Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, Last week, Ohio witnessed the first COVID-19 vaccinations being given out to frontline and essential workers and those in vulnerable populations. This marks the first step in returning to normalcy, and it is all thanks to President Trump and Governor DeWine’s leadership. Democrats and political pundits doubted President Trump’s Administration would be able to produce a vaccine in less than one year, but thanks to Operation Warp Speed, we now have multiple pharmaceutical companies working diligently to produce effective vaccines. Once again, President Trump delivered on a promise he made to Americans. With just over two weeks to go until the January 5th Georgia Senate runoff elections, Republicans must continue voicing support for the two candidates. Senators Loeffler and Perdue must be re-elected by Georgians in order to maintain a conservative majority in the Senate. It is not too late to volunteer your time to help the Senators win their races. If you are interested in helping us win two very important Senate races, you can Volunteer Here! Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
On Senate Floor, Portman Calls on Senate to Pass Critical legislation to Respond to Challenge of COVID-19 Last week on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Rob Portman gave his 21st speech since March calling on Congress to pass legislation to respond to the health care and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this week, Portman joined a group of bipartisan senators in introducing two bipartisan packages to provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Congressional leadership is using most of the legislation for the basis of the final product they will unveil to create a bridge of support between now and when the COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. A video of his remarks can be found here.
DeWine: COVID Vaccinations Start in Ohio On Monday, Governor DeWine announced that the first COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Ohio. Shipments of 975 doses were delivered to both The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and UC Health in Cincinnati. Several healthcare workers and personnel who are routinely involved with the care of COVID-19 patients immediately received vaccinations. “It was such a moment of hope to watch the healthcare workers begin to get vaccinated,” said Governor DeWine. “This is the first day of a process that will continue over the months ahead as Ohioans who choose to be vaccinated have their opportunity to receive the vaccine. However, until the vaccine is widely available for all Ohioans who choose to receive it, we must continue to use all available tools to prevent the spread of the virus, like wearing a mask, keeping your distance, and washing your hands.” As COVID-19 vaccines continue to come to Ohio, Cardinal Health’s OptiFreight Logistics business will help provide same-day delivery services. Once the vaccine is widely available, this partnership will allow Ohio to ship the vaccine to approximately 350 locations across the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention invited Ohio to participate in an early scaled launch of vaccinations in nursing homes beginning Friday. Ohio had previously been scheduled to start its nursing home vaccination program in partnership with pharmacy providers on Monday, December 21. On Friday, Governor DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, and Lt. Governor Husted visited nursing facilities across the state to watch the administration of the first COVID-19 vaccines in the nation in long-term care facilities as part of a new partnership. The vaccines, which were given to residents and staff who chose to receive them, were given as part of the early scaling up of the federal Pharmacy Long-Term Care Partnership program. “It’s an incredible day in Ohio’s history. The rolling out of these vaccines mark a turning point in this pandemic,” said Governor DeWine.
Husted Announces Innovative Broadband Expansion Pilot Project Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced on Wednesday another innovative broadband expansion project aimed at connecting underserved households and businesses in Ohio.
Allen Township, outside of Marysville, will be the site of a new pilot project through the Starlink satellite broadband service developed by SpaceX. The pilot will test the delivery of Starlink’s space-based high speed internet to 90 households and about 10 small businesses. It marks the largest Starlink pilot in the Midwest and it was made possible through the partnership of InnovateOhio, BroadbandOhio, the City of Marysville, economic leaders in Union County, and JobsOhio. To learn more, click here.
Yost Joins Lawsuit to End Google’s Illegal Monopoly Attorney General Dave Yost joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general last week in suing Google for anticompetitive conduct. Yost and the states allege Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over search engines and related advertising markets through anticompetitive conduct. “Exclusion and discrimination are by their nature anti-competitive,” Yost said. “When you add those tactics to Google’s dominance, you’re stepping on the market, not competing in it.” Through its monopoly, Google has deprived consumers of competition that can lead to greater choice, innovation and better privacy protections.
LaRose Receives National Cyber Security Award for 2020 Election On Monday, the 55th Ohio Electoral College cast their 18 electoral votes for President Trump, signifying the end of the 2020 election in Ohio. This election was the most secure election in Ohio history, thanks largely due to the preparations made by Secretary LaRose over the last two years. For this work, this week LaRose received the SANS Institute’s prestigious cybersecurity “Difference Maker” Award.
“I’m honored to receive this on behalf of hundreds of election officials throughout the state as well as our world class cybersecurity team,” said LaRose. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance and that is why we never fall into a ‘mission accomplished’ mindset. We are not resting — we are innovating to make sure Ohio continues leading on election cybersecurity so that voters can be confident that their voice is heard.”
Ohio’s cyber security initiatives were in the national spotlight this week when Senator Rob Portman highlighted them during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. His remarks about Ohio’s state of the art cybersecurity measures implemented at all 88 county board can be watched here.
Faber Visits Local Officials This week Auditor of State Keith Faber was in NE Ohio, talking with mayors and finance directors about how COVID has impacted their communities and seeing what help they need as they continue to suffer the effects of the economic shutdown due to the pandemic. Auditor Faber has encouraged local governments to make funds available to help small businesses so many of which are risking closure because of the economic downturn.
Treasurer Sprague: STABLE Account Hits the 20k Mark, Sees a Record-Breaking Year On Wednesday, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced the STABLE Account program has reached another milestone in exceeding 20,000 active accounts. The announcement comes as participation in the program has more than doubled in less than two years.
Launched in 2016, the STABLE Account program makes 529-like specialized savings and investment accounts available to people living with disabilities and their families.
“Today’s announcement is about much more than reaching a milestone,” said Treasurer Sprague. “It represents the profound impact STABLE accounts are making in bringing independence and peace of mind to individuals and families. Despite the many challenges brought on by COVID-19, the STABLE Account program has proven to be a trusted and reliable resource for those living with disabilities to achieve financial empowerment.”
The enrollment announcement caps off a record-breaking year for the program. Throughout 2020, STABLE Account set new single-month, single-week, and single-day records for program enrollment.
Video: A Record Year for STABLE
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Category: Latest
Chairman’s Update 12/13/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, The Georgia Senate runoff elections set to take place on January 5th are races that continually deserve our attention. Nearly one month ago, some of Ohio’s Trump Victory staff went down to Georgia to help Senators Loeffler and Perdue on their path to victory. It is imperative we hold the line and re-elect conservative leaders. Republicans made great gains in the U.S. House nationally, but we still need to maintain our conservative majority in the Senate. Otherwise, we risk having radical Democrat control in all three chambers of Congress. The fight for free and fair elections continues in Georgia. If you are interested in helping us win two very important Senate races, you can Volunteer Here! Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
Portman Introduces CARA 2.0 to Increase Access to Treatment, Prevention & Bolster Fight Against Addiction Epidemic Last week, U.S. Senators Rob Portman, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 to increase the funding authorization levels for the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (CARA) programs enacted in 2016 and put in place additional policy reforms to help combat the opioid epidemic that has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. CARA was a bipartisan, national effort designed to ensure that federal resources were devoted to evidence-based education, treatment and recovery programs that work. In FY 2020, CARA programs were funded at $658 million.
CARA 2.0 builds on this effort by increasing the funding authorization levels and laying out new policy reforms to strengthen the federal government’s response to this crisis. The CARA 2.0 bill text is here, section-by-section here, and a summary here.
