Leadership

This week, the OMA Board of Directors held its final meeting for 2024 in Columbus. OMA leadership and staff highlighted the critical work accomplished over the quarter and year, touching on the results of the Nov. election, key policy advocacy in the energy, workforce, and human resources areas, and forecasting the OMA’s budget priorities for the 2025 biennial budget.

Staff also highlighted the myriad of events hosted by the OMA this year. Thank you to all who sponsored, attended, and participated in the OMA’s events this year! 12/3/2024

Earlier this week, China announced a ban on exports of the minerals gallium, germanium, and antimony to the U.S., all of which have widespread military applications. The rule also increases the review of end-usage for graphite items shipped to the U.S.

China has curbed the export of these and other critical minerals across the board, but the new restrictions only apply to the U.S. market, further escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office next month.

Gallium and germanium are used in semiconductors, while germanium is also used in infrared technology, fiber optic cables and solar cells. Antimony is used in bullets and other weaponry, while graphite is the largest component by volume of electric vehicle batteries. 12/3/2024

This week, the National Association of Manufacturers, the OMA, and over 100 other manufacturing associations sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump highlighting regulatory actions that would boost the manufacturing economy and stop regulatory onslaughts that cost manufacturers $350 billion each year.12/3/2024

Ohio’s Senator-elect Bernie Moreno this week spoke to manufacturers at the OMA’s final Government Affairs committee of the year, detailing his key priorities over the next six years.

Moreno spoke about his plans to help improve government efficiency, including the distribution of CHIPS Act funds, his wish list for committee assignments, and his commitment to Ohio’s manufacturers. 11/21/2024

The Government Affairs committee also heard from former Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Paduchik, who provided a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 election in Ohio.

Paduchik highlighted the GOP’s strong turnout in Ohio and how the state’s political landscape has shifted in the last ten years. Paduchik also covered the defeat of Issue One and credited the OMA as the first trade association to endorse the “No” vote. 11/21/2024

The hotly contested race for Speaker of the House turned out to be anything but this week, starting with current Speaker Jason Stephens dropping out of the race entirely. Despite an 11th-hour potential challenge from Rep. Tim Barhorst being floated, current Senate President Matt Huffman was elected as Speaker with no opposition Wednesday evening.

Huffman’s leadership team in the House will consist of Rep. Gayle Manning as speaker pro tempore, Rep. Phil Plummer as assistant speaker pro tempore, Rep. Marilyn Johns as majority leader, Rep. Adam Bird as assistant majority leader, and four Majority Whips: Reps. Riordan McClain, Nick Santucci, Steve Demetriou, and Josh Williams. 11/20/2024

As the 135th General Assembly comes to a conclusion, state lawmakers in Columbus this week held elections for their leadership teams for the next two years.

The Ohio Senate saw Sen. Rob McColley elected as the next Senate president. The Senate Majority leadership team will consist of Sen. Bill Reineke as president pro tempore, Sen. Theresa Gavarone as majority floor leader, and Sen. George Lang as majority whip.

Senate Democrats unanimously reelected Sen. Nikki Antonio as the minority leader. The Minority Leadership Team will consist of Sen. Hearcel Craig as assistant minority leader; Sen. Kent Smith, minority whip; and Sen.-elect Beth Liston as assistant minority whip.

House Democrats also unanimously reelected Rep. Allison Russo as their minority leader. The Minority Leadership Team will consist of Rep. Dontavius Jarrells as assistant minority leader, Rep. Dani Isaacsohn as minority whip, and Rep. Michele Grim as assistant minority whip. 11/20/2024

The OMA submitted testimony this week in support of Senate Bill 63, which would protect Ohio manufacturers by reducing potential legal costs related to asbestos claims. Specifically, SB 63 would prevent employers from being named as a defendant in asbestos cases without proof of exposure.

The bill passed the Ohio Senate in May and is currently pending in the House Insurance Committee. 11/20/2024

This week, the OMA provided interested party testimony to the Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee on Senate Bill 275, sponsored by Sen. Matt Dolan, to create a virtual net-metering mechanism for local generation sited at brownfields and other similarly affected properties.

While the OMA supports the premise of the bill to allow many types of eligible electric generation technologies for virtual net-metering, the current language allows for shifting of benefits. The OMA has suggested that the bill be amended to include language that ensures the savings accrued by a project would go back to the customer whose investment produced the savings. 11/20/2024

Ex-Ohio Speaker of the House Larry Householder is preparing to ask President-elect Donald Trump for clemency, according to his campaign’s attorney.

