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Chairman’s Update
Good Evening, I am heartbroken over the riots and violence in our nation’s Capitol. We mourn the loss of Kevin Greeson, Benjamin Philips, Rosanne Boyland, Ashli Babbitt and Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick. This must never happen again. Violence is never the vehicle for political action. It is critical to remember that whether it comes to our country or our party, our shared progress and prosperity is never about one person, one candidate, or one government official. As a Republican Party, we nominate those who share our ideals and who we believe will give us the best opportunity to move the country forward. It is imperative that we continue to focus on not only those ideals but on the types of candidates who will best lead our communities, our state, and our nation. In November, almost 75 million people cast their vote for president in order to continue the progress that we have made over the last four years. We must focus on what Republicans have achieved to make the lives of Americans better. Prior to the pandemic our country had historic low unemployment for Hispanics, African Americans, and women. We lowered taxes on businesses and individuals so they have more money to spend and invest as they choose. We became energy independent so that we are not reliant on foreign sources. We stood up to China. We supported conservative judges who will not legislate from the bench. We value the sanctity of life. And of the utmost importance we must be the beacon for freedom and for our inalienable constitutional rights with liberty and justice for all. I’ve had many conversations in the last week, many of them with the same question; where does the Republican Party go from here? While that is a tough question to answer, I challenge everyone who asks that question to think back to why they became a Republican to begin with. Our party has become stronger than ever and it is due to continued focus on our bedrock principles. The future of our party will be shaped by each of you and which candidates you choose who best embody The Republican Party. To that end I urge you to step up. Get involved in your local communities. Participate in local elections, interact with your government officials on all levels. Write a letter. Make a phone call. It is this type of advocacy and involvement that helps to promote good government and will help achieve progress in our great country. 2021 is a new year and with that comes an opportunity for all of us to do better. We have much work ahead of us. I ask that we unite as a party and continue to elect Republicans who will make the lives of Ohioans better. Sincerely, Jane M. Timken
Portman Statement on the Attack on the U.S. Capitol “I condemn the violent and criminal acts that took place at the U.S. Capitol today. These shameful actions to disrupt a session of Congress and vandalize the Capitol building should never happen in our great republic. The U.S. Capitol belongs to every American and is a symbol of the citadel of democracy. An attack on the Capitol building is an attack on every American. Likewise, an attack on our nation’s brave law enforcement officers is an attack on the rule of law and the safety and security of all Americans. “It is time for President Trump to embrace the peaceful transfer of power, which is mandated under the Constitution and a hallmark of our democracy. The Senate should reconvene in our Chamber to get our work done. I urge the House and Senate to certify the electoral college results tonight.” ###
DeWine Signs Stand Your Ground, Other Bills This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWinesigned several bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly, including Senate Bill 175. SB 175, Ohio’s Stand Your Ground law, removes ambiguity in Ohio self-defense law.
Governor DeWine also signed Senate Bill 27, which prescribes for the human disposal of fetal remains. As Attorney General, DeWine conducted investigations which revealed alleged inhumane practices in certain abortion clinics, and SB 27 gives clear direction for humane practices.
Husted Announces Next Round of TechCred Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that the seventh round of TechCred – a program that helps businesses upskill their current and incoming workforce with tech-focused, in-demand credentials – is now open until January 29. Ohio businesses, including small businesses, can receive up to $2,000 for each tech-focused credential earned, up to $30,000 per employer, each application period. Since the program’s launch, a total of 966 Ohio employers have been approved for funding, supporting the earning of over 15,000 tech-focused credentials by Ohio employees. To learn more and apply, businesses can visit TechCred.Ohio.Gov.
Yost Files Brief in Support of Keeping Kids in School During Pandemic Last week, Attorney General Dave Yost filed an amicus brief in support of keeping kids in school during the pandemic, and protecting religious liberties. Yost filed the brief in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of three Christian schools and Citizens for Community Values’ lawsuit to overturn a Toledo-Lucas County Health Department order shuttering all in-person classes for students in grades 7-12. The brief argued that the health order violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals later ruled that the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department unconstitutionally discriminated against religious schools by treating them worse than secular businesses. This is a “big win for religious liberty, the Constitution and these kids, who get to go back to school,” Yost said about the ruling.
LaRose Releases Audit of Ohio’s 2020 Presidential Election Results This week Secretary LaRose released the results of Ohio’s post-election audits in all 88 counties. These audits, which have long been championed by LaRose, play a critical role in ensuring that our elections remain fair, honest and secure. In counties that utilized a percentage-based audit, the results demonstrated a 99.98% accuracy rate for the presidential election.
Learn more by clicking here: https://www.ohiosos.gov/media-center/press-releases/2021/2021-01-05/
Faber Lays Out 2021 Priorities This week Auditor of State Keith Faber laid our his priorities for the new year. After the arrival of COVID-19 and the subsequent shut downs, Ohio’s economy took a massive hit. The infusion of CARES Act money from the Federal government was designed to help local governments continue to provide essential services amidst the pandemic. Faber’s #1 priority this year is continuing to assist local governments navigate the pandemic and provide guidance to ensure that local governments are able to properly spend their CARES dollars and encourage them to continue providing relief to the small businesses and local workers that have been affected by the pandemic.
Sprague Announces OMAP Milestone Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague recently announced the Ohio Market Access Program (OMAP) has now enhanced and lowered interest costs for $1 billion in local government notes. OMAP is a credit enhancement program that leverages the state’s excess liquidity and high short-term credit rating to help improve market access and lower borrowing rates for local governments.
“During this year of market volatility and tightening budgets across the state, OMAP was more valuable than ever in helping Ohio’s communities stretch their dollars and complete important infrastructure projects,” said Treasurer Sprague. “We look forward to partnering with more local governments in the new year and helping them finance the work that improves the lives of Ohioans.”
Since its 2014 launch, OMAP has supported more than 190 deals, ranging from $390,000 to over $100 million.
In 2020, the Treasurer’s office completed 38 OMAP deals, compared to 37 in 2019. However, the total estimated savings the program provided to local governments more than doubled in 2020 ($920,000 in 2020 compared to $437,000 in 2019).
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