Statehouse Update
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www.ohiotownships.org
January 23, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
MORE ENERGY STUDY HEARINGS IN THE WORKS; OPPONENTS CONTINUE TOUR
Defenders of the state's green energy law announced plans to promote the industry in Columbus, while lawmakers gear up for more hearings of the Energy Mandates Study Committee.
Sen. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville), co-chairman of the study panel, said in an interview Tuesday that he hoped to kick off hearings next week, with testimony from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on the federal government's pending climate change rules.
Mr. Balderson said he planned to limit meetings to two-hour hearings twice a month until the committee issues its report, which is due Sept. 30. One hour of testimony will focus on the state's renewable energy portfolio and one hour will be dedicated to the energy efficiency standards.
"We had about 100 hours of debate already from outside groups," he said about his contentious bill. It created the Energy Mandates Study Committee and postponed for two years annual targets in the law requiring utilities to obtain 12.5% of their electricity from renewable sources while helping customers cut their usage 22% by 2025 (SB310, 130th General Assembly).
"We are going to try to make this more targeted to data from the generation and transmission side of it," Sen. Balderson said, noting that another future hearing will likely include testimony from the regional grid operator PJM Interconnection. "I'm going about this a little differently and we're trying to get some different input."
Senate Bill 310 contains language stating that the General Assembly intends to enact future legislation based on the
recommendations of the study committee, which will further reduce the current renewable energy, energy efficiency and peak demand response requirements.
Meanwhile, renewable and energy efficiency businesses that vehemently opposed rolling back the green energy law (SB221, 127th General Assembly), scheduled the "Ohio's Energy Future Tour" event for Feb. 10 in the state's capitol after launching the campaign in Cleveland last month.
"We're building on a successful first forum in Cleveland that included a robust dialogue on trends in the energy industry, and ways to lower costs, expand economic development, and create new opportunities for Ohio," spokeswoman Jane Harf said in a statement.
"We're very pleased to host our second forum in Columbus - to interact with local community and business leaders, policymakers, and residents to learn more about the regional strengths in Central Ohio," she said.
The statewide tour, which is also planning events for Dayton and Toledo is organized by a collaboration of businesses, trade associations, nonprofits and local governments that "is intended to spark a dialogue with stakeholders in an effort to help develop a new energy vision for Ohio," the group said. Upon completion of the tour, a compilation of ideas and
recommendations will be submitted to policymakers.
Former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, who pushed hard for the clean energy law, said Republicans' push to undo it was costing jobs in the state.
"Information has come out just recently that this is costing Ohio investments," he said during a recent teleconference with reporter, citing a recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
"I believe there are no such investments under consideration, in large part because the legislature chose to put a freeze on our renewable and energy efficiency standards," he said. "This emphasis on renewable energy really can create jobs while also protecting the environment."
Statehouse Update
MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION BALLOT PROPOSAL SETS TAX STRUCTURE, GIVES LOCAL VOTERS SAY IN DISPENSARY LOCATIONS
Call it a high-flying trial balloon. A group working to place a marijuana legalization amendment on the November ballot has released additional details of its plan, which will create a regulatory body and a tax structure while requiring local votes on retail locations.
One of a handful of marijuana advocacy organizations campaigning to legalize the drug, ResponsibleOhio on Tuesday floated an overview of its version of a constitutional amendment with plans to submit final language to the attorney general's office in February.
Under the draft plan, a 15% flat tax would be imposed at the growing, wholesale, production and retail phases and the processes would be regulated through the Ohio Marijuana Control Commission.
Of the marijuana tax revenue, 55% would go toward municipal and township governments for public services, 30% would cover county public services and 15% would fund mental health and addiction prevention and treatment programs, marijuana research, non-profit medical marijuana dispensaries and the commission, according to the plan.
The group previously announced that marijuana would be grown at 10 predetermined facilities and quality-checked at one of five testing facilities that will be located near college campuses.
After being tested, the labeled and sealed marijuana will be made into wholesale products at manufacturing facilities before being sold at licensed retail stores approved by local voters, according to the plan. The number of retail stores would be capped at no more than one location per 10,000 Ohioans.
While residents age 21 and older would be able to purchase marijuana for recreational purposes, those who have a medical necessity certificate for the substance would be able to obtain it at non-profit medical dispensaries where taxes wouldn't be imposed, amendment drafter and Cincinnati attorney Chris Stock said.
