (Thompson, Green) – Local government agreed upon procedures. This legislation specifies that local government entities that qualify for an agreed-upon procedures audit must meet defined criteria. An agreed-upon procedures audit is a lower cost method that allows eligible government agencies to save money and time without sacrificing accountability. The Ohio Auditor of State’s office estimates that more than 1,000 government entities may qualify for this kind of audit.

House Bill 7 (Huffman) – Internet sweepstakes. This is a redrafted version of House Bill 605 from the previous General Assembly, taking into account concerns that the Ohio Attorney General and others have raised regarding the need for sweepstakes parlor or sweepstakes internet café regulation. This version tightens some of the definitions and adds the ability for businesses to obtain a waiver from being labeled a sweepstakes terminal device facility for their customer reward programs.

House Bill 8 (Roegner, Kunze) – Working to ensure safer schools. The provisions of this legislation will be drafted based on interested party input during the committee process. It will incorporate research and suggestions brought forth by the public.

House Bill 9 (Stautberg) – Commercial foreclosure updates. This bill adds to and clarifies the powers of a receiver (someone who, in the case of commercial foreclosure, is appointed by the court to serve as a caretaker of the real property) and enables a receiver to sell real property by modifying who can be appointed a receiver and what authorizations they have under the law to handle the property for which they are responsible.

House Bill 10 (C. Hagan) – Fiscal Integrity Act. This legislation increases accountability and penalizes wrong-doing from local fiscal officers. It creates a uniform removal provision and due process for county auditors and treasurers, municipal fiscal officers, and township fiscal officers. It also deals with provisions pertaining to dereliction of duty and local government audits.

Committee hearings on these bills and others recently introduced are expected to commence in the near future. The Speaker looks forward to extensive debate and discussion on these important pieces of legislation throughout the committee process.

Speaker Batchelder Announces House Committees, Chairmen

Release:

OLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives’ new committee structure, which places emphasis on the House’s legislative priorities for the 130th General Assembly.

“The restructured committees will focus our efforts on the legislative priorities of the House over the next two years,” said Speaker Batchelder. “Issues such as economic development and the budget will continue to be a major part of our work here in the House, but we will also be tackling many other important issues as well. I’m confident that the chairs and vice chairs will lead their committees proficiently and guide the passage of legislation that will benefit all Ohioans.”

The House committees, as well as the members who will lead each committee, are as follows:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Chair: Rep. Dave Hall (R-Millersburg)
Vice chair: Rep. Andy Thompson (R-Marietta)
Commerce, Labor and Technology
Chair: Rep. Ron Young (R-Leroy Township)
Vice chair: Rep. Mike Duffey (R-Worthington)
Economic Development and Regulatory Reform
Chair: Rep. Nan Baker (R-Westlake)
Vice chair: Rep. Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati)
Education
Chair: Rep. Jerry Stebelton (R-Lancaster)
Vice chair: Rep. Andrew Brenner (R-Powell)
Finance and Appropriations 1
Chair: Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster)
Vice chair: Rep. Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky)
Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development
Chair: Rep. Richard Adams (R-Troy)
Vice chair: Rep. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark)
Health and Aging
Chair: Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon)
Vice chair: Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville)
Insurance
Chair: Rep. Bob Hackett (R-London)
Vice chair: Rep. Mike Henne (R-Clayton)
Judiciary 2
Chair: Rep. Jim Butler (R-Oakwood)
Vice chair: Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville)
Manufacturing and Workforce Development
Chair: Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton)
Vice chair: Rep. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario)
Military and Veterans Affairs
Chair: Rep. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott)
Vice chair: Rep. Al Landis (R-Dover)
Policy and Legislative Oversight
Chair: Rep. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea)
Vice chair: Rep. Jim Buchy (R-Greenville)
Public Utilities
Chair: Rep. Peter Stautberg (R-Anderson Township)
Vice chair: Rep. Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson)
Rules and Reference
Chair: Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima)
Vice chair: Speaker Batchelder
State and Local Government 3
Chair: Rep. Terry Blair (R-Washington Township)
Vice chair: Rep. Marlene Anielski (R-Independence)
Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security
Chair: Rep. Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont)
Vice chair: Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl (R-Mount Vernon)
Ways and Means
Chair: Rep. Peter Beck (R-Mason)
Vice chair: Rep. Terry Boose (R-Norwalk)

1 House Finance and Appropriations subcommittees:

Agriculture and Development (Chair: Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Township)
Higher Education (Chair: Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville)
Primary and Secondary Education (Chair: Rep. Bill Hayes, R-Harrison Township)
Transportation (Chair: Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield)
Health and Human Services (Chair: Rep. Anne Gonzales, R-Westerville)

2 The restructured House Judiciary Committee is a combination of the Judiciary Committee and the Criminal Justice Committee of the 129th General Assembly.

