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Apr 27 2020

DeWine to Announce Reopening Plan

Statehouse Preview

Week of April 27, 2020

Statehouse work continues online this week (see below), but House Speaker Larry Householder has informed House staff to return for in-person work beginning next week.

The House has scheduled sessions on May 5 (if needed), 6, 7, 13, 14, 19 and 21st, and plans tor resume committee meetings in some of the larger hearing rooms with accommodations made for social distancing.

The Senate, for its part, has a session scheduled for Wednesday but is widely expected to cancel it in favor of a meeting date later in May. The chamber and its leader, Senate President Larry Obhof, have not indicated when or if they plan to resume business as usual. 

Today, Governor DeWine will continue his series of daily COVID-19 briefings with a much-anticipated update about the state’s plans to allow the limited resumption of certain businesses and activities. Briefings are expected to continue daily.

The House of Representatives’ Economic Recovery Task Force will continue to hear from (mostly) business owners about their economic hardships. Only one representative of workers has appeared before the panel in its three weeks of almost daily hearings.

Also today, the state Controlling Board, a panel of legislators empowered to approve spending outside the normal legislative process will consider proposals from the DeWine administration’s Office of Budget and Management and Department of Job and Family Services related to the state’s COVID-19 response. The hearing will also be streamed online.

Statehouse Meetings and Events

Monday

  • 10 am – Economic Recovery Task Force – Speakers include representatives from Stark County Minority Business Association, Mechanical Contractors Association of Ohio, Chillicothe Fireworks, Brumbaugh of Garner Trucking, cityBRANDS Holdings, LLC, Lake Erie Shores & Islands, Allen Company, Lakota Sports Organization, BASEC Management, Inc., DBA Wendy’s and Body Alive Fitness. Virtual meeting streamed live online at ohiochannel.org. 
  • 12 pm – Controlling Board – Senate North Hearing Room and streamed live online at ohiochannel.org.
  • 2 pm – Gov. DeWine Briefing on COVID-19 – streamed live on ohiochannel.org.

Tuesday

  • 2 pm – Gov. DeWine Briefing on COVID-19 – streamed live on ohiochannel.org.

Wednesday

  • 1:30 pm – Ohio Senate (if needed) – stream lived on ohiochannel.org.
  • 2 pm – Gov. DeWine Briefing on COVID-19 – streamed live on ohiochannel.org.

Thursday

  • 2 pm – Gov. DeWine Briefing on COVID-19 – streamed live on ohiochannel.org.

Friday

  • 2 pm – Gov. DeWine Briefing on COVID-19 – streamed live on ohiochannel.org.

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: coronavirus, Legislative Updates, Statehouse Update · Tagged: Amy Acton, Business, Controlling Board, coronavirus, COVID19, dewine, Economic Recovery Task Force, Governor, householder, obhof, ohio house, Ohio Senate, Speaker Larry Householder

Mar 23 2020

Ohio Lawmakers Focus on Coronavirus Emergency

This week, the legislature is back in session for the first time in nearly a month, taking up a number of emergency measures necessary to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Items we know will be on the agenda:

  • Rescheduling the March 17 primary election
  • Waiving standardized testing and other requirements for schools
  • Extending the time to renew a drivers’ license
  • Changes to laws requiring in-person meetings of various governing bodies, boards and commissions

Other legislation that could be in the mix include:

  • Addressing expanded eligibility for private school vouchers to prevent a continued negative fiscal impact on local districts

The process at the Statehouse this week will look very different.

No regular committees are scheduled to meet, other than the powerful Rules committees in each chamber, which determine which measures will be going to the floor for debate and vote.

The House is scheduled to meet three times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1pm, while the Senate is in session on Wednesday (and possibly Thursday, if needed) at 1:30. At this hour, we are even hearing that the Senate may be called into session later today. 

No regular committees are scheduled to meet, other than the powerful Rules committees in each chamber, which determine which measures will be going to the floor for debate and vote.

What those sessions will look like is up in the air – while members’ desks are normally well-spaced, it is possible that debate and vote may be extended to limit the number of people in the chamber at any one time. 

The mechanism for enacting the above changes to state law is likely to look very different. Instead of three committee hearings before a bill goes to the full House or Senate for a vote, It is likely that policy changes enacted this week will be made by members offering, debating and voting on amendments on the floor of their respective chambers, potentially incorporating them into unrelated legislation that has already gone through the committee process. This faster, less hands-on process is arguably necessitated by the public health emergency but offers far less transparency, predictability and almost no opportunity for public input.