"ResponsibleOhio will not only eradicate the dangerous black market, we will replace it with a safer, better market," he said in a campaign release.
After the group's initial announcement in December that it would seek a ballot issue, key details of the plan have been revealed in stages, much to the chagrin of inevitable opponents and backers of alternative proposals.
Drug Free Action Alliance has criticized ResponsibleOhio for its plan to delineate in the final amendment where growing operations will be located, similar to how casino addresses were placed into the constitution through a ballot initiative.
On Tuesday, DFAA Executive Director Marcie Siedel said that the organization will "fully illustrate the many ways this drug legalization scheme is bad for Ohio families and workers," when constitutional amendment language is officially filed.
"Marijuana cartel-like benefactors continue to talk in vague, glowing terms while refusing to dignify the intelligence of Ohio voters by simply offering the specific details of their scheme," she added.
Campaign spokeswoman Lydia Bolander wouldn't comment on the reasons behind the group's decision to release information incrementally, saying in an interview only that the plan overview "is a great representation of what people can expect."
NEW MEMBER PROFILE: BRINKMAN ENCOURAGED BY 'HARDCORE CONSERVATIVES' IN HIS RETURN TO THE HOUSE
Tom Brinkman often cast the only dissenting vote during his first eight years in the House, but now, at the outset of his second stint, the arch-conservative feels like he has more in common with the GOP caucus.
"I think we do have some hardcore conservatives - not wimpy conserves - in this caucus," he said in a recent interview.
His comments in an interview followed House Republicans' biennial retreat, redubbed as an "advance" by former Speaker Bill Batchelder, marking the start of each session. It was the fifth such event for Rep. Brinkman.
"I'm much more optimistic than I've ever been at any of the others," he said. "I think that the competition for leadership positions was a good thing, and certainly the group that won is trying to reach out and bring folks together and is listening."
Nevertheless, the Cincinnati Republican said he's reserving judgment to see whether his conservative colleagues' actions follow their words. "A lot of people call themselves conservative, but they're not," he said.
Statehouse Update
"Dr. No" frequently irked GOP leadership when he served in the House from 2001-2008, but his steadfast adherence to
conservative ideology and his blunt opposition to "wimpy conservatives" made him a hero to some in the far right wing of Ohio politics.
But eventually term limits ended his first House career and Mr. Brinkman had to find a job in one of the worst labor markets in U.S. history, he recalled. With prior experience as a salesman for printing companies, he started selling life insurance, an occupation that offers an intimate glimpse in to people's personal financial circumstances.
"It certainly puts you in front of a lot of people, some who have been very frugal and saving and doing the right thing, and others who just let the situation grab a hold of them and strangle them. I've seen it all," he said.
Becoming a licensed insurance agent also gave him personal experience in navigating the state's regulatory process, he said. "I now know the
ridiculous stuff they put up for people to do the job, and the reality is I don't know who we're saving. We're basically just keeping people out of doing the job."
Mr. Brinkman also stayed active in local politics and last year defeated former Rep. Peter Stautberg in the primary election. He said he was the first candidate to beat a caucusing Republican incumbent since 1996 and attributes his victory to a groundswell of intensely focused local opposition to the Common Core education standards.
"It was bizarre. I would actually try to develop additional issues on the campaign and I found out nobody wanted to talk about anything except Common Core," he said. "I spent thousands of dollars trying to make an issue out of the House's vote to give out free needles to heroin addicts. No one cared. All they cared about was Common Core."
As such, repealing the Common Core is now the freshman lawmaker's number one priority, he said, noting that the issue initially spurred a small group of women in the district to recruit him to challenge Mr. Stautberg.
"You got to dance with the ones that brung you and, quite frankly, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the ladies that are against Common Core. I'm against taxes, I'm pro-life and things like that, and I'm still that way. But those are number two and three now compared to opposition to Common Core," he said.
In addition to his opposition to replacing local educational control with national standards, the Republican said he's disturbed that the tests associated with Common Core could allow private companies to access to students' personal data, which could serve as a marketing tool for the rest of their lives. "They're using our kids as a commodity," he said.
