From the Statehouse 2006 No. 25
by Jennifer Garrison
Dec. 22, 2006
FROM THE STATEHOUSE 25
Over the past 3 weeks the Ohio House has passed numerous bills, three of which I will discuss in this article.
Substitute House Bill 690, is the implementation language for the Minimum Wage amendment. In Ohio, when a ballot issue passes the proponents of the initiative usually have a seat at the table to discuss the legislation necessary to implement the voter approved amendment. The meetings that occurred to draft the language of Substitute House Bill 690 did not include the proponents of the minimum wage issue. But they did include the opponents.
As a result home health care workers were exempt from minimum wage. This exemption is not in the language of the minimum wage amendment, which passed in November. Some of the hardest working individuals were exempt from minimum wage. Do the people we hire to care for our elderly loved ones who lift, bathe, and make sure they can stay in their homes deserve less than minimum wage?
I could not vote for this enabling legislation that re-writes the amendment the people of Ohio approved in November. I voted “no” with other Democrats and Republicans. The bill narrowly passed. Businesses across this state were looking for certainty in their recordkeeping requirements. However, as a result of Substitute House Bill 690 exempting employees, the constitutional amendment did not exempt, I suspect a lawsuit will be brought to challenge this bill.
Substitute House Bill 694 prohibits statewide officeholders from soliciting contributions from a contracting organization for one year after the end of the contract. The bill also limits campaign contributions to officeholders who award state contracts from certain persons in an organization that receives a state contract. I voted “yes” on this bill and it passed on Tuesday
In the Senate amendments were added to Substitute House Bill 694 that limited union campaign contributions in a manner I believe to be unconstitutional. The amendments also added local governments to the prohibitions. When the bill came back to the House to concur with the Senate amendments, Representative Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) gave a compelling floor speech. To paraphrase, he had concerns about the amendments, they were rushed through, and we may have to revisit and fix the problems next year. I agreed. So I voted “no” on the Senate amendments. The Senate amendments passed.
Substitute House Bill 699 is the Capital Appropriations bill passed every 2 years. This bill appropriated $1.8 billion for various local community projects and construction of public school buildings, colleges and universities.
In Washington County the WP Snyder received $876,000 and Washington State Community College received $735,546. The WP Snyder was funded because it is one of three steam-powered towboats in existence and the last of its kind. The W.P. Snyder is in emergency condition and in need of repair and renovation.
Washington State Community College will be able to begin construction of the Health Sciences Center, which will help strengthen their campus and our community. There is a high demand for individuals trained in health care fields and Washington State wants to expand their program, but has insufficient space.
Noble and Guernsey counties received $1,450,000 for The Wilds. Additionally, Guernsey County received appropriations of $25,000 for their skate park and $250,000 for Cambridge park improvements. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
I would like to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and God’s blessings.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at 614-644-8728 or in the district at 740-373-2414 or by e-mail at jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
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