If you have an issue that requires legislative attention, contact your state lawmakers as soon as possible. 

We’ve provided more guidance below on how to get help from state leaders during this crisis.

Who to Contact for Help

Remember, part of a lawmaker’s job is to provide constituent services. If you are experiencing challenges accessing benefits that you or your business may be eligible for, or in dealing with a state agency, your state lawmakers should be able to help you navigate those programs and get resolution. 

In some cases, issues you are experiencing may highlight previously-unknown gaps in state programs and benefits. Letting your lawmaker know is one of the best ways to get those systemic gaps onto the radar of policymakters and into the legislative agenda at the Statehouse.

  • Contact your State Senator
  • Contact your State Representative

 The Governor’s office also operates a constituent helpline. If you are having trouble with a state government program or agency, they are there to help. 

  • Contact the Governor’s office

If you observe someone engaging in fraudulent behavior, such as price-gouging or scamming consumers, contact the office of the Attorney General of Ohio.

  • File a consumer complaint

New Legislation

Below are bills that have been recently introduced to deal with the current public health emergency:

  • House Bill 557 (Sobecki) – Video Meetings – to authorize public bodies to meet via teleconference and video conference during a public health state of emergency as declared by the Governor, and to declare an emergency.

Committee Hearings to Watch

  • Tuesday, 11 am – House Rules and Reference. Statehouse Room 116.
  • Wednesday, 10:30 am – House Rules and Reference. Statehouse Room 116.

Find details about all upcoming committee hearings:

  • House Committee Schedule
  • Senate Committee Schedule
  • Ohio Channel Broadcast Schedule

In-Session

  • House: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 1:00 pm – watch online 
  • Senate: Wednesday (and Thursday, if needed) at 1:30 pm – watch online

As always, we will be sharing updates on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag for legislation, #OHBudget for budget updates and #OHGov for executive actions. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.

>> Sign up for legislative alerts and other updates at innovationohio.org/signup

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: Statehouse Update · Tagged: committees, coronavirus, COVID19, education, election day, Governor, lawmakers, legislation, private school vouchers, Public Education, Statehouse, statehouse preview, Vouchers

Mar 15 2019

Innovation Ohio Response to Gov. DeWine’s Budget 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2019
Innovation Ohio Response to Gov. DeWine’s Budget 
Columbus, OH – Today, Innovation Ohio president Janetta King issued the following statement in response to Gov. DeWine’s budget proposal:
“Gov. DeWine has talked a lot about investing in Ohio’s future. But for an ‘investment’ budget, this is very underwhelming. Gov. DeWine has assumed office following eight years of massive tax giveaways to the rich – leaving very little left for everyday Ohioans. Without a real discussion of new revenue, this budget cannot be viewed as a serious investment in our state.”
Founded in 2011, Innovation Ohio is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank that blends policy research and advocacy to fight for working families in Ohio.
Innovation Ohio’s 2019 budget priorities can be found online at: http://innovationohio.org/2019-budget-priorities/
###
 

Written by Michael McGovern · Categorized: Ohio State Budget, Press Releases · Tagged: biennial budget, Funding, Governor, Governor Mike DeWine, Janetta King, Mike DeWine, Ohio Budget, Ohio Governor, ohio legislature, ohio statehouse, State Budget, taxation

Sep 28 2018

Innovation Ohio Releases New Medicaid Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2018

Innovation Ohio Releases New Medicaid Report Policy report looks at gubernatorial candidates, includes county by county Medicaid numbers