Rep. Brinkman said he viewed Superintendent of Public Instruction Dick Ross's move to reduce the amount of time that students spend taking standardized tests each year as a "ploy" to alleviate opposition to the Common Core.
People often confuse the Common Core with the explosion of standardized testing in recent years, but the two are really separate issues, he said. "I don't think the state legislators are going to fall for that, but they're going to try to make us."
Rep. Brinkman said he believes Common Core opponents will ultimately be successful. Even if Ohio doesn't reject the nationwide curriculum standards, enough other states are moving that direction to make implementation all but impossible, he said. "Common Core is a monolith. It needs full compliance by virtually all the states."
As for his broader goal of shrinking government involvement in citizens' lives, Rep. Brinkman said he was encouraged by the state's budget surplus and recalled that the state was usually experiencing tough economic times during most of the other budget cycles he experienced as a lawmaker.
"Whereas leadership's always grubbing for more money because they're going to cure all the ills of world with it, members who represent their districts realize that doesn't really happen. So they'll be reluctant to spend more," he said. "Maybe this time we cut back on some of these things and not expand the role of government in people's lives."
Aside from politics and business, Rep. Brinkman said he spends his free time building relationships with his six adult children, who still live in the Cincinnati region.
Tom Brinkman Age: 57
Hometown: Mt. Lookout neighborhood of
Cincinnati
Party: Republican
Education: George Washington University, B.A.
in History and Political Science, 1979
Family: Married, six adult children
Statehouse Update
"Somehow when they grow up they get minds of their own and they leave the nest and you can't treat them like little kids anymore. So you have to have relationships with them. And that's a little bit different than when they're six years old," he said. While his daughter has some interest in politics, Mr. Brinkman said his five sons "could care less about any of it."
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
SPEAKER MAKES STANDING HOUSE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) filled out House standing committee assignments Wednesday, a week after announcing the chairs, vice chairs and ranking minority party members.
"As we begin the 131st General Assembly, there are several issues that need to be continually studied and discussed," Speaker Rosenberger said in a release.
"Each and every House member has a unique background and specialized area of expertise that can be used to properly vet the legislation that is put before them. Together, through the committee process, we will work diligently to find solutions to the state's most important issues."
Per usual, the Finance & Appropriations Committee is by far the largest, according to the appointments journalized in a non-voting session. Other sizeable panels include: Agriculture & Rural Development; Health & Aging; and Public Utilities.
The announcement also sets times and meeting rooms for the committees, and as previously indicated none are slated to meet in the evenings. And continuing the last regime's truncation of the legislative week to two days, all of the panels are scheduled for either Tuesday or Wednesday.
GOP LAWMAKER WANTS AMAZON TO COLLECT SALES TAX FOR OHIO SALES
As Amazon prepares to build a new data center in Ohio, Rep. Cheryl Grossman is drafting legislation that aims to require the online retail giant to collect the state sales tax from its in-state customers.
The state approved tax incentives last year for Amazon-owned subsidiary Vadata Inc., which is planning to open a $1.1 billion new data center in central Ohio. An exact location has not yet been announced and several Columbus suburbs have reportedly offered the company additional incentives.
Rep. Grossman (R-Grove City), who sponsored last year's municipal tax overhaul (HB5, 130th General Assembly), said she believes the data center project will create the physical presence that's necessary for states to require companies to remit the sales tax on purchases from in-state consumers.
A 1992 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that an out-of-state company must have a "nexus" within a state in order to be required to collect the sales tax.
Rep. Grossman said current state law on the subject is vague and she plans to sponsor legislation that would clarify that Amazon's data center qualifies as a nexus for the purposes of the sales tax.
"My goal is a level playing field and for those companies that have brick and mortar establishments in the state of Ohio it makes it very difficult for them to compete sometimes," she said in a recent interview.
The Department of Taxation has said the Vadata cloud computing facility would not qualify as the physical presence necessary for Amazon to collect the sales tax. The agency cited an Ohio Supreme Court decision that ruled the opening of a catalogue company's subsidiary did not establish nexus for the purposes of sales tax collection.
ODT spokesman Gary Gudmundson said the agency has not seen Ms. Grossman's proposal and thus couldn't comment specifically on the legislation.
However, he said that since the Ohio Supreme Court ruling in the SFA Folio case relied on a prior U.S. Supreme Court decision, ODT views that as the controlling law on the issue of subsidiaries.
