May 9, 2008
Other than the dusting off of Ohio's impeachment law and calls for Attorney General Marc Dann's resignation, this week was a fairly quiet week in Columbus. The Mayor's Court bill ( HB 154) did not surface for a vote in the full House. The capital and corrections bill did not surface and is expected to be introduced either next week or the week following. HB 521, which proposes a study of local government in Ohio, was not, as scheduled, put up for a vote in House Committee. That bill is scheduled for possible amendments and a committee vote next week.
Heat was turned up on a bill, passed by the House, that would cap Payday loans at 28%. Opponents of the bill took to the airwaves with paid advertisements and showed up at the Statehouse to protest the bill, which is now under consideration by the Senate.
SB 171 (Scrap Metal Theft), which was under consideration by the House State Government and Elections Committee, was voted out of committee. An amendment, suggested by the League, that would effectively strip the bill of its anti-Home Rule language was adopted by the committee on a 13-2 vote. Opponents of that amendment suggested that having tougher laws in some parts of the state would encourage thieves to go to other parts of the state and was, therefore a bad idea. We, of course, wondered if Ohio had tougher laws on robbing banks caused thieves to rob more banks in Indiana, whether anyone would suggest Ohio ease its law on bank robbery. We very much support the House version of the bill and hope the bill can be moved through the House and reach concurrence in the Senate.
We should also not that the initial hearings on the statutory parts of the economic stimulus package will receive its first glance next week, as noted in the committee schedule, which is attached.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and hope that all the moms get the praise, gifts and hugs they so richly deserve this Mother's Day. John
May 2, 2008
Hi, everyone - Most of the energy in the General Assembly was taken up by a bill, which passed the House, that would cap the Payday lending business to a 28% annual interest rate and further regulate that business. The bill engendered some excitement when, for about 25 minutes, it was amended to also ban the Governor's effort to establish Keno in Ohio. Such an amendment would have, no doubt, garnered a gubernatorial veto for the whole bill. After some paper rattling and a short recess, the "showdown" was downgraded to "making a point" and the amendment was tabled out of the bill.
More importantly, this week the House passed, in quick order, a bill (HB 544) which would close down the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Fund and move $40 million from that Fund to the Ohio Department of Health for anti-smoking and smoking cessation programs. The rest of the money in that fund ($230 million) would go to help pay for the state's economic stimulus package, announced by the Governor and legislative leaders three weeks ago. $80 million of that $230 million would be used to help fund the increase in local infrastructure money announced as part of that package. HB 544, designed to truncate the efforts by the Foundation to thwart the state's effort to divert those funds to the economic stimulus package, is expected to be voted on by the Senate on Tuesday and signed by the Governor shortly thereafter.
And if you still would like to offer your thoughts, through testimony, on HB 521, the bill to establish a study of local government, next week may be your last chance as the bill is up for a possible vote in committee.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. John
April 14, 2008
Hi, everyone - Attached is the committee schedule for hearings of interest in the General Assembly next week. Also attached is the notice for a committee hearing and possible vote on HB 154, the Mayor's Court Bill. The hearing, in House Judiciary, is on Thursday and we hope we will have a good number of witnesses to oppose that bill. If you plan on testifying on the bill, please, let us know. This will most likely be our last chance to testify in the House on HB 154.
We very much appreciate the testimony against the bill this week from the Mayors of Boston Heights, Minerva Park, Worthington, Pataskala, Beverly and Lakemore and the testimony of the Beverly Police Chief and the Law Director of Cuyahoga Falls. All made great presentations. We hope we will have just as strong a showing next week in committee.
This week, we had a number of bills up for consideration, but not much by way of news. The one tussle we will continue to watch (though there's not much we do about this one) is over $230 million from the tobacco settlement. In announcing the economic stimulus package, the Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate said that those dollars would be recouped from the state's major anti-smoking foundation, which the state created, to help pay for the stimulus package. The foundation disagreed and tried to push that money out the door to other more untouchable anti-smoking foundations. The Governor and General Assembly disagreed with that disagreement and passed a bill, in short order, to recover the money. The foundation went to court and the judge said the money just isn't going anywhere until he's heard arguments. The morning line on this one is that the Governor and General Assembly will win this fight, in the end.
Our interest is that $80 million of that tobacco money is to go to the local infrastructure package, which is a key component of the stimulus package.
The Governor also announced late today that he would veto the House version of the new energy bill (SB 221), when and if it reached his desk. He cited "unwarranted" rate increases, among other objections, as one of his reasons for his problems with the bill.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! John
April 7, 2008
Hi, everyone - Attached is the committee notice for the House Judiciary Committee. As you can see HB 154 is up for a hearing. This is your chance to testify against HB 154. Having talked to the chair late this afternoon, it will not be the last hearing on the bill or your last chance to testify in the House. Another hearing for testimony will be held the following week.
So, despite my rather petulant remarks in the Bulletin earlier today, Lou Blessing, the chairman of the committee is a great American and will hear testimony next week and the following week to make our case against this bill. Please, let us know if and when you would like to testify on HB 154.
April 4, 2008
Hi, everyone - Attached is this week's Legislative Bulletin. Our biggest concern for next week is that HB 154, the anti-Mayor's Court bill, may be up for a committee vote next week, according to comments made by the chair this week. We still do not have officials notification on the committee's plans, but will let you know as soon as we do.
Also attached is a memo that outlines the changes made to HB 154 through a substitute bill this week. It should be pointed out that "chief executive" mentioned is the memo is "Mayor" in the actual language of the amendment.
We should also point out that HB 431 is not up for a hearing next week.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. John
April 3, 2008
Hi,everyone - Today, Governor Ted Strickland, House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris announced a bipartisan proposal, which is a compromise stemming from the Governor's Building Ohio Jobs Program outlined in his State of the State.
