Chairman’s Update 3-01-2020

Good Evening,
This past week was a great one for Republicans in Ohio. Lara Trump visited for events in the Cincinnati area, speaking at the Butler County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday evening. Lara Trump has been a key component of President Trump’s re-election campaign. As a senior advisor, she fully embodies all the characteristics of a modern conservative woman and mother, and we were so happy to have her join us in Ohio once again.
Yesterday, Ohio Republicans kicked off a massive canvassing effort during Trump Victory’s National Day of Action. Alongside Representative Troy Balderson and more than 30 Republican candidates, I went door to door to tell the Dublin community all about President Trump’s accomplishments and also encouraged supporters to engage in the national effort to re-elect the president in November. It was truly a great day, and the support for Republicans and President Trump in Ohio is clearly palpable. I am confident that Ohioans are ready for another four great years of President Trump’s leadership.
Today also marks Ohio’s 217th birthday. On this day in 1803, Ohio joined the Union, making it the nation’s 17th state. Happy Birthday, Ohio!
Sincerely,
Jane M. Timken
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party
On FOX Business, Portman Highlights Upcoming Legislation to Stop China’s Theft of U.S. Taxpayer-Funded Research & Innovation
On FOX Business with Maria Bartiromo, Senator Portman highlighted legislation he plans to introduce soon to stop foreign governments, particularly China, from stealing U.S. taxpayer-funded research and intellectual property (IP). Portman, as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), has led a yearlong investigation into this issue, releasing a bipartisan report in November 2019 that detailed how American taxpayers have been unwittingly funding the rise of China’s military and economy over the last two decades while federal agencies have done little to stop it. Starting in the late 1990s through its “talent recruitment programs,” China began recruiting U.S.-based scientists and researchers and incentivizing them to transfer U.S. taxpayer-funded research and IP to China for their own military and economic gain.
In addition, Portman praised the administration’s quick response to the threat of coronavirus and highlighted Ohio’s preparedness to handle a potential outbreak if the virus spreads domestically.
Watch the interview here.
Governor DeWine, State of Ohio Lead on Coronavirus Preparedness
On Thursday, Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., M.P.H. joined MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros, MD, and Cuyahoga County Health Commissioner Terry Allan to give an update on the state’s preparedness and education efforts to limit the potential spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio. Ohio has been one of the most aggressive states on terms of Coronavirus preparedness, and Dr. Acton met with Trump Administration and CDC officials this week to enhance Ohio’s efforts.
Lieutenant Governor Husted Announces Expansion of the “Get In Line, Online” Program
Last week, Lt. Governor Jon Husted traveled to Dayton to announce the expansion of the popular BMV program “Get In Line, Online” program. Get In Line Online was started as a pilot project and is now being expanded statewide by the Lt. Governor’s InnovateOhio initiative. The system lets Ohioans reserve their place in line at the BMV from home, work, or while out running errands so they can proceed through the line while doing… literally anything else. Among other priorities, InnovateOhio focuses on managing projects that deliver better customer service to Ohioans.
AG Dave Yost Provides Training & Grants to Prevent School Violence
Attorney General Dave Yost announced the development of new training materials and grants to address gaps in violence prevention in Ohio schools. The Attorney General’s office is offering a free 10-part video training series focused on threat assessment, and $500 grants are available to school resource officers and local police to help create threat assessment teams in Ohio schools. Yost said prevention is often a missing piece in school-violence protection plans.
“We aim to prevent school violence using national proven best practices,” Yost said. “This is not a top-down approach. Instead, we’re providing guidance to local law enforcement and school districts to fill this critical need.”
The training videos were compiled using best practices from leading experts, including the U.S. Secret Service, law enforcement and educators.
LaRose Welcomes Over 200 New American Citizens
This week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose keynoted an oath of citizenship ceremony at the Statehouse. 219 immigrants from over 50 countries gathered to begin their American dream.
“You all who had to work for your citizenship recognize how precious it is, and you recognize that citizenship comes with both rights and responsibilities,” said LaRose. “One of those responsibilities is the opportunity to be a registered voter.”
With the help of the Franklin county board of elections, many of these individuals became new Ohio voters.
Auditor Faber Talks Cyber Security with Business Leaders
This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber visited the Mahoning Valley where he met with business owners and community leaders from the Youngstown Warren Chamber of Commerce. Auditor Faber discussed the threats posed to government and business from cyber criminals and urged everyone to make sure that they’re protecting themselves and their data.
Sprague Touts Ag-LINK, Continues Work to Support Ohio Farmers
Treasurer Robert Sprague is reminding Ohio’s farming community there’s still time to take advantage of the Ag-LINK program. On Thursday, Sprague sat down with Ty Higgins of the Ohio Farm Bureau to discuss Ag-LINK as part of the week’s “Our Ohio Weekly” radio program and podcast. Through Ag-LINK, qualified farmers and agribusiness can qualify for reduced interest operating loans to offset the impact of upfront costs for feed, seed, fertilizer, and inventory. Last year, the Ohio Treasurer’s office helped 780 farmers and agribusinesses lower their interest rates on loans totaling more than $86.5 million.
The application period runs until March 20.
Educating Students Tops the Week for Justice Kennedy
In between traveling the state and Lincoln Day dinners Justice Sharon L. Kennedy spoke to London High School seniors and discussed the impact of the decisions made at the Supreme Court of Ohio on the lives of Ohioans, judicial philosophy, and her work on the “Lean Forward: Advancing Veterans Treatment Across Ohio” initiative.
After opening the floor up to questions, one student asked, “How do you keep your personal feelings and beliefs from influencing your decisions on the bench?” “The first thing I do is recognize my personal feelings and beliefs,” said Justice Kennedy. “We all have personal feelings and beliefs and we must acknowledge them in order to put them aside.” She then explained that the rules of constitutional and statutory construction help keep a judge’s personal feelings and beliefs from influencing the outcome of a case. She concluded by telling the students that in her view she wears a black robe to insulate her inner-self from influencing the law.
In closing, she told the students to remember that there are no ceilings in their life, only floors to walk across and stairs to climb to achieve their American Dream.
Justice French Speaks at Lincoln Day Dinners
Justice French visited 9 counties across Ohio in the past week and had the honor of being the featured speaker at two different Lincoln Day Dinners. She appreciated the chance to speak to the Republican crowds in Clinton County and Muskingum County about her race, her time on the Supreme Court and her common sense judicial philosophy.
Check out her Facebook page and follow along as she travels throughout Ohio.