3 House State and Local Government subcommittee:

Shared Services and Government Efficiency (Chair: Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon)

Speaker Batchelder expects to announce the membership of all committees next week.

Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement on Supreme Court’s Reapportionment Ruling

Release:

COLUMBUS—In response to the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling that the Ohio legislative districts drawn up in the 2012-2022 apportionment plan are constitutional, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“I am very pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the newly apportioned legislative districts. I have believed from the beginning that the good work of the apportionment board was well within the clear confines of the law and successfully created districts that will allow Ohioans to be appropriately represented in the Statehouse. I’d like to commend Governor Kasich, Senate President Niehaus, Secretary of State Husted and Auditor Yost for their tireless efforts to create fair and legal Ohio legislative districts in Ohio.

“Today’s decision is recognition that the current system was done fairly and appropriately. However, while I agree with the majority opinion of the Court, I do believe that the process for legislative reapportionment needs to be reviewed and examined for possible reform. I have said previously that the Constitutional Modernization Commission would be a perfect avenue for such discussions to take place and I maintain that same sentiment today.”

Constitutional Modernization Commission Announces Meeting to Take Action on Public Member Appointments

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), Co-Chairs of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission, today announced that the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission will be meeting at 10AM on Thursday September 13, 2012 in Statehouse Room 121 to appoint 20 at-large public members to the commission.

“I am so pleased that we have been able to move forward with the selection of these twenty Ohioans,” said Rep. Sykes. “It is a daunting task to review all the applications and resumes from so many qualified people who have a real passion and interest in their government and state constitution. There is no doubt that having twenty diverse voices speak out through this process is much needed.”

The initial term of Commission members ends on December 31, 2012, after which they may be reappointed to two-year terms. The Constitution Modernization Commission will dissolve once its work is complete, on or before July 1, 2021.

“I look forward to having a full commission in place so that we can begin the vigorous work of reviewing Ohio’s Constitution and proposed amendments in a thoughtful and deliberative way,” stated Speaker Batchelder.

All proposed changes must be approved by two-thirds of the commission members in order to be presented to the General Assembly, which would then have to pass them by three-fifths majority to place them on the ballot for Ohio voters to approve. The Commission will present its first report to the General Assembly as early this fall.

Speaker Batchelder, President Niehaus Announce Session Schedule for Remainder of General Assembly

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder and Senate President Tom Niehaus today released the session schedule for the remainder of the 129th General Assembly.

All dates are subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, session times are as follows:

SENATE: Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. Thursdays 11:00 a.m.
HOUSE: Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. Wednesdays 1:30 p.m. Thursdays 1:00 p.m.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION SCHEDULE FOR REMAINDER OF 2012:

JULY SENATE HOUSE
31 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)

AUGUST SENATE HOUSE
1 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)
2 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)

SEPTEMBER SENATE HOUSE
11 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)
12 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)

NOVEMBER SENATE HOUSE
14 Session Session
15 Session Session
27 Session Session
28 Session Session
29 Session Session

DECEMBER SENATE HOUSE
4 Session Session
5 Session Session
11 Session Session
12 Session Session
13 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)
18 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)
19 Session (if needed) Session (if needed)

I would complain that there appears to be an awful lot of time off, but I am afraid that they actually would meet...

Batchelder on SCOTUS Decision

Release:

COLUMBUS—In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal health care law, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“Today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court will raise taxes on all Americans and give the federal government unprecedented control not just over people’s health care decisions, but over the entire economy of our nation. I’m shocked and disappointed that this federal health care law—which will skyrocket costs on Ohioans and hurt Ohio’s businesses—was not overturned. Although we clearly need to reduce costs and improve Ohioans’ access to care, these mandates from President Obama and the then-Democrat Congress were not the best course of action for Americans and especially not for Ohioans. This plan is projected to raise costs on Ohioans by $940 million over the next two years at a time when we all are least able to afford it.

