Innovation Ohio

What you need to know about Ohio Politics and Policy

Toolkit — Lowering Costs for Ohioans

Folder full of graphics that you can download and share on social media!

President Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program is providing reliable, affordable, broadband internet to Ohio families:

  • Many Ohioans can get $30 off broadband internet plans through Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
  • The Biden Admin also negotiated with internet providers to get new plans that will make many Americans’ internet bills $0
  • Click here for Broadband graphics you can download and share!
  • Over 600,000 Ohio households are already benefiting from affordable, high-speed internet as a result of this program. But over 1.4 million Ohio households are eligible!

The Biden Admin is Increasing Your Social Security Check:

President Biden Lowered the Cost of Hearing Aids:

President Biden’s CHIPS Act is lowering costs for Ohio by:

  • Speeding up the production of computer chips, which will lower the cost of cars, computers, cell phones, home appliances, medical equipment, and more.
  • Making sure more products are built in America
  • Creating good-paying jobs in our state
  • Improving the supply chain, which will lower costs for your family
  • Click here for CHIPS Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Four of Ohio’s Republican House members (Davidson, Jordan, Latta, Wenstrup) voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Infrastructure Law is improving life in Ohio by:

  • Improving the supply chain, lowering costs for your family
  • Helping refill dangerous potholes in our roads
  • Providing resources to rebuild crumbling bridges
  • Providing access to broadband internet for all American families 
  • Lowering internet costs
  • Creating millions of good-paying jobs
  • Replacing old pipes and delivering clean drinking water to all families
  • Cleaning up brownfield sites and reclaiming abandoned mines
  • Click here for infrastructure law graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • 11 of Ohio’s 12 Republican House members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

The Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for Ohio:

  • CleanEnergy.gov — See how your family can save money through the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act
  • Click here for Inflation Reduction Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) voted FOR the Inflation Reduction Act
    • All of Ohio’s Republican Congress members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

REMEMBER — Abortion Rights are an economic issue:

Make sure your community knows WHEN and HOW to vote:

  • Reminder: Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th!
  • Ohio Voter Guide (OhioVoterGuide.org) — Nonpartisan. Type your address to see the candidates on your ballot AND information about each candidate!
  • VoteOhio.gov— Official Ohio elections website. Explains the 3 ways to vote in Ohio.
  • Click here for voter information graphics you can download and share!

Stay Connected with Innovation Ohio:

Rural Ohio — 2022 Resources

Folder full of graphics that you can download and share on social media!

President Biden’s CHIPS Act is lowering costs for rural Ohio by:

  • Speeding up the production of computer chips, which will lower the cost of cars, computers, cell phones, home appliances, medical equipment, and more
  • Making sure more products are built in America
  • Creating good-paying jobs in our state
  • Improving the supply chain, which will lower costs for your family
  • Click here for CHIPS Act graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the CHIPS Act
    • Four of Ohio’s Republican House members (Davidson, Jordan, Latta, Wenstrup) voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Infrastructure Law is improving life in rural Ohio by:

  • Improving the supply chain, lowering costs for your family
  • Helping refill dangerous potholes in our roads
  • Providing resources to rebuild crumbling bridges
  • Providing access to broadband internet for all American families 
  • Lowering internet costs
  • Creating millions of good-paying jobs
  • Replacing old pipes and delivering clean drinking water to all families
  • Cleaning up brownfield sites and reclaiming abandoned mines
  • Click here for infrastructure law graphics you can download and share!
  • VOTES:
    • Tim Ryan and Ohio’s Democratic House members voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) voted FOR the Infrastructure Law
    • 11 of Ohio’s 12 Republican House members voted NO. Why would they vote against Ohio?

President Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program is providing reliable, affordable, broadband internet to rural Ohio:

  • Many Ohioans can get $30 off broadband internet plans through Biden’s Affordable Connectivity Program.
  • The Biden Admin also negotiated with internet providers to get new plans that will make many Americans’ internet bills $0
  • Click here for Broadband Internet graphics you can download and share!
  • Over 600,000 Ohio households are already benefiting from affordable, high-speed internet as a result of this program. But over 1.4 million Ohio households are eligible!

The Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for rural Ohio:

President Biden Lowered the Cost of Hearing Aids:

The Biden Admin is Increasing Your Social Security Check:

Personal Freedoms:

Make sure your community knows WHEN and HOW to vote:

Additional Resources:

Stay Connected with Innovation Ohio:

Ohio Leaders Hold ‘Constituents Over Corporations’ Town Hall in Cincinnati

Despite repeated invitations, Congressman Chabot was a no-show to a recess event in his district

CINCINNATI — This week, Innovation Ohio (IO) joined local elected officials and SW Ohio residents for a Constituents Over Corporations town hall at the Woodward Theater in Cincinnati.

At this event, Ohioans celebrated the Democrats’ passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic law will lower Americans’ healthcare and energy costs, lower the deficit, create jobs, and help our nation battle the effects of climate change.

“The Inflation Reduction Act is paid for by making sure billionaires pay their fair share…no one making under $400,000 per year will see their taxes go up. But they will see their costs go down,” said Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio.

Local leaders also named Republican Congress members who voted against the Inflation Reduction Act and several other recent bills, repeatedly choosing corporations over their constituents. Republican Congress members, including Steve Chabot and Brad Wenstrup in Ohio, have been enabling price gouging corporations — from Big Pharma to Big Oil.

“While my constituents are working extra jobs to make ends meet, corporate America is raking in more money than ever before…Republican politicians won’t do anything for working Americans because big corporations are lining their pockets,” said State Representative Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park).

“Our people are hurting. Inflation is hurting them. But you get no answers from Congressional Republicans. They just want to complain. They say, ‘gas prices are too high. Inflation is too high.’ They don’t want to offer you solutions,” said Pavan Parikh, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. “The Inflation Reduction Act offers actual solutions. It reduces medical costs. It actually encourages corporations to invest in their workers and not just line their pockets with stock buybacks.”

Despite multiple invitations, Congressman Steve Chabot refused to attend this town hall. A cardboard cutout of the congressman was therefore used to mark his empty chair during the event.

“It’s pretty unfortunate that Congressman Steve Chabot did not show up today to answer questions and be accountable to constituents. It’s interesting that he did show up to a parade recently to wave his hand at people, but then immediately got in a car and left,” noted State Representative Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati).

Event speakers included:

  • Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio (video)
  • State Senator Cecil Thomas, D-Avondale (video)
  • State Representative Jessica Miranda, D-Forest Park (video)
  • State Representative Sedrick Denson, D-Cincinnati (video)
  • Pavan Parikh, Hamilton County Clerk of Courts (video)
  • Victoria Parks, Cincinnati City Council Member (video)

About Innovation Ohio
Innovation Ohio is a diverse nonprofit organization working to improve everyday life for Ohio workers and families, create opportunities for all Ohioans, and strengthen Ohioan communities from the bottom up. Through polling, messaging campaigns, and coalition building, they are a catalyst for progressive policy and grassroots activity. Click here to support Innovation Ohio’s work.

About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable. Learn more at UnRigOurEconomy.com or by contacting press@unrigoureconomy.com.

Desiree Tims Speaks Out After Devastating West Virginia v. EPA Supreme Court Decision

COLUMBUS — Today, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, released the following statement after the conservative-controlled U.S. Supreme Court chose to gut the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon pollution in a broad-reaching decision:

“Today’s catastrophic U.S. Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia v. EPA will harm far more than our nation’s ability to battle climate change. It will kill good-paying union jobs, increase your family’s energy costs, and likely hinder basic government functions like ensuring clean drinking water and testing food quality.

“Every American will suffer because of an activist Court packed by MAGA Republicans.

“This Supreme Court decision means the EPA can no longer effectively regulate carbon pollution from power plants, a major source of America’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“This likely means fewer upgrades and repairs made to these plants, which means fewer jobs.

