In 1864, Congress created the National Statuary Hall, which is located in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and features two statues from each state that commemorate deceased historical figures who have lived in the state and distinguished themselves through their civic or military service. Ohio is currently represented in the Hall by President James Garfield and former Governor William Allen.

Following a change in the law that allows states to replace a statue if they so desire, the Ohio General Assembly created the National Statuary Collection Study Committee – a bipartisan panel of lawmakers from both the Ohio House and Senate – to find a replacement for the statue of former Governor Allen that better represents the values and traditions of Ohio.

Last year, the Committee traveled throughout Ohio in search of the next great Ohioan to be featured in the National Statuary Hall. More than 90 individuals were nominated for this honor, and the Committee has narrowed the field down to 10 finalists. Now they are asking for your help in deciding who Ohio should pick.

From now until June 12, Ohioans of all ages are invited to vote on which of 10 famous Ohioans they feel should represent the state in Statuary Hall. Roughly 10,000 votes have already been cast, and the results of this public input will be reported back to the Committee and will be the single greatest factor in determining the final selection later this summer.

The nominees to replace Governor Allen include: abolitionist and former member of Congress James Ashley; inventor Thomas Edison; 18^th President of the United States and Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant; former congressman who led the fight to enact historic civil rights legislation William McCulloch; Olympic athlete Jesse Owens; astronaut Judith Resnik, who was killed while serving on the Challenger mission; Dr. Albert Sabin, who developed the oral polio vaccine; Harriet Beecher Stowe, who authored “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”; suffragist Harriet Taylor Upton, and the Wright Brothers, who are credited with inventing, building and successfully flying the first airplane.

Together with the Ohio Historical Society, the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Western Reserve Historical Society, 36 polling stations have been set up throughout the state for Ohioans to cast their vote. Polling locations in southwestern Ohio also include Fort Ancient, the Stowe House and the birthplace of Ulysses S. Grant. Information about the finalists and a map of all voting sites can be found at www.legacyforohio.org.

If you can’t make it in person to one of the polling locations, you can also go to the Legacy for Ohio Web site and download a ballot, which you can fill out and turn in by mail to: Ohio Statuary Vote, C/O the Ohio Historical Society, 1982 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211. You can also e-mail it to ohiostatue@ohiohistory.org. All ballots must be postmarked or e-mailed by June 12.

Many famous and influential people have called Ohio home, and now it is time to decide who will be our next representative in Statuary Hall. I hope everyone takes advantage of this unique opportunity to be a part of Ohio history by learning about the 10 finalists and voting for their favorite.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

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May 25, 2010

Ohio Legislature Acts to Help Protect Teenagers in Abusive Relationships

In 1992, Tina Croucher, a part-time student at Miami University Middletown, was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend after he broke into her family’s home. Fifteen years later, Johanna Orozco, a Cleveland-area high school student, was shot in the face by a former boyfriend who had been recently released from prison for raping her. Both Tina and Johanna had been abused by their attackers during their relationships.

Johanna luckily survived her attack, but these incidents offer just a glimpse into what has become a disturbing reality for many teenagers and young adults. Last year, a series of stories in the Columbus Dispatch found that Ohio teens ages 15 to 19 are twice as likely to experience dating violence as they are to be injured in a car crash. And while adults who find themselves in an abusive relationship can obtain a protection order or take other measures to help keep their attackers away, no such option has been available to teenagers.

To help better protect teenagers who are victims of dating violence, the General Assembly recently passed House Bill 10, which gives juvenile courts the same authority to issue protection orders as common pleas courts. While this bill will not put an end to dating violence among young adults, it will provide victims with an additional layer of defense – an individual who defies a protection order and goes to a victim’s home or work, calls them on the phone or damages their property can be arrested immediately. House Bill 10 has been signed by the governor and will take effect in June.