Governor DeWine Announces Tax Credit Approvals; First Lady Promotes Imagination Library On Monday, Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted announced the approval of assistance for 16 projects set to create 4,183 new jobs and retain 1,051 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $240 million in new payroll and spur more than $864 million in investments across Ohio. On Wednesday, Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine encouraged more Ohio children to enroll in Ohio’s Imagination Library Program as a new documentary about Imagination Library founder Dolly Parton premiered. “The Library That Dolly Built” is a behind-the-scenes look at the Imagination Library Program country music singer Dolly Parton started in 1995 to encourage reading to preschool children. In 2019, the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library Program partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to spread the program throughout Ohio. Partnerships and funding have been established in each of Ohio’s 88 counties, so that all children who enroll – from birth to age 5 – can receive a free book in the mail each month to help accelerate their development. “Dolly Parton and her dedication to children’s literacy and this program is so inspiring,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “We share a belief that the gift of reading is one of the best things you can give a child. We are proud of all the partners in Ohio that have ensured that every single eligible Ohio child can receive these books every month.” Currently 255,672 Ohio children younger than age 5, or 35% of eligible children, receive the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library books. Nearly 2 million children worldwide receive free monthly books from the Imagination Library. For more information about the film, visit www.imaginationlibrary.com/film. To enroll children, parents and caregivers can sign up at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.
Husted Announces DataOhio Portal Lt. Governor Jon Husted and InnovateOhio, in partnership with the Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Information Technology’s InnovateOhio Platform (IOP), announced the launch of the DataOhio Portal, which offers a first-of-its kind service to Ohioans by delivering unprecedented access through an innovative, data-sharing platform. “We’ve all learned over the past year how critical data is to tackling our biggest challenges,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “The IOP team has built a one-stop-shop for the state’s data, providing a secure approach to data access and displaying datasets that, in some cases, are available now for the first time. This collaboration will help Ohio make better public policy decisions so we can better serve the people of our state.”
Yost Joins Lawsuit to End Facebook’s Illegal Monopoly Attorney General Dave Yost joined 48 attorneys general last week to file a lawsuit against Facebook, saying the company used dominance and monopoly power to illegally stifle competition and reduce consumer privacy. The lawsuit alleges that Facebook illegally acquired competitors in a predatory manner over the last decade, depriving users of the benefits of competition, and reducing privacy protections. “Facebook’s unchecked power has grabbed an alarming level of control over what we see, say, buy and even who our friends are,” Yost said. “It is a dangerous seduction where we, as consumers, have become the product for Facebook by controlling so many aspects of our lives.
LaRose to Preside Over the 55th Ohio Electoral College On Monday, December 14, 2020 at noon, the 18 members of Ohio’s Electoral College will gather in the Senate Chamber of The Ohio Statehouse to cast their electoral votes for President and Vice-President of the United States for Donald J. Trump and Michael R. Pence. You can watch the state’s 55th Electoral College At Facebook.com/FrankLaRose. Faber Recognizes City of Niles with Auditor of State Award After taking office in 2019, one of Auditor of State Keith Faber’s first acts was to remove the City of Niles from fiscal emergency, after years of bad bookkeeping had put the city into a dire financial situation. This week, Auditor Faber returned to honor the city with one of the highest distinctions from his office: an Auditor of State Award. Hear more about Niles’ journey from fiscal emergency to fiscal excellence by clicking here.
Sprague’s Family Forward Proposal Clears the Senate On Wednesday, the Ohio Senate unanimously approved House Bill 405, a measure to create Treasurer Robert Sprague’s Family Forward initiative. The new program will help families to lessen the financial burdens often experience when navigating the adoption process.
“Too often, families shy away from adoption when faced with the skyrocketing costs associated with it,” said Treasurer Sprague. “With the Senate’s passage of House Bill 405, we take a big step forward for Ohio’s families to alleviate some of that financial burden and help bring more children into loving homes. I thank Representative Cross, Senator Burke, and the Ohio General Assembly for their leadership and support of Family Forward.”
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Chairman’s Update 12/06/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, The Georgia Senate runoff elections will take place in just under one month. It is critical that the people of Georgia re-elect Senators Loeffler and Perdue. If they don’t, and we lose our conservative majority in the Senate, we can expect Democrats to defund the police, raise taxes, pack the courts, and radically take over our health care system. President Trump visited Georgia just yesterday to show his support and to help them hold the line.
We can continue to fight for free and fair elections and support President Trump while also showing up for our friends in Georgia. There is still time to help, and if you are interested in helping us win these two very important Senate races, you can Volunteer Here!
Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
60 Portman Bills Have Been Signed Into Law by President Trump Last week, President Trump signed into law Portman’s bipartisan Information Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act , bringing the total number of laws authored or co-authored by Senator Portman in this administration to 60. After getting 68 bills signed into law during his tenure with the Obama administration, yesterday’s bill signing is just the latest in a long line of accomplishments Portman had delivered for Ohio and the country over the last four years in working with the Trump administration.
Here are some highlights of the 60 Portman bills that have been signed into law by President Trump:
DeWine Announces COVID Vaccine Rollout On Friday, Governor DeWine announced details for Ohio’s first phase of vaccine distribution that is expected to begin on or around December 15. During Phase 1, vaccine supply will be limited, and Ohio will focus on vaccinating those who wish to be vaccinated in the critical Phase 1A groups outlined below. The federal government has advised that the Ohio Department of Health will not know the exact number of vaccines that will be shipped to Ohio until closer to each shipment date. The current shipment figures, which are subject to change, are as follows:
These vaccines will be the first dose for those in the identified critical groups. A second dose will be delivered and administered in the future. It has not been determined when members of the general public will have the option to receive vaccines. As information becomes available about the next phases of vaccine distribution, it will be made public.
Husted Announces Next Round of TechCred On Thursday, Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the results of the October round of TechCred, which will provide the opportunity for 246 Ohio companies to upskill their current and incoming workforce with tech-focused skills. This round marks a milestone as funding for the program has now been approved for over 15,000 credentials. “Despite the obstacles created by COVID-19, we continue to see great results coming out of the TechCred program. It is helping employers and employees adapt and prevail during very difficult economic conditions,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “This marks another milestone in upskilling opportunities that will help Ohioans earn the tech-focused skills needed to succeed in the changing workplace.” The next TechCred application period opens Monday, January 4th and closes January 29th at 3:00 p.m. Learn more at TechCred.Ohio.gov.
Yost Highlights New Cold Case Unit Attorney General Dave Yost highlighted his office’s new Cold Case Unit last week in an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer. The unit, which is part of Yost’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, has investigators from a variety of backgrounds, including forensics and intelligence, focused on assisting departments across the state crack cold cases. “Either everybody counts or nobody counts,” Yost said about the new unit. “If it was your son or daughter that was murdered…you’d want to know that every stone was being turned over. That’s what this unit is about. It’s about turning over every stone…Cases might go stale, but they never get cold. Maybe we should call this the Warming Up Unit.” The unit is targeting homicide and rape cases, especially cases where evidence can be re-tested using new technology and techniques. It is also focused on assisting small and mid-size departments that are strapped for resources.
LaRose Visits Boards as They Complete Post-Election Audits Mandatory post-election audits are just another reason why Ohioan’s know that our elections are trustworthy. All of Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections will complete these audits by next week to confirm the accuracy of their election. Secretary LaRose stopped by the Montgomery, Allen and Lucas County Boards of Elections this week to review the great work they are doing to give voters the confidence that every legally cast ballot is accurately counted. Auditor Faber Talks CARES Funding in St. Clairsville This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber was in St Clairsville speaking with city and county officials about CARES Act. Auditor Faber has urged local governments to make money available for small businesses and those struggling to make rent. He has taken that message on the road to ensure that Ohio’s small businesses and individuals get the relief that they need.
Sprague Kicks-Off Regional Advisory Board Meetings This week, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague convened the first meetings of his office’s regional advisory boards. The initiative brings together local leaders and elected officials from Ohio’s various regions to discuss the issues facing their communities and ways the Treasurer’s office may be helpful to them. As part of the discussion, personnel from the Treasurer’s office provided updates on investment and existing office programs.