"If a company has no physical presence here, a state can't tax them," he said.
Other states, however, are increasingly forcing Amazon to remit the sales tax as the retailer expands its distribution system, building more and more warehouses around the country.
Statehouse Update
Minnesota and Maryland recently became the 22nd and 23rd states where the online retailer assesses the sales tax, making about 69% of the U.S. population subject to pay taxes on their Amazon purchases, according to the Wall Street Journal. All of Ohio's neighbors except Michigan currently require the company to remit.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment prior to deadline.
With roughly $75 billion in total sales for 2013, requiring Amazon to collect Ohio's sales tax would likely bring tens of millions of dollars into the state's coffers. ODT has estimated that taxing all online sales would generate about $274 million in fiscal year 2015 and $345 million in FY 2016.
Nonetheless, it's uncertain whether Rep. Grossman's Republican colleagues in the legislature will be willing to do anything that could be viewed as a tax expansion.
Rep. Grossman said she views the issue as a matter of fairness since Ohio-based businesses that have a physical presence in the state are at a competitive disadvantage to large, online retailers that don't charge their customers any sales tax.
"I don't think it's a tax increase if it's a tax that technically is due the state," she said. "I want to do everything we can to promote Ohio businesses and how they can be successful, and a lot of that is a level playing field."
Gordon Gough, president and CEO of the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, said he hasn't seen Rep. Grossman's proposal, but supports the general concept.
However, he would like to see all online retailers, not just Amazon, be required to collect Ohio's sales tax. The traditional retail industry has been lobbying Congress to pass legislation to allow states to require their online competitors to assess taxes based on where the customer is located.
The so-called "Marketplace Fairness Act" passed the U.S. Senate last year, but died in the U.S. House. Mr. Gough said he expects the bill to be reintroduced this session and was hopeful that it will be included in a broader tax overhaul.
"We think all retailers should operate fairly in the same space and remit," he said.
"As policymakers and government leaders talk about moving from income-based taxation to more consumption-based taxation, there's an eroding base right now. And this is going to continue to grow each year," he said. "So we might as well collect everything or you're going to continue to have to ratchet the rate up higher to compensate for the erosion."
Thursday, January 22, 2015
PUCO NOMINATING COUNCIL RECOMMENDS PORTER, LESSER
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's Nominating Council voted unanimously Thursday to endorse Commissioner Steven Lesser and former Commissioner Andre Porter, the current commerce director who wants to return to the PUCO. The 12-member panel charged with screening applicants for open seats on the PUCO also voted to recommend Thomas Waniewski and John Honabarger as candidates for Gov. John Kasich to consider. Votes for those two were not unanimous.
Gov. Kasich appointed Mr. Porter, a Republican, to the PUCO in 2011 before naming him director of the Department of Commerce less than two years ago. Earlier this month, Mr. Porter applied for the commission seat currently occupied by Mr. Lesser, whose five-year term ends on April 10.
The administration has hinted that Mr. Porter has the governor's support. Former Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Mr. Lesser to the post in 2010. He is currently the only Democrat remaining on the commission, which is charged with regulating utility service in Ohio.
State law prohibits any more than three members of the same party from sitting on the commission. The next appointee could still be a Republican, however, since there are currently only two members technically considered members of that party under state law, along with two independents.
Mr. Waniewski is a Republican Toledo city councilman and a member of the Ohio Public Works Commission. Mr. Honabarger, who is also Republican, has long worked in the telecommunications industry.
Gov. Kasich now has 30 days under state law to either appoint a commissioner from the list or ask the Nominating Council to send him a new list.
Statehouse Update
Friday, January 23, 2015
ODT CONTINUES WORK ON IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL TAX VALUATION ADJUSTMENTS
Farmland owners lobbying for a quick resolution to concerns of rising taxes will have to wait a few more months to learn what adjustments might be made to the Commercial Agricultural Use Value program and whether they would result in savings. The formula in question remains a concern for farmers, who expect 2015 taxes to spike to unmanageable levels. The Department of Taxation had targeted the end of 2014 to make valuation changes in response.
ODT's Executive Administrator of Tax Equalization Shelley Wilson said the delay resulted from extended research into possible updates recommended by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation as well as other evaluation obligations that left the small staff strapped for time.
