“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” These were the words of Charles Kettering, a Dayton, Ohio, native, who developed many of the things that we take for granted today, such as the electric cash register and four-wheel brakes. An engineering pioneer and inventor, Kettering understood that the efforts of today will pave the way for a better tomorrow. Keeping with that sentiment, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the legislation and issues that I consider a priority for 2008 and that will help to ensure that the future of Ohio is bright and promising.
One of my goals for this year is to see legislation that I have sponsored, and that is currently pending before the General Assembly, to be passed and sent to the Governor to be signed into law. Among those bills is Senate Bill 3, legislation designed to hold public officials who break the public trust more accountable to the taxpayers of Ohio. This legislation would prohibit all felony offenders from holding public office and also provide that when a person who has been elected to public office is convicted of a felony, he or she would lose their right to public retirement benefits, based on employer contributions. SB 3 was overwhelmingly approved by the Ohio Senate and is now pending before the Ohio House of Representatives.
Another bill that I am hoping to see signed into law before the year’s end is Senate Bill 249. This legislation, which has also been introduced in the Ohio House, would make it easier for emergency personnel to notify families when a loved one has been fatally injured in an accident. Under SB 249, Ohio drivers would have the option to identify a person to contact in case of an emergency. This information would then be managed and maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and accessible to emergency personnel by scanning a driver’s license.
Outside of existing legislation, there are other issues that will demand the attention of lawmakers in 2008. One of which is health care. In 2006, Ohioans spent $89 billion on health care and with people living longer and baby boomers approaching their retirement years, that dollar figure will continue to climb. Just as legislators are evaluating what decisions need to be made to address this issue, Ohio families and businesses are also faced with tough choices to try and deal with the increasing burden being placed on their shoulders as health care costs rise. No matter what the outcome, I believe the solution must establish a system that affords Ohioans greater flexibility in determining their health care needs.
Moving forward in 2008, I am also committed to regulatory reform in Ohio. Specifically by reducing the amount of red tape that Ohioans are forced to cut through in order to survive and be productive. While we all want clean air, water and important health safety protections, we need to be cautious in weighing the regulatory benefit against the burden of new regulations. Meaningful health and safety regulations do not require the estimated 56,000 rules now on the books. For far too long, these needless and duplicative regulations have served as a nearly impassable hurdle for developing businesses and new jobs in Ohio. We must reduce the regulatory burden on businesses if we want to attract jobs and be assured that Ohio’s economy is productive and fruitful.
I am also working with my colleagues to ensure that other important bills come before the Governor, such as Senate Bill 221, the state’s energy bill. This is an important bill that was recently passed by the Senate and will work to ensure that the Ohio’s energy needs are met while at the same keeping the price consumers must pay low and reasonable.
No matter what the issue is, it is clear that 2008 will be an important and busy year for both the lawmakers and residents of Ohio. While hard work and dedication will be the key to our success, equally as important is your involvement in the democratic process. Through this relationship we can more easily identify the issues that need to be dealt with and how best to reach a solution. Just as those words uttered by Charles Kettering signify, I am committed to working hard today because I have a vested interest in the future of this great state.
New Homestead Exemption Deadline:
For those senior citizens wanting to take advantage of the Homestead Exemption savings, but missed the initial deadline of Oct. 1, 2007 there is a new window of application to receive the tax savings by applying this year. The new application opens Jan. 8, 2008 and ends June 2, 2008.
The changes made by HB 119 and signed by Governor Strickland on June 30, 2007 to the Homestead Exemption Act allows senior citizens ages 65 and older and Ohioans with disabilities to pay no taxes on the first $25,000 of their homes’ values, which, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation, amounts to a savings of approximately $400 for the average taxpayer, depending on the value of the home.
Currently enrolled recipients of the Home-stead Exemption do not need to reapply. Those seeking to enroll for the first time however, can secure applications by contacting their local county auditor’s office, visiting the Ohio Department of Taxation’s website at http://tax.ohio.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free number at 1-800-282-1780.
Protecting Ohio’s senior citizens and those with disabilities has always been a priority of mine, and I am pleased to be able to inform you so that all that are eligible can take advantage of this tax break.