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Chairman’s Update 11/29/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving holiday. President Trump continues fighting for the American people and for the integrity of our elections. Democrats disputed the results of the 2016 election for years with no evidence of any wrongdoing, and now conservatives must stand with the president as lawsuits across the country continue finding irregularities from the November 3rd election. To offer the president your continued support, you can visit GOP.com to donate. Additionally, if you see signs of voter irregularities and fraud, you can report them here. We must also focus our attention on the Georgia Senate races. We must maintain our conservative majority in the Senate, or else we risk the Democrats’ socialist policies taking over both chambers of Congress. The fight for free and fair elections continues in Georgia. If you are interested in helping us win two very important Senate races, you can Volunteer Here!
Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
Portman New Video Highlights Portman’s Participation in COVID-19 Vaccine Trial A new video highlights Senator Portman’s participation in the ENSEMBLE phase 3 trial for the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Johnson & Johnson and managed by CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (CTI) at its research center in Cincinnati, Ohio. At a time when COVID-19 cases are surging in Ohio and across the country and only about half of Americans have confidence in the upcoming vaccines, Portman felt it was important to participate in a vaccine trial to raise awareness of the safety and effectiveness while encouraging others to participate as well. In the video, he discusses the importance of the vaccines to ensure Americans feel comfortable returning to retail establishments, schools, the workplace and gathering with friends and family. Portman also applauds the Trump Administration’s Operation Warp Speed, which has led the unprecedented development of the vaccine candidates. The video can be found here.
DeWine Signs Certificate Appointing Trump Electors On Thursday, Governor DeWine issued a video on Twitter wishing Ohioans a Happy Thanksgiving. On Friday, Governor DeWine signed Ohio’s Certificate of Ascertainment, which identifies the appointed electors and final vote count in Ohio for each candidate in the U.S. Presidential Election held on November 3, 2020. Ohio’s Certificate of Ascertainment shows the most popular votes, 3,154,834, for Donald J. Trump and Michael R. Pence. “As Chief Executive of the State of Ohio, I certified today the Certificate of Ascertainment, which is a part of the electoral process in our state,” said Governor DeWine. “I want to thank Ohio voters for exercising their right to vote, as well as all of our poll workers, local election officials, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose for a smooth democratic election process in Ohio.” The Certificate of Ascertainment is the legal document that links the popular vote in Ohio to the electoral process. Federal law requires the Chief Executive of each state to certify the Certificate of Ascertainment. The State meetings of the electors will be held on December 14, 2020. At the meetings, the electors vote for President and Vice President. Under Ohio law, the candidate with the most popular votes in Ohio receives all 18 of Ohio’s electoral college votes, which will be cast by the electors: Ken Blackwell, Bonnie Ward, Barbara Clark, Keith Cheney, Mark Wagoner, Dave Johnson, Joy Padgett, Patti Alderson, Steve Loomis, Rob Scott, Patricia Weber, Robert Paduchik, Karen Arshinkoff, James Wert, Jim Canepa, Jane Timken, Darrell Scott, Madison Gesiotto
Husted Brings Attention to Ohio Retailers During Tuesday’s press conference, Lt. Governor Jon Husted brought attention to a newly announced initiative launched by the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants that encourages everyone to consider supporting Ohio workers this holiday season by buying from businesses based in the state — boosting economic activity.
“If we could just get 10 percent more business from Ohio consumers with Ohio businesses, that would make a dramatic impact to help our retailers,” said Lt. Gov. Husted.
Yost Obtains Settlement with Home Depot After Data Breach Attorney General Dave Yost announced that Home Depot will pay a $17.5 million settlement to 45 states and the District of Columbus following a 2014 data breach. The breach exposed the credit card information of approximately 40 million Home Depot customers nationwide. Ohio will collect $656,210 through the settlement. “The Home Depot might have the right hardware for customers but, in this case, it lacked the necessary tools to protect their information,” Yost said. “That’s now going to change with this settlement.” In addition to the monetary settlement, Home Depot agreed to implement and maintain data security practices to strengthen its security program and safeguard the personal information of consumers.
LaRose Certifies Record Setting Election This week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose certified the official results of the 2020 Presidential General Election. The Secretary’s signature Friday marked the completion of the official canvass and certifies winners for what has become an all-time record setting 2020 General Election. The 74% voter participation and nearly 6 million votes cast prove Ohio’s election was both secure and accessible.
View the official certified results at OhioSoS.gov.
Faber Wishes Everyone a Happy Thanksgiving This Thanksgiving gave us the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings we have as Americans. In spite of what the media and loud voices on social media try to portray, Americans have much to be grateful for and should look forward to the coming holiday season, surrounded by family and friends.
Sprague Announces More Savings Through OMAP Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague recently announced that the Village of Walton Hills (Cuyahoga County) is the latest community to save money through the Ohio Market Access Program (OMAP). “Through OMAP, communities can benefit from the state’s high credit rating to finance important infrastructure projects while saving money on interest costs. We’re proud to have Walton Hills participate in this program for the fifth consecutive year.” Since its 2014 launch, OMAP has supported more than 190 deals, ranging from $390,000 to over $100 million. To date, the program has generated more than $3.76 million in estimated savings for local governments. |
Chairman’s Update 11/22/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, As the final results of the election continue to play out, it is important that we allow recounts and law suits to run their course to ensure it was a free and fair election. As of November 19th, there are a combined 485 sworn declarations in 5 states and there have been more than 13,500 incident reports filed in those states since Election Day. We must continue supporting President Trump and see this through. In Georgia, it is imperative we continue the fight for the two Senate seats that will now have run off elections in January. If it is determined that Joe Biden is truly our next president, we must keep his liberal policies in check by maintaining a Republican majority in the Senate. Georgia Democrats have been attacking the safeguards of our elections processes for years, and we must fight to maintain conservative control of these seats. We need people to volunteer their time to ensure that we win these run-offs. If you are interested in helping us win two of the most important Senate races in our nation’s history, you can Volunteer Here! Our Thanksgiving celebrations may look different this year, but I wish you all a safe and happy holiday spent with loved ones. Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
On Fox News, Portman Highlights Participation in Vaccine Trial & Urges Bipartisan Action on COVID-19 Relief Legislation On Fox News’s The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino, Senator Portman discussed his participation in the ENSEMBLE phase 3 trial for the COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by Johnson & Johnson and managed by CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (CTI) at its research center in Cincinnati, Ohio. At a time when COVID-19 cases are surging in Ohio and across the country and only about half of Americans have confidence in the upcoming vaccines, Portman felt it was important to participate in a vaccine trial to raise awareness of the safety and effectiveness while encouraging others to participate as well. He discussed the importance of the vaccines to ensure Americans feel comfortable returning to retail establishments, schools, the workplace and gathering with friends and family. Portman also applauded the Trump Administration’s Operation Warp Speed, which has led the unprecedented development of the vaccine candidates and urged his fellow elected officials to stop casting doubt on a potential vaccine for the sake of political victories. In addition, Portman discussed the need for Congress to come together and negotiate in good faith on a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package that bolsters our health care response, helps our economy and small businesses continue to recover, provides funding for schools and state and local governments, permanently expands telehealth options for addiction treatment, and provides enhanced federal unemployment benefits to help people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Portman has given 18 floor speeches calling for bipartisan action focused on the bipartisan areas of agreement, saying that now is the time to put aside political differences and act on behalf of the American people. The interview can be found here.
