News and Analysis
House Seats Two New Members
August 5, 2016The House took a brief pause from campaign activity this week to return to Columbus to seat two new members. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Derrick Merrin (R-Monclavia Twp.) were appointed to fill vacancies in the 3rd and 47th House Districts, respectively.
Gavarone was selected by a House Republican screening committee to replace former representative Tim Brown who resigned to take a job with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. Merrin won the Republican primary for the 47th House District, the seat held by term-limited Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania). Sears vacated her seat early to take a position with the Governor’s Office of Health Transformation.
OMA President Elected Chairman of State Manufacturers Organization
August 5, 2016OMA president Eric L. Burkland was elected chairman of the Council of State Manufacturers’ Associations when it met this week in Biloxi, MS. The council holds leadership conferences that are attended by leading manufacturing trade association CEOs to learn, share and exchange ideas on how to more effectively manage their associations and advocate for American manufacturing. Eric will serve a two year term.
“Why would students choose manufacturing if they’ve never even been exposed to it?”
August 5, 2016
While MFG DAY is an opportunity for people of all ages and from all walks of life to learn something about manufacturing through first-hand personal experience, the real focus is about providing guidance to students that can help them when it comes time to make career decisions.
As this new MFG DAY video says: “Why would students choose manufacturing if they’ve never even been exposed to it?”
This week the number of events for #mfgday16 topped 500 – the first benchmark on the way to the goal of 3,000 events.
Right now Ohio is leading with the most events, closely followed by Michigan and California!
Ohio Supreme Court Accepts Jurisdiction on Punitive Damages and Prevention of Performance Issues
August 5, 2016OMA Connections Partner, Frantz Ward, posted that on July 27, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court accepted for review an appeal filed by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company from a Seventh District Court of Appeals decision that it contends “fundamentally alters the law of contracts, fraud, and punitive damages in Ohio, affecting nearly every business transaction in the state.”
The underlying case transpired following the end of a business relationship between Nationwide and a former agent. Nationwide urged the Ohio Supreme Court to review the case to decide several fundamental issues about business transactions raised in the appellate court decision.
OMA was one of several organizations that filed an amicus curiae brief urging the Ohio Supreme Court to accept jurisdiction.
Per Franz Ward: “Having accepted jurisdiction, the Ohio Supreme Court now must grapple with the availability of punitive damages in the context of a breach of contract claim and application of the prevention of performance doctrine to signed legal releases. Depending on the outcome, the allocation of business and contract risks throughout Ohio could drastically change.”
Obama Signs National Food Labeling Bill
August 5, 2016President Obama signed into law last week a bill which will require labeling of genetically modified ingredients. This legislation was supported by OMA’s food manufacturing members who wanted a national labeling standard as opposed to a state by state patchwork of laws with which to comply.
The legislation passed by Congress two weeks ago will require most food packages to carry a text label, a symbol or an electronic code readable by smartphone that indicates whether the food contains genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
The U.S. Agriculture Department has two years to write the rules, which will nullify a Vermont law that took effect earlier this summer.
We Decide America’s Future (Video)
July 29, 2016America’s manufacturers are an army of 12 million men and women. When we all vote, we decide America’s future.
You’ll like this new video from the National Association of Manufacturers about the importance of our vote. See all the voter tools at ManufacturingVoter. And, pass it on!
Now: A Better Member Experience at “My OMA”
July 29, 2016We’ve updated My OMA so you can more easily see your OMA service choices and customize your membership experience. Here’s a guide to the new My OMA, including how to log on. It’s just the start of more and better service. Log in now to My OMA to:
- Manage your membership profile
- Join OMA communities that support your work & interests
- Subscribe to OMA publications that help you stay on top of change
- Register for OMA events
- View the offerings in the OMA Video Library
And more …
Check Out the New 2016 Ohio Election Guide
July 22, 2016
The 2016 Ohio Election Guide is your source for comprehensive information about candidates for House, Senate, Congressional, U.S. Senate, and judicial seats this November.
The guide contains updated district economic profiles and updated district demographics.
A perennial favorite of guide readers are the political indices which represent relative Republican/Democrat voting strength of each district; the indices have been recalculated based on six recent elections.
2018 Statewide Elections Already in Sight
July 22, 2016While all eyes are on the 2016 presidential election, it’s not too early for candidate jockeying for Ohio statewide offices which will be contested in 2018.
Journalist Jackie Borchardt of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported this week on the 2018 Ohio governor’s race, profiling aspirants and their visibility throughout the Republican National Convention.
Also this week, the Columbus Dispatch published results from its poll of Ohio’s GOP convention delegates and alternates. The results suggest Attorney General Mike DeWine enjoys an early advantage in the next race for governor.
For the U.S. Senate contest in 2018, the Dispatch reported: “The party insiders are mixed on who should represent the party in a probable U.S. Senate matchup with Democrat Sherrod Brown, who is expected to seek a third six-year term in two years. Treasurer Josh Mandel, who lost to Brown 52 percent to 45 percent in 2012, was preferred by 26 delegates — four more than U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township.”
The Dispatch findings also offer insights into early favorites for state auditor, attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer.
Well Done, Cleveland!
July 22, 2016The Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, Inc. is an Ohio nonprofit corporation with no political affiliation. It is responsible for organizing, hosting and funding the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Its mission is to promote Northeast Ohio and ensure Cleveland is best represented, and to lessen the burden of local governments in hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Comprised of leaders from across Cleveland, the state of Ohio, and the nation, the committee notably included representatives from OMA member companies: Christopher Connor, Executive Chairman, The Sherwin-Williams Co.; Alexander Cutler, Retired Chairman and CEO, Eaton Corporation; and Chris Kelly, Partner in Charge, Jones Day.
Congratulations to the host committee and all the Ohio communities and citizens who made Cleveland – and Ohio – shine this week!