We are Ohio Rally at Statehouse

Senator Cafaro Announces Loan to Create Jobs at Niles Business

Columbus – Senate Democratic Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) announced today that the State Controlling Board approved a $750,000 Department of Development Research & Development Loan to NMC Metals in Niles, Ohio. The loan will be used to purchase new machinery and equipment.

“Awarding NMC Metals these funds is critical to the company’s growth as a successful Ohio business,” said Senator Cafaro. “This loan will create more high-tech and higher paying jobs for in the community.”

The R&D loan will help NMC create a technology center for research and product development. As a result of the technology center, 15 new, full-time technology jobs will be created. The loan will also help save 15 at-risk jobs in Niles. The company plans to offer internships at the new center to local engineering students.

“NMC has been a leader in its field for more than 50 years. The Research and Development loan program ensures that companies like NMC can continue to compete,” said Senator Cafaro.

NMC Metals was founded in 1960 to develop and manufacture expanded materials. Their products include expanded metal mesh, gratings, walkways, security fences and precision foil mesh. NMC also has engineering, research and product development departments.

The Controlling Board provides legislative oversight over certain capital and operating expenditures by state agencies and has approval authority over various other state fiscal activities.

Senator Turner Announces Loan to Create and Retain Jobs in Garfield Heights

Columbus –State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) announced today that the State Controlling Board approved a $500,000 Department of Development Innovation Ohio Loan to AxioMed Spine Corporation (ACS) in Garfield Heights, an inner-ring suburb of Cleveland. The loan will lead to the creation of six new jobs while retaining 25 existing jobs.

“I am pleased to learn of the state’s continuing commitment to promoting Northeast Ohio’s emerging medical technology field,” said Senator Turner. “This is yet another great example of the public and private sectors working together to produce a positive outcome for our communities.”

The loan will allow ACS to purchase production tooling, equipment and surgical instruments. The equipment will be used in the development of their new Freedom Lumbar Disc products, a total disc replacement for the lowest vertebrae.

“This is truly a win-win for everyone,” said Turner. “The investments will help create and retain jobs and assist ACS in developing and manufacturing products that will help improve the quality of life for chronic back pain sufferers.”

Founded in 2001, ACS’ mission is to develop products for patients who suffer from Degenerative Disc Disease. The Garfield Heights-based company is an emerging medical device company designing spine products to restore natural spine function through total disc replacement. The Department of Development’s funding represents 74 percent of the total investment.

The Controlling Board provides legislative oversight over certain capital and operating expenditures by state agencies and has approval authority over various other state fiscal activities.

Senator Schiavoni on Fox News Discussing Fallout From Senate Bill 5

Senator Sawyer's Win-Win Academy Bill Passes Ohio Senate

Columbus – Today, the Ohio Senate voted to approve Substitute Senate Bill 86. The bill, introduced by Senator Tom Sawyer (D-Akron), will create a unique, drop-out recovery community school in partnership with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC). The “Win/Win Academy” will improve the re-entry of youth offenders back into the community by helping them earn a high school education.

“I’m grateful that my colleagues were able to come to a bipartisan agreement of this critical legislation,” said Senator Sawyer. “Ohio continues to face serious and debilitating problems with the overcrowding of our state prison system and many of our student dropouts are ending up in prisons.”

The bill will allow inmate-students to earn high school credits while incarcerated and achieve their diploma upon release. Initially housed in the Pickaway Correctional Institution, a single-gender ODRC institution, the school will integrate state academic standards with curriculum that has a demonstrated a record of improving student’s achievement and lowering recidivism. They will be taught by Ohio licensed educators with the support of “Thinking Aides” who are formerly incarcerated graduate-mentors.

“These offenders can often lack both critical thinking skills and the necessary education to excel in the workforce,” said Senator Sawyer. “Without education and the credentials that come with it, they are more likely to continue a life of crime. We are instead giving Ohio’s youth an opportunity to contribute to their communities.”

The academy will start as a pilot program that can be evaluated for its sustainability by 2013. The program will also be considered for expansion based on its success.

The bill will now be assigned to a committee in the Ohio House of Representatives and scheduled for committee meetings.

Senator Schiavoni Debunks DAS Memo Again

Columbus – State Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Canfield) is calling the Department of Administrative Services’ Senate Bill 5 memo, which the agency re-released today, a flawed analysis that inflates potential savings to local governments.

“The memo fails to calculate any additional costs to the state that will be a result of this legislation,” said Senator Schiavoni. “It does not take into account the inevitable cost of litigation or any cost related to implementing the performance-based pay system and other new un-funded state mandates.”

The memo claims that the state would have saved more than $75 million in 2010 by eliminating Step Movements for state workers. The memo neglects to point out that in the current biennial budget (HB1) there was a step freeze that already saved the state this money. Through the existing collective bargaining process, public employees have already made this concession.

“I find it ironic that DAS continuously cites cost savings that were achieved through collective bargaining as a reason to take away workers rights,” said Senator Schiavoni. “Collective bargaining has proven itself to be a valuable tool for saving state funds. It has been part of the solution, not the problem.”