DeWine Urges Ohioans to Continue COVID Efforts; Launches New PSA On Monday and Wednesday, Governor DeWine, joined by local medical professionals, traveled across the state to hold press conferences in areas heavily affected by COVID-19. From his home in rural Cedarville to some of Ohio’s largest cities, Governor DeWine continued to plead with Ohioans to not let up on their efforts to protect themselves and others while awaiting a vaccine. “Every single day, do something that cuts back on your contacts with other people,” said Governor DeWine at Cincinnati’s Lunken Airport. “If we don’t step up now, a lot of things we cherish are going to take a heavy, heavy hit.” On Thursday, Governor DeWine shared the Ohio Department of Health’s new COVID-19 public service announcement by CBS sports analyst and former basketball player for Ohio State University and the NBA, Clark Kellogg. Kellogg also spoke during the press conference on Ohioans’ grit, perseverance, teamwork, and unity. “My hope and prayer is simply this: That we all, as Ohioans, as citizens of this great state and country we live in, that we not grow weary in the doing of good, for we know that the harvest comes as we don’t give up,” said Kellogg. “And I hope that message resonates with all of us as we move into a challenging and difficult period here in the next several weeks. But victory’s on the other side; we just have to stay committed and vigilant in those things that we can do for ourselves and for each other.” Kellogg’s public service announcement is available at https://youtu.be/5t87JKmzgEo Husted Visits Zanesville Hospital On Wednesday, Lt. Governor Jon Husted visited Zanesville to learn first-hand how Genesis Hospital has been impacted by the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region. Joined by Genesis HealthCare System CEO Matthew Perry and Zanesville Mayor Don Mason, the Lt. Governor reinforced the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing to help ensure that the local hospital system is not overwhelmed.
Yost: New DNA Technology Solves Missing Persons Case Attorney General Dave Yost announced that his Bureau of Criminal Investigation used a new DNA technology to link previously unidentified human remains with a missing persons case from 2013. BCI’s newly implemented technology made is possible to identify recently uncovered remains in Toledo as those of Dewayne Lewis, who was last seen in that city in October of 2013. “Sometimes, superheroes wear lab coats,” Yost said. “Congratulations to our scientists and the investigators who took this cutting-edge technique out of the academic ivory tower and took it to the streets.” This comes after Yost announced the creation of a Cold Case Unit earlier this year. The unit takes a proactive role in reaching out to local cold case police units to assist with cases of homicide, rape and other violent crimes.
LaRose Prepares for Election Certification This week, Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections completed their official canvass, compiling the legal votes cast early, absentee, or on Election Day. The next step in the process is certification of results by the Ohio Secretary of State by November 28th. Ohio has already shattered its all-time voter turnout record. That record will only grow upon the completion of the certification. Find out more about the process here. Secretary LaRose is ensuring that every legally cast vote is counted so Ohioans can be confident in the results of the election. Faber Finds Medicaid Fraud That Could Add Up To $500 Million This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber released an audit from his office showing fraudulent payments that could add up to $500 million. Faber is committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in state government. This audit is the latest example of inefficiencies that need to be corrected to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t being misspent.
Sprague Addresses County Treasurers Association of Ohio On Thursday, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague joined the County Treasurers Association of Ohio for the organization’s annual conference. This year’s conference was held virtually, and Treasurer Sprague provided a series of updates about the Treasurer’s office. Among his remarks, Sprague highlighted the work his office has undertaken to provide local fiscal officers with more virtual and online options for continuing financial education.
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Chairman’s Update 11/15/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, The fight for ballot integrity is not yet over as Republicans across the country pursue legal challenges to ensure November’s election was free and fair. As Americans, we are entitled to safe and secure election processes. For four years, President Trump has put Americans, and America, first. He has continually fought to keep the American Dream alive and to implement policies that made a real difference in the lives of many people living in this nation. With slim margins and many voting irregularities, we owe it to the president and voters to see this through to the end. We are prepared to accept the outcome, whatever it may be, while knowing we have done our best to fight for election integrity. If you would like to contribute to the fight for fair elections, you can visit gop.com to donate. If you have witnessed any voting irregularities, click here to report fraud. On Friday, I directed some of my staff to go down to Georgia to help hold the U.S. Senate. It is imperative that Republicans keep a hold on those seats, or we risk letting the liberal elites run our country. We need people to volunteer their time to ensure that we win these run-offs. If you are interested in helping us win two of the most important Senate races in our nation’s history, click below and fill out the form. Sincerely,
On Senate Floor, Portman Stresses Dire Need for Bipartisan Action to Address Surging COVID-19 Pandemic Last week, on the Senate floor, for the 18th time since March, U.S. Senator Rob Portman spoke on the urgency for Congress to act to pass bipartisan legislation to respond to the health care and economic crises caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Portman called on Congress to provide the relief Americans need and deserve. In particular, he believes funding for testing and contact tracing, funding for vaccine and therapy developments, and his Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit, which helps businesses reopen and stay open, are all common-sense proposals with bipartisan support upon which a new COVID-19 response package should be built. He urged his colleagues to put aside the partisanship that has stymied previous efforts to pass COVID-19 relief legislation and focus on solutions that help the American people. The video of the floor speech can be found here.
DeWine Asks Ohioans to Mask Up to Keep Businesses Open On Wednesday, Governor DeWine called on citizens to recommit to their individual efforts to prevent coronavirus spread as Ohio moves through its most intense, widespread, and dangerous surge of cases to date. Ohio is currently facing a record number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, with nearly 3,000 people in the hospital, including more than 700 people in the ICU as of Wednesday. During the first week of November alone, 104 Ohioans infected with the coronavirus died. “With this new wave of COVID-19, the onset of flu season, and an already-exhausted group of healthcare workers, there are serious concerns that there won’t be enough people to fully staff our healthcare facilities in the next few weeks,” said Governor DeWine. “If we don’t change this, Ohio won’t be able to provide appropriate care for COVID patients or for Ohioans who require other emergency care for things like accidents, strokes, and heart attacks. Hospitals will again be forced to postpone important, but less urgent, care.” Although testing capacity in Ohio has nearly doubled, the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus has increased almost four times. At the end of September, Ohio averaged under 1,000 new cases per day; on Tuesday, Ohio hit a record high of more than 6,500 new cases reported in a single 24-hour period. “As we wait for the vaccine, which could come as soon as December, we have so much to protect,” said Governor DeWine. “What each Ohioan does in his or her own life impacts every citizen and every place we desperately want and need to keep open– our schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and businesses.” To reinforce the necessity of wearing masks and slowing virus spread, Governor DeWine announced two forthcoming orders: REVISED MASK ORDER Although most people and businesses have properly followed COVID-19 safety guidelines issued in Ohio’s July 23, 2020, mask order, others are not following the order. To protect frontline workers and customers, the Ohio Department of Health will reissue Ohio’s mask order and add the following provisions:
NEW SOCIAL GATHERING ORDER Ohio’s April order that limits public events and private gatherings of more than 10 people is still in effect, however, there has been rampant spread of the virus as a result of banquets, wedding receptions, and social gatherings following funerals. To address the tragedies that have resulted from such events, the Ohio Department of Health will issue an order that will place significant new restrictions on these social activities. Specifically, open congregate areas will no longer be permitted to open, and everyone will be required to be seated and masked unless they are actively consuming food or drinks. Bars, restaurants, and fitness centers may remain open, but this will be reassessed one week from tomorrow for potential closure. “If the current trend continues and cases keep increasing, we will be forced to make these closures,” said Governor DeWine. “I am very well aware of the burden this will place on employees and owners, but these are places where it is difficult or impossible to maintain mask-wearing, which we know now is the chief way of slowing this virus.” For Governor DeWine’s entire address, visit ohiochannel.org or read his prepared remarks at coronavirus.ohio.gov.
Husted Reminds Businesses About Grant Opportunities Lt. Governor Jon Husted this week reminded Ohio businesses that the application period for the Small Business Relief Grant and the Bar & Restaurant Assistance Fund remains open. Both opportunities are aimed at helping Ohio’s vital small business sector combat the impacts of COVID-19.
