Leadership

Why Ohio’s Supreme Court Races Matter

Labor Day is considered the start of election season. The OMA supports the Ohio Alliance for Civil Justice as a platform to help educate voters and community leaders on the importance of the three Supreme Court of Ohio contests on the November ballot. (As recently as the early 2000s, the American Tort Reform Alliance was calling Ohio a “judicial hell hole” — the result of activist judges.)

The OMA believes in promoting fair, independent justices for the state’s high court — justices whose decisions are based on what the law actually says. The OMA PAC has endorsed Sharon Kennedy, Pat DeWine, and Pat Fischer.

While the contests for U.S. Senate and governor will receive the most media attention this fall, the three races for Ohio Supreme Court must not be overlooked. The outcome of these races will impact our legal climate and manufacturing competitiveness. Here’s a pocket card and key talking points for OMA members to use when communicating with associates about this year’s Supreme Court races. 9/1/2022

Will Ohio Land Honda and LG’s $4.4B EV Battery Plant?

On Aug. 29, Honda Motor Co. and LG Energy Solution announced a joint venture to build a $4.4 billion facility in the U.S. to manufacture electric vehicle batteries.

When asked where the plant will be built, experts have said Ohio has a good chance of landing the project.

While there has still been no indication of the plant’s location, Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement that his administration is working to ensure that the companies choose Ohio. Prior to the governor’s statement, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted tweeted the initial story from The Wall Street Journal, adding: “More to come soon on this.”

Here are the OMA’s comments regarding Honda and LG’s announcement. 8/30/2022

RSM: ISM Index Bolsters Calls for Steeper Interest Rate Hikes

OMA Connections Partner RSM reports that the latest ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index points to very modest growth and continues to show its lowest reading since June 2020.

But according to RSM’s analysis, the sentiment report from ISM “doesn’t read like one in which the economy is either in a recession or will soon be falling into one.” Instead, the data “will almost certainly bolster calls for a 75-basis-point increase in the Federal Reserve’s policy rate later this month.” 9/1/2022

Manufacturing and Distribution Update, Oct. 3

Ohio manufacturers and distributors are invited to register for the Oct. 3 M&D Industry Update, hosted by OMA Connections Partner GBQ. You may attend in-person (in Columbus) or virtually. OMA President Ryan Augsburger will be a keynote speaker, discussing the state of the Ohio’s top industry. Other topics will include workforce, supply chains, and economic development. 9/1/2022

At a Glance: Ohio’s Top Exports, Trading Partners

A new report from the Ohio Department of Development reveals Ohio was the nation’s ninth-largest exporting state in 2021. The state’s leading exports last year were industrial machinery, vehicles and parts, aircraft and parts, plastics, electrical machinery, and oil seed. Combined, these categories accounted for 57% ($28.8 billion) of the state total.

Overall, the Buckeye State saw its merchandise exports grow to $50.7 billion in 2021 — an increase of more than 12% from 2020. Exports to Canada totaled $18.4 billion, or 36% of the state figure. 9/1/2022

350,000 Jobs: Record Year for Reshoring

U.S. companies are on pace to reshore (or return to the U.S.) a record number of jobs this year, according to the Reshoring Initiative. The Wall Street Journal reports that the 350,000 reshored jobs expected this year would far exceed the roughly 265,000 jobs added in 2021 and would be more than 50 times the 6,000 jobs reshored in 2010.

Reshoring has outpaced foreign direct investment for the third year in a row — although overseas investment has set an all-time record high this year due to “huge investments” in EV batteries. 8/22/2022

Ballot Language OK’d for Bail, Voting Issues

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced that a proposed constitutional amendment requiring public safety to be considered when setting bail will be Issue 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot. A proposed constitutional amendment barring non-citizens from voting in local elections will be Issue 2.

Opponents of both measures are taking issue with the ballot language. Just like the state’s redistricting disputes, the ballot issues could end up before the Supreme Court of Ohio. 8/23/2022

Latest Polls: Ohio’s U.S. Senate Race Still Tight

In Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, Republican J.D. Vance leads Democrat and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan 49.5% to 44.9%, according to a poll released Aug. 22 by the Trafalgar Group. Another poll by Emerson College shows Vance leading by just three points.

Both candidates have been invited to present at the OMA Government Affairs Committee meeting at 10 a.m. Aug. 31. Register here to attend in person (at the OMA’s headquarters in Columbus) or via Zoom.

Meanwhile, the latest polling by Emerson and Trafalgar has Republican Gov. Mike DeWine comfortably leading his Democratic opponent Nan Whaley by roughly 16 points. 8/25/2022

Smucker Spotlighted for 125 Years of Business

Ohio Secretary Frank LaRose recently recognized OMA member J.M. Smucker Co. for its 125 years in business. Smucker was established in Orrville in 1897 and “remains the quintessential family run organization,” according to LaRose. Since its start, the company has added countless household name brands under the Smucker label and today employs more than 6,700 workers. 8/24/2022

How Has Ohio Spent Its COVID-19 Funds?

A new report details how Ohio has spent its federal COVID-19 relief funds.

Most of the $2.6 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — about $509 million — went toward provider relief payments, with the next largest sum of $441 million going to schools and broadband. Counties, cities, and townships received the remaining $1.9 billion.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided the State of Ohio another $5.4 billion — with counties, municipalities, and townships receiving an additional $5.3 billion. Of the state’s funds, about $3.5 billion has already been appropriated, including $1.4 billion to repay a federal loan for the exhausted unemployment fund — action that was strongly supported by the OMA. 8/24/2022