Legislators are also working to help educate young people about the risks associated with dating violence and unhealthy relationships. Last year we passed House Bill 19, which requires schools to include dating violence prevention in their health curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12. Fittingly, House Bill 19 has been named “Tina’s Law” in recognition of Tina Croucher and her parents, who have spoken to thousands of southwest Ohio students about dating violence and how teenagers and young adults can stay safe.

The heartbreaking stories of Tina Croucher and Johanna Orozco and others who have experienced violence and abuse at the hands of their boyfriend or girlfriend are a stark reminder of the need to protect all victims of domestic violence and ensure that their abusers are held accountable. Although House Bill 10 and House Bill 19 will not prevent all abusive relationships, they will help increase awareness of this issue and save lives.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

Guest Column From State Representative Peter Beck

Efficiency is a Vital Part of Government Accountability

As a small business owner of nearly 20 years, I understand the importance of condensing spending during a recession and saving in a prosperous economy. Businesses routinely tighten their expenditures to fit a tough budget, and likewise, our state government should make the same sacrifices and maintain a high standard of fiscal responsibility.

However, rather than examining spending and reducing waste, many lawmakers in the Statehouse continue to channel tax dollars into unnecessary, inefficient or ineffective programs while handing the taxpayers the bill. Consequently, families and businesses felt the sting of our state’s high-tax, anti-growth policies this past Tax Day when they were forced to surrender additional funds as a result of House Bill 318’s tax increase.

I believe that rather than relying on the citizens and small businesses of Ohio to sustain our government bloat, we have a responsibility to ensure that the dollars we do spend are successful and streamlined. In an effort to reduce the burden on our already overwhelmed taxpayers, House Republicans proposed the “Future of Ohio” government reform package to make Ohio’s government more cost-effective and accountable. This package of 10 bills would trim waste from the budget while focusing state spending on the programs and services that Ohioans have come to rely on.

One of our caucus’s cost-containment measures is a bill to streamline Ohio’s more than 300 boards and commissions, while eliminating waste within state agencies. House Bill 25 was introduced in February 2009 by Representative John Adams (R-Sidney) to ensure that the taxpayers are not paying the government more than they should. It would consolidate the number of executive cabinet departments from 24 to 11 (compared with the federal government’s 15 departments) based on similar functions and missions. Had this legislation been enacted, it could have saved $1 billion annually and could have filled Ohio’s budget deficit without raising taxes or accruing more debt.

Continuing our caucus’s commitment to a cost-efficient, accountable state government, Representative Barbara Sears (R-Maumee) introduced House Bill 240 to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from Ohio’s Medicaid system. This legislation takes into account the more than $400 million in suggested savings that were found by the Ohio auditor of state in 2006 and would have helped to save $122 million each year. Unfortunately, this vital efficiency measure has remained stalled in committee for months.

These bills would have required state lawmakers to look at internal waste before asking you, the taxpayer, to relinquish more of your hard-earned income. Although the House majority has refused to allow committee votes on these proposals, my Republican colleagues and I continue to fight for solutions that will not only render immediate savings but also fundamentally improve the structure of state government.

Ohio’s continuous growth of spending is unsustainable without also squeezing the taxpayers for every penny they have. With an impending $8 billion budget deficit, lawmakers need to start working today to prepare for what we already know will be an excruciatingly painful budget next year. As state representative of the 67^th Ohio House District, I will continue to work on your behalf toward a more efficient, effective state government.

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Rep. Beck may be reached by phone at (614) 644-6027 or in writing to State Representative Peter Beck, 77 South High Street, 10^thfloor, Columbus, OH 43215. He is also available via e-mail at district67@ohr.state.oh.us.

As someone who comes from a family of small business owners, I understand the importance of making sure Ohio creates an atmosphere that is conducive to business development. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but issues such as increased taxes and government regulation are making it more and more difficult for them to support a robust workforce.