However, the department plans to convene its Agricultural Advisory Committee next month to determine the best course of action based on the OFBF proposals, she said in a recent interview.
"We look very favorably upon the suggestions the Farm Bureau has made," Ms. Wilson said. "They are reasonable suggestions that give us ways to better collect data and better data will result in better valuations."
ODT has partnered with the Department of Forestry to explore options for updating the representation of cost to clear woodland, which was among the OFBF recommendations, along with suggestions regarding mortgage term use and capitalization rates, she said.
The department also continues to consider shortening the valuation period so that the taxation levels correspond with more recent crop prices.
While ODT is interested in implementing OFBF proposals, Ms. Wilson said it will not consider alternative proposals, such as those to artificially cap valuations.
"We have said that we are willing to make changes to our formula as long as it improves the accuracy of the values, but our assignment under the law is to calculate an honest and accurate use value," she said.
"To the extent that some groups are asking us to do things like artificially cap, we feel that's something we can't do because that's not part of an appraisal process," Ms. Wilson added, comparing such a proposal to an individual requesting that a $200,000 home be appraised at $150,000 for financial reasons.
"Everyone else pays tax according to how the law says it should be calculated and that's what's fair," she said.
Because the department won't be making any formulaic changes to the valuation process, Ms. Wilson said the Tax Commissioner can institute any adjustments without going through rules or legislative processes.
"The basic structure of what we're doing isn't changing, we're just colleting better data to put into that structure," she said.
Nearly half the state's 88 counties are due to receive new valuations for the 2014 tax year to be paid this year, Ms. Wilson noted. However, it's unlikely that any changes would affect taxes to be paid this year.
OFBF Agricultural Law Director Leah Curtis said farmland owners would "like those changes in place as soon as possible" but understand how it might be difficult to change the valuation structure in time for this year.
"There is a concern of course about the fact that taxes have increased, but we also want to make sure if changes are made that they're the right changes and that we're keeping the program strong and maintaining its accuracy and its ability to accurately value farm land," she said in an interview. "We would like those changes put in place as soon as possible, but we also want to make sure any changes that are made we maintain a strong CUAV program for Ohio's farmers."
Ms. Curtis said the bureau, which is represented on the Agricultural Advisory Committee, will push for updates that will affect taxes to be paid in 2016.
GOV. KASICH'S THIRD BIENNIAL BUDGET COMES AMIDST A GENERAL UPSWING IN STATE ECONOMIES, REVENUES, DATA SHOW
As Gov. John Kasich prepares to roll out his latest two-year budget plan early next month, he stands to benefit considerably from a continuing national economic recovery, as noted in recent state and national reports.
Statehouse Update
That turnaround from the Great Recession has entailed rejuvenated contingency funds in Ohio and other states resulting from a slow but steady upward trend in revenues, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports.
With Ohio's Budget Stabilization Fund essentially filled to the brim per state law, and economic forecasts calling for continued improvement, the state's latest budget is expected to entail much less drama than the governor's first, which was enacted under some fiscal duress.
Following the rollout script of past budget cycles, the governor is expected to unveil his third biennial spending plan in a news conference on Monday, Feb. 2, with a presentation to the House Finance & Appropriations Committee tentatively set for the day after.
Per usual, the parsing of the statutory minutiae won't commence until about a week later with the official introduction of the budget measure in the House.
Compared to Mr. Kasich's first budgetary at-bat in 2011, this year's version comes amidst a much rosier national economic picture, NCSL's latest survey of state legislative fiscal officers finds.
The group, which advocates for states' rights, reports that 35 states expect to meet their revenue forecast by the end of FY 2015, five anticipate exceeding projections and only six report potential shortfalls.
The five states in the former category are Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah, NCSL reports. Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan and Vermont make up the latter.
NCSL also reports: 28 states are meeting or exceeding personal income tax projections; 31 states are meeting or exceeding their forecasts for general sales tax collections; 29 states are meeting or exceeding their forecasts for corporate income tax
collections; 12 states reported personal income tax collections above estimates 14 states have sales tax collections meeting expectations and eight states saw sales taxes slip below original forecasts.
The legislature group, as usual, included a note of caution in its otherwise positive report of state finances.
