Columbus – The Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus is submitting more than 300 amendments today to add much-needed fairness and accountability to House Bill 153, the proposed biennial state budget for fiscal years 2012-2013. The amendments reflect the Caucus’ commitment to protecting good-paying jobs, strengthening families and empowering communities.
“Our priority is to protect taxpayers and address some of the devastating cuts proposed by the Governor and House Republicans,” said Senate Minority Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard). “We should not balance the budget on the backs of the vulnerable or local governments. Unfortunately, that’s what will happen if we don’t make considerable changes to the current budget plan.”
The budget amendments protect taxpayers by strengthening oversight and accountability for charter schools and by ensuring there are no “sweetheart deals” to sell state prisons or lease the Ohio Turnpike at less than fair market value.
The Senate Democratic Caucus has proposed restoring funding for PASSPORT and Help Me Grow—programs that provide vital healthcare and nutrition services for older and younger Ohioans. The list of amendments also includes the restoration of funding for public transportation, mental health/developmental disability programs and the Ohio Consumer’s Counsel.
“The Republican budget cuts are going to hurt too many Ohioans who desperately need our assistance,” said Senator Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood), the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee. “Our amendments will help Ohioans at a time when many of them have no where else to turn.”
The amendments utilize resources from a projected budget surplus for fiscal year 2011.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Senator Smith's Letter to the Cleveland Plain Dealer
I agree with the Plain Dealer that Ohioans should hold on to their wallets if Republicans succeed in carrying out an unwarranted attack on the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel. The watchdog agency should be commended for protecting consumers, not muzzled and defunded.
Consumers’ Counsel Janine Migden-Ostrander leads an agency that is a fierce advocate for Ohio’s utility customers. Since 1976, the agency has saved Ohioans more than $10 billion on their gas, electric, telephone and water bills
It doesn’t make sense to slash the Consumers’ Counsel’s budget by 51 percent when the agency is funded by fees on the utility companies, not tax dollars. And I don’t understand why Republicans want to impose a gag order to bar the Consumers’ Counsel from speaking out if natural-gas deregulation leads to higher prices. These issues must be addressed by the Ohio Senate.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I will be fighting to restore funding to the Consumers’ Counsel. I urge every Ohioan who supports lower utility bills to do the same.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Elections Legislation Press Conference
At a Statehouse news conference, Senate and House Democrats said if proposed changes to Ohio's election laws pass the General Assembly, voting in Ohio will become harder and more restrictive.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Senator Smith Introduces Legislation to Ban Texting While Driving Statewide
Cleveland – State Senator Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland)announced that she has re-introduced legislation that creates a statewide ban on the dangerous habit of texting while driving.
“It is imperative that we move to prohibit this extremely dangerous behavior,” said Senator Smith. “Senate Bill 154 ensures that Ohio has a consistent, statewide law that addresses texting while driving. Drivers need to know that Ohio will not tolerate texting from behind the wheel. Ohio needs to take a strong stance on this issue, and I hope that Ohio policymakers understand the need for this legislation. I have long been an advocate on this issue, and I will continue to fight for the bill’s passage.”
Senator Smith noted that her last texting legislation, Senate Bill 164, had the full support of the Ohio Conference of AAA Clubs, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, and the public. A Quinnipiac University poll at that time revealed that 89 percent of Ohioans wanted a statewide bad on texting while driving.
“Cities such as Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo have already taken the lead in curbing this dangerous driving behavior. Thirty states and the District of Columbia have also instituted bans on texting while driving,” Senator Smith said. “There is no reason to delay passing a statewide law. Continued inaction on this issue will only result in an increasing number of accidents and deaths.”
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
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.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
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.
Monday, April 4, 2011
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.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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.”
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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
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