Columbus, OH – Today, Innovation Ohio released a new policy report on what is at stake for Medicaid in this year’s gubernatorial election. The analysis, titled “Healthcare is on the Ballot in Ohio: Medicaid and The Governors Race,” examines the importance of Medicaid and where candidates Rich Cordray and Mike DeWine stand on the program. The report is online here. The report looks at new state and county-level numbers, as well as the potential impacts of each candidate’s plans. It also lays out the vital role Medicaid expansion has played in combatting Ohio’s opioid epidemic. In Washington County, where the next gubernatorial debate will be held, nearly a quarter of the population relies on Medicaid for their healthcare. In neighboring counties in Appalachia, that number rises to nearly a third. “Healthcare truly is on the ballot this fall,” said Innovation Ohio President Janetta King. “Medicaid is a vital program for all of Ohio, but it plays an outsized role in our Appalachian region. It’s important that voters know how their healthcare could be impacted by each candidate.” While Cordray has expressed his support for Medicaid, DeWine has laid out plans that would cripple the program. DeWine sued to stop the Medicaid expansion and has expressed support for changes that could risk the healthcare of hundreds of thousands of Ohioans. The report notes that DeWine has still not taken a position on the legislature’s passage of a Medicaid expansion freeze, which Gov. John Kasich vetoed. Other key findings in the report include:
  • 21% of Ohioans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. In some counties, this number is as high as 40%.
  • Medicaid expansion has helped to lower Ohio’s uninsured rate from 13.9% to 6% in four years.
  • DeWine’s proposed changes to Medicaid could risk the healthcare of at least 318,000 Ohioans.
  • 59% of Ohio nursing home residents use Medicaid coverage for that service.
###

Written by pnmadmin · Categorized: Press Releases, Reports · Tagged: Governor, Medicaid, Mike DeWine, Ohio, Rich Cordray

Mar 20 2018

Alternatives to GOP Education Takeover Proposal

Preschool kid raise arm up to answer teacher question on whiteboard in classroom. Connecting Education with Work Effective policies that work and don’t eliminate the voice of the people like HB 512 House Bill 512, the pending GOP legislative proposal to radically reorganize agencies that oversee education and workforce programs statewide has been a lightning rod for opposition (read our earlier coverage here and here) . From home school parents who believe the creation of HB 512’s new, mega-bureaucracy will infringe on their educational rights, to public school advocates who believe that undermining the authority of a publicly accountable Board of Education will harm democracy–folks on all sides of the education policy debate have been unified about one thing: HB 512 must be stopped. However, the question HB 512 seeks to answer–better connecting education and training with workforce needs–is an essential one about the relevance of education for our state’s kids and students. We offer here several ways to better connect education with work that don’t involve a wholesale takeover of the state’s elected Board of Education by an unaccountable, gubernatorially-appointed board overseeing a new, mega-bureaucracy. These are listed in no particular order.

Free, or greatly reduced Community College tuition

More than 30,000 students in Tennessee and 7,000 in Oregon have attended free community college in those states, which are two of four that offer free community college to students of various ages. Other states like Arkansas and Louisiana have grant programs that assist with students seeking specific degrees or perform well academically. Generally, these programs are grants that are so-called “last in” grants, meaning it requires students to apply for all other needs-based grants. Some have income caps. But in Tennessee, which has about half of Ohio’s population, the program cost $12 million a year to cover new high school graduates. This year, they added all adults to the grant program at a cost of $10 million. Even doubling that amount would mean the cost to Ohio would be less than what the state spends on printing services at the Department of Administrative Services.

School-Industry Partnerships

Ohio already has STEM schools, which are funded like charter schools, but which focus on the technology-related fields people who support HB 512 claim Ohio is lacking. Investing in more STEM schools, but with an eye toward partnering with certain industries, could be replicated around the state. Though their funding model would have to change so it wouldn’t have a detrimental impact on local school districts. In Arkansas, one of that state’s high schools started a Power Business Academy, which partnered with local businesses to teach skills necessary for workforce success. The result was a much better relationship between the education and business sectors in Ozark City, as well as better opportunities for their graduates. Upscaling similar opportunities in our state could help accelerate the partnerships necessary for similar success.

Breaking down silos

One of the familiar refrains from HB 512 supporters is there are too many silos among the Department of Education, Department of High Education and Governor’s Office of Workforce Development. And the only way to break them down is to merge them into one, unaccountable mega-bureaucracy. However, breaking down silos doesn’t require such a radical change in the way Ohio delivers education and training. For example, a representative of the Board of Regents and Office of Workforce Development could take part in standards writing at ODE. Likewise, ODE representatives could be in on any changes the Board of Regents wants to make in curriculum or degree requirements. And the Office of Workforce Development could assist ODE’s development of vocational education options, as well as BOR’s curriculum and degree development. None of these options would require a radical restructuring that robs millions of Ohioans of their voices in education policy development. Yet it would lead to better, more coordinated approaches to improving college workforce readiness of Ohio students. There are certainly many ideas about achieving HB 512’s goals without continuing down its democratically destructive path. These are three that represent a good step forward. Nobody wants HB 512. But they do recognize that our students deserve to be as prepared for the workforce as possible.  That begins with a strong education system that encourages critical thinking, creativity and broad competence in many subjects and skills. HB 512 proponents have yet to explain how any of their radical changes will ensure that for our students. While it would ensure better outcomes for the adults who want to take over Ohio education, the kids who would bear the brunt of this obvious power grab would not benefit. However, investments in these three ideas would have profound impacts on our students and young people. Instead of figuring out how to give more power to unaccountable bureaucrats, Ohio’s legislature should adopt these common sense solutions that wouldn’t represent a radical power grab by truculent politicians.

