Guest Column from State Senator Jimmy Stewart

February 15, 2010

BEGINNING OF 2010 BUSY TIME IN SENATE
by State Senator Jimmy Stewart

After a hectic end to 2009 in the Ohio General Assembly, the first several weeks of the new year have proven to be just as busy at the Statehouse. In the Senate, my colleagues and I have been working on a number of bills that seek to strengthen state government transparency, improve Ohio’s economic climate and create a better future for families and businesses in our state.
Most recently, the House and Senate reached agreement to put a constitutional amendment on the May 4 ballot to give Ohio voters the opportunity to decide the future of the Ohio Third Frontier Program, a 10-year, $1.4 billion investment that was initiated in 2002 by the Legislature and then-Governor Bob Taft to provide grants to Ohio companies, universities and other research institutions to foster innovation, stimulate investment and create jobs. The program, which is supported by $500 million in bonds that were approved by voters in 2005, is set to expire in 2012.
According to an independent analysis conducted by SRI International, through 2008 the state’s investment in Third Frontier had created more than 41,000 jobs and helped generate $6.6 billion in economic activity.
While the Third Frontier has strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, there was some disagreement about how much debt the state should take on to continue the program. House Democrats supported a plan, which was also endorsed by Governor Strickland, to pursue a $950 million renewal of the Third Frontier over five years. Senate Republicans, on the other hand, approved a $500 million, four-year proposal, an amount that my colleagues and I felt was more fiscally-responsible and palatable to Ohio voters, while providing the resources necessary to ensure the Third Frontier continues to be a success.
After much deliberation, both chambers compromised on a $700 million renewal of the Third Frontier over four years. I encourage all voters in the 20th Senate District to come to the polls on May 4 to voice their opinion about the future of the program.
Ohio voters will also be asked to weigh in on another ballot proposal on May 4. In late January, the General Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 8, a constitutional amendment that would move the location of a proposed casino in the Arena District in Columbus to another site west of the city. After Ohio voters approved Issue 3 last November to put casinos at specific spots in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, Columbus leaders argued that the Arena District was not the right location for a casino and a majority of Central Ohio voters opposed the plan. They worked with casino investors, community leaders and area lawmakers to negotiate a different location and put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to change it.
In addition to these two high-profile amendments, the Senate has passed a number of other important bills over the past few weeks. In an effort to make state government more efficient and transparent, my colleagues and I approved Senate Bill 4 on January 27, which would require the Auditor of State to conduct performance audits of several state agencies to help improve operations in these departments and eliminate burdensome rules and regulations that are impediments to business development and job growth in our state. I cosponsored the bill.
Also, the Senate passed Senate Bill 213, which seeks to protect Ohio businesses that are participating in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation group rating program from additional increases in their premiums over the next two years. The Strickland Administration has announced plans to further reduce long-afforded premium discounts for thousands of Ohio companies beginning in July of this year, on top of already approved discount reductions.
Further, my colleagues and I approved Senate Bill 155 late last month, which would direct a portion of the state’s existing fee on the sale of new tires to help restore some funding for local soil and water districts across Ohio and would increase by $10,000 the amount that ODNR can distribute through grants to soil and water districts that currently receive little to no local matching dollars. The work of Ohio’s soil and water conservation districts is critical to protecting our local land and water resources for the health and safety of Ohio families and the success of our state’s agriculture industry.
Additionally, the Senate passed Senate Bill 185 on January 27, which would establish greater oversight over state rotary accounts. The issue arose after it was discovered that the Strickland Administration diverted a total of $2.7 million, which was later returned, from the Save Our Sight Fund and the Second Chance Trust Fund to balance the state budget. This money came from voluntary donations meant to help prevent childhood blindness and promote organ donation.
I would also like to mention that on January 12, the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 181, legislation I sponsored to accelerate the reclamation of abandoned mines across Ohio and improve the long-term health of our environment. The bill would give landowners, who provide access to abandoned mines for reclamation, protection from liability if a person is injured or damage is caused by the project.
I will work to keep you informed of other important state issues in the weeks ahead. For more information about the bills I discussed above, please visit www.legislature.state.oh.us.
Please contact me if you have any questions, thoughts or concerns about state government issues. You can write to me at State Senator Jimmy Stewart, Ohio Statehouse, Room 040, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or contact my office by phone at (614) 466-8076. I can also be reached by email at SD20@senate.state.oh.us. In addition, for more information about my work in the Ohio Senate, visit my page on the Senate website at www.ohiosenate.gov/jimmy-stewart.