State Representative Jarrod B. Martin

Reflecting on our Independence

2011-07-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

As a young child, I always looked forward to the 4th of July. Not only was it another day to enjoy my summer vacation from school, but it was a day filled with family and friends, great food, and fireworks. In my young mind, it was a day just for me. The 4th of July is my birthday. It didn’t take long for me to understand that it’s also our nation’s birthday and to recognize the significance that the Revolution has had on all of our lives.

What began as a resolution declaring our independence from Great Britain eventually led to an all-out war, in which many Americans gave their lives in the name of freedom. They were defending a people who wanted justice and a government instituted to secure their unalienable rights endowed upon them by God, including, but not limited to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Today, our nation continues to send our young men and women to uphold the same rights and freedoms fought so hard for back then. As the chair of the Ohio House Veterans Affairs Committee, I’m continually searching for ways that we can make a life a bit easier and more enjoyable for our service members. Why? Because just as it was in the days of the Revolution, our country continues to be a place of opportunity and hope for the world; and we must honor and respect those who defend it.

I’m definitely enjoyed spending the 4^th of July with my family and friends. But while I enjoyed my time with them, the food we had, and many of the same activities we all partake in this time of year, I certainly took time to reflect upon the freedoms gained through our independence, the sacrifices of our military members, their families, and all that the United States represents to the world. It is my hope that, this Independence Day, you joined me in such reverence for our nation’s illustrious past and promising future.

Ohio Must Act Responsibly

2011-04-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

With the poor economic conditions we are facing, there is a lot of talk about wanting to ensure the next generation has the same opportunities that we have had. In fact, I believe we all want to leave our children with an even better future. It’s human nature to want them to have more than we did.
Some of the life lessons we teach our kids as they grow older are that you have to work to be successful, you have to save up your money and you have to be responsible in the ways that you spend it. I’m working on this right now with my own kids; my seven year old thinks he’s saving to buy himself a cell phone! The question is: why can’t our government follow that advice?

With a budget that is $8 billion in the hole, we must do everything we can to reinvent the way our state government does business. That’s why I’m supporting legislation that will get us back on the right track, including a bill that will ensure our state spends its money as efficiently as possible.

House Bill 2 reduces wasteful government spending as well as ensures our state agencies are delivering services through the most efficient structure. It requires Ohio’s state auditor to conduct a performance audit of select state agencies every two years, which will make our government more productive and responsive. As the state’s fiscal watchdog, Ohio Auditor Dave Yost is in support of this legislation and is eager to see it move forward.

We must make sure that our government operates as cost-effectively as possible and is not bogged down by layers of waste or inefficiency. House Bill 2 will offer both short-term and long-term solutions, which will save tax dollars for our families and businesses down the road.

Another way Ohioans can keep more of their hard-earned money is to ensure that they are not taxed simply because they chose to die within our borders—an egregious policy known as the estate tax. House Bill 3 aims to abolish this “death tax” because when Ohioans are taxed for working, investing and spending in this state, I see no reason why we ought to tax them for dying here, too.

Most states do not have a “death” tax, which means Ohio is put at a disadvantage and causes people to flock to other states as a means of saving their money. The tax is a hit to the middle class—farmers and small business owners like those of the 70th House District—who must face this penalty if their assets obtain a value of just $338,333 (the lowest exemption of any state).

I believe people should keep their own money. I believe children should not be punished for what they inherit from their hard-working parents. And I believe that we need to find ways of ensuring Ohioans stay here to do business and raise their families, rather than contribute to the economies of other states.

The passage of House Bill 3 is an important part of strengthening Ohio. I expect to be working hard on this and other legislation that arise in the Ohio House of Representatives. As your voice in Columbus, I will certainly keep you informed and ensure that our state is not only taking initiative on the economy, but is doing so in the most responsible way.

GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY WOULD BRING GREAT BENEFITS TO OHIO

2010-08-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

As we enter the final months of the 128th General Assembly, I hope that the Ohio House will take action to make state government work in the best interest of Ohio’s citizens. With 10.5 percent of Ohioans unemployed, it is clear that current laws and tax rates restrict the growth of small businesses and propel them to relocate to other states, taking thousands of jobs with them. This trend has become a status quo in Ohio, with many lawmakers still wondering why we can’t hold on to jobs and economic opportunity. However, if we don’t significantly change the way Ohio does business, can we really be surprised when we continue to hemorrhage jobs?

When my colleagues and I reconvene in the fall, I will continue to urge the passage of legislation that makes government more efficient and decreases the cost to taxpayers. My fellow Republican representatives and I have introduced numerous cost-saving proposals to address the issue of out-of-control spending and government bloat.

House Bill 25, for example, would consolidate state agencies and fix the business climate through a leaner, more responsive government. Currently, Ohio has 24 cabinet level departments and more than 300 boards and commissions, many of which operate inefficiently and needlessly drain state funding. HB 25 would reorganize the cabinet level departments into 11 core missions, eliminating excess payroll, overlapping services and bureaucratic red tape. It is projected that the consolidation would save Ohio taxpayers $1 billion annually.

