Portman on Fox News: Democrats’ Rush to Impeachment is Unwarranted

In an interview with Fox News’ Fox News at Night with Shannon Bream last week, Senator Portman discussed his efforts to secure the release of the security assistance to Ukraine, including his call with President Trump to push for its release. He said President Trump was focused on the need for the international community, specifically Europeans, to join in supporting Ukraine, a point with which Portman agrees. Portman said he believes there was no quid pro quo in the conversation President Trump and President Zelensky had regarding providing US military aid to Ukraine and that Democrats’ rush to impeachment is unwarranted.

His interview can be found here:

Governor DeWine Convenes Mental Health Summit Focused on Children

On Thursday, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association co-hosted the Building Resiliency: A Pediatric Mental Health Summit in Dayton. The summit was intended to help communities support the mental health needs of their children. More than 700 participants from across the state attended the event, where they learned more about how to spot the signs and symptoms of trauma in children, and gain tangible strategies to address it from experts in mental health, health care education, and other fields.

Husted Announces Launch of Ohio’s TechCred Program

This week, Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the official launch of Ohio’s TechCred program, which Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted promised during the campaign. The program will fund the completion of up to 10,000 micro-credentials every year to help Ohioans in the incumbent workforce improve their skills so they are ready to take the next step in their career. The credentials are all short-term and technology focused to prepare Ohioans for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

AG Dave Yost: Hamilton Doctor Pleads Guilty to Pill Mill Charges

Following an investigation by Attorney General Dave Yost’s Medicaid fraud team and its partners, a Cincinnati-area doctor pleaded guilty last week to illegal distribution of controlled substances, healthcare fraud and violating the anti-kickback statute.

Nilesh Jobalia owned and operated a Hamilton pain clinic, and entered a guilty plea in federal court for trafficking drugs by means of a prescription pad and receiving kickbacks. He also pleaded guilty to billing Medicare, Medicaid and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for medically unnecessary prescriptions. In total, Jobalia caused more than $2 million in false claims.

“This pain relief clinic was nothing more than a front for hard drug handouts,” Yost said. “Shutting the operation down is a big win for a region that’s been hit especially hard by the opioid crisis.”

 LaRose Focuses on Election Security on National Voter Registration Day

On Tuesday, Ohio celebrated National Voter Registration Day. LaRose hosted members of the press at the Franklin County Board of Elections and gave them a look at the many safeguards that exist during each stage of the elections process.

LaRose also joined up with University Student Government and College Republicans on the campus of Ohio State University to hold a voter registration drive.

The deadline to register to vote is October 7th. Register today at VoteOhio.gov

Auditor Keith Faber Meets with Small Businesses

This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber visited City Machine Technologies in Youngstown for a meeting with small business owners and members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Auditor Faber is committed to making government more efficient, effective, and transparent so that Ohio’s citizens and businesses can thrive.

Treasurer Sprague Visits Washington, D.C.

This week, Treasurer Robert Sprague traveled to the nation’s capital. On Wednesday morning, he stopped by Capitol Hill for Senator Portman’s weekly Constituent Coffee event. Later in the day, he joined US Treasurer Jovita Carranza and state treasurers from across the country at a dinner hosted by the State Financial Officers Foundation. On Thursday, the Treasurer visited the Heritage Foundation to discuss the ResultsOHIO initiative and the ways pay for success projects can help in combating persistent public sector challenges.

At U.S. Department of Transportation, Portman Praises Award of Autonomous Driving Systems Grant to Ohio Researchers

Last week, U.S. Senator Rob Portman delivered remarks at a press conference at the U.S. Department of Transportation with Secretary Elaine Chao announcing the federal grant awards to study autonomous driving systems, including $7.5 million for the state of Ohio and university groups.

The ADS Demonstration grant will be allocated to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and its consortium, which includes the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), The Ohio State University, and DriveOhio.

In March of this year, Senator Portman led a delegation letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao in support of ODOT’s application for this grant. In August, Portman visited TRC – the largest and most sophisticated independent vehicle proving ground in North America – where he saw firsthand how TRC Ohio has become a global leader in advancing new automotive technologies.

Governor DeWine Highlights Ohio Agriculture Industry at Annual Farm Science Review

On Tuesday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gave remarks during the Farm Science Review’s 2019 Celebration Luncheon. The annual Farm Science Review, which is hosted by the Ohio State College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, attracts approximately 140,000 visitors from throughout the United States and Canada to learn about the latest in agricultural production. Food and agriculture employs one in eight Ohioans and accounts for more than $124 billion in annual investment in the state.

Husted Rallies Support for Republican Candidates

Lt. Governor Jon Husted last week delivered the keynote address to the Franklin County Republican Party’s Slate Dinner. The event recognized candidates running for local office in the 2019 General Election. “Leadership matters. Local elections matter. The mark of strong communities is good leaders and its our job to get them there,” Lt. Governor Husted told the crowd.