“It also means the air your children breathe will be less safe. And MAGA Republicans are to blame.

“This ruling will cost Americans in more ways than we yet understand. Clean water, food safety, product quality — all of that is made possible by government standards that industries must meet.

“Remove those standards, and we’re left hoping greedy private corporations will decide to do the right thing all on their own.

“We can’t look away. We must hold the extremist minority accountable for the devastation they continue to cause through the illegitimate Court majority they crafted.

“This year’s elections will determine the future of our nation.

“The true majority must reject dangerous, extremist policies with one, unified voice this November.”

Lame Duck Season Starts

Lame Duck: The perfect time to sign up for our Statehouse Update Newsletter

Today, the Statehouse will see a number of hearings as the 133rd General Assembly kicks off the first week of its always-interesting Lame Duck session. Lame Duck is a colloquial name for the period of time between the general election and the end of the year when a new legislative term starts.

For this two month stretch, term-limited lawmakers and those who lost their bids for reelection are effectively “lame ducks,” on the way out the door. It’s often a time when lawmakers rush to pass priority bills before time runs out at the end of a term, but also is when we tend to see some of the most extreme proposals enacted. Recent examples include restrictions on local minimum wage increases and the 6-week abortion ban.

Lame Duck requires close watch by statehouse activists.

Most of what is on the agenda this week is uncontroversial, as committees work to clear the deck of bills that have been introduced but not yet heard in committee.

Two proposals up for hearings, however, are priorities for legislative leadership and merit careful monitoring: a school funding overhaul in the House Finance Committee and a Senate bill to repeal House Bill 6, the bailout of failing nuclear plants, the 2019 passage of which is the subject of an FBI bribery investigation.

After this week, many anticipate more controversial bills will begin moving. One concern we hear from allies is that conservative lawmakers will enact a full abortion ban in the form of a “trigger law” — one that only takes effect or becomes “triggered” by a ruling of the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. In that case, the Ohio law would then take effect.

We will continue to send weekly updates about what’s on the Lame Duck agenda.

New Legislation This Week

The following bills were introduced since our last update. You can keep an eye on all the bills we’re tracking here.

House Bill 777 (Lang, Perales) – Alcohol Sales – to reinstate the authorized hours of operation for liquor permit premises that existed prior to the state of emergency declared in response to COVID-19 and to declare an emergency.

House Bill 783 (A. Miller) – Election Intimidation – to prohibit any person from intimidating, threatening, or coercing a person for the purpose of interfering with that person’s right to vote in an election.

House Bill 784 (Adams, Carruthers) – Law Enforcement – to increase penalties for certain assault, vandalism, and riot offenses, to allow peace officers to bring civil suits against persons participating in a riot, and to prohibit bias-motivated intimidation of first responders.

Senate Bill 374 (Obhof, Peterson) – Alcohol Sales – to reinstate the authorized hours of operation for liquor permit premises that existed prior to the state of emergency declared in response to COVID-19 and to declare an emergency.

Senate Bill 375 (Hoagland, Schafer) – County Fairs – to void the Director of Health’s July 30th order regarding county fairs and to declare an emergency.

Statehouse Meetings & Events

Tuesday, November 10

10:00 am – Senate Energy and Public Utilities – Informal hearing on HB772 (HB6 Repeal) and 2nd hearing (proponent) on SB346 (HB6 Repeal). Senate Finance Hearing Room or watch online. 

10:00 am – House Finance – 7th hearing (invited testimony, possible substitute) on HB305 (School Funding). Statehouse Room 313 or watch online.  

11:00 am – House State & Local Government – 4th hearing (all testimony, possible amendments & vote) on HB621 (Pandemic Business Closures). Statehouse Room 116 or watch online.  

12:30 pm – House Health – 1st hearing (sponsor) on HB316 (firearm “red flag” orders). Statehouse Room 313 or watch online.  

12:30 pm – House Criminal Justice – 1st hearing (sponsor) on SB3 (Drug Sentencing). Statehouse Room 121 or watch online. 