With Ohio facing a projected $8 billion budget deficit, cost-saving initiatives such as HB 25 would minimize the tax burden on Ohio’s citizens and ensure that vital areas of the budget are funded. Being among the highest taxed people in the nation, Ohioans have less discretionary income to put into local businesses, which directly affects the state’s ability to create jobs. The current biennial budget needlessly increases spending and the need to tax Ohioans at a time when accountable spending and job creation should be the priority.

When my colleagues and I reconvene in November, I would also like to see the consideration of HB 302, legislation I introduced in October 2009. HB 302 is another cost-saving measure that can help put Ohio on the road to economic recovery. When enacted, HB 302 will prohibit using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 2009 funds on signs that indicate a project was funded with ARRA dollars. These signs, which you may have seen on local construction projects, cost $1,300 apiece. For these signs, Ohio has forfeited $1 million in stimulus funding that could have been directed toward job creation.

Both of these proposals are examples of the action we can take to reduce wasteful spending and get Ohioans back to work. As your neighbor and a father, I think there is nothing more important than getting Ohio’s economy back on track so there will be more employment opportunities for our citizens and children. If we continue to run our finances into the ground, our economy will continue to falter. My fellow state legislators and I should use the sessions in the fall to protect our economic future.

Ohio's Economy Continues to Struggle

2010-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

As you are well aware, Ohio’s economy has continued to struggle while other states have seen a slight economic rebound. Unlike many of our neighbors, our economy cannot grow because our tax rate is so high. If we were able to lower taxes, small businesses would have more income to hire new employees and businesses across the state would expand because Ohioans would be spending more. However, House Democrats raised taxes in 2009 and passed a budget last July that will cost the taxpayers for years to come.

The biennial budget, which passed in 2009, increased spending by $1 billion in 2010 and $950 million more in 2011. Tax revenue alone cannot fund this budget nor repair the state’s deficit. The Office of Budget and Management projected that the state’s tax revenue will grow by $974 million in the next two years, but will not reach the $5 billion necessary to replace the losses from this budget’s out of control spending.

To otherwise fund this spending, the governor proposed 150 new fees that will take nearly $1 billion from the wallets of the taxpayers. Additionally, the budget usurps $8.5 billion from one-time sources that could have been more wisely spent. On top of these sources, the state received $900 million more from the taxpayers after Ohio’s Democrats passed House Bill 318, which repealed the final installment of the income tax reductions and raised your 2009 income tax rate by 4.2 percent.

With the government reform initiatives my Republican colleagues and I proposed, the state would have saved more than $1 billion annually. Our proposals include legislation to streamline the bloated executive branch and to weed out wasteful Medicaid spending. We found areas where we can painlessly eliminate excess spending; however, the House Democrats decided to cut spending from the areas that need funding the most, including education and elderly health care programs. Their shortsighted moves will jeopardize important programs and will not pay off in the long run.

Raising my three children in Beavercreek, I frequently think about their future here in Ohio and whether there will be enough incentives for them to stay when they are considering colleges and careers. I fear that our state will not grow jobs and hold as many economic opportunities for them if we continue to overspend and burden our taxpayers. All parents hope that their children will have as many opportunities—if not more—than they had, and I would like to do my part to make this a reality for all of our children in the Buckeye State.

Martin Joins State Lawmakers To Oppose Cap and Trade Trickery From Washington

2010-04-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

COLUMBUS — Ohio State Representative Jarrod Martin (R-Beavercreek) today was joined by his fellow caucus members in signing and delivering letters to U.S. Senators George V. Voinovich and Sherrod Brown, regarding deep concern of the cap and trade and other impairing regulations.

“I fully support efforts to make the United States more energy independent and to protect the environment. However, it is doubtful these proposals would have any impact and would punish Ohio consumers with increased energy costs,” Martin said. “Our economy continues to struggle. We will not be helping anyone by putting into place policies that would drive more businesses out of Ohio and increase energy costs for every consumer."

In the letters, House Republicans outlined growing concerns of the economic consequences of legislative or administrative efforts to implement cap and trade policies or to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as pollutants. Moreover, concerns in the letter also expressed that Ohio is so reliant on these energy producers that these increased costs are really another tax in disguise that will impact all Ohioans. The implementation of these policies would be extremely damaging to Ohio’s long-term success and budget sustainability.

House Republicans hope to encourage Senators Voinovich and Brown to oppose cap and trade and other proposed greenhouse gas regulations and assert that as the state budget continues to face ongoing revenue shortfalls, establishing new taxes on traditional energy sources as a way to subsidize will lead to a steeper economic downfall.

Cap and Trade Letter to Senators Voinovich and Brown

Fee Increases Are Not A Budget Solution

2010-03-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

Ohio’s economic crisis has presented lawmakers with the unique opportunity to examine state spending, rein in costs and create a more efficient, effective government structure. However, many of Ohio’s leaders chose to maintain the tax-and-spend status quo by placing a heavier financial burden on the people of our state.

Instead of creating a sustainable state budget, Governor Strickland and House Democrats raised taxes and created more than 150 new fines, fees and penalties to support Ohio’s ever-growing government spending. Specifically, these fees will affect each and every Ohioan because they will be imposed on everything from court costs and birth certificates to real estate licenses and hospice applications.