“My colleagues and I in the House Republican Caucus will work with Governor Kasich and the Senate to explore ways to minimize the detrimental effect these costs will have on families and businesses. It is my sincere hope that Congress will ultimately repeal the rest of the law and start fresh with reforms that will improve the quality and cost of care all Americans receive.”

Ohio House Passes Bill Designating Memorial Highways

Releases:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) has announced the unanimous House passage of Substitute House Bill 325, which designates 33 memorial highways, including the “Sergeant David Kreuter Memorial Highway” in Hamilton County, and authorizes that suitable markers be erected along each highway. House Bill 325 includes the designation of Interstate Route 75 running through Lucas, Wood, Hancock, Allen, Auglaize, Shelby, Miami, Montgomery, Warren, Butler and Hamilton counties as the “Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail.” “This memorial highway designation honors the accomplishments and history of those brave African Americans who flew aircraft in the Army Air Corps during World War II, as well as the many others in maintenance and support staff,” said Speaker Batchelder. “These individuals helped to shape the course of our American history and overcome segregation that was so prevalent during the time.” [Also included in the bill is] the “Sergeant David Kreuter Memorial Highway” in Hamilton County. On August 3, 2005, Sergeant David Kreuter was killed while serving in Iraq while riding in an assault vehicle that was hit by an improvised device during combat operations. The commemorated highway will be designated on State Route 264 between the municipal corporation of Cleves and South Road within Hamilton County only. “Sergeant Kreuter was a true American hero, and I am honored to be able to recognize his service by renaming a portion of State Route 264,” said Representative Terhar. House Bill 325 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Screening Panel for Vacant 85th House District

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced that the House Republican Caucus will convene a screening panel this weekend to interview applicants for the seat recently vacated by former state representative Bob Peterson (R-Sabina), who was appointed to the Ohio Senate.

“We have a number of extremely qualified candidates who have applied to fill the vacant House seat,” Speaker Batchelder said. “I am grateful to all who have applied and I know the panel members will do their due diligence to ensure that the best applicant becomes the newest member of the House Republican Caucus.”

In an effort to ensure that the House Republican Caucus is working as cooperatively as possible with the local county Republican organizations, Speaker Batchelder is announcing a joint-screening panel, consisting of House Republican members and the chairmen (or their designee) of the three county parties in the 85th House District. The panelists include:

· Rep. Matt Huffman (4th – Lima), Chair

· Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (86th – Clarksville)

· Rep. Anne Gonzales (19th – Westerville)

· Rep. Bill Hayes (91st – Harrison Twp.)

· Diane Carnes, Ross County GOP Chair (or designee)

· Jim Ward, Fayette County Chair (or designee)

· Jeff Call, Pickaway County Chair (or designee)

The screening panel will meet at the Ross County GOP Headquarters, 129 East Main Street in Chillicothe beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, April 21. Candidates who met last Friday’s deadline will be contacted by Speaker Batchelder’s office to schedule an interview time. A recommendation is expected by the panel by early next week, with the successful applicant expected to be sworn-in during House Session the week of April 23.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Former Rep. Marilyn Slaby to be Appointed to 41st House District

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today announced that former state representative Marilyn Slaby (R-Copley) will fill the seat recently vacated by her husband, Lynn Slaby (R-Copley), following his recent appointment to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

“I am delighted that Mrs. Slaby will be once again joining the House Republican Caucus,” Speaker Batchelder said. “She has a wealth of experience in state government and in the private sector, which will serve her constituents well in the Ohio House.”

Marilyn Slaby is a retired educator and served for ten years as an employee with the Summit County Board of Elections. Previously, she served as state representative of the 41st House District in 2004, where she was vice-chair of the House Education Committee and member of the Health and Local Government committees. Additionally, she has owned and operated two small businesses over the years. Marilyn also serves as vice-chair of the Summit County Central Committee and is an elected member of the Republican State Central Committee.

Mrs. Slaby was recommended by the Summit County Republican Party for the seat, therefore eliminating the need for a screening panel to convene and select a candidate. She will be sworn-in during House Session on Tuesday, April 24 at 11:00am.

Mr. and Mrs. Slaby have three children and four grandchildren.