The decision to “freeze” the income tax cut all Ohioans were promised in 2005 means that come tax time, refunds will be smaller or in some cases, people will have to write bigger checks than they anticipated. With many small business owners paying their taxes via the income tax, this move could not come at a worse time. Additionally, the recently-passed health care legislation places new mandates and costs on businesses. Now many of these companies are about to be hit again with increased premiums from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation – a move that will further drive up the cost of doing business here in Ohio.

 

Currently, the BWC is working to ensure long-term financial stability of the state’s injured workers’ fund, in part by addressing the disparity in premium rates paid by different Ohio businesses. For many years, certain group-rated companies have enjoyed substantial discounts on their premiums. The BWC is planning to reduce these discounts beginning July 1 – in addition to previously-approved discount reductions and added surcharges since 2005 – meaning many employers will see their premiums increase. Given the current economic challenges facing businesses throughout Ohio, increasing workers’ compensation premiums now would only place an additional burden on already-struggling employers.

To help reduce the financial strain this move would place on Ohio’s small businesses, the Senate passed Senate Bill 213 earlier this year. The bill would freeze maximum premium discounts at the level they will be on July 1 for two years and require the BWC to conduct a thorough study of the premium rating system. This would give the BWC time to develop a plan for determining workers’ compensation rates that are fair to all Ohio companies, regardless of size. 

It is estimated that the BWC currently has surplus of roughly $4 billion. SB 213 could save small businesses approximately $130 million over two years – money these companies could use during these difficult times to reinvest in their business and create new jobs. Senate Bill 213 is currently in the House Insurance Committee, and I am hopeful that members of the House will join us in addressing rising workers’ compensation premiums and their effects on small businesses.

In addition, the Senate is also examining possible changes to how Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is administered. Ohio is one of only a few states to have an entirely state-run workers’ compensation system, and now is the time to see if there are alternatives to our current approach that would benefit employers and businesses while still protecting injured workers. That is why we passed Senate Resolution 118, which established the Competitive Workers’ Compensation Task Force. The group is tasked with studying alternatives, including market place competition, with respect to the worker’s compensation system in Ohio.

Members of the task force represent employees, employers, insurance companies, managed care organizations, third-party administrators, local governments, business owners, lawyers and legislators. The group will evaluate the workers’ compensation insurance options currently offered by the BWC to determine if they are competitive with those available in other states. They will also look at the efforts made by other states to open their workers’ compensation markets to private competition. The group must submit a report detailing their findings to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 15.

One of the top complaints legislators hear from business owners is how rising BWC rates are impacting their ability to compete and create new jobs. A rise in premium rates also makes it more difficult to attract new businesses and jobs to our state, as the workers’ compensation system is one of many factors companies use in deciding where to locate and expand. By studying options to our current workers’ compensation system, we can determine if any changes are needed in order to ensure businesses continue to see Ohio as an excellent place for relocation and expansion.

The BWC has taken numerous steps in recent years to change its operations and the way it determines premiums; however, there remains much work to do to ensure the system is working with small businesses and not against them. SB 213 and SR 118 will help determine the best course of action to keep employers’ premiums affordable while continuing to protect injured workers.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

Livestock Care Standards Board Will Help Strengthen and Protect Ohio’s Agriculture Industry

This past November, Ohio voters approved State Issue 2, which sought to establish the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. This bipartisan group would be tasked with creating and enforcing guidelines for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in Ohio. As agriculture is our state’s number one industry, assuring consumers that their food was raised responsibly and safely will help strengthen the relationship between famers and the public.

Recently, the General Assembly approved House Bill 414, which outlines the composition of the Livestock Care Standards Board as well as its operation. The Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture will serve as the chairperson for the board and will be joined by 12 other members representing family farmers, consumers, academia, local humane societies and statewide farm organizations, as well as the state veterinarian and food safety experts. Board members will serve three-year terms.

The board must meet at least three times a year. At these meetings, members will review current and proposed rules governing the care of livestock and poultry. These rules must take into consideration a number of factors, including best management practices, disease prevention, food safety practices and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.