One way the Democrats are nickel-and-diming their way to a balanced budget is through a $20 late fee for renewing your vehicle registration and driver’s license. Since October, 400,000 individuals have been forced to pay this late fee, which has fattened the budget by more than $6 million to benefit the tax and spend party that is in control.

In times of economic hardship, state government should shrink its spending to fit its means, not grab at constituents’ pocketbooks to feed its growth. For this reason, I cosponsored legislation to repeal this $20 BMV late fee on motor vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses and motorcycle endorsements. House Bill 428, introduced by Representatives Ron Amstutz and Terry Boose, has bipartisan support in the House and will help keep Ohio’s government accountable to the public.

It is my belief that the government should serve the people, not the other way around. The day we start squeezing petty dollars out of hardworking families is the day we should finally commit to cost-saving measures to rein in state spending. There is no excuse to justify robbing the taxpayers of money that could have been used to put food on the table or help pay their bills—especially when there are so many alternatives on the table.

Since the beginning of the General Assembly, House Republicans have proposed numerous bills that would streamline state spending, reduce Medicaid waste and audit state agencies. Most of all, these bills would hold Ohio’s elected officials accountable for their expenditures and ensure that each dollar spent has a dollar’s return. Together, our bills would increase government efficiency by saving the taxpayers more than $1 billion annually, which would not only put our state on track toward a balanced budget but also eliminate the temptation to raid the wallets of our constituents.

Ohio has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. It is long overdue that state leaders stop pilfering money from individuals who are just trying to make an honest living and provide for their families. As always, I will continue the fight for an accountable, efficient state government.

2009-2010: Commitment, Fulfillment, and Moving Forward

2010-02-16T23:39:00.000-08:00

As we approach the 2010 campaign season, I would like to take a moment to share with you some of the issues I have been working on over the last thirteen months as your State Representative.

Commitment

You may recall during my campaign that I committed to working on legislation to:

· Encourage the growth of existing businesses and promote jobs

· Put an end to wasteful government spending

· Improve our schools

· Limit the role of government in our daily lives

· Defend our rights, proud traditions and strong conservative values, including the rights of the unborn and the rights of our law-abiding gun owners

Fulfillment

Below is an abbreviated description of legislation that I have sponsored in an effort to uphold my commitments to you:

· HCR 11: To claim sovereignty over certain powers pursuant to the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

· HCR 14: To request that the members of the United States Congress refrain from enacting the Fairness Doctrine into law.

· HCR 15: To memorialize the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency to refrain from adopting any new regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock

· HB 203: To allow a concealed carry licensee who is not consuming liquor and is not under the influence to carry a concealed handgun in a retail food establishment or food service operation with any class liquor permit

· HB 302: To prohibit the wasteful spending of nearly $1 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds on signs

· HB 315: To introduce the Ohio Firearms Freedom Act that will allow for firearms made and sold within the State of Ohio to be exempt from federal firearm regulations and to challenge the abuse by Congress of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution

· HB 320: A part of the "Future of Ohio" package to afford to private sector employers the option to offer and to employees the option to accrue and use compensatory time off.

Moving Forward

I am currently working on numerous other pieces of legislation that are in various stages of the drafting process. I would like to share two of those that are very exciting.

The first is an unfunded mandate reduction for our schools. We have been working with the Ohio School Boards Association, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio Association of School Business Officials and others to craft this legislation. An effort such as this has not taken place since 1994 when nearly $75 million of unfunded mandates were removed.

The second initiative is a pro-growth, pro-business initiative to place wind mills on Lake Erie. I have been working with the Lake Erie Task Force and other officials from the area on this. If passed, we believe this initiative would sky rocket Ohio to the forefront of wind energy development surpassing the states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois who are competing with Ohio to both develop wind energy on Lake Erie and become the industry leader in wind turbine manufacturing. Ultimately, it's about retaining manufacturing jobs in Ohio.

In Closing

I am now serving on five standing House Committees which are: Public Utilities, Alternative Energy, Economic Development, Education, and Elections & Ethics Committees.

I have also been placed in a leadership position as the Ranking Member of the Alternative Energy Committee. In addition to those standing committees I serve on the Ohio Aerospace and Defense Commission and the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children.

I will be attending the Greene County Central Committee meeting on Thursday and invite any comments or questions you may have regarding the legislation I have introduced or the initiatives that I am currently working on with my colleagues. Please also visit my website at: wwww.electjarrod.com for more information.

It is a pleasure to serve as your State Representative. I am honored and humbled by your continued support and I look forward to seeing you soon.

2010-01-19T19:29:00.001-08:00

Status quo will not create jobs for Ohio

2010-01-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

How do we create jobs and attract businesses to Ohio, a state with one of the highest tax burdens in the nation? The short answer is, we can’t—mostly because in a highly mobilized economy where businesses can relocate to better business environments, Ohio can no longer compete.

We have a talented workforce and a long history of industrious success. So why has Ohio lost 231,000 taxpayers between 1993 and 2008, 105,000 of whom relocated within the past five years? The answer is simple, yet somehow consistently overlooked by those who control Ohio’s purse strings: our state taxes are too burdensome.

The root cause of Ohio’s financial crisis is a poor business climate and heavy tax system that has systematically repelled people from the state, which has led to a shriveled state economy and smaller tax base. At the same time, uncontrolled state spending has caused unreasonable taxes on Ohio’s remaining citizens.