"While state finances overall are stable, spending in at least one program area is slightly over budget in about half of the states, and at least 12 states expect a budget shortfall in FY 2015," NCSL reported. "Most state officials, however, expect their budgets will stay in balance through the remainder of the fiscal year."
Ohio's coffers are beating fiscal year-to-date expectations in the largest categories of sales, income and commercial activity taxes, which have more than offset shortfalls in other taxes, the latest Office of Budget and Management revenue report shows.
More recently, OBM's monthly financial report for December and the Legislative Service Commission's latest edition of Budget Footnotes show further positives on the spending side of the ledger.
The agencies reported that state spending through the first six months of FY 2015 is below estimates by $422.6 million, or 2.5%.
That development and continued solid revenue intake sets the stage for the Kasich Administration, which has set a priority on reducing income taxes, to have some tax revenue cushion at the end of the fiscal year to further that policy and generally aid in other budgetary decision-making.
NEW MEMBER PROFILE: HOWSE TO FOCUS ON JOB CREATION, EDUCATION, OPEN TO NEW POLICY AREAS
Coming from a varied background as an educator, environmental engineer and the daughter of a former legislator, Rep. Stephanie Howse said she's open to looking at all policy areas as a member of the 131st General Assembly.
The 35-year-old Cleveland Democrat said she understands a lot of opportunities exist for her to serve, regardless of her committee membership.
"I'm a person who always tried to come from the perspective of gaining and understanding.... There are so many great people in the state and it's our task to represent them all, while getting the viewpoints and winds from my district and sharing that is something I can bring to the table," she said in an interview.
Statehouse Update
Despite her openness to tackling an array of issues, Rep. Howse, a former admissions and community outreach coordinator for Entrepreneurship Preparatory School and Village Preparatory School, said she intends to draw on her background in pushing for early childhood education.
"So many kids don't know their ABCs going into kindergarten and they're always playing catch-up," she said. "If we do the necessary things to get it right, the cost will pay off in the long run. The conversation has to be about early childhood education."
As the ranking member of the new Community & Family Advancement Committee, Ms. Howse said she'd like to focus on ways the state can bridge the gap between good sustaining jobs and the barriers Ohioans face in accessing them.
The committee position, she said, will give her a "unique opportunity" to look at ways the state can support and address people holistically.
The Cleveland Democrat added that job growth is her "first and foremost" priority in the General Assembly, saying she's interested in looking at how workforce development initiatives are aligned and connected to today's career opportunities.
"What can we do to be more efficient and effect to ensure people getting this investment can get a job tomorrow," she said.
Ms. Howse, who holds a Bachelor's degree from Florida A&M University in civil environmental engineering and a Master's degree from Cleveland State University in environmental studies, will also sit on the House Energy & Natural Resources and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees.
Having served on the Cleveland City Council, Ms. Howse said she hopes to look at the challenges facing local governments. She stressed that there has to be partnership between local communities and the state.
The freshman added that her involvement in various local organizations should give her insight into what's happening at the community level while serving in Columbus.
Despite her prior political experience, the Democrat said her biggest challenge as a legislator will be making sure that she knows as much as she can.
"It's a lot of information. I am not, nor will I ever be an expert in all things," she said, adding that for the areas in which she does have expertise, she hopes to serve as a resource.
The daughter of former Rep. Annie Key, Ms. Howse said she'll take to heart her mother's advice of listening more than speaking. The freshman lawmaker added that she intends to continue her mother's work in regards to ensuring Ohioans have second chances.
"My mom was very passionate about second chances and making sure that returning citizens will have opportunities to be productive," she said. "I know through my journey in serving the 11th House district that's something I want to do and keep in mind."
Aside from her time in the legislature, Ms. Howse coaches middle school girls' basketball and is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. She is also a self-described "lover of the arts" and was a trained harpist for about 10 years.
STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO 4.8% IN DECEMBER
Ohio's unemployment rate fell to 4.8% last month, down from 5% in November 2014, the Department of Job and Family Services announced Friday.
The state's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased by 5,100 during the month to 5,330,400, according to the latest survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor in cooperation with ODJFS. The total number of unemployed Ohio workers in December was 278,000, down 9,000 from November.
Over the past 12 months unemployment decreased by 133,000, according to ODJFS data. The unemployment rate for Ohio in December 2013 was 7.1%.