The Small Business Relief Grant provides a $10,000 grant to small businesses with at least one but no more than 25 employees. This funding can help businesses pay for a variety of expenses, including mortgage or rent payments; utility payments; salaries, wages, or compensation for employees and contractors; business supplies or equipment; and other costs.
The Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund provides $2,500 for those permit holders who haven’t been able to fully use their liquor permit. Businesses with an on-premise consumption permit through the Ohio Department of Commerce will be eligible to receive $2,500 per unique business location. Businesses need to have an active on-premise permit as of close of business on October 23, 2020. More information can be found at BusinessHelp.Ohio.gov.
Yost Files Amicus Brief in Pennsylvania GOP Lawsuit Attorney General Dave Yost filed a brief last week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that defied state law by extending the deadline for accepting absentee ballots in Pennsylvania. Yost argued the United State Constitution clearly says that each state legislature is responsible for setting election law, and not the courts. Under Pennsylvania law, absentee ballots must be received by Election Day to count. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, however, overstepped and extended the deadline by three days. “This constitutional question will come up again in future elections,” Yost said. “It is in the best interest of all Ohioans – all of America – to gain a definitive answer, regardless of politics.” You can read Yost’s full briefing here.
Ohio is a Model for How to Run an Election, Says LaRose Ohio is receiving praise from around the nation for how smoothly the election was run. Secretary LaRose wrote a column for the Cincinnati Enquirer about how he, in partnership with bipartisan election officials from across the state, made it happen. “In the days following Nov. 3, the eyes of the world focused on several states around this great nation as they worked to count every legally cast ballot…” said LaRose. “Not in Ohio.” Click here to read Secretary LaRose’s recent column in the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Faber Honors Veterans in Delaware This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber attended a Veterans Day Ceremony in Delaware, paying tribute to all the brave men and women that have fought to defend America.
Sprague Joins Local Officials and Business Leaders in Brown County Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague spent Tuesday traveling southwest Ohio. His day included a stop in Brown County to discuss current events and issues with local officials and business leaders. As part of the conversation, Sprague offered an update about his office and highlighted various Treasurer’s office programs that are currently helping communities and business owners across our state.
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Chairman’s Update 11/08/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, Election Day was once again a success for Republicans across Ohio. We held the supermajority in the Ohio House, electing great conservative leaders who will represent our values and voices in the Statehouse. President Trump once again swept Ohio, winning the state by nearly the same margin he won by in 2016 – 8%. As I said on election night, it was the president’s America First policies that resonated with Ohioans, along with a general conservative message that propelled state Republicans to leadership roles. Ohio Republicans also picked up seats in the Ohio Senate, maintaining the conservative majority there as well. The Democrats’ messaging of defunding police, far-left socialist policies, raising taxes, and forcing government-run healthcare on Americans simply does not resonate in Ohio. We even flipped Mahoning County red. Ohio Democrats’ hopes to flip Republican seats and suburban districts turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking. I am incredibly proud of our Republican candidates and all the hard work they put in to ensure another victorious election year in Ohio. As you all know, I support our President and I believe in fair and secure elections. We need to ensure that every legal vote is counted, no illegal votes are counted, and all sides are able to observe the process, just like in Ohio. That’s why as soon as November 3rd, Ohio Republican Party and Ohio Trump/Victory staff headed to Pennsylvania and Michigan to help make sure that there were no inconsistencies with the voting process in those states. It’s crucial that all Americans are confident in our election process and its outcomes. Lastly, there are two elections still to come that need our attention. The coming runoff elections in Georgia will decide who controls the U.S. Senate. Senator Portman needs to keep his conservative colleagues, so we must do all we can to support Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler Sincerely,
Portman Congratulates Trump on Ohio Victory and Calls for Transparency as States Complete Counts On Wednesday, Senator Rob Portman issued the following statement: “Congratulations to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the county boards of elections, and the more than 50,000 Ohio poll workers for conducting a safe, secure, and transparent election in Ohio. It was not easy in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And congratulations to President Trump on his decisive victory in Ohio. I think Ohio voters know he is the right choice to rebuild our economy as we work to emerge from this pandemic. Under our Constitution, state legislatures set the rules & states administer our elections. We should respect that process and ensure that all ballots cast in accordance with state laws are counted. It’s that simple. I hope we can reach a final resolution as quickly as possible.”
In response to the uncertainty in several states around the nation, Senator Portman issued the following statement on Thursday: “Seems pretty straightforward: Every ballot cast in accordance with state law should be counted. Those that are not cast in accordance with state law should not be counted. As states work through counting the remaining ballots, both parties must be able to observe the process, as always, and any evidence of illegal activity should be investigated immediately. Our courts and legal system are set up to resolve any disputes in accordance with the law. Then, once the final count has been completed, we will abide by the results, as we always have as Americans.”
DeWine Continues COVID Fight with New Health Director On Sunday, Governor DeWine released an open letter to the people of Ohio leading up to the election calling for unity and renewed commitment to fighting the coronavirus. “Today, and for some time to come, we also share a common enemy…an enemy that is relentless and clearly on the march. This enemy has invaded our nation, stealing nearly 230,000 American lives and at least 5,300 Ohio lives–all on our own soil,” said Governor DeWine. “Throughout our history, in the face of a shared enemy, we have come together as a people, whether we were in the midst of a war or a national disaster, such as a flood or tornado.” A video recording of Governor DeWine reading the letter is available by clicking this link. On Thursday, Governor DeWine announced multiple key additions to the existing administration at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Director Stephanie McCloud: Director McCloud previously served as Governor DeWine’s administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, managing an agency of 1,800 colleagues and over $28 billion in assets. She has considerable experience in the area of mental health and addiction treatment which is a priority in Ohio’s health improvement plan. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff: Dr. Vanderhoff previously served for more than a decade as a Senior Vice President and as the Chief Medical Officer at OhioHealth. He has years of experience leading large teams in successfully dealing with important healthcare issues in Ohio and prepared OhioHealth to deal with the threat of Ebola and the H1N1 flu pandemic. Senior Deputy Lance Himes: Himes had previously served as the interim director of ODH where he has played an integral role in running and managing many aspects of the pandemic response operation. He will lead the coordination of the state’s vaccine distribution plan and will continue to work directly with Ohio’s local health commissioners. Chief of Staff Kathleen Madden: Madden had previously served as Assistant Director at the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and will now play a key role in keeping ODH’s pandemic and non-pandemic programs and operations on track. She will work to prioritize and resolve critical issues, provide oversight and guidance to ODH staff, and ensure that ODH funds are spent responsibly and strategically. Other key members of the ongoing COVID-19 response who will continue their roles in assisting ODH are: Adjutant General Maj. Gen. John Harris, Ohio National Guard: Maj. Gen. Harris will continue work to ensure complex operations, such as COVID testing and contact tracing, are well-coordinated, monitored, and improved when necessary. He will also work directly with Senior Deputy Himes on the planning and logistics of the forthcoming vaccine distribution program. Director Ursel McElroy, Ohio Department of Aging: Director McElroy will continue to direct virus prevention efforts for older adults in the community and in long-term settings, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Director Lori Criss, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Director Criss will continue to lead efforts to address the increasing mental health needs of citizens during the pandemic. Governor DeWine also announced that John Logue, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s (BWC) Chief of Strategic Direction, will become the new administrator of Ohio BWC effective on November 16. Logue has worked for 26 years in the industry. Before returning to BWC in 2019, he most recently served as the vice president of client services for International Absence Management Company where he focused on Ohio workers’ compensation. HUSTED TALKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BIPARTISANSHIP AFTER ELECTIONLt. Governor Jon Husted last week spoke at the Impact Ohio Post Election Conference, where he discussed what the administration is doing to improve broadband, strengthen Ohio’s workforce and end costly regulations that hinder job growth. The Lt. Governor also advocated for collaboration and building bridges to tackle the issues and challenges Ohioans face in their daily lives. Yost: Ex-Cuyahoga County Jail Guard Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Drugs Into Jail Attorney General Dave Yost announced a former Cuyahoga County jailer pleaded guilty last week to taking bribes from inmates to smuggle drugs and other items into the jail. Stephen Thomas is the fourth and final person to plead guilty in the smuggling ring that investigators with Yost’s office broke up in 2019. Along with drugs, Thomas pleaded guilty to smuggling cell phone batteries and vape pens into the jail in exchange for bribes. The smuggling case is part of a broad investigation by Yost’s office into the Cuyahoga County Jail. Other cases include officers who beat inmates, and charges against the former warden and jail director accused of negligently making decisions that made the jail unsafe. Secretary of State LaRose: Ohio shatters voter turnout recordThe unofficial results from the November 3rd election show 5,812,804 Ohioans voted in the 2020 General Election, already breaking the all-time record of 5,773,777 set in 2008. “The old saying from my time in the military is ‘you sweat in peacetime so you don’t bleed in battle’,” said LaRose. “Partnering with the county boards of elections, we sweated throughout the spring and summer to boost participation in early voting opportunities, make sure voters were safe, voting systems were secure, and enough poll workers trained and ready. And it worked. Ohio shattered the record and voters proved it’s easy to make your voice heard in the Buckeye State.” Auditor Faber Talks CARES Act Dollars with Local Officials This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber continued reaching out to local governments across Ohio to ensure that they can spend the CARES Act dollars to help those hurting the most by the coronavirus pandemic. He held a virtual townhall with dozens of county auditors and local leaders from Northwest Ohio to answer their questions.