Get these updates weekly in your inbox when lawmakers are in session. Sign up now for Statehouse Update.

Bills Introduced in Response to Ohio House GOP Scandal

Ohio House Has a New Speaker But No Plans To Legislate

Last week, Ohio Republicans selected the man who would become the next House Speaker. Lima Republican Bob Cupp was selected as Ohio’s newest House Speaker following a 90-0 vote to remove Larry Householder, who was indicted by a federal grand jury earlier in the day on charges of orchestrating a $61 million pay-to-play scheme, the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history.

In remarks to the press after the vote, Cupp indicated he had no immediate plans to call the Chamber back into action, suggesting that the scheduled session date in mid-September might be the next time they would be back in Columbus. The Senate, likewise, has no scheduled meetings before mid-August, so, as a result, there are no committee hearings to share this week.

Today we’re sharing the new bills introduced since our last dispatch, many of them a response to the Householder/House GOP scandal and the controversial FirstEnergy bailout legislation at the center of it.

New Legislation This Week –

Below are some of the new bills lawmakers introduced in the last several weeks. You can also view the complete list of bills we’re tracking.

Ohio Passes Nuclear Bailout and Rolls Back Renewable Energy Standards

This week, the Ohio House finished its work on Ohio Bill 6, controversial legislation to bail out two failing nuclear power plants, by holding a vote to concur with Senate changes to the proposal. The vote of 51-38 included 42 Republicans and 9 Democrats voting in support of the proposal, which angers environmental advocates because of how it undermines Ohio’s renewable energy and efficiency standards. The bill was later signed by Governor DeWine. The legislation bails out the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear power plants by creating a new 85 cent per month fee paid by residential ratepayers on their utility bills. The fund would generate $150 million per year to support the plants, as well as an additional $20 million to fund several large solar installation projects around the state.  Amendments adopted in the Senate would reduce the state’s renewable energy targets down to 8.5% of total energy generation by 2026, well below the 12.5% required in current law, and the standards would disappear beginning in 2027. The measure would also sunset Ohio’s energy efficiency standards after 2026, phasing them out at 17.5 percent of the state’s total generation. Advocates point to provisions that would allow utilities to count cumulative savings toward energy efficiency requirements as rendering the standard useless to incentivizing additional efficiency measures.  State Representative Casey Weinstein noted the questionable strategy of job creation, remarking “we are bailing out a failing corporation on the back of a growing industry. It really blows my mind.” A provision was included to allow utilities to charge ratepayers $1.50 a month to fund subsidies for two coal plants, including one in Indiana, owned by Ohio Valley Electric Corporation. The Senate also authorized the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to conduct a public audit of First Energy’s finances, and to limit ratepayer fees if it is found that the company does not need all $150 million. Immediately after Governor DeWine signed the bill, opponents announced they would seek to place the proposal on the ballot, putting it up to voters whether to allow it to become law.