Businesses are not static and will relocate to states that are most business-friendly, mostly those with the lowest taxes. In turn, entrepreneurs and college graduates will go wherever the jobs are, leaving Ohio with even less revenue and jobs than before.

And based on this past budget cycle, how can we expect Ohio’s Democrats to address another revenue deficit? You guessed it—with another tax increase.

Ohio has continued this dangerous downward spiral for years, and the effects have never been clearer. Whether the economy is prospering or struggling, we cannot afford any more tax increases that will reduce spending and investments by families and businesses.

In just three decades, Ohio’s tax burden has gone from the fifth lowest to the seventh highest in the nation. Today, taxes consume approximately 10.5 percent of Ohio’s income. Even regionally, our state has fallen far behind our Midwestern neighbors that all have moderate taxes.

Yet the high spenders in the Statehouse still wonder why we are bleeding jobs and families?

First and foremost, I believe that Ohio needs to alleviate some of the tax burden on small businesses. Small businesses create 80 percent of new jobs annually, and they are the leading employer of Ohioans. For this reason, encouraging business growth and retaining our homegrown businesses is one of my top priorities as your state representative.

Additionally, I have continued to advocate for a more fiscally responsible state government, one that is lean, transparent and accountable. Before the Legislature turns to the taxpayers to bail out the state’s finances, state leaders have an obligation to ensure that each tax dollar is being spent wisely and efficiently. This is why I have staunchly supported Republican proposals to streamline spending and reduce government waste. Without first making our state government work cost-efficiently, we will be unable to improve the tax code and make Ohio nationally competitive again.

The state cannot continue to soak the taxpayers with heavy taxes, because eventually we’ll realize that there are no taxpayers left to tax.

Lawmakers should promote job growth, not hinder it

2010-01-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

Ohio’s unemployment rate recently rose to 10.5 percent, and the Ohio Legislature should be focused on attracting, retaining and creating jobs to get people back to work. However, House Democrats have hit another nail in the coffin by raising taxes during our state’s most difficult economy in decades.

In October, a measure passed the Ohio House that will increase the tax burden on Ohio's families. House Bill 318, which was promoted by Governor Strickland and championed by House Democrats, eliminates the final installment of the 2005 income tax reductions and will increase your family’s 2009 tax rates by 4.2 percent.

Supporters of House Bill 318 claim that this bill is not a tax increase but a “tax freeze.” Essentially, this legislation changes your 2009 tax rates back to your 2008 rates and, in the process, increases your taxes retroactively. This bill is a tax increase because it “freezes” your tax rates 11 months late, which raises your taxes rather than freezing them. As a firm believer that tax increases will discourage job growth and economic development, I maintain that raising taxes at this time is irresponsible and shortsighted because it will hurt families when they are most vulnerable.

There is no question that as a Legislature, we need to adapt to the challenges that are thrown our way, and immediate action was needed to address the nearly $900 million deficit. However, House Republicans predicted this budget crisis back in January, and since that time we have offered numerous proposals to spur job growth, reduce government waste, and make state operations more efficient and effective.

The House majority has time and time again disregarded our viable alternatives to tax increases. House Republicans remain hopeful that 2010 will bring cooperative, bipartisan conversations about Ohio’s future. We need to take immediate action toward fixing what is broken with our economy, so we can revive our dying industries and bring new businesses and families to this state.

Unless we take a closer look at Ohio’s fundamental budget problems, we will continue to experience deficits and job loss year after year. Instead of returning to the taxpayers to bail us out again, the Ohio House should work cooperatively to find sustainable solutions to help, not hinder, our economic recovery.

Higher taxes are NOT the answer

2010-01-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

Governor Strickland and House Democrat's proposal to raise taxes on families and small businesses passed the Ohio House and Senate in December. House Bill 318 will eliminate the final installment of the income tax reductions set forth in 2005, which will force taxpayers to relinquish an additional $851 million in new taxes.

Governor Strickland and House Democrats supported the 4.2 percent tax increase while ignoring House Republican calls for waste reduction and government accountability. With a heavier burden being forced upon the shoulders of entrepreneurs, House Republicans fear the effect this tax increase will have on Ohio's long-term job potential.

"We have to keep in mind the fact that taxes are more than just a way for government to raise revenues, they are also a way to modify behavior.” Martin said. “When we want to encourage a certain behavior we offer tax incentives, when we want to discourage a certain behavior we increase taxes. House Bill 318 will discourage investment by raising taxes on the people who create jobs.”

Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years, according to the Small Business Association. They also employ approximately half of all workers in the U.S. and pay 44 percent of total private payroll.

House Republicans believe that raising taxes in this economy will ruin Ohio's competitiveness in creating jobs and attracting new business opportunities. With one of the top ten highest state income tax rates in the country, further raising Ohio's income taxes will compel families and businesses to relocate elsewhere.

“House Bill 318 is a tax increase on all levels, affecting the rich, poor, middle class and small businesses,” Martin said. “Ohio's leaders need to make a choice whether they would rather create jobs or continue to feed our bloated government with more waste and inefficiencies.”