Speaker Batchelder Announces Candidates for 41st, 85th Districts

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and members of the House Republican Caucus today announced the candidates who have applied for appointment to the vacant 41st and 85th Ohio House District seats.

“Members of the House Republican Caucus look forward to speaking with these candidates to decide who will be the next representatives of the 41st and 85th Districts,” said Speaker Batchelder. “All of these individuals are strong candidates who possess the qualities necessary to not only be valuable additions to our caucus, but also to represent their communities with integrity and dedication.”

Applicants for the 41st District include:

* C. Allen Nichols – Fairlawn, library director
* Marilyn Slaby – Copley, former state representative

Applicants for the 85th District include:

* Martha Cooper – Washington Court House, university professor
* Trent Dye – Washington Court House, director of operations at local trucking company
* Anthony Eallonardo, IV – Chillicothe, teacher
* Eric LaMont Gregory - physiologist
* Gregory McKeever – Chillicothe, municipal court bailiff
* Mike Meade – Chillicothe, business owner
* Steve Newman – Chillicothe, attorney
* Lori Pritchard Hardin – Circleville, attorney
* Gary Scherer – Circleville, CPA/small business owner
* Spencer Stickel – detailed information not yet provided

The Speaker and members of the House leadership team will be working closely with county Republican Party officials and elected officials in each House district to ensure an appropriate appointment is made to the House in the next few weeks. Appointments to the 41st and 85th House District seats are expected to be made on or after Tuesday, April 24th.

Speaker Batchelder Issues Statement on Mid-Biennium Review

Release:

COLUMBUS—Today, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) announced that House Bill 487, the mid-biennium review (MBR), will be separated into several pieces of legislation rather than passed as one bill.

Speaker Batchelder has released the following statement on the introduction of the new bills:

“Governor Kasich and his administration have put forth bold and innovative proposals to further improve Ohio’s job climate, enhance and improve the education of Ohio’s students, and reform and revitalize the operation of state government. House Republicans are poised to work diligently on these proposals and we are hopeful that the minority caucuses will join us in further revitalizing our great state.

“Members of the House have been thoroughly engaged in hearings on House Bill 487 for several weeks, and we are very pleased with the thoughtful testimony, constructive discussion and hard work that have gone into this legislation. Building on the effort that has already been invested in House Bill 487, we are separating the MBR into more issue-centric bills, which will give the Legislature the opportunity to give each bill ample consideration and focus, giving stakeholders and the public a chance to analyze the subjects that fit their expertise and interest. This will also give the respective House and Senate committees enough time to be thorough in their deliberations of matters that are specific to that committee. This comprehensive effort is one of the key ways we can keep Ohio’s momentum moving in the right direction—by examining the way Ohio is currently operating, improving the functioning of our state government and strategically investing in our communities.”



The MBR, currently House Bill 487, will be split into the following bills:



Bill Number/Sponsor


Topic


House Committee Assignment

HB 490 (Landis/Dovilla)


Veterans Services


Veterans Affairs

HB 505 (Amstutz)


Board of Tax Appeals


Ways & Means

HB 508 (Beck)


General Tax Law Changes


Ways & Means

HB 509 (Blair)


Local Government


Local Government

HB 510 (Amstutz)


Financial Institutions Tax


Ways & Means

HB 511 (Beck/Gonzales)


Tax Credits


Ways & Means

HB 512 (Maag)


Land Conveyances


State Government & Elections

HB 513 (Maag)


Lease/Leaseback


State Government & Elections

HB 514 (Newbold)


Real-time Traffic


Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security

Speaker Batchelder Announces Majority Caucus Staff Changes

Release:

COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today has announced several recent caucus staff changes for the House Republican Caucus.

“I’m pleased to welcome these promising individuals to the House majority caucus staff,” Speaker Batchelder said. “Several of them have been promoted to positions that best suit their talents in serving the House. I have always strived to hire hard-working and dedicated staff who will work tirelessly for this institution and are dedicated to serving the best interests of all Ohioans.”