In that the proposal offers a slightly smaller package and deletes or restructures one program in which we had a great deal of interest (downtown revitalization), it is what we expected, a compromise. In that the proposal offers more certainty of success and earlier availability of new infrastructure dollars, this proposal, especially as a bipartisan effort, offers a great deal of promise. It is certainly a package we can support strongly.
Attached is our first analysis of the new proposal. We will have a full Legislative Bulletin on Friday. John
Analysis of the New Jobs Package
March 31, 2008
Hi, everyone -Just got word that the Mayor's Court Bill (HB 154) will be up for a hearing next week. However, it is marked for Possible Amendments and committee discussion. However, there will be no vote on the bill and further meetings for opposition testimony will be held. That means no testimony is needed next week.
If you would like to attend the hearing, it is at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 3 in House Hearing Room 114. We have been assured, once again, by the Chair's office that there will ample opportunity for opposition testimony, but just not this week. John
March 28, 2008
Hi,everyone - Spring break is over the General Assembly and attached is the committee schedule for next week. One bill that is up for an opponent hearing is HB 431, which gives firefighters a presumption for disability in the line of duty for all cancer and contagious and infectious diseases for both workers' comp and disability retirement. This presumption is given no matter how long the firefighter has served. We would like to have witnesses to oppose this bill.
The hearing on HB 431, in the House Commerce and Labor Committee is Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. in House Hearing Room 114. If you would like testify against this bill, please, let us know.
We have also attached a statement by the Ohio Municipal League Board of Trustees endorsing the Governor's Jobs Program, the bond issue he outlined in his State of the State address. Understanding that often a key to such issues, historically, is bipartisan support, the Board urges everyone to talk to all members of the General Assembly about bringing to Ohio's voters in November a proposal that is effective.
Finally, we still do not have a notice for House Judiciary (Thursday, 9:30 a.m.) yet, but expect that notice sometime this afternoon. We fairly certain that HB 154, the Mayor's Court bill, will be up for a hearing and that we will need witnesses for that hearing. We will let you know as soon as we get notice.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
March 20, 2008
Hi, again, everyone - Even though the League has yet to endorse the Governor's bond package, attached is a list of regional informational meetings that you can attend to learn more about the issue.
No matter your thoughts on the bond issue, it is a good chance to talk to a cabinet member. Pari Sabety is the OBM Director, Ross Boggs is Director of Agriculture, Sean Logan is Director of Natural Resources and Mark Shanahan is Director of Energy Policy. And, of course, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher is Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Director of the Department of Development.
Hope this information is helpful
Regional Bond Proposal Meetings
March 19, 2008
Hi, everyone - We usually rely on the National League of Cities to effectively deal with federal issues, but there is one issue that's come up that only effects a few states. That issue is one that will substantially harm those states (7) which, to one extent or another, have municipal income taxes. HR 3359, which places limits on what income can be taxed by municipalities, by folks working in a community for less than 60 days a year, will severely harm the tax revenues of many of our communities.
Attached is an appeal for you to contact your local member of Congress and our two U.S. Senators about this short sighted legislation. Have also attached a copy of this brief legislation. Any help you can give us on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
As always, thanks for your help
| Federal Munitax Bill | HR 3559 |
March 7, 2008
Hi, everyone - The committee schedule for next week is fairly light. We still don't know if House Judiciary is meeting or not, but with House in just Tuesday and Wednesday, as Judiciary is usually a Thursday meeting, it is unlikely. Because that committee has HB 154 (Mayor's Court), we will let you know as soon as we do.
It is also unlikely that we will have any sort of Bulletin next week. Following this week's sessions, the General Assembly will be on spring break until April 1.
Hope everyone has a great and safe weekend. John
February 29, 2008
Hi,everyone - With the upcoming primary election on Tuesday, next week will be light week at the Statehouse. The only bill of any interest up next week will be a bill that simply reappropriates money for capital projects that were approved in the last capital bill. No new projects in the bill and quick final passage of that bill is expected, when the General Assembly returns, after the primary.
The bill for new capital projects is expected later, perhaps as early as June.
Hope everyone has a great weekend and we have a problem-free primary. John
February 26, 2008
Hi, everyone - Attached are two documents, one from the Civil Rights Commission and one from ODOT.
The ODOT memo is simply for your information about new Federal Highway Administration rules on traffic sign visibility standards that will go into effect by 2012. There is a contact within ODOT, if you have any questions.
The second memo is a presentation of the somewhat controversial new rules that the Civil Rights Commission is proposing on pregnancy leave. These rules, if adopted, would make more specific the statutory requirements surrounding pregnancy leave. The Commission has proffered that there is no fiscal impact on any local governments that would stem from this rule. As far as we know, the Commission made that estimate without talking to any local official and they did not discuss this with the League. If you have a comment or think these rules would have a fiscal impact on your community, please, just let me know by responding to this e-mail. We will pass along to the Commission any comments you would like to have on the record on this issue. Or, of course, you can comment to the Commission directly.
The Commission would like these comments by March 10.
Thanks. John
February 22, 2008
Hi, everyone - While the League has not yet taken a position on the Governor's Bond Issue, proposed for this fall, thought we'd pass along this piece, which the administration produced, as an FYI.
We still do not have any definitive language about the issue or any clear read as to whether there is legislative support for the issue. Given the amount of new infrastructure money, Clean Ohio money and downtown revitalization money involved in this issue, we are very interested in this issue, but have not seen final language. On issues like this, that language can often be critical for both support and possible success.
Our Board will meet next week, where the matter will, most likely, be discussed. John