The Lt. Governor also convened the second meeting of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board of the DeWine-Husted Administration last week. The meeting focused on strategies for getting restored citizens back into the workforce so they can more effectively contribute to their communities.

AG Dave Yost Discusses Opioid Litigation, Vaping with Fox

Attorney General Dave Yost joined Fox Business Network last week to discuss his office’s work to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its role in the opioid crisis. He also spoke with Fox about recent public health concerns associated with vaping.

“Although there is no dollar amount that will undo the pain that so many families have faced, I’m focused on getting resources to Ohioans as quickly as possible, and this bipartisan deal makes that a reality,” Yost said regarding a tentative settlement with Purdue Pharma. “Ohio is in.”

You can watch Yost’s full interview with Fox Business Network here.

LaRose talks Election Security at National Cybersecurity Summit

Auditor Keith Faber Talks College Affordability on Spectrum News

This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber joined Mike Kallmeyer on Spectrum News 1 to discuss the rising cost for a college degree. Auditor Faber has been traveling the state, visiting state colleges and universities, promoting Senate Bill 120 tol allow the Auditor’s office to conduct more performance audits on state institutions of higher learning, T=Auditor Faber hopes to find savings and efficiencies that can be passed on to students.

Treasurer Sprague Talks Programs and Priorities with the Sandusky Register

Treasurer Sprague recently stopped by the Sandusky Register to highlight some of the ways his office is working to support Ohio’s communities. As part of his visit, the Treasurer shared information on a variety of programs, including ResultsOHIO, the Ohio Checkbook, and Ag-LINK, which continues to provide aid to Ohio’s farmers through reduced interest loans.

Read More: Ohio Tresurer Describes Programs to Help State Residents

In Cincinnati, Senator Portman Participates in Second Annual Taft Day

Last Friday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman participated in the Second Annual Taft Day breakfast celebrating the birthday of President William Howard Taft, the only U.S. president born and raised in Cincinnati. Portman participated in this program last year. The breakfast celebration was held at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, which includes the two-story house where William Howard Taft was born and grew up. The site, including the house, surrounding landscape, and education center, has $2.1 million in long-delayed maintenance needs, and Portman has introduced legislation to help address this backlog.

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).

Governor DeWine Visits Honda Headquarters During Trade Mission to Japan

On Sunday, Governor Mike DeWine arrived at the Midwest U.S.- Japan Association Conference and met with fellow Midwestern Governors. On Tuesday, Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine visited Honda’s headquarters in Tokyo. Honda recently celebrated it’s 40th anniversary in Ohio and currently employs over 15,000 Ohioans. Their largest operation is in Marysville, Ohio, producing the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe, along with the Acura TLX and ILX.

Lt. Governor Husted Honors Dayton Heroes at the White House

Lt. Governor Jon Husted led the state’s delegation to the White House last week as President Donald J. Trump honored the Dayton first responders for their quick action and bravery that ended the deadly mass shooting in the Miami Valley in August. During the ceremony, the President bestowed the Medal of Valor on each officer and Lt. Governor Husted later gave the department a proclamation from himself and Governor Mike DeWine.

The Lt. Governor also spoke with Fox Business News’ “Varney & Co.,” about Ohio’s strong economy and what the DeWine-Husted Administration is doing to build on the state’s success and ensure everyone has the chance reach their dreams.

AG Dave Yost Joins Big Tech Investigation

Attorney General Dave Yost joined 49 other attorneys general last week in announcing a multistate investigation into Google’s business practices. The investigation will determine whether Google’s practices violate state and federal antitrust laws.

Yost joined CNN’s New Day to discuss the investigation, which centers on Google’s control of online advertising markets and search traffic that may have led to anticompetitive behavior.

“Antitrust has always been about the concentrated power to dominate the market and society,” Yost said. “Money is the traditional tool to gain that monopoly power. Data is the new money.”

LaRose Wants to Add Safeguards to Voter Registration Systems

Secretary LaRose continues his efforts to ensure accurate and secure voting systems by pushing for new legislation that will require new standards for how counties manage their voter registration systems.

Partnering with Senator Rulli (R-Salem), this new legislation will require the vendors who maintain each county’s voter registration to meet increased cyber-security and administrative standards.

“This legislation provides a much-needed layer of security to protect our elections,” said Rulli “We know foreign governments infiltrated voter registration databases in Illinois and Florida leading up to the 2016 election. I want to make sure Ohio is being proactive to this threat and continues to be a national leader in election security.”

This legislation adds to LaRose’s continued work to ensure a secure and accurate election in 2020 and beyond.

Auditor Faber Talks Government Efficiency with Students

Auditor of State Keith Faber visited with accounting students at Ohio State University to talk about how his office works to make state government work better, faster, and cheaper for all Ohioans.

Treasurer Sprague Shares Current Initiatives and Priorities in the Mahoning Valley

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague visited the Mahoning Valley on Thursday to provide an update on his office’s work through the first eight months of 2019. Earlier in the day, he and State Rep. Don Manning stopped by the Warren Tribune Chronicle where they discussed the recently passed ResultsOHIO initiative. Following the interview, Treasurer Sprague joined other state and local policymakers at the 2019 Impact Ohio Youngstown/Warren Regional Conference. Sprague highlighted the various ways the Treasurer’s office can be a valued resource to local leaders and government finance officers.