House Bill 318

2009-10-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

House Bill 318 is the bill that the House Democrats have come up with to “fill” the nearly $900 million hole in Ohio’s operating budget caused when Governor Strickland decided to withdraw his plan to supplant revenues in the education budget with estimated revenues from VLT’s after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the VLT decision is subject to referendum. This bill, which recently passed the House by a party line vote of 55-44 with two republicans joining with the democrats, is an income tax hike of 4.2% for all Ohioans.

This bill will retroactively raise the income tax rates on all Ohioans and leave Ohio families with a bill of nearly $900 million in unexpected taxes. The legislation attacks small businesses that pay the state income tax and created 70% of the new jobs last year. Since many small businesses are sub-chapter S (or similar tax reporting entities) corporations that report their business income on their personal income taxes this bill will hurt small businesses.

Calling the bill anything other than a tax increase is simply dishonest. Here are the facts:

Current 2009 State Income Tax Rates
$5000 or less
.587%

More than $5000 but not more than $10,000
$29.35 plus 1.174% of the amount in excess of $5000

More than $10,000 but not more than $15,000
$88.05 plus 2.348% of the amount in excess of $10,000

More than $15,000 but not more than $20,000
$205.45 plus 2.935% of the amount in excess of $15,000

More than $20,000 but not more than $40,000
$352.20 plus 3.521% of the amount in excess of $20,000

More than $40,000 but not more than $80,000
$1,056.40 plus 4.109% of the amount in excess of $40,000

More than $80,000 but not more than $100,000
$2,700.00 plus 4.695% of the amount in excess of $80,000

More than $100,000 but not more than $200,000
$3,639.00 plus 5.451% of the amount in excess of $100,000

More than $200,000
$9,090.00 plus 5.925% of the amount in excess of $200,000

HB 318 Proposed 2009 State Income Tax Rates
$5000 or less
.618%

More than $5000 but not more than $10,000
$30.90 plus 1.236% of the amount in excess of $5000

More than $10,000 but not more than $15,000
$92.70 plus 2.473% of the amount in excess of $10,000

More than $15,000 but not more than $20,000
$216.35 plus 3.091% of the amount in excess of $15,000

More than $20,000 but not more than $40,000
$370.90 plus 3.708% of the amount in excess of $20,000

More than $40,000 but not more than $80,000
$1,112.50 plus 4.327% of the amount in excess of $40,000

More than $80,000 but not more than $100,000
$2,843.30 plus 4.945% of the amount in excess of $80,000

More than $100,000 but not more than $200,000
$3,832.30 plus 5.741% of the amount in excess of $100,000

More than $200,000
$9,573.30 plus 6.24% of the amount in excess of $200,000

With the information in hand, you can decide for yourself whether or not this is a tax increase!

The bill has been deceptively labeled the “Education Funding Protection Plan” because it purports to protect the revenue stream aimed at education from the VLT’s. When Governor Strickland gambled with the VLT’s he simply moved money from the schools back to the general revenue fund. We can just as easily protect our schools and move the money back to the schools from the general revenue fund. This is the responsible thing to do. The fear-mongering that has taken place is shameful. By moving the money back to the schools from the general revenue fund we can have a responsible debate about the entire state budget which actually grew this year by nearly 7%.

Since July of this year alone, this administration has increased state spending by $220 million through the controlling board. House democrats claim that republicans have no solutions yet they continue to table our amendments and refuse to even hold a single hearing on issues such as HB 25. HB25, introduced by republicans in January would restructure the executive branch of Ohio’s government and has an estimated savings of $2 billion. Republicans have also introduced HB 240 which puts in place recommendations made by the State Auditor to enhance Medicaid and would have an estimated savings of more than $300 million. HB 65 and HB 120, also republican sponsored legislation would include additional savings, yet as of today, none have had a single hearing.

Democrats have no interest in doing any real work on behalf of Ohioans. While they have repeatedly stated that they believe increasing taxes in this economy would only worsen the recession, their actions indicate their true feelings…that government is the solution to all of your problems and we can only solve the difficulties we face by increasing taxes and expanding government.

The Future of Ohio

2009-09-29T21:43:00.000-07:00

Back To Work

2009-09-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a blog. The legislature has been on summer recess. Most of us have been busy going door-to-door in our districts while continuing to work on legislation to be introduced upon our return to Columbus. Of course, as soon as we came back to Columbus; Speaker Buddish and the democrats in control of the Ohio House of Representatives promptly cancelled session for the rest of this week and all of next week! The communication and leadership of those in the majority has been dismal at best. Most of the decisions made by this general assembly has been dismal as well. Below is the text of my August 2009 Guest Column for the newspaper. It was picked up by a few other sources so you may have already seen it but I felt it was worth sharing here as well.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY LIES IN JOB CREATION, NOT SPENDING

As Ohioans become increasingly concerned about the direction in which our nation is heading, the state and federal government continue to become more involved in the everyday lives of its citizens. With recent talks in Washington about government-controlled health care and cap-and-trade on fuel emissions, Americans are witnessing government power growing at an astounding rate. Here in Ohio, government growth has immediately impacted the wallets of taxpayers who are forced to finance wasteful spending.