Written by Stephen Dyer · Categorized: ECOT, Featured Items, Front Page, K-12 Education · Tagged: Governor, HB512

Dec 14 2016

Lame Duck Lawmakers Pass Government Shutdown Bill

closed_crop Overview Senate Bill 329, a little-noticed bill rushed through the recent lame duck session, could have disastrous consequences if allowed to become law. Without a veto from Governor Kasich, SB 329 would effectively allow for the dissolution of state government departments, potentially throwing thousands out of work and open the door to privatization, while threatening the effective continuation of public services and programs that provide for the state’s economic vitality and competitiveness. How it Would Work Under SB329, Gubernatorial Departments would be required to make an affirmative case every four years to justify their continued existence, involving a time- and resource-intensive process. Agencies would be required to review and report on the legal justification of rules and procedures, potential for privatization, conduct a multi-year analysis of cost effectiveness, and benchmark all regulations against other states. Creates Chaos Not Reform
  • The extensive reviews mandated for Departments every four years would be time and resource intensive, and duplicate reviews already performed by the Auditor of State, JCARR, and the Governor’s Common Sense Initiative Office.
  • Nothing in the legislation would eliminate burdensome rules or regulations, it merely provides for the elimination of Departments currently empowered to oversee them.
  • Without an affirmative act of the legislature to keep departments open, state rules, licenses, and contracts would remain in effect, raising significant questions about how the executive branch could continue to carry out its obligations under Ohio law. The bill permits, but does not require the legislature to transfer these obligations to other departments.
Dangerous
  • Many programs that Ohioans rely on, including vital education, public safety, and other essential services would be put at risk, with no provisions to ensure these functions continue after closure of a cabinet department.
  • By closing departments that carry out essential functions, the proposal could put Ohio into conflict with federal requirements, and may violate parts of the state Constitution, such as the obligation to establish and maintain a workers’ compensation program.
  • By forcing the review of 25 cabinet agencies every four years, the legislation could consume much of the legislature’s oversight capacity and put essential services at the mercy of an already slow legislative process.
Tilts the Balance of Power to One Party, Branch of Government
  • Empowers the legislative branch by eliminating a future check on its authority by the executive branch; the bill’s automated future elimination of departments by the failure of the legislature to act would provide no opportunity for the executive to exercise its veto authority.
  • Empowers the majority party to appoint members of standing committees, postpone reviews, and, ultimately, to continue operation of a government department without bipartisan support.
  • Protects today’s and future legislators from blame by eliminating departments automatically, without an affirmative act of lawmakers required.
Unnecessary and Ineffective
  • The arguments in favor of the proposal (to review, modernize, and eliminate unnecessary regulation) are all currently served by existing functions of the general assembly;
  • Meanwhile, the claim that unneeded or overly technical licensing law creates a burden is not served by the legislation which would not eliminate any rules or licenses either in SB 329 or through the expiration of statutes creating Departments.
Represents a Right-Wing Wish List
  • Without eliminated government departments and staff, executive would have little option other than to employ private contractors to carry out essential health and safety functions (police, fire, etc.).
  • Elimination of cabinet agencies would reduce the significance of the state as a public sector employer, weaking the power of its employee unions.
  • The departmental review process emphasizes market-based solutions, such as private credentialing, wherever possible as an alternative to state regulation and licensing.
  • Straight from the Conservative Playbook. Similar measures have been proposed by right-wing lawmakers in a number of states and in Congress.
  Take Action Call Governor Kasich at 614-466-3555 to ask him to veto this bill

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: Featured Items, Front Page, Open and Efficient Government, Strong Communities · Tagged: Government Shutdown, Governor, Kasich, Lame Duck, Ohio, privatization

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