Sprague Announces Three New Additions to the Ohio Checkbook Last week, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced three new additions to the recently revamped OhioCheckbook.gov. Euclid City Schools, Madison Township, and the Village of Crestline are the latest local government entities to come aboard the online transparency portal.
OhioCheckbook.gov was launched in June 2020. The new transparency website combined OhioCheckbook.com (previously administered by the Treasurer’s office) and Ohio’s Interactive Budget (previously operated by the Office of Budget and Management) to create a single, one-stop resource for taxpayers to learn more about spending at the state and local levels of government.
Kennedy Thanks You for Your Support
Thank you to the voters of Ohio for entrusting me with a second full term as Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio.
A special thank you to Chairman Timken and the Ohio Republican Party family for all of their efforts on my behalf. Thank you to the Kennedy for Ohio team Alicia, Sam, and Lara, and all of the County Chairmen, County Coordinators, and volunteers who worked tirelessly across the state. And thank you to my family and friends back home in Butler County particularly, Ryan, Mick, Barry, and Brian.
My journey to our state’s highest court was driven by a singular belief that a justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio must be someone who will vigilantly and strictly adhere to their limited role in government – to interpret the law not rewrite it or legislate from the bench. Serving as your Justice has enabled me to do the compelling work of the Court and continue meaningful work beyond the bench – bringing people together, building community partners, and solving community problems.
Looking back I am proud to say that I have honored the Constitution, ensuring that the next generation is afforded the same protection under the law that we have enjoyed. And along the way, educated generations about the judicial system, worked to build partnerships that help our veterans find mental health and substance abuse treatment, and grow relationships and programs that will help others find a pathway out of the circumstances in life they find themselves in.
To those of you who gave me your vote, I reiterate my deepest gratitude. To those of you who voted a different way, I hope to earn your trust and respect. Regardless, I promise to humbly serve each and every Ohioan with a full heart and steady moral compass.
The people of Ohio have bestowed upon me the greatest honor of my life in giving me the opportunity to continue to serve this state – I won’t let you down. Thank you.
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Chairman’s Update 11.01.20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, With only two days left until Election Day, I see the enthusiasm Ohioans have for President Trump first hand. I spent two days traveling the state with Team Trump on Tour, visiting 9 counties throughout Ohio on Friday and Saturday. Ohioans braced the cold weather and showed up for early visits just to show support for our great president. On November 3rd, voters will head to the polls knowing that our president delivered on the promises he made to Americans four years ago.
Our Great American Comeback is truly well on its way with GDP growth booming at 33.1% last Thursday – higher than economists’ predictions. President Trump has proven he is a fighter who will go to work every day for ordinary Americans looking to provide for their families and live the American Dream. There is no better person to lead our nation for another term than President Trump. The excitement for him is clearly palpable, and I am confident that Ohio will go red once again to re-elect President Trump for Four More Years!
If you haven’t made it to the polls to vote yet, there is still time to do so. Make sure you visit slate.ohiogop.org to find the Republican slate card of candidates. Every vote counts, so make sure your voice is heard!
Sincerely,
In Youngstown, Senator Portman Joined Ivanka for a “Make America Great” Rally Last Saturday, Senator Portman campaign with Ivanka Trump in Youngstown. By working together with President Trump, we brought new jobs to Ohio, provided record funding to fight the addiction epidemic, passed legislation to help end human trafficking, enacted historic tax reform, and more.
DeWine Requests BWC Send $5 Billion Dividend to Ohio Employers On Wednesday, Governor DeWine was joined by Lt. Governor Husted to request the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) send up to $5 billion in dividends to Ohio employers to ease the continued financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘This pandemic is unprecedented, and continues to financially impact Ohio employers and businesses,” said Governor DeWine. “Issuing these dividends is important. This is about keeping businesses open and people employed.” If approved by BWC’s Board of Directors, it would bring the total dividend dollars for employers this year to nearly $8 billion. More information is available at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/resources/news-releases-news-you-can-use/covid-19-update-10-28-20 Husted Discusses More Resources for Ohio Job Creators Lt. Governor Jon Husted last week continued talking with businesses across Ohio about resources the administration has made available to support employers across the state to help them weather the COVID-19 economic slowdown. Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted have announced in recent weeks several packages of relief that will provide over $400 million in funding to support small businesses, restaurants and bars, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and individual Ohioans who need financial assistance. The administration also announced the largest-ever dividend in Bureau of Workers Compensation payments to insured businesses and local governments. The Lt. Governor continues to conduct media interviews to raise awareness among businesses for the new assistance. Yost Announces Success of Largest Human Trafficking Sting in Ohio History Attorney General Dave Yost joined federal, state and local law enforcement partners last week to announce the success of the largest human trafficking sting in Ohio history. Operation Autumn Hope, coordinated through Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, resulted in 177 arrests and 109 human trafficking victims being rescued. “The success of Operation Autumn Hope is measured not only in the number of arrests but in the lives that were rescued from this evil,” Yost said. “Every agency on this team looks for the day when no person is bought and sold in Ohio. Don’t buy sex in Ohio!” During the operation, the U.S. Marshals cleared 76 missing and exploited children cases. The majority of the cases and arrests occurred in Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus. You can read more about Operation Autumn Hope here.
Ohio is Ready for Election Day!
Auditor Faber Talks CARES Act Funding with Local Governments This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber continued reaching out to local governments to help provide guidance on spending CARES act dollars. Faber has been working hard to ensure that governments have the tools they need to make sure the monies make their way to local services and businesses to help our communities stay strong throughout the pandemic.
Sprague Addresses OML’s Municipal Finance Officers Fall Meeting On Thursday, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague spoke to the Ohio Municipal League’s Fall Meeting of Municipal Finance Officers. During the virtual conference, Sprague provided an overview of the various programs in the Treasurer’s office that are designed to support local governments. Additionally, Sprague offered an update on recent happenings around ResultsOHIO, the newly launched pay for success program.