Stephanie Howse Age: 35
Hometown: Cleveland
Party: Democrat
Education: Florida A&M University, Bachelor's degree in civil environmental engineering; Cleveland State University, Master's degree in environmental studies.
Family: Single
Prior Political Experience: Appointed to
Statehouse Update
Ohio's employment trends largely mirror a national decrease in unemployment, although the pattern is accelerated in the state. The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 5.6%, down from 5.8% in November and down from 6.7% in December 2013.
Employment in goods-producing industries increased 2,900 to 880,500 last month due to gains in manufacturing and construction. Mining and logging employment did not change over the month.
The private service-providing sector added 3,400 jobs for a December total of 3,695,600. The leisure and hospitality sector added 7,100 jobs, professional and business services were up 3,800 and educational and health services grew by 2,500.
However, the trade, transportation and utilities sector lost 6,200 jobs last month. The service industry also shed 1,900 positions in "other services," financial activities was down 1,200 and information lost 700.
Total government employment fell 1,200 to 754,300 due to a decline of 1,000 state workers and 500 local government employees, which outweighed an increase of 300 federal government jobs.
From December 2013 to December 2014, nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 61,500, including 46,300 jobs in the private service-providing sector. Most of those, 19,100, were in the professional and business services, while leisure and hospitality added 16,800 and educational and health services grew by 10,900.
Government employment over the past year increased by a total of 300 as gains of 1,600 in the state and 1,100 in the federal workforce surpassed a reduction of 2,400 in local government employment.
During the last 12 months, goods-producing industries added a total of 14,900 jobs. Manufacturing increased 16,400 and mining and logging employment grew by 1,000, outweighing a drop of 2,500 in construction.
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) welcomed the December reading, noting that when he came to the legislature in 2010 the state's unemployment rate was 9%.
"The news today that Ohio's unemployment rate is down from 5 to 4.8 percent is a huge encouragement to me as we begin work for the 131st General Assembly. Job creation and workforce development is a number one priority - one that we are taking very seriously here in the Ohio House," he said in a statement.
"We are committed to working with Governor Kasich and the Senate to ensure that we are breaking down barriers for businesses and building up those who are ready to work so that they can provide for their families."
Policy Matters Ohio commented in an analysis that the latest numbers show "the state had mediocre job growth and underperformed the nation during 2014, though unemployment dipped."
"Ohio needs a new strategy," researcher Hannah Halbert said in a release. "The new state budget should prioritize investments that help the economy work for all Ohioans. Investments in higher education, for example, would help more people compete in the job market and are strongly correlated to increases in productivity and wage growth."
SENATE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, CHAIRS & ASSIGNMENTS RELEASED
The Senate on Friday announced the structure of standing committees for the 131st General Assembly and revealed the members who will chair and serve on the panels.
Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-Canton) will retain his post as chair of the budget-writing Finance Committee, which will have five standing subcommittees.
Many of the chairs from last session will remain the same, but Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) will chair a new Insurance Committee, while Sen. Kevin Bacon (R-Columbus) will chair the Civil Justice committee.
Sen. Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) will chair the Health & Human Services Committee and Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville) will chair a new standing committee on Medicaid.
