Leadership

Mark Your Calendar for 2016 OMA Policy Committee Meetings

OMA policy committee meetings provide opportunities for you to work with colleagues, subject matter experts, policymakers and government agency staff to gain critical updates and to set policy priorities for Ohio manufacturing.

OMA has five standing policy committees: energy, environment, government affairs, safety & workers’ compensation, and tax.

To make sure you receive committee meeting notices and materials in your inbox, go to My OMA to subscribe to the management communities that interest you.

Each policy committee meets in person in the OMA offices in Columbus. These meetings can also be joined by phone. The format for the meeting is typically a two hour morning meeting, followed by an informal networking lunch, provided by the OMA.

Here’s the entire 2016 schedule.

NAM Takes New Policy Agenda on the Road

This week, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) kicked off its 2016 State of Manufacturing Tour at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.  In the coming week, NAM will tour shop floors, training facilities, and schools across the country with a goal to shape the November election and the direction of the country.

NAM is unveiling its “Competing to Win: Manufacturers’ Agenda for Economic Growth and American Exceptionalism.”  This new document lays out actions for leaders to strengthen manufacturing and the entire economy.  Visit NAM’s Competing to Win website.

2016 RNC Sponsorship Opportunities

The Ohio Republican Party has just finalized its 2016 RNC Convention sponsorship packages.  Here are the opportunities.  Contact Susan Waidner, Finance Director, Ohio Republican Party, at (614) 456-2041 for more information.

“Continued Challenges, a Few Bright Spots”

OMA Connections Partner, Clark, Schaefer, Hackett, compiled several of the latest news headlines and economic reports, both national and regional, to provide an update on the current state of U.S. manufacturing.

OMA & Allies Set Record Straight on UC Reform

Together with its business allies, the OMA testified on HB 394, the unemployment compensation reform bill, to set the record straight on erroneous and misleading testimony from the bill’s opponents (unions and certain social service agencies).  The Ohio unemployment compensation fund is insolvent, resulting in higher and higher charges to Ohio’s job-generating businesses.

Two examples from the testimony that show the bill’s provisions are in line with other states’ programs:

Weekly benefit amount freeze:  “Ohio’s current maximum weekly benefit amount is higher than the national average and higher than any surrounding state except Pennsylvania. Nineteen states, including Michigan and Indiana, do not have automatic increases in the maximum weekly benefit amount. A freeze until Ohio’s trust fund is solvent is a reasonable response to address solvency.”

Reduction in number of weeks of allowed benefits from 26 to 12 – 20:  “The recent trend among states addressing UI solvency has been to reduce the number of potential weeks of unemployment based on the total unemployment rate. Effective January 1, 2016, Missouri joined the growing list by changing to a sliding scale of 13 – 20 weeks. Other states with similar provisions include Kansas 16 – 26, Florida 12 – 23, Georgia 14 – 20, and North Carolina 12 – 20. Michigan and South Carolina also reduced their maximum number of weeks to 20 from 26.”

The testimony was presented by Doug Holmes, president of UWC in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the OMA, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, NFIB-Ohio, Ohio Farm Bureau, and Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.

Pharmaceutical Price Controls Going to the Ballot?

A national foundation is advocating for state government control over the price of drugs.  The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has filed paperwork with the Ohio Secretary of State to place an initiated statute on the November general election ballot.

Dubbed the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act, it attempts to require the state to pay no more for prescription drugs than is paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  The Ohio proposal is similar to a California proposal.

The Columbus Dispatch reports on litigation surrounding the ballot proposal.

“The OMA takes a strong interest in any proposal by government to limit prices on manufactured goods,” said OMA’s Ryan Augsburger.

Cleveland Fed: 2016 Outlook “Mixed”

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland released its outlook for 2016.  It finds:  “(Reports) are best interpreted as mixed, fundamentals (like employment growth) for the broader District economy are good. So despite the weakening sentiment of District contacts’ reports and the cautious tone of the stock market, we continue to expect growth across the District in coming months.”

The bank researchers see three trends influencing the region’s economic growth:

1. The fall in energy prices has caused a significant slowdown in oil and gas exploration in the Marcellus and Utica Shales, though natural gas production remains at historic highs.
2. The rising value of the dollar and the weakness in oil and gas exploration have affected key District industries, including steelmaking. Steel producers are encountering difficulties even while domestic market users of District manufacturing products, namely construction and transportation equipment, are seeing growth.
3. Nationally and regionally, consumers are increasing purchases of durable goods, particularly automobiles, as their circumstances and balance sheets improve.

OMA Chairman Sopko Appointed to Medical Marijuana Task Force

This week, Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) appointed OMA Chairman of the Board Bill Sopko to a bipartisan medical marijuana task force.  The Speaker announced the creation of the task force at an evening press conference yesterday, January 14.

The purpose of the task force is to gather information from medical experts, and others, as to the efficacy of medical marijuana and issues related to its possible legalization.

In its resolution opposing the marijuana legalization issue defeated in the General Election last year, the OMA board of directors urged the legislature to do a thorough review of the issue medical marijuana.  The OMA appreciates the Speaker establishing this task force.

Time for Action (long overdue) on Unemployment Comp Reform

This week the House Insurance Committee continued its hearings on House Bill 394, the Unemployment Compensation Insurance Reform bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Township).  The committee began reviewing potential amendment ideas brought forward by Rep. Sears to address portions of the bill that have drawn opposition, particularly from labor.

OMA prepared this document to shed light on what exactly HB 394 does – and does not – do.

Now is the time for member engagement:  If you haven’t already, please contact your state representative and let them know they have your support for the reform measures contained in the bill.  The easiest way to do this is by using the email tools at the OMA’s Manufacturing Advocacy Center.

Business Leaders Stress Need for UC Reforms

Ohio’s unemployment insurance (UI) system is in a state of crisis. The Ohio Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is funded by employers and pays out benefits to qualifying jobless workers, is insolvent.

Representative Barbara Sears (R-Maumee) has introduced legislation, House Bill 394, to reform Ohio’s Unemployment Insurance law and address the solvency of the Ohio Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

The Toledo Blade ran this op-ed (Jan. 3, 2016) from OMA president Eric Burkland, who said, “Ohio’s unemployment insurance system is in crisis. It not only is insolvent; it is also a deterrent to job creation and retention. A bill before the General Assembly is a prudent and long overdue response to a clear need for reform.”

The Canton Repository ran opposing opinions (Jan. 4, 2016) drawn up by OMA’s director, Public Policy Services, Rob Brundrett and Policy Matters Ohio.  Brundrett said:  “Employers and employees must share the burden of ensuring a sound system for the future.”

Roger R. Geiger, vice president and Ohio executive director for the National Federation of Independent Business, also filed this op-ed to the Cincinnati Enquirer (Dec.8, 2015), saying “Benefit payment amounts in Ohio are higher than the national average, and the federal unemployment tax imposed on Ohio employers exceeds that of all states except Connecticut.”

OMA members are encouraged to go on the record with their elected officials about the need for reforms; use the easy email tools here.