Leadership

Participate at AirTec in the Ohio-Sponsored Exhibit

JobsOhio is partnering with the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) to sponsor an Ohio exhibit at AirTec in Munich, Germany October 24-28, 2016; this is a trade show focused on aerospace technology and component suppliers.

JobsOhio is seeking “small- to-medium sized businesses and other aerospace firms” to co-exhibit in the Ohio booth. There are 6-8 spots available at a fee of $2,750.  This show is known for its high visibility and professionally managed B2B programs.

Financial assistance, incentives and research services are available.

For more information and to register, email Howard Thompson or Tom Bainbridge or call (614) 728-3120.  8/24/2016

New Unemployment Compensation Committee Created

The House and Senate this week created a joint legislative committee to reform Ohio’s unemployment compensation system, which has for years been actuarially unsound and has cost employers millions of dollars in federal penalties.

The “Unemployment Compensation Reform Joint Committee” will be co-chaired by Sen. Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) and Rep. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton).

Other members of the committee are:  Sen. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), Sen. Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Hts.), Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Lima), Rep. Gary Scherer (R-Circleville), and Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire).

The committee has scheduled five meetings:  Aug. 25, Sept. 15, Oct. 6, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.

Drug Price Proposal Not Headed to the Ballot

A Supreme Court of Ohio decision has, for now, stymied a national foundation, AIDS Healthcare Foundation of Los Angeles, that was working toward placing an initiated statute on the November general election ballot that would cap prices on prescription drugs purchased by the state.

The proposed Ohio Drug Price Relief Act would require Ohio agencies to pay no more for drugs than paid by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

OMA, among others, brought a lawsuit to contest the validity of the signatures and petitions filed by paid circulators.

The court found that 10,303 signatures were invalid because the circulators violated Ohio law.  If sufficient valid signatures are collected within the court’s specified time period to cure the deficiency, then the petition can be resubmitted to the General Assembly for its consideration.  It is expected that the proposed law will be presented to electors in 2017.

OMA’s interest in the matter in addition to the irregularity of the petitioning process is opposition to government limiting prices on manufactured goods.  Here’s OMA’s media statement on the decision.

Women in Manufacturing Award Nominations Now Open

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Production (STEP) Ahead initiative honors and promotes the role of women in manufacturing through recognition, research, and leadership. The STEP Ahead Awards recognize women at all levels of manufacturing, from the factory floor to the C-suite.

These awards illustrate the widespread impact women have on shaping the industry, whether they are running the company, designing the next big product, or testing innovations on the shop floor.

Nominees will be selected by The Manufacturing Institute STEP Awards Review Committee.  Review eligibility and nominate that special someone here!

For Friends of American Manufacturing Only!

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) invites all friends of manufacturing to join a grassroots network in support of American manufacturing: Friends of Manufacturing.

Friends of Manufacturing says: “We realize the vital role that manufacturing plays in each and every community, big or small, throughout the United States. From the millions of jobs we support, to the products we make that are the envy of the world, America depends on manufacturing. …

“But Manufacturing in America is under threat. Whether by government policies that favor special interests, or by foreign companies and governments that break the rules, our ability to compete and put more Americans to work in good-paying jobs is getting harder each and every day.

“We believe that all Friends of Manufacturing … should have a say in government policies that affect their livelihood.

“We believe that government should make it easier, not harder, for manufacturers to grow and succeed. And we believe that our elected representatives should be held accountable for the decisions they make.”

By joining at no cost or obligation, Friends of Manufacturing will let you know when issues that are critical to our well-being are being debated in Washington, and what you can do about it.

Sign up here.  Pass it on!  This is designed to engage an army of supporters of American manufacturing.

Let’s Talk Manufacturing Public Policy Goals for Ohio

OMA has prepared this manufacturing public policy goals talking points one-pager.  Use it when working with your elected officials and community groups.  It summarizes key policies that will make a good difference for Ohio manufacturing.

Find more tools and resources that you can use to support Ohio manufacturing at OMA’s Election Center.

Polls Shows Clinton Leading Trump in Ohio, Portman Pulling Away

In the latest polls by Quinnipiac University released this week, Hillary Clinton appears to have wrested the advantage from Donald Trump.  The poll shows Clinton narrowly ahead of the New York businessman 49% – 45%.

In the Ohio U.S. Senate race which had been in a dead heat for many months, the new poll shows Republican incumbent Rob Portman pulling away from Democrat challenger Ted Strickland, 49% – 40%.

OMA-PAC Announces Endorsed Candidates

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Political Action Committee (OMA-PAC), chaired by Scott Balogh, President & CEO, Mar-Bal, Inc., has released its initial list of endorsed House and Senate candidates for election in November, as well as endorsed candidates for the Supreme Court of Ohio.

In all, 14 Senate candidates, nine incumbents and five candidates for open seats, got the nod.  Forty-six incumbent House members and six candidates for open House seats, are backed by OMA-PAC.

The three Supreme Court of Ohio candidates endorsed by OMA-PAC are Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, Judge Pat Fischer and Judge Pat DeWine.

Candidate and district details are contained in the 2016 Ohio Election Guide.  The General Election voter registration deadline in Ohio is October 11, 2016.  Check here for other states.

Thank you, Rep. Steve LaTourette

OMA joins the community saddened by the death of former Congress member Steven L. LaTourette, who passed away this week at age 62.  He represented the citizens of the most northeast counties of Ohio, the 14th Congressional District.  He was a wonderful advocate for Ohio, Ohio business, and common sense public policy.

What Rust Belt?

“They call it the Rust Belt for a reason: because everything is rusting and rotting,” said Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump while stumping in Ohio this week.

Ohio manufacturers of course know better, and for the specific facts about the strength of the Ohio manufacturing economy, see OMA’s new edition of Ohio Manufacturing Counts, 20 pages of good news about the effect of manufacturing on the state’s economy.

The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board reacted to Trump’s remark:  “Actually, Ohio is a manufacturing behemoth, among the top five states in annual output, and production levels have been climbing, the leading sectors transportation equipment, fabricated metals, chemicals and machinery.”