The DAS memo does not factor in that not all local employees receive step and longevity pay like some state workers. Therefore, these calculations are flawed, and can not be added to the overall projected savings.

In addition, a Legislative Service Commission fiscal analysis on SB 5 concluded that there was not enough information available to provide accurate savings amounts.

Senator Skindell on Fox 8 Cleveland Talking About Budget Impact on Local Governments

 

Senator Tavares Comments on Senate Bill 5 and Upcoming Referendum

Senator Turner Discusses Final Passage of Senate Bill 5 on MSNBC

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Senator Cafaro Comments on Final Passage of Senate Bill 5

Columbus – Senate Democratic Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted 17-16 to give final approval to amended Senate Bill 5, the anti-worker legislation that takes collective bargaining rights away from public employees:

“Senate Bill 5 is a direct attack on worker’s rights that will have a devastating impact on Ohio families and communities. There is nothing in this hurtful legislation that creates jobs or grows our economy. Instead, this bill guts collective bargaining which means more hard-working Ohioans will lose their jobs or see their wages and benefits drastically cut.

“I am grateful Ohio’s constitution gives our citizens the power to overturn legislation that is so blatantly unfair to teachers, firefighters, police officers and other dedicated public servants. I look forward to a statewide referendum where Ohioans will have the opportunity to veto Senate Bill 5.”

Senator Skindell's Letter to the Columbus Dispatch

Dear Editor,

To borrow words used by the Dispatch and State Budget Director Tim Keen, I am not sure if “inexplicable” or “inexcusable” is the best way to describe the failure to provide start-up funding for the Ohio Casino Control Commission.

Despite a Dispatch editorial’s assertion to the contrary, someone in the General Assembly did consider the necessity of paying for the commission’s start-up costs. Legislation passed last May by the Democratic controlled Ohio House of Representatives provided $7.6 million in operating funds. However, the Republican controlled Senate stripped the funding from the bill.

Furthermore, the work of the Casino Control Commission has been needlessly delayed by partisan politics. The commission started meeting in October to establish guidelines for opening and operating Ohio’s casinos. However, the commission’s work ground to a halt when Governor Kasich insisted on removing the board’s original members to stack the commission with his own appointees.

We should not allow partisan politics to delay economic development in our cities. Unfortunately, that is a consequence of the political games that are being played with the Casino Control Commission.

Respectfully yours,
State Senator Michael J. Skindell
(D) Lakewood

Senator Turner and Mayor Jackson Call for Legislation to Share Services

Columbus –State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) introduced Senate Bill 125 this week which would give cities and municipalities more authority to share services. The legislation, proposed by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, would allow municipalities to enter into contracts that would let them perform services for one another while sharing cost and resources.

“The current fiscal environment forces us to think how we can work collaboratively to address the needs of our citizens while saving taxpayer dollars,” Senator Turner said. “I am pleased to work with Mayor Jackson and Senator Seitz to empower our communities to work together to provide vital services more efficiently.”

The legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), would help cities share services including snow removal, road repair and waste management.

“I would like to thank Senator Turner and her co-sponsor Senator Seitz for getting Senate Bill 125 introduced,” Mayor Jackson said. “We are living in an environment where rapid change is the reality of the moment. Just one year ago I engaged Senator Turner on the idea of expanding the scope of authority for municipalities to be able to provide service outside their boundaries. Fast forward to a short time later, what was a good and prudent business solution then is a matter of necessity today.”

The bill has also received support from Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association.

“This legislation carries even more importance given the difficult economic climate along with proposed cuts in funding to local governments from the State. Communities in Northeast Ohio are committed to collaboration and sharing services,” said John Licastro, President of the CCMCMA. The General Assembly must give us the legal tools to allow that to happen. We thank Senator Turner for her continued efforts to have this legislation become state law and applaud both her and the bill's co-sponsor Senator Bill Seitz.”

Senator Kearney Honors Cincinnati High School Champions

Senator Eric Kearney presents a proclamation to the Saint Ursula Academy Field Hockey team for winning the Division – 1 Championship.

Senator Turner Talks About the Governor's Budget on MSNBC

State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) appeared on the Ed Show on MSNBC to talk about the harmful effects of the Governor's budget and Senate Bill 5. Her interview begins at 3:45 on this clip.

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Senator Cafaro Comments on Governor's Budget Plan

Columbus – Senate Democratic Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) issued the following statement in regards to Governor Kasich’s budget plan:

“I am deeply concerned that the Governor’s decision to slash funding to local governments will put a tremendous strain on communities across the state. Even with additional flexibility to share resources, the state is creating a fiscal crisis for local governments that will likely lead to tax increases, reduced services and additional layoffs.

“I am also apprehensive about the sale of five prisons and the closing of other correctional facilities including two in my Senate district and the impact that it will have on jobs and public safety. We should not forget that convicted murderers escaped from a private prison in Youngstown while we search for ways to balance our budget. What assurances do we have that more privately owned and operated prisons won’t pose the same risk to our communities? Furthermore, selling five prisons is an example of one-time money that Republicans have blamed for our current budget deficit.

“Finally, the education portion of the budget is voodoo budgeting. The administration claims its budget increases funding for K-12 education, when in reality it makes significant cuts.”