The recent passage of Ohio’s state operating budget marked an unprecedented reliance on one-time money to fill the budget hole and create additional government programs. This particular budget cycle has seen a significant shortfall in revenues, but instead of cutting spending to compensate for the deficit, many of my colleagues in the Legislature opted to dump $7 billion in one-time funds into Ohio’s General Revenue Fund. These funds, along with tax dollars and revenues, will be distributed among state agencies to fund programs like Medicaid and education. A major concern for my colleagues in the House Republican Caucus is the probability that the one-time money will run out before Ohio’s economy rebounds, which would leave many essential programs underfunded and force taxpayers to pick up the slack.

At a time when Ohioans are suffering through the deepest recession in decades, one question remains unanswered: why would our state legislature expand government and create additional programs when it has difficulty supporting the programs already in place? As a business owner, I have advocated for sensible financial policies that would scale down government spending to match our state’s sunken revenues. After all, business owners and families understand the importance of living within one’s means and trimming excessive spending during difficult times. Unfortunately, our state budget has actually increased spending by nearly $2 billion during the next two years, and with the dependence on short-term money for long-term projects, it is likely that Ohio’s taxpayers will shoulder the finances in the end.

The answer to Ohio’s economic recovery lies not in raising taxes to fund government growth, nor does relying on one-time money provide a lasting answer to our budget hole. With unemployment steadily climbing in Ohio, our state legislators need to turn our economy around by creating a better business environment and attracting and retaining jobs. Entrepreneurship and small business growth will help create jobs, increase productivity, and maximize competition and innovation. Ohio has great potential that can be realized through a focus on job creation and business, not structural inefficiency and high taxes.

Government has grown into an entity it was never intended to be. Instead of enforcing national security and protecting our economic markets, it has transformed into a hungry monster that consumes more and more of our hard-earned income. Excessive spending by government ultimately hinders our state’s long-term success, and in recent years, government spending has swelled due to increased entitlement expenditures and inefficient services. As always, I will continue to advocate for a government that benefits its citizens, not a government that relies on the people for profit.

I am Life Athlete

2009-06-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

I want to share Life Athlete with you. A concept that has been in existence for years and is being further cultivated by my good friend Joe Heskett.

Joe was a World Class wrestler whose spectacular career was horrifically cut short by a heart ailment that forced him to retire. Beyond that, Joe is one of the best human beings I have ever met. He is an inspiration to all those who have ever met him. Words do not begin to describe the amount of admiration and respect I have for Joe.

He is now working to advance those skills that sports bestow upon our children; hard work, motivation, determination, self-discipline, personal responsibility, respect and sportsmanship, among many others. The goal is to motivate people to make positive change, be a role model for a child and help to develop others.

I am Life Athlete. The sport of wrestling taught me many valuable life skills. I was able to travel the world and have become the person I am today because of the many positive influences and opportunities that were afforded to me.

I encourage you to visit the Life Athlete page; http://www.facebook.com/MartinForOhio?ref=profile#/group.php?gid=92660717738&ref=ts watch the videos of Joe describing the movement in his own words, then become a part of the movement to be a positive influence in the life others, be a Life Athlete.

Representative Jarrod Martin's Public Service Announcement

2009-06-11T20:13:00.001-07:00

The Ohio Budget And Government Savings

2009-06-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that Ohio is in the middle of one of the worst budget crises in recent memory, and now more than ever it is important to present innovative and real belt tightening approaches to Ohio’s budget problems.

Currently, the state faces a budget deficit of more than $2 billion, double-digit unemployment, and a rising burden on our state’s welfare system when resources are drying up. Families are cutting back on their expenses and finding ways to scrimp and save money, and Ohioans who never needed assistance before are finding themselves asking for it now.

While families are being forced to cut expenses, our state government seems to be growing, as evidenced in the House Democrats’ version of the operating budget which increased overall spending by $1 billion. When looking for additional ways to find revenue and new funds in times of need, many minds will first turn to tax and fee increases to gain new revenues. Imposing a tax is not an option for families when they are looking for additional income. This isn’t fair to Ohio’s taxpayers who will ultimately foot the bill for our state government’s spending.

In times like these, our government in Columbus needs to look internally for cost-saving measures before one single taxpayer is asked to open their wallets. I can tell you based on my time in the Legislature that one can hardly take two steps in Columbus without tripping over an example of government waste. This is why I have joined my colleagues in the Ohio House of Representatives and co-sponsored House Bill 25 (H.B. 25) and House Bill 210 (H.B. 210).

H.B. 25 would shrink the scope of the governor’s cabinet from the current level of 24 departments and agencies to 11. To fully streamline government services, each of the government’s current functions would be grouped into divisions within the appropriate cabinet departments, thereby eliminating duplicate services and saving an estimated $1 billion annually, a real step towards a solution to our financial problems.

State government has not changed the way it has done business in more than 50 years. Removing wasteful repeats of services by consolidating agencies with similar functions will save taxpayers dollars. The House Republicans offered H.B. 25 as an amendment on the House floor as the state’s budget was being debated. The Speaker and House Democrats promptly tabled this plan that would free up $2 billion to help balance the budget.

A recently introduced piece of legislation, H.B. 210 would reduce the salaries of statewide elected officials in the next General Assembly by 5 percent until Ohio and our economy turns around. The pay cuts would equal those imposed on other state employees. It is yet to be seen what will happen to H.B. 210, but I hope to see the House recognize the necessity of this bill. As employees of both private and state jobs experience cuts in pay, it is only right that state leaders undergo pay cuts, as well.