Householder, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for his role in orchestrating the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history, is planning to submit an official pardon application to the U.S. Justice Department near the time of Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025.

The Justice Department normally requires people serving a federal prison sentence to wait five years after release to apply for a pardon. However, Housholder’s campaign attorney, Scott Pullins, stated that they will ask to waive the waiting period – which applicants can do, though it “is rarely granted”. 11/11/2024

This week, the OMA provided testimony in support of House Bill 432 which aims to address the shortage of career technical instructors in Ohio by creating alternative licensure pathways.

As employers continue to cite talent availability concerns, it is essential that Ohio’s students have access to education programs to assist them as they evaluate in-demand career pathways, including manufacturing. HB 432 is currently pending in House Primary and Secondary Education Committee. 11/11/2024

In a major comeback for the GOP, Donald Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States, with his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, calling to concede the election Wednesday morning.

Trump’s victory in Wisconsin early Wednesday morning cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the White House. Trump also took Pennsylvania and Michigan, the latter of which shattered the “Blue Wall” that Harris needed to stay in the race. 11/6/2024

Republican businessman Bernie Moreno on Tuesday night defeated incumbent and longtime Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. Moreno benefited from a strong Trump performance in Ohio, pushing him past Brown, who was outperforming the top of the ticket for Democrats.

State Issue One also failed Tuesday night by a margin of 53.8% to 46.2%. Despite a massive campaign and influx of dollars in support, opponents were able to ride Donald Trump’s performance in Ohio, which included a direct endorsement of the “No” vote by the president-elect.

A full breakdown of Ohio’s general election can be found in the OMA’s Post-Election Report. 11/6/2024

According to his spokesperson, Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint the replacement for Ohio’s U.S. Sen. JD Vance when Vance decides to step down now that he has been elected vice president.

The Dayton Daily News reports names that have been floated include term-limited state Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former GOP Party chair Jane Timken, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. 11/6/2024

Election Day is next Tuesday and Ohio manufacturers deserve to have their voice heard!

Visit the Ohio Manufacturers Election Center to check key deadlines, see the OMA-endorsed candidates, research all races in Ohio with the OMA Election Guide, and most importantly, make a plan to vote by or on Nov. 5! 10/30/2024

With less than a week until Election Day, Ohio’s incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown has seen his lead over challenger Bernie Moreno shrink substantially.

The RCP average from RealClear Polling has Brown holding a one point lead over Moreno, a stark difference from the six point lead previously reported.

Former President Donald Trump currently holds a commanding lead of +10 in Ohio over Vice President Kamala Harris, two points higher than his margin of victory in the 2020 election. 10/30/2024

The OMA expresses condolences on the passing of two great leaders of state. Former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Jo Ann Davidson passed last Friday at 97. Under her leadership, the Ohio General Assembly enacted landmark reforms, including electric generation deregulation, tort reform, and tax reform. She was an inspiring leader that the OMA worked closely with. Services were held on Thursday, Oct. 31.

The OMA also notes the passing of David Hobson, a legendary legislator who served in both the Ohio Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, where he held key posts until his retirement in 2011. Hailing from Springfield, David inspired many people who worked around him in Washington, D.C., and Columbus. Services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2.

“Leadership is a critical ingredient to high-performing government, and both Jo Ann and David had the right stuff,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “They were dedicated servant leaders who will be missed. Ohio manufacturers express condolences and gratitude to their families.” 10/31/2024

With the election less than two weeks away and early voting in full swing, Ohio manufacturers deserve to have their voice heard!

Visit the Ohio Manufacturers Election Center to check key deadlines, see the OMA-endorsed candidates, research all races in Ohio with the OMA Election Guide, and most importantly, make a plan to vote by or on Nov. 5! 10/23/2024

Three weeks into Manufacturing Month, OMA staff continues to traverse the state, including a recent stop in Lima to visit with Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman and Judge Megan Shanahan, candidate for Ohio Supreme Court. Three state supreme court seats are up for election this year.

Plan to attend the OMA Government Affairs Committee on Nov. 21 to get a full analysis of election results. 10/24/2024

This week, OMA’s Managing Director of Public Policy James Lee spoke during a panel at the Union County Chamber of Commerce’s October Business Impact Breakfast.

Lee was joined by Rae Ellen Douglas, hub manager for the Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership, Matt Springer, lead for Central Ohio Workforce Partnerships at Honda, and Shay Burris from Superior Plastics.

The panel discussion included addressing workforce challenges and the success of Industry Sector Partnerships, policy incentives that are investing in Ohio’s manufacturing workforce, and regulatory challenges that threaten Ohio’s manufacturing competitiveness. 10/24/2024