Chairman’s Update 10-27-19
Good Evening,
As the Democrats continue their phony impeachment proceedings, President Trump and Republicans go to work everyday to fight for the American people. The Democrats have always rejected the outcome of the 2016 election, and this impeachment process is just one more attempt at meddling with results they don’t like. Voters see right through this distraction and are tired of the Democrats’ endless witch hunts.
Last week, the RNC launched a new campaign entitled “Victims of Socialism.” Their video team spent time interviewing people who fled terrible living conditions in socialist countries. The message is clear: socialism, and the government programs that come with it, would be a disaster for America.
Sincerely,
Jane M. Timken
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party
Portman Participates in the Grand Opening of Cuyahoga Valley National Park Boston Mill Visitor Center
On Friday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman participated in the grand opening of Cuyahoga Valley National Park Boston Mill Visitor Center. The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park raised more than $7 million through community and corporate support to fund the project and oversaw construction in collaboration with the National Park Service.
Last year, Senator Portman introduced the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would help address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The bill, which has been praised by key stakeholders, would establish the “National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund” from existing unobligated revenues the government receives from on and offshore energy development to fund deferred maintenance projects in national parks across the country. Notably, the measure would help tackle the more than $100 million maintenance backlog at Ohio’s eight national park sites. Specifically, Specifically, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has more than $50 million in unmet maintenance needs such as building renovations, road, and infrastructure improvements. Senator Portman has visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park on numerous occasions, including in August earlier this year.
Governor DeWine convenes statewide meeting on opioid litigation
On Wednesday, Governor DeWine met with more than 100 state and local elected officials and community leaders at the Governor’s Residence to discuss the opioid ligation. Governor DeWine convened the meeting so that Ohio can present a unified front in potential settlement discussions and maximize the amount of money local communities can receive to combat the drug epidemic. Representatives of the state and local governments will continue meeting this week as the litigation process advances. DeWine was joined at the by numerous county commissioners, several mayors, and Attorney General Dave Yost.
Husted Remembers What Made America Great
On Tuesday, Lt. Governor Jon Husted delivered a speech called “Remembering What Made America Great” at an Ashbrook Center event on the campus of Ashland University. The Lt. Governor used the slogan, made popular by Presidents Reagan and Trump, to highlight the principles he believes made America into the great country it is: Hard work, personal responsibility, family, faith, and freedom. You can read more in the Richland Source or the Ashland Times-Gazette.
AG Yost Announces $700 Million Multistate Settlement with Drug Distributor
Attorney General Dave Yost announced the state of Ohio will receive $39.4 million from a $700 million multistate settlement with drug distributor Reckitt Benckiser Group. The firm distributed Suboxone, a drug approved to reduce withdrawal symptoms for recovering opioid addicts undergoing treatment.
The agreement settles allegations that the distributor downplayed Suboxone’s addictive nature, and promoted Suboxone to doctors who prescribed it for uses that were unsafe, ineffective and medically unnecessary.
“This firm downplayed the risks of Suboxone while marketing it to providers who sidestepped rules for prescribing opioids,” Yost said. “These are the sort of practices that landed us in this opioid crisis.”
New LaRose Backed Law Positions Ohio as National Leader in Election Security
Last week Governor Mike DeWine signed SB 52 into law. This landmark bill strengthens Ohio’s cyber-security posture and better prepares the state for the digital threats facing Boards of Elections, critical infrastructure, and all local government entities.
“Imagine looking out the window and seeing foreign paratroopers parachuting into your town,” said LaRose. “We wouldn’t tell a community, ‘you’re on your own – your sheriff department can fight off that threat’. Well likewise, in the online world, we can now respond with Ohio’s best cyber warriors so these counties and cities have the support they need.”
The bill, originally proposed by Secretary LaRose during his time in the State Senate, does the following:
  • Empowers the Secretary of State and Ohio National Guard to both better enhance resilience to cyber-attacks of our election systems and improve responsiveness if such an attack would occur.
  • Incorporates a Chief Information Security Officer into the Secretary of State’s office to put a laser-focus on technological election security efforts both in our office and in all 88 counties.
  • Provides for the Secretary of State to have a seat on the Ohio Homeland Security Advisory Council.
  • Requires post-election audits by county Board of Elections to better ensure the accuracy of the results.
Auditor Faber Attends Bluffton University Business Competition
This week Auditor of State Keith Faber spoke to students at Bluffton University’s Business Competition. Faber highlighted the importance of the Auditor’s office in being a watchdog of taxpayer dollars. He gave real life examples of fraud and waste in government that his office has worked to identify and end. In just his first 10 months in office, Auditor Faber and his team have already identified over $4 million in misspent taxpayer dollars.
Treasurer Sprague Rallies Party Faithful in Muskingum County
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague was in Zanesville Thursday night, where he provided the keynote address at the Muskingum County GOP Fall Dinner. In addition to providing an update on his first year in office, Treasurer Sprague touted the need to defend Ohio’s Republican majority on the Supreme Court in 2020.