Ohio House Weekly Update - June 8, 2009

2009-06-11T18:04:00.001-07:00

Jarrod's Sponsor Testimony of the State Sovereignty Resolution

2009-05-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Representative Jarrod B. Martin
70th House District

Sponsor Testimony
House Concurrent Resolution 11

Chairman Gerberry, Ranking member Daniels, members of the State Government Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to come and present sponsor testimony for House Concurrent Resolution 11. I also would like to thank Representative Jordan for his collaboration and sponsorship of this resolution.

We all are aware of the importance of the U.S. Constitution as the legal foundation of our republic, I do not have to tell you the dire implications of one level of government ignoring some, or all, of this document. Our Constitution has served us well for over two hundred and twenty years, in part, because of the great respect and adherence to it by both the federal government and the respective states. It is true that since it’s ratification in 1789, the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted by some of the most brilliant minds in our nation’s history. One question that deeply divided the political thought of the founders was how many powers were to be granted to a centralized government and what authorities were to be retained by the states. This discussion has continued through the course of history and it continues still today.

The fear of a strong centralized government arose, in part, from the unfair policies and taxation established by the rule of the British crown. Policies and taxation over which the American colonists had no say. Some of the founders such as James Madison believed that the federal government would never become too powerful because the people, with these memories so vividly in their minds, would not allow it. After many months of debate, the Constitution was ratified, but not before it was agreed that a Bill of Rights be immediately added. What resulted were ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantees the rights of individual citizens and states alike. These included the security and guarantee of our most precious freedoms; those of speech, religion, press, and fair trials among others. Included in this same Bill of Rights is the Tenth Amendment, which reads:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people”

I firmly believe the Constitution sought to ensure that all levels of government in our republic derive its’ power from the people, and the Tenth Amendment preserves this local control even in the face of the federal government.

As representatives of the people of Ohio, we play an important role between the constituencies of our districts and the state and federal governments. It is not only our right but it is our responsibility as Ohio’s elected officials to question the federal government and work towards the protection and preservation of a long established and sacred republican framework. Fellow members of the Ohio House and representatives sitting on this committee, we are the ones that must take a stand to preserve the delicate balance between federal and state jurisdiction laid forth in our Constitution. While there are many powers and responsibilities granted to the federal government from which the states are prohibited, all others are retained by the states or people according to our Bill of Rights.

We must ensure that the federal government is adhering to the responsibilities set forth for them in the Constitution, and not arbitrarily assuming powers outside their delegated authority. Our resolution, perhaps more commonly known as the state sovereignty resolution seeks to do just that. For many years now, the Federal government has demonstrated to the states and the American people time and again negligence in following their Constitutional authority. An authority delegated to them by the states! While the federal government continues to serve an important role within the framework of our federal republic, we the people cannot, and must not, allow it to continue to violate the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights any longer through the use of mandates and other regulations upon the states.

Some of the most prevalent examples of this can be found in the language of recently enacted laws of Congress. Laws such as the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act, which mandated education reforms on the states while severely underfunding the costs to the states. The REAL ID Act of 2005 mandated to the states the minimum information that would be required on driver’s licenses. The list goes on and on. Are the American people and the various states’ not capable of providing sufficient education regulations knowing that we in Ohio know how best to educate the young people in our communities? Or that we cannot decide what minimum information is necessary on the driver’s licenses our state issues? Most recently, there is word that the Federal government may transfer international terrorists from Guantanamo to our state. Congressman Steve Austria has introduced legislation to prohibit this from occurring, but I ask you, is that not our decision to make?
We took an oath to protect and uphold the Constitution of the United States and are duty-bound to ask ourselves, are these and countless other examples really within the Constitutional authority of the federal government and by our silence do we relinquish our constitutionally reserved rights to an entity we the states created?

Additionally, this resolution is about making sure that the federal government does not financially cripple our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. According to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office, the proposed federal budget includes a deficit of nearly $1.7 trillion. Even with annual budget deficits being reduced in subsequent years, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the total cumulative budget deficit between 2010 and 2019 will be $9.3trillion. A deficit this size has not been seen since the end of World War II. While the current economic circumstances deserve consideration, we should not be satisfied with the federal government’s rapid and unconstitutional expansion beyond the scope of its’ authorities delegated to it by the states. I cannot in good conscious support these and other measures enacted by the federal government that will prove to be an encumbrance to us and subsequent generations.

In closing, there has always been discussion of this topic in American politics dating back to the founders, and this resolution will not end this discussion. Make no mistake, Ohio is, and will continue to be, a proud member state of the United States of America. This resolution contains no secessionist language unlike similar resolutions proposed in other states, but rather seeks to have the federal government live within its constitutional authority. HCR 11 simply claims Ohio’s rightful sovereignty over all powers not granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, and resolves that all federal legislation directing states to comply with regulations or lose funding be prohibited or repealed.

