Chairman’s Update 4-19-20

Chairman’s Update

Good Evening,

Ohio’s new primary date is quickly approaching. It has been a challenging time for us all in dealing with COVID-19, and especially so during such an important primary season and election year. I am grateful for our Ohio leadership that adamantly supported postponing the election in the name of health and safety protocols. Thank you to everyone who continued to participate in our election process, and for fulfilling your civic duty in such uncertain times.

If you have not yet turned in your absentee ballot, you can still do so. You can hand it in directly to your local county board of elections, or you can get your ballot postmarked tomorrow, April 27th. You can hand in your ballot in-person until the evening of April 28th.

The Trump Campaign recently launched a new mobile app that allows Americans across the country to register for Trump rallies, check-in to events, contribute, receive campaign news and earn rewards. You can follow this linkto sign up with your phone number and download it onto your mobile app store. You can also visit your mobile app store and search for ‘Official Trump 2020 App’ to find it. Help us continue to Keep America Great!

Sincerely,

Jane M. Timken
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party

 

On Fox Business, Portman Discusses Need for More Testing to Reopen the Economy Successfully 

In an interview with Fox Business’ Mornings with Maria last week, Senator Portman discussed the additional rescue funding that passed the Senate last week, which will provide additional resources to help American families, workers, health care providers, and small and mid-sized employers around the nation during this coronavirus pandemic. The legislation will increase loan capacity for small businesses, provide needed resources for health care providers, and increase testing capacity. The legislation awaits passage by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Portman also highlighted that in order to restore our economic health, we must first accelerate the public health response, significantly expand our testing capability, and develop a credible system of metrics to measure success in combating the coronavirus.  Ultimately, when we start to see the number of new cases decline, it will give the public greater confidence that we can begin to reopen the economy and stay open.

His interview can be found here.   

Governor DeWine Sets Goal to Phase-In Ohio Economic Reopening on May 1st

This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that beginning May 1st, the state will begin a phased-in reopening of the state economy.  The plan will be fact-driven and implemented over a gradual period of time to minimize the health risk to business owners, employees, and their customers. Governor DeWine designated Lt. Governor Jon Husted to lead the governor’s board of economic advisors to identify best practices, similar to the current requirements on essential business operations to ensure Ohioans health and safety as businesses begin the process of reopening. The latest information on COVID-19 in Ohio can be accessed at Coronavirus.Ohio.gov.

Lt. Governor Husted Takes Leadership Role in Economic Recovery

As the state begins eying the recovery phase of the coronavirus pandemic, Governor DeWine this week asked Lt. Governor Husted to take a leadership roll in developing the state’s recovery strategy. The Lt. Governor is meeting with business leaders across the state to design a phase-in approach to get Ohioans back to work while keeping everyone as safe as possible from the virus.

Dave Yost Fights Price Gouging, Donates PPE to First Responders

Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit against a Cleveland-area man and his co-conspirators for hoarding N95 respirator masks and selling them online for nearly 18 times the retail price. As Ohio faces a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), Mario Salwan acquired more than 1,200 N95 masks, and sold them for $36.34 per mask when the average retail price is $2.05 per mask.

Ohio is asking Salwan to surrender all N95 masks to the state for reasonable compensation. Yost promised his office will continue to go after anyone who price gouges during this pandemic.

Last week Yost also announced the Bureau of Criminal Investigation was donating critically needed PPE to sheriff’s departments across the state. BCI donated more than 30,000 gloves, masks and clothing items to help shield Ohio’s first responders on the frontlines.

LaRose Urges Voters to Send Their Ballot Requests in as Soon as Possible

This week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced that 1,254,377 Ohioans have requested a vote-by-mail ballot for the Ohio primary election. 712,048 voters have already cast their ballot.

“It is absolutely crucial that Ohioans get their vote-by-mail requests in right away so there is enough time for county boards of elections to process applications and the postal service to deliver the ballots,” said LaRose. “This is an unprecedented situation, and thanks to our tireless

 election officials and over 130 partners across Ohio, we’re doing everything in our power to provide voters their opportunity to be heard. Voters need to go to VoteOhio.gov so they can utilize that opportunity and get their ballot request in today.”

Ballots must be postmarked by April 27th or submitted directly to the voter’s respective county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on April 28th.

Learn how to request your vote-by-mail ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Auditor of State Keith Faber Hosts Virtual Roundtables with County Officials
The economic effects of the coronavirus have been dramatic. Governments at every level need to be prepared to tighten their belts and do more with less. This week Auditor of State Keith Faber hosted virtual roundtables with county officials to begin a dialogue to discuss how they have been preparing for the economic downturn.

Treasurer Sprague Announces More Reduced Interest Loans for Ohio’s Famers 

On Tuesday, Treasurer Robert Sprague announced that 764 reduced interest loans totaling $82 million were made available to farmers and agribusinesses through the recent Ag-LINK application period. Ag-LINK provides interest rate reductions on operating loans up to $150,000. Loans may be used for costs such as feed, fuel, fertilizer, and other expenses.
 
“Between last year’s extreme weather and this year’s economic challenges, we want to support Ohio’s farmers and agribusinesses by putting our balance sheet to work for them,” said Treasurer Sprague. “Now more than ever, it’s important for our farmers to have the resources they need to grow and harvest our food supply.”
The Ag-LINK application period closed on March 30.
Justice Kennedy Speaks to Three High Schools Virtually 

On Tuesday, Justice Sharon L. Kennedy connected with students from Marysville High School, Marysville STEM Early College High School, and Penta Career Center via video chat. Asked to begin her presentation by telling students about her journey to the Supreme Court of Ohio, Sharon told the students to live their lives by the lessons taught in Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken”.

“While traveling on the pathway to achieve your goal, opportunities will arise,” Sharon said. “As you stand there looking at the path you’re on, and looking at the new opportunity that has emerged, you will need to make a choice. For you cannot be one traveler and take both paths.
Throughout my life, I have alway chosen the new, emerging path and, like the poem’s ending, it’s made all the difference.” Sharon explained how her career in the justice system began as a City of Hamilton Police Officer and how that experience led her to law school which would lead her to clerk for a judge who told her she could be a judge someday and could even make it all the way to the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Changing directions, Sharon then talked with the students about our tripartite system of government, the founding documents, and our Republic. Overlying the federal system on Ohio’s founding she discussed the Northwest Ordinance, its provisions, and how it shaped the Ohio Constitution.

In closing, she reminded the students of the woman who asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government had the Founders given them, a monarchy or a Republic to which Franklin replied “A Republic, if you can keep it.” She told the students they are the future caretakers of our Republic and it will be up to them to preserve the Republic for the next generation.

Justice French Volunteers at Food Pantry

Justice French volunteered at Heart to Heart food pantry this week, stocking shelves, and unloading boxes.  The pandemic has increased the need for food pantries more than ever and there’s a need for more volunteers across the country.

You can learn more about Heart to Heart by visiting their website: http://h2h.fcchurch.com