Last Thursday, Portman Hosted Ohio Faith-Based Security Conference in Columbus

Last week, Senator Rob Portman hosted an Ohio Faith-Based Security Conference to facilitate a conversation with federal and state security experts and stakeholders on best practices for how to prepare, prevent, respond, and recover from potential adverse events. The conference was comprised of a panel discussion as well as presentations focusing on best practices and funding opportunities for implementing security measures to help prevent attacks as well as how to best respond to potential threats. In addition, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Director of Public Safety Tom Stickrath, and Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Matthew Travis joined the event.

The idea of bringing together faith-based groups and non-profit entities originated after a discussion Portman had with the Jewish community after the Pittsburgh Tree of Life tragedy in October of 2018. The conference was attended by leaders from various places of worship throughout Ohio representing the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities.

This past May, Portman introduced bipartisan legislation – the Protecting Faith-Based and Nonprofit Organizations From Terrorism Act – to authorize $75 million annually for FYs 2020-2024 for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to help secure their facilities against a potential terrorist attack.

Governor DeWine Meets With Ambassador Sugiyama Ahead of Trade Mission to Japan

On Wednesday afternoon, Governor DeWine met with Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to the United States, at the Ohio Statehouse. Governor DeWine and Ambassador Sugiyama discussed Ohio’s long-standing relationship with Japan and the Governor’s upcoming business development mission from September 8-13, 2019. Anchoring the mission will be Governor DeWine’s participation in the 51^st Midwest U.S.-Japan Association annual conference in Tokyo. He also will have several business meetings with Japanese companies including Honda and Kao Brands. Governor DeWine will also visit Saitama Prefecture, Ohio’s sister state in Japan. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the Ohio-Saitama sister state relationship. Governor DeWine plans to explore ways to build on the strong ties that have been established with Saitama. J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and chief investment officer, and Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, will join the Governor to support the mission.

Husted Announces Launch of “Ohio IP Promise” Initiative

On Friday, Lt. Governor Husted announced the launch of the “Ohio IP Promise,” which is an initiative to make Ohio universities more attractive to innovators and entrepreneurs. The Ohio IP Promise brings together the state’s higher education institutions to provide a unified process for commercialization so students and faculty have a clear path to commercialization of their research in Ohio. Many schools possess the ownership rights to research and inventions with no plans to bring it to the marketplace. In order to correct this problem, the Ohio I.P. Promise establishes a uniform set of guiding principles so researchers know exactly how they can take charge of their work and make it available to the public, if that is their desire.

AG Yost: Hamilton County Man Facing Charges for Impersonating Nurse

Attorney General Dave Yost announced the indictment and arrest of a Hamilton County man last week for allegedly impersonating a nurse for four years using a stolen identity. Yost’s Health Care Fraud Section uncovered evidence that Martez Rhandall Morris stole the identity of a licensed practical nurse, and used fraudulent documents to gain employment at two Hamilton County home health agencies. Several of the patients under Morris’ care were children.

Morris now faces 12 counts, including felony charges, for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, identity fraud and tampering with records. Yost’s office is prosecuting the case.

Ohio Democratic Party Loses Legal Challenge Against LaRose

On Tuesday a federal court denied a legal challenge aimed at preventing Frank LaRose from carrying out his obligation to ensure Ohio’s voter rolls are accurate and up-to-date. Contrary to the Ohio Democratic Party’s claims, the court ruled that the “evidence does not establish that the secretary is implementing measures which render the voting system fundamentally unfair.”

The Columbus Dispatch even agreed that, “the Democrats are seeing the voter purge process as half empty,” while reminding voters that they have a right and responsibility to register and vote.

Join Team LaRose in fighting back against hyper-partisan activists by sharing the truth on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Auditor Faber Honors Cincinnati Reds on 150 Years in Major League Baseball!

This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber honored the Cincinnati Reds, who were the first team in professional baseball and this year are celebrating their 150th Anniversary.

Treasurer Sprague Provides Update on Ag-LINK, Recent Activity

On Wednesday, Treasurer Robert Sprague reminded Ohio’s farming community that there’s still time to obtain reduced interest loans through the Ag-LINK program. In July, Treasurer Sprague re-opened the Ag-LINK application period to provide relief to farmers and agribusiness adversely impacted by the summer’s extreme weather. Through the current round of applications, more than 30 reduced interest loans totaling over $3.4 million have been made available to qualified farmers and business owners.

“As Ohio’s farmers get ready to head out to the fields to harvest, it’s not too late to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Treasurer Sprague. “I’m proud of our office’s strong partnership with the banking community as we help provide a boost to a critical sector of our state’s economy during this difficult year.”

The current Ag-LINK application period will remain open until November 15.

Read more about Ag-LINK here.