Leadership

Marijuana Ballot Group Backs Down

In what is a major victory for Ohio businesses, last weekend the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) announced it was suspending its medical marijuana ballot initiative campaign in Ohio.

Had the campaign been successful, the constitutional amendment would have allowed the use of medical marijuana in Ohio without taking into consideration business interests or worker safety.

MPP cited House Bill 523, spearheaded by the legislature and supported widely by interested parties including Ohio manufacturers, as the reason for suspending the ballot campaign.

With a large majority of Ohioans in favor of medical marijuana, the legislature made a reasonable decision to legalize medical marijuana under specific conditions while protecting employer rights and workplace drug rules.

MPP conceded the bill was better than it could have imagined and that raising money in light of the bill’s passage was harder than predicted.

Keeping medical marijuana law out of the constitution gives Ohio manufacturers the opportunity to continue to improve and mold the law to ensure workplace safety does not suffer.

Election Tools for Employers, Tools for Voters

Part of protecting and growing manufacturing is having manufacturer engagement in the electoral processes.

To make it easier for our members to source non-partisan Get Out the Vote tools and useful electoral information for their employees, we have collaborated with the National Association of Manufacturers to create the OMA Election Center.  The site contains tons of tools: sample messages, posters, manufacturing data and more.  All free.

But that’s not all:  We have also created a totally new website – ManufacturingVoter.com – that is intended for any manufacturing voter anywhere to pick up some useful information to help them make their voices heard at the polls.

Let us know what you think and what else you may need.

General Assembly Sets Fall Schedule

Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) and Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) have announced the schedules for the Senate and House for the second half of 2016.

See full schedule published by Hannah News Service here.  Dates and times are subject to change.  

Not Too Late to Register for June 14 Food Manufacturers & Suppliers Meeting

It happens just once a year – the OMA Food Manufacturers & Suppliers Meeting!

We serve up the legislative, regulatory and economic development issues that directly impact Ohio food manufacturing companies and their manufacturing suppliers.

Click here for a printable flier and here for the agenda.

RSVP for the June 14 meeting to Denise Locke or call us at (800) 662-4463.  Or register at My OMA.  A networking dinner with colleagues and officials follows the business meeting at Scioto Country Club.

Goal: 3,000

Manufacturing Day^SM is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.  Although Manufacturing Day is officially the first Friday in October—October 7 this year—any day can be a Manufacturing Day.

Over four years the growth of MFG DAY has been phenomenal: From 240 events hosting 7,500 visitors in 2012 to 2,600 events and 400,000+ guests in 2015.  The 2016 goal is 3,000 events.

Whether you simply invite the friends and family members of your employees or the entire community, your event should be on the calendar.  Please take the 5-7 minutes to put your event on the map.  There are already more than 200 events listed.

Ohio Offers Export Assistance

The Ohio Development Services Agency staffs the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network.  Services are available at seven regional Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) across the state.

Export services include no-cost, confidential counseling from Export Assistance Network directors; in-depth market research in more than 40 countries to help small businesses build local relationships and identify quality distributors; international marketing grants to encourage more investment into market development; and export-trained internships to support export growth.

If you are interested in exporting your goods and services into international markets, contact your local Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Director and visit this website.

Infrastructure Matters (video)

Recently the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) joined other business groups, labor organizations and elected officials across the country to tell policymakers and citizens to promote the need for more infrastructure investment during a week long series of events known as Infrastructure Week.

The NAM premiered this 2-minute video featuring manufacturers from both small and large companies highlighting the challenges that remain in addressing critical modernizations and reforms.

Infrastructure is an important plank of both the OMA’s and the NAM’s policy frameworks for action.

Bill Would Restrict Unsafe Used Tires

Before leaving the Statehouse for summer recess, the General Assembly introduced legislation to prevent the installation of unsafe used tires on cars.  The legislation revises the state’s deceptive sales practices statute by defining an unsafe used tire and prohibiting their installation.

The OMA will work with tire manufacturers to support passage of HB 574 (sponsors Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) and Anthony DeVitis (R-Akron)) and SB 336 (sponsors Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) and Frank LaRose (R-Akron)) in the fall when the House and Senate return.

Contact OMA’s Ryan Augsburger to learn more.

Major Victory: Unemployment Comp Penalties Will Be Eliminated

Late Wednesday night the General Assembly agreed to a deal with the intention to eliminate the state’s recession-era unemployment compensation debt to the federal government.  The move supported by the OMA and other business allies will potentially save Ohio’s businesses more than $400 million in FUTA penalties.  Without this fix employers were staring at a possible $168 per employee penalty to be paid in 2017.

The new plan will borrow from the state’s unclaimed funds to pay off the debt in November 2016.  Then employers will repay the state-backed loan by paying a per employee surcharge in 2017.  This surcharge is estimated to be $50.  Overall, the plan will save employers around $70 per employee in 2017.

This bill is on Governor Kasich’s desk for signature.

While the General Assembly addressed the short term debt issue, the new plan does not address the long term solvency of the system due to the structural imbalance that contributed to the heavy borrowing.  The administration and General Assembly have committed to addressing this root issue with OMA-backed House Bill 394 later in the year.

Medical Marijuana Bill Goes to Governor

The bill that would legalize the use of marijuana for specific medical conditions, HB 523, narrowly passed the Senate this week.  The vote was 18 in favor, 15 opposed.

The Senate resisted calls to delete workplace protections for which the OMA advocated.  Some senators wanted to prevent employers from terminating employees for positive drug tests, if the employees are authorized to use medical marijuana.

The bill goes to the governor for signature.  He has previously indicated that he would be supportive of a medical marijuana bill that was developed with physician input, which this bill was.