Final Days – Kennedy Set to Eclipse Second Round of 88 Counties in 2020
With two days left to cast a ballot, Justice Sharon L. Kennedy finished her last full week on the campaign trail with stops in 18 counties. After she visits Perry County on Election Day, Sharon’s second tour of all 88 counties in 2020 will be complete. Justice Kennedy’s message to everyone was the same – “do not stop now.” “This year, you have all made it abundantly clear just how important this election is,” said Sharon. “The work of a volunteer is often difficult and thankless, but people like me cannot win without people like you – and from the bottom of my heart – I thank you. But our fight is not over yet. We have worked too long and too hard to stop now. I leave you with one last request, in the final hours before the closing of the polls, go through your contacts one more time to send one final reminder to vote all the way down Justice French Visits 12 Counties with Trump Bus Tour
The highlight for Judi was getting an opportunity to thank the many volunteers who’ve supported her throughout Ohio. She wouldn’t be successful without their continued friendship and support.
Speaker Cupp Knocks Doors for Representatives Lanese and Jordan
This weekend we knocked for Rep Lanese and Rep Jordan in their respective districts with the Speaker and the ORP team along with our many volunteers.
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Chairman’s Update 10.25.20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, Last Thursday’s presidential debate showed voters that their choice is clear between a career politician with 47 years of failed Washington policies, and a president who has achieved more in just 47 months. While President Trump spent the last four years keeping the promises he made to Americans, Joe Biden continues to be all talk and no action. During the debate, Biden admitted he wants to ban fracking and end the oil industry, actions that will threaten 19 million jobs across the country. Joe Biden wanted to talk about minority communities, yet he was the architect of a 1994 crime bill that resulted in mass incarceration of Black Americans. In an effort to actually support those communities, President Trump signed major criminal justice reform into law (the FIRST STEP Act) and his Administration has invested in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Along with those achievements, President Trump helped create a strong American economy before an unprecedented global pandemic hit, and he continues to lead our Great American Comeback. Over the past 5 months, 11.4 million jobs were added back to the economy and the unemployment rate continues to drop each month. President Trump has more positive change to show for his four years as president than Joe Biden has to show for nearly half a century entrenched in politics. President Trump fights for all Americans, and that is why we need to re-elect him for Four More Years. There are only 9 days standing between now and Election Day. As an American citizen and Ohio resident, it is your right and duty to participate in the election process. Every vote counts, and we must continue supporting President Trump through November 3rd. As you head to the polls or fill out absentee ballots, don’t forget to visit slate.ohiogop.org to find the Republican slate card. If you are interested in signing up to be a poll worker, visit voteohio.gov for more information. You will get paid for your time while helping to defend democracy and make this election a successful one. You can also sign up to join Team Trump’s Election Day Team to assist with grassroots operations and Getting Out The Vote (GOTV). You can find more information here. Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
Portman Criticizes Censorship of New York Post’s Hunter Biden Email Story and Joins Fox News to Discuss COVID Relief Bill This week, Senator Portman criticized Twitter and Facebook’s censorship of the New York Post’s reporting on emails discovered on a laptop reportedly belonging to Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden. Portman noted that he hasn’t seen the campaign of Joe Biden deny any of the key allegations in the story. Portman also joined Fox News’s Your World With Neil Cavuto to highlight the need for Republicans and Democrats to work together on COVID-19 relief legislation and focus on the areas of agreement between the two parties: increased testing, additional funding for schools and universities, and restarting the Payment Protection Program, which has saved countless small businesses. As he did last week after Senate Democrats voted to block targeted COVID-19 response legislation, Portman urged Senate Democrats insisting on passing the partisan, $3.5 trillion HEROES Act to instead work together and negotiate in good faith with Republicans to finalize additional coronavirus response legislation so that Americans do not continue to go without relief.
DeWine, Husted Announces CARES Act Funding On Friday, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that the administration, in partnership with the General Assembly, is developing a package of more than $419.5 million CARES Act funding to help Ohioans. This package includes funding for small businesses, restaurants and bars, hospitals, higher education, arts, nonprofits, and low-income Ohioans impacted financially by the pandemic. “We know that Ohioans are hurting, and the needs are great. We must do what we can to help them through this crisis,” said Governor DeWine. “Providing financial support to small businesses, the arts, and nonprofits will help them keep the doors open and Ohioans employed. For Ohioans in need, this assistance will help them stay in their homes, which can make all the difference.” DeWine and Husted were joined at the announcement by Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina), House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima), Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), Representative Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township), Representative Mark Frazier (R-Newark), and Representative D. J. Swearingen (R-Huron). More information on these new programs can be found at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/resources/news-releases-news-you-can-use/covid-19-update-10-23-20
Husted Promotes Apprenticeships as Pathway to Career Lt. Governor Jon Husted last week announced that Ohio was named 4th in the nation for the number of registered apprenticeships and 1st in the nation among states with state-run programs. The Lt. Governor highlighted the opportunities that await Ohioans through apprenticeship programs in growing their own careers. To learn more, you can visit Apprentice.Ohio.gov. Yost Continues Fight Against Human Trafficking Attorney General Dave Yost and Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman announced the indictment of a Portsmouth attorney last week on 18 felony counts related to human trafficking spanning 15 years. Michael Mearan faces more than 70 years in prison if convicted. The charges stem from criminal activity in southern Ohio from 2003 to 2018 that involved six victims. The case is being prosecuted as part of Yost’s Human Trafficking Initiative and Special Prosecutions Section, and was investigated by a human trafficking task force as part of Yost’s Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
LaRose Combats Foreign Disinformation This week, the FBI held a press conference to announce the latest attempt by Russian and Iranian foreign operatives to interfere in the 2020 election. That evening, Secretary LaRose released a video assuring voters of the integrity of our election systems, encouraging them to fight back by voting, and reminding Ohioans to report any disinformation or voter intimidation to [email protected]
Auditor Faber Stumps for Trump, French and Kennedy With just 8 days left to cast your vote, Auditor of State Keith Faber has been crisscrossing Ohio reminding voters the stakes of this year’s election. From Montpelier to Youngstown and Greenville to Circleville, Faber has been stopping to urge Buckeyes to get out and make their voices heard. From President Trump, to Ohio Supreme Court Justices Judi French and Sharon Kennedy, to our local candidates all across Ohio, Faber is committed to making sure Ohio maintains strong conservative leadership.
Sprague Joins NFIB Leadership Council to Discuss Small Business Relief
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague addressed NFIB Ohio’s Leadership Council on Wednesday morning. During his remarks, Sprague provided an update on the recent work of his office and also reiterated the importance of leveraging a portion of Ohio’s remaining CARES Act allocation to create a grant program for small businesses. In mid-September, Treasurer Sprague worked closely with NFIB Ohio and numerous business associations across the state to advocate for the creation of such a program.
Kennedy’s Travels Continue
With 9 days left until Election Day and 14 counties down this week, Justice Sharon L. Kennedy continues sprinting to the finish line. With church visits, business tours, county headquarters stops and a meeting at one of her hometown favorites – Price Hill Chili. Sharon rounded her week out with knocking on doors in Dublin and addressing thousands at the Pickaway County Fairgrounds. While at the Scioto County Victory Center, Sharon explained the importance of judges honoring their limited role. “We want judges just to be judges,” said Kennedy. “We want our judges to uphold the law, not rewrite it or legislate from the bench. If a judge acts beyond their limited role in government, what have we done? You lose your voice and we are weakening the Republic.”
Justice French Meets Cleveland Civil Rights Leader
Judi has spent the fall working with the Cleveland Clergy Coalition to attend churches and meet voters in Cleveland. She had the opportunity to both meet Cleveland Civil Rights leader Reverend Theophilus Caviness and his church.
She’s grateful for the opportunity to speak with so many churches in Northeast Ohio and around the state.