The full list of committees and assignments are as follows:
Agriculture: Senator Hite (Chair), Senator Uecker (Vice Chair), Senator Gentile (Ranking Member), Senator Beagle, Senator
Statehouse Update
Civil Justice: Senator Bacon (Chair), Senator Oelslager (Vice Chair), Senator Skindell (Ranking Member), Senator Brown,
Senator Coley, Senator Eklund, Senator Hughes, Senator Obhof, Senator Seitz, Senator Thomas
Criminal Justice: Senator Eklund (Chair), Senator Obhof (Vice Chair), Senator Thomas (Ranking Member), Senator Bacon,
Senator Hughes, Senator Lehner, Senator Seitz, Senator Skindell, Senator Uecker, Senator Williams
Education: Senator Lehner (Chair), Senator Hite (Vice Chair), Senator Sawyer (Ranking Member), Senator Balderson, Senator
Coley, Senator Gardner, Senator Jordan, Senator Manning, Senator Peterson, Senator Thomas, Senator Widener, Senator Williams, Senator Yuko
Energy & Natural Resources: Senator Balderson (Chair), Senator Jones (Vice Chair), Senator Gentile (Ranking Member),
Senator Cafaro, Senator Gardner, Senator Hite, Senator Hottinger, Senator Patton, Senator Seitz, Senator Uecker, Senator Williams
Finance: Senator Oelslager (Chair), Senator Coley (Vice Chair), Senator Skindell (Ranking Member), Senator Beagle, Senator
Burke, Senator Gardner, Senator Gentile, Senator Hughes, Senator LaRose, Senator Patton, Senator Peterson, Senator Sawyer, Senator Tavares
Finance Subcommittee on General Government: Senator Jordan (Chair), Senator Gentile (Vice Chair), Senator Eklund,
Senator Jones, Senator Peterson, Senator Skindell
Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education: Senator Gardner (Chair), Senator Cafaro (Vice Chair), Senator Bacon, Senator
Hughes, Senator Manning, Senator Thomas
Finance Subcommittee on Education: Senator Hite (Chair), Senator Sawyer (Vice Chair), Senator Balderson, Senator Beagle,
Senator Coley, Senator Lehner, Senator Thomas, Senator Yuko
Finance Subcommittee on Corrections: Senator Uecker (Chair), Senator Brown (Vice Chair), Senator Obhof, Senator Patton,
Senator Seitz, Senator Tavares
Finance Subcommittee on Workforce: Senator Beagle (Chair), Senator Williams (Vice Chair), Senator Hottinger, Senator
LaRose, Senator Widener, Senator Yuko
Financial Institutions: Senator Hughes (Chair), Senator Eklund (Vice Chair), Senator Yuko (Ranking Member), Senator
Bacon, Senator Beagle, Senator Burke, Senator Gentile, Senator Hottinger, Senator LaRose, Senator Obhof, Senator Thomas
Government Oversight & Reform: Senator Coley (Chair), Senator Seitz (Vice Chair), Senator Yuko (Ranking Member),
Senator Balderson, Senator Brown, Senator Burke, Senator Jordan, Senator LaRose, Senator Obhof, Senator Patton, Senator Skindell, Senator Widener
Health & Human Services: Senator Jones (Chair), Senator Lehner (Vice Chair), Senator Tavares (Ranking Member), Senator
Beagle, Senator Cafaro, Senator Gardner, Senator Hite, Senator Hottinger, Senator Manning, Senator Oelslager, Senator Williams
Insurance: Senator Hottinger (Chair), Senator Bacon (Vice Chair), Senator Brown (Ranking Member), Senator Balderson,
Senator Beagle, Senator Gentile, Senator Hughes, Senator Jones, Senator LaRose, Senator Manning, Senator Peterson, Senator Thomas, Senator Williams
Medicaid: Senator Burke (Chair), Senator Manning (Vice Chair), Senator Cafaro (Ranking Member), Senator Brown, Senator
Coley, Senator Jones, Senator Jordan, Senator Lehner, Senator Tavares, Senator Widener
Public Utilities: Senator Seitz (Chair), Senator Balderson (Vice Chair), Senator Williams (Ranking Member), Senator Bacon,
Senator Eklund, Senator Hite, Senator Patton, Senator Peterson, Senator Sawyer, Senator Tavares, Senator Uecker
Rules & Reference: President Faber (Chair), Senator Widener (Vice Chair), Senator Schiavoni (Ranking Member), Senator
Brown, Senator Burke, Senator Coley, Senator Gentile, Senator Hite, Senator Hughes, Senator Manning, Senator Obhof, Senator Oelslager, Senator Patton, Senator Tavares
State & Local Government: Senator LaRose (Chair), Senator Hottinger (Vice Chair), Senator Thomas (Ranking Member),
Statehouse Update
Transportation, Commerce & Labor: Senator Manning (Chair), Senator Patton (Vice Chair), Senator Cafaro (Ranking
Member), Senator Bacon, Senator Brown, Senator Eklund, Senator Gentile, Senator Hottinger, Senator LaRose, Senator Uecker, Senator Yuko
Ways & Means: Senator Peterson (Chair), Senator Beagle (Vice Chair), Senator Tavares (Ranking Member), Senator Cafaro,
Senator Eklund, Senator Hite, Senator Jordan, Senator Obhof, Senator Widener, Senator Williams