HB6 latest: Ohio Nuclear Bailout Measure Reaches Senate

A bill that would raise utility rates to bail out two Ohio nuclear power plants while gutting renewable energy standards cleared the Ohio House this week. House Bill 6, the so-called “Clean Air” bill, was approved by a 53-43 vote in House following a week of extensive hearings and last-minute lobbying efforts. The bill now heads to the Senate. Ohioans will pay for a “Clean Air Fund” to bail out FirstEnergy Solution’s Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants through a $1 monthly surcharge on their electric bills. Backers of the bill argue that this fee will save consumers money as the bill repeals the current $4.68 monthly utility fee. While the bill takes aim at lowering electric rates and protecting jobs in the nuclear energy industry, it guts Ohio’s clean and renewable energy standards. Ohio would be the first state to enact a measure that subsidizes nuclear energy for financial reasons while at the same time eliminating clean energy standards. Make no mistake – Ohio lawmakers are making a deliberate choice to go this route. As noted by Inside Climate News, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York have subsidized nuclear power plants recently, however, those measures bolstered support for clean and renewable energy. With both parties split on this legislation in the House, it’s not so obvious what political motives are behind some lawmaker’s support for it. This has been sought out by FirstEnergy and its PAC for a while now. Campaign finance records indicate that thousands of dollars were donated by FirstEnergy and its executives to Speaker Larry Householder and his loyalists. The struggling utility company’s former CEO, Anthony Alexander, donated $5,000 each to Householder’s and Rep. Jamie Callender’s (HB6 primary sponsor) 2018 campaign, along with a maximum contribution of $12,707 to Mike DeWine’s campaign. The Governor has come out in support of this bill. The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Editorial Board voiced its opposition to the bailout Friday, calling  HB6 “a platter of goodies for deep-pocketed special interests who spent liberally — not just in advocating for this legislation but also on Householder’s efforts to get his supporters elected or re-elected to the Ohio House, so they could choose him as speaker.” One of the last-minute changes to House Bill 6 was to expand the bill to expand eligibility for the subsidies generated by the bill beyond the state’s two nuclear power plans to large solar facilities. According to the Ohio Power Siting Board, six facilities have been approved that would be eligible under the latest changes to HB6. A look at whose districts those facilities are located in suggests which lawmakers were targeted by the move:

More Reading on House Bill 6

Innovation Ohio, “Nuclear Energy Bill Could Kill Ohio’s Clean Air Industry” Politico, “Ohio advances coal, nuclear subsidies after pressure from Trump campaign official“

Nuclear Energy Bill Could Kill Ohio’s Clean Air Industry

A bill is moving in the Ohio legislature that could deal a fatal blow to Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency industry. And, in a perverse twist, the bill—touted by supporters as a “Clean Air” measure—would actually create subsidies for dirty forms of energy like coal and natural gas. This so-called “Clean Air” bill could actually increase air pollution over time. House Bill 6 was introduced this spring in an attempt to prop up two failing nuclear power plants owned by an affiliate of First Energy. It would impose a fee on every Ohioan’s monthly electric bill to fund subsidies for carbon-free energy sources including nuclear, delivering over $190 million each year to two plants owned by First Energy Solutions. The good-paying jobs at those two plants are absolutely worth saving, but HB6 manages to do so while simultaneously scrapping Ohio’s groundbreaking renewable energy and efficiency standards which have helped encourage the development of pollution-free sources of energy. So while it aims to protect Ohio jobs, HB6 could itself threaten the more than 112,000 jobs in Ohio’s booming clean energy and efficiency industries. House lawmakers have introduced an alternative to HB6 – the Clean Air and Jobs Plan – that could accomplish both goals: protecting Ohio jobs while preserving our renewable and efficiency standards that ensure a clean energy future. But this alternative is not getting a serious hearing. Yesterday, majority Republicans made amendments to House Bill 6, but the changes are no better than the original proposal. They would actually allow coal and natural gas power plants to benefit from “clean air” subsidies.
Is HB6 Still a Bailout? Does HB6 collect 💸 from rate payers? ✅ Does it place that 💸in a special fund💰? ✅ Does First Energy or its subsidiaries have a unique edge at getting $150 Mill from that💰? ✅ It is Still A Bailout
One Twitter user’s take on the latest amendments to House Bill 6
The hearing featured scores of backers of HB6—given notice of the hearing before the committee’s minority members—testifying in favor of the bill while the bill’s opponents on the panel were initially prevented from asking any questions.
The May 15 hearing of the House Energy committee featured scores of backers of HB6, while opponents on the panel were initially prevented from asking questions.
The path to a clean air future cannot rely solely on a bailout for aging nuclear power plants. It must also include a robust renewable energy and efficiency targets to ensure future electricity generation actually reduces sources of unhealthy, climate-changing pollution. Next week could be critical. Another set of amendments is expected and they could resolve the concerns about protecting Ohio’s renewable energy and efficiency goals, or they could leave the bill largely unchanged. Before any vote, tell your lawmaker to oppose House Bill 6 without substantial changes to protect our health, economy, and environment.

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