Heather Mann serves as the deputy policy director and deputy legal counsel for Speaker Batchelder, having previously served as the redistricting director for the Ohio House. Heather has worked for the members of the Republican Caucus since 2001 in various capacities including a Legislative Service Commission Intern, legislative aide, policy advisor, and one of the joint secretaries of the Ohio Apportionment Board. She is a 2008 graduate of the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute and holds a Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

Nick D’Angelo is a policy aide for the majority caucus, covering the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the Economic and Small Business Development Committee. Previously, Nick served as the legislative aide for Rep. Terry Blair (R-Washington Township) and is a 2010 graduate of Miami University in Oxford.

Drew Davidson is the deputy budget director for the House majority caucus. In this capacity he assists majority members in development of the state budget and heads the staffing needs of the Ohio Controlling Board. Previously, Drew served as a legislative aide to both State Senator Chris Widener (R-Springfield) and Speaker Pro Tempore Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) and most recently as the senior legislative aide to Speaker Batchelder. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Ashland University and bachelor’s degree from Ohio University in Athens.

Colleen Grady will soon be joining the majority caucus as a policy aide. Colleen served as vice president for advocacy of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children for seven years, 10 years as a member of the Strongsville City Schools Board of Education (including time as the board president), an elected member of the State of Ohio Board of Education from 2005-2008, and as state representative in 2008, representing the citizens of the 18th House District. Recently, Grady served as the president and founder of Grady and Associates, LLC. She is a tireless lifelong advocate for public and charter school education across Ohio and will be bringing her extensive education experience to the House Education Committee and staffing the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).

Lisa Griffin, also a policy aide for the majority caucus, covers the State Government and Elections Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. Lisa previously served as the legislative aide to several members of the House Republican Caucus and as an assistant/logistics coordinator to the Ohio Apportionment Board and the House/Senate Joint Subcommittee on Redistricting in 2011. Prior to her service in the House, Lisa served as an assistant to the Mason City Manager, an account clerk for the City of Mason and as an intern for then-Senator Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek). She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Dayton and bachelor’s degree from Wright State University.

Kathryn Steveline was recently hired as the journal clerk in the House Clerk’s Office, having previously served as the legislative aide to Chairman of the Health and Aging Committee Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) and as a Legislative Service Commission fellow. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Miami University.

Marjorie Yano is the deputy legal counsel and public inquiries officer for the House. In these capacities, Marjorie will be in charge of coordinating all public records requests and serving as a policy advisor to the majority caucus. Prior to her service in the House, Marjorie served as a fellow with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission and a research assistant with the Greater Ohio Policy Center. She is a cum laude graduate of Amherst College, having also earned a Master of Arts in public policy and management from the John Glenn School of Public Affairs and a Juris Doctorate from the Moritz College of Law, both at The Ohio State University. She was admitted to the State of Ohio Bar in 2010.

Speaker Batchelder Outlines Process for House Appointments

Release:

COLUMBUS—Today, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today outlined the process for filling the current and pending vacancies in Ohio House Districts 41, 85, 87 and 98.

House Districts 41 & 85

41st District State Representative Lynn Slaby (R-Copley) is expected to be appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Wednesday, April 11th. His resignation will be effective on April 10th.

Recently, former State Representative Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) of the 85th House District was sworn in as the state senator in Senate District 17.

Residents of House Districts 41 and 85 who wish to be considered for the appointments may send their submissions to Speaker Batchelder at 77 South High Street, 14th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 or by email at District69@ohr.state.oh.us by Friday, April 13th at 5 p.m. The new members of the 41st and 85th Districts will be sworn in on or after April 18.

Speaker Batchelder stressed that he and his leadership team will be working very closely with elected officials and county Republican parties in the districts and look forward to their recommendations. As a result of those conversations, a screening panel will likely convene to recommend appointees to the seats to the members of the House Republican Caucus.

“Although it is the prerogative of the House Republican Caucus to make an appointment, I believe it is incumbent upon us to give the citizens of these districts as much of a voice as possible in selecting their new member,” Speaker Batchelder said. “I look forward to working with their elected and party leadership in the coming days.”

House Districts 87 and 98

On Tuesday, the elections in the 87th and 98th House District were officially certified and the House Republican Caucus will appoint the winners of the primaries in those areas, as previously indicated. Former Bainbridge Township Trustee Matt Lynch will be sworn in as state representative of the 98th District and, pending a recount, Gallipolis School Board President Ryan Smith will be sworn in as state representative of the 87th House District.

Both Lynch and Smith are slated to be appointed during the next scheduled session of the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m.