To help keep the rule-making process as open and transparent as possible, all of the rules proposed by the Livestock Care Standards Board must go through the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, which consists of lawmakers from both the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House. This will ensure that members of the public have the opportunity to comment on the proposals before any action is taken.

During the debate on State Issue 2, questions were raised about the impact of the Livestock Care Standards Board on local humane societies. House Bill 414 ensures that local humane societies will continue to enjoy all the authority and responsibility they possessed before the passage of Issue 2 while encouraging them to work cooperatively with the board when livestock care issues are involved.

House Bill 414 was recently signed into law by the Governor, but this is not the end of the discussion on the care of livestock in Ohio. The Humane Society of the United States is currently working to place a statewide issue on the ballot that would put in place new regulations for the confinement of livestock such as cows and pigs. These proposals were drafted with little input from Ohio farmers and those involved in the state’s agriculture industry, and could cause the food costs to rise and increase costs for farmers. This type of debate is one of the main reasons the Livestock Care Standards Board was formed, as it allows Ohioans to decide what is best for our state’s farms, rather than outside organizations.

Maintaining a strong relationship between farmers and the public is essential as consumers are taking an ever-increasing interest in where their food comes from and how it was raised. The Livestock Care Standards Board will work cooperatively with members of the agriculture industry and consumers to ensure that the animals that provide food for Ohioans and others across the country are well-cared for on the farm.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Jones Debates Merits of Proposed 3C Rail at Columbus Metropolitan Club

State Senator Shannon Jones (right) discusses the proposed 3C rail system at a forum at the Columbus Metropolitan Club.

COLUMBUS— State Senator Shannon Jones (R- Springboro) recently appeared at the Columbus Metropolitan Club as part of a discussion about the pros and cons of the proposed 3C rail line connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. Also appearing at the event were Jim Seney, former Director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission; Gene Krebs of Greater Ohio and political consultant Terry Casey.

“The proposal as it currently stands raises serious questions about the final cost and how we will pay for a rail system that will require $17 million a year in taxpayer subsidies while attracting only 1,300 riders a day,” Jones said. “Given the state’s current budget situation, I believe it is essential that lawmakers and the public have accurate information detailing the true cost of the project in order to determine if now is the right time to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on the 3C rail.”

During the discussion, Jones reiterated her concerns about the cost of the 3C rail and how its ongoing operations would be paid for, especially given the financial challenges facing Ohio. She noted that a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C. found that a study of 250 rail projects across the globe revealed that the total costs were underestimated by an average of 45 percent. Another study found ridership forecasts were overestimated in 90 percent of the projects reviewed.

The debate will be rebroadcast on the Ohio Channel on Monday, March 29 at 11 a.m. Video of the event will also be posted to the Ohio Channel’s archives in the coming days. It can be found by visiting www.theohiochannel.com and clicking on “Columbus Metropolitan Club” under the “Programming” tab.

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‘Become a Legislator for a Day’ Reading Contest Winner Visits Columbus

COLUMBUS—State Representative Peter Beck (R-Mason) today hosted the district winner of the ‘Become a Legislator for a Day’ Reading Contest at the Ohio Statehouse. The contest spanned the month of December and partnered the Mason, Springboro, Franklin, and Lebanon Public Libraries.

The number of books read by young people is consistently related to academic gains, according to several studies. Students who participated picked up special contest bookmarks at any of the libraries within the 67^th Ohio House District. The participants used the back of the contest bookmarks to list the books they'd read. They then dropped off the bookmarks in contest boxes at the libraries, where a drawing to select the winner took place.

The winner was:

Jonathan La Tour (4^th grade)

La Tour had the opportunity to come to Columbus to spend a day with Rep. Beck, where he was invited to participate in a mock committee and legislative session as well as have a personalized tour of the historic Ohio Statehouse.

“Jonathan is a prime example of a student who is excelling and working hard both inside and outside of the classroom on his education,” said Rep. Beck. “I enjoyed meeting Jonathan and spending the day with him and his family, and I look forward to great things from this young man.”