Volunteers Get Out the Word for House GOP Candidates
Volunteers from Governor Mike DeWine’s team deployed for House GOP members on Saturday. They assisted Rep. Lanese and Rep. Greenspan. They are pictured here with Rep. Greenspan.
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Chairman’s Update 10/18/20
Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, With just 16 days to go until Election Day, the campaign update from the RNC and Trump Campaign shows we are in a strong position to re-elect President Trump for Four More Years. Last week alone, volunteers knocked on more than 3 million doors. After recovering from Covid-19, the president is back on the campaign trail ready to fight for Americans now more than ever. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the most radical ticket in history. We must continue working throughout these next 16 days to ensure another victory for President Trump. During her confirmation hearing last week, Judge Amy Coney Barrett expressed her commitment to the Constitution and rule of law. Democrats hardly asked any questions about her personal background as a judge because her judicial experience points to her exceptional qualifications. Democrats only wanted to ask her hypothetical questions about cases that might come before the court, and Judge Barrett handled that line of questioning extremely well, quoting Justice Ginsburg in saying, “no hints, no forecasts, no previews.” Judge Barrett will be a great asset to the U.S. Supreme Court, and Senate Republicans should hold a swift vote. If you have not yet voted by absentee ballot or early in-person, there is still plenty of time to do so. If you would like to vote by absentee ballot but have not yet requested one, you may do so until October 31st. The polls are also open to vote in-person, and you can find more information about that here. As you head to the polls or fill out absentee ballots, don’t forget to visit slate.ohiogop.org to find the Republican slate card. If you are interested in signing up to be a poll worker, visit voteohio.gov for more information. You will get paid for your time while helping to defend democracy and make this election a successful one. You can also sign up to join Team Trump’s Election Day Team to assist with grassroots operations and Getting Out The Vote (GOTV). You can find more information here. Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
Portman Applauds Funding for Addition of FDR’s D-Day Prayer to the National Mall Last week, U.S. Senator Rob Portman applauded the news that the Lilly Endowment Inc. has committed the funding needed to install a plaque with the text of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “D-Day Prayer” on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The World War II Memorial Prayer Act, authored by Portman and Rep. Johnson, was signed into law in 2014 and directed the Secretary of the Interior to add a plaque or inscription of the prayer in the area of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered this prayer to the nation on the morning of June 6, 1944, the day the Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy which ultimately turned the tide of World War II. Many consider D-Day to be the single most important moment of the 20th century. The location of the plaque has been determined to be at the Circle of Remembrance, near the World War II Memorial. The legislation requires that the plaque comply with the Commemorative Works Act and prohibits the use of federal funding. The project is being led by the Friends of the World War II Memorial and is expected to be completed on the 78th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2022. On the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Portman led a reading of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s D-Day Prayer and previewed the placement of a temporary plaque at the Circle of Remembrance inscribed with the words of the prayer.
DeWine Releases New Covid-19 PSA with Meyer, Tressel On Tuesday, Governor DeWine cautioned that the continuing increase in COVID-19 cases indicates that significant numbers of infections are likely this winter unless citizens take steps to mitigate and control the spread of the virus. “Although a vaccine is on the way in the future, we can’t control the timetable of the development of a vaccine – but we can control how much this flares up until then,” said Governor DeWine. “We have avoided the large outbreaks that other countries and other states have seen, and so far, the combined efforts of Ohioans have kept the virus in check. We can’t let our guards down now. We need to continue taking basic safety measures of wearing masks, keeping distance, and avoiding large gatherings.” In the last seven days, Ohio COVID-19 cases have averaged 1,475 cases per day by report date as compared to an average of approximately 1,000 cases per day only two weeks ago. Ohio’s current positivity rate is 4.1 percent as compared to 2.7 percent on September 23 and 24. A total of 51 counties are considered high incidence and/or Alert Level 3 on Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System. A new public service announcement featuring former Ohio State coaches Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer encourages everyone to stay in the game and to stick to the game plan.
Husted Breaks Ground on U.S. 40 to Support Economic Development Lt. Governor Jon Husted last week traveled to Dayton to break ground on a project to expand U.S. 40 near the Dayton International Airport. It’s hoped that the project will help drive Ohio’s economic recovery and expansion in the area that supports more than 2,000 jobs in logistics and manufacturing operations. The investment increases opportunities for job creation in the Miami Valley. Yost, Bipartisan Group of Prosecutors Propose Changes to No-Knock Search Warrants Attorney General Dave Yost joined a bipartisan group of county prosecutors last week in calling for the preservation and tightening of requirements for using no-knock search warrants in Ohio. Yost, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley are seeking the support of the governor and legislators to change state law and tighten the requirements for obtaining such a warrant. “Executing a search warrant in cases involving drug dealers, human traffickers and other violent offenders is inherently dangerous for law enforcement,” Yost said. “When a warrant is sometimes necessary, officers should be properly equipped to make the safest entry possible, and a no-knock warrant – a waiver of the statuary “knock and announce” requirements – is the right tool to safeguard them.” Instead of banning such warrants, Yost and the prosecutors suggest changes to Ohio law that would require a more robust justification for their issuance. You can read more about the proposed changes here.
Ohioans Voting Early In-Person in Record Numbers Ohioans are showing up to vote early in record numbers – with triple the number of Ohioans voting at early voting centers across Ohio compared to the same point four years ago. 193,021 Ohioans voted early in-person in the first week compared to 64,312 at the same time in 2016.
“Voter enthusiasm is off the charts and we couldn’t be happier,” said LaRose. “We’ve never seen this many people voting early in-person and it demonstrates what Ohioans know to be true – it’s easy to vote in the Buckeye State!”
With so much at stake in this election it’s critical that we make our voices heard. Voters can check early voting days and hours by clicking here: VoteOhio.gov/Hours
Auditor Faber Rallies Trump Supporters in Montpelier This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber hit the campaign trail for President Trump. Speaking at Cops for Trump event, Faber laid our what’s at stake this election. We can choose 4 more years of tax cuts, deregulation, and economic growth, or we can elect Joe Biden who has promised to ban fracking, raise our taxes, and defund the police.
Sprague Recognizes OU-Eastern Campus for Excellence in Financial Literacy On Friday, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague visited Ohio University – Eastern Campus in St. Clairsville to recognize the school for its success in preparing students for life after college. Treasurer Sprague presented staff and faculty with a Compass Award, which commends organizations, programs, and individuals across the state who are working to guide Ohioans toward financial literacy and empowerment.
With 16 Days Until Election, Kennedy Touches 10 More Counties
It was another week of hundreds of miles and Justice Sharon Kennedy visited churches, rallied crowds, spoke to voters, and knocked doors across Ohio. With stops in Columbiana, Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Logan, Richland, Wayne and Wyandot Counties it is a sprint to Election Day. “Although the campaign trail can be exhausting, with long drives and late nights, I love talking with voters,” said Sharon. “This year there is an energy in voters that is unmistakable and rare. Every where I go – regardless of where I am in Ohio – voters are ready to go to the polls on November 3rd armed with their slate cards. One word describes the energy and excitement – AWESOME!” Justice French Visits 14 Ohio Counties, Has Officially Visited Each County 5 Times
Justice French was all over Ohio this week, visiting 14 counties this week alone. She also visited her 88th county this week, this makes 5 times that she has visited each of Ohio’s counties since becoming a Justice on the Supreme Court.
Speaker Cupp Visits House Districts 59 and 96
Yesterday our volunteer team of about 10 joined Speaker Cupp on our travels to district 59 and 96. We started the day walking for Representative Al Cutrona in district 59 in Sebring Ohio. After finishing knocking in Sebring we headed down south to district 96 to knock for Candidate Ron Ferguson in Tiltonsville, Rayland, and Yorkville. It was a very successful day of knocking and we were once again graced by wonderful weather.
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