I ask you to carefully consider HCR 11 and realize that this is not a Democrat or Republican resolution. This is an American resolution that simply asks that we follow the constitution. Thank you again for the opportunity to give testimony on this very important resolution. At this time, Representative Jordan has a few words. When his is finished we’ll both be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Ohio's $54 Billion Operating Budget

2009-04-30T12:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an historic day for the State of Ohio. Of course, House Democrats claim it's historic because of the changes to Ohio's Education funding - like many other things they have decided the debate is over and are claiming victory. But to those who pay attention, we know that it was historic not because we fixed education funding, but because for the first time since the DeRolph case was originally filed, Ohio is CUTTING funding for education! I don't think anyone thought when the governor campaigned on fixing education funding that he meant he was going to reduce the funding! And, the House Democrats continuously stated that we "finally have a funding mechanism that is constitutional". Excuse me, but I thought the legislature just wrote the law, I didn't realize that they interpreted it too! I thought that's what we had courts for.

When we passed (rather they; it passed along party lines 53-45 with one R absent) the budget yesterday, it had grown by about $600 million since the governor presented it, is 10% larger than last year and cuts funding to education by roughly $383 million over the course of the next two years! Much of the money for the new school funding formula is expected to come from somewhere, we just don't know where yet. But have no fears, the House Democrats have PROMISED to get the money. This led Rep. Seth Morgan to proclaim that we have created a new class of "unfundeds". We no longer just have unfunded mandates on the schools, but we now also have "unfunded promises" for the schools!

There are the conversion levies too! This is a difficult to explain idea that I'm not going to go into a great deal of detail on. But in a quick nutshell; conversion levies, if passed by the voters, will allow school districts to convert certain milage that we pay property taxes on to grow as your property value increases. Another easier albeit basic way to think of this is that your property taxes or at least a portion of them will rise at the rate of inflation.

Charter schools, E-schools, and higher education were also hurt in this budget. Charter schools will see a 20 percent cut in their funding. Institutions of higher education are asked to freeze their tuition increases for another two years and limit it to 3.5 percent after that while at the same time funding for two-year institutions were cut. E-school students were hit the hardest with a cut that will likely force many of their students back into traditional brick and mortar classrooms. The 74 percent cut in their funding will likely prove insurmountable.

The leadership of the House Democrats has been lacking during the entire process. Compare the passage of this budget (53-45)to the passage of the budget two years ago (98-1). I believe a nearly unanimous passage two years ago speaks volumes of the leadership while the party line vote yesterday tells a story too. And don't let anyone fool you into believing the Republicans had much of anything to do with this budget either, not that we didn't offer to help. Of the 150 or so amendments offered by Republicans both in committee and on the floor of the House, only about 2 were actually agreed upon by the Democrats. Talk about being bi-partisan and working together for all Ohioans! We are putting a lot of faith into the Republican controlled Senate to clean up this mess. Of course, they might be better off to pitch the whole thing and start over! Which, by the way, was an amendment we offered-to allow more time so some real progress could be made on fixing it-and guess what, it was denied. Go figure.

The budget is unsustainable and fiscally irresponsible. It uses over $5 billion in one-time revenue sources, including approximately $3.1 billion from federal bailout funds totaling nearly 10 percent of the GRF revenue. The use of this one-time money is setting us up for disaster in two years. The governor's own budget forecasters are predicting a $2 billion hole in the budget during the next budget cycle. Auditor of State Mary Taylor believes it will be closer to $8 billion. According to a report by the Legislative Service Commission, it would take a 24 percent increase in income taxes or a 31 percent increase in the sales tax to offset this hole. Of course, the governor is expecting that this won't matter because it will occur after his bid for re-election.

Current revenues are coming in under their original estimates and when House Democrats couldn't balance the budget as required by Ohio's constitution, they decided to use more optimistic revenue forecasts! Now, I've had to make lots of budgets, but never have I heard that when you can't make it balance that you should just adjust your revenues up, but that's what happened in the House.

The bill also includes over 150 new fees, fines, and penalties as proposed by the governor that will raise nearly $1 billion for the State. Most of which, amount to nothing more than tax increases because the funds are being used to free up funds in the tax-supported General Revenue Fund. The House Democrats added an additional $70 million in fees on top of those proposed by the governor. These fees apply across the board to everything from increased birth certificates and increased motor vehicle registration and vision screening to penalties on cosmetologists to increased livestock fees. Consumers will likely bear the brunt of the fee increases as businesses pass the costs on in the form of higher rates.

One of the most egregious of the new fees is the "Hospital Assessment Fee". The Ohio Hospital Association estimates this new fee will cost Ohio 6,800 jobs as hospitals lay off personnel to offset the more than $500 million they will be paying to the State. It is essentially a new tax on hospitals to help pay for the increases in Medicaid, which will now cover children up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This is a little over $60,000 for a family of four. We are likely to see employers reconfigure their health care plans to shift children of employees to Medicaid coverage and thus to state taxpayers.

A few other things in the Democrat budget that will affect your health care coverage (and costs)are the new requirements for all health plans to cover non-married, dependent children until age 29, and the elimination of the requirement that in order to receive unemployment coverage an individual must be eligible for continuing coverage through the employer and extending this coverage from six months to nine months. Here's the real kicker with health care coverage and the one that may leave your employer wondering if they should provide health care at all, is a new requirement that Autism Spectrum Disorder be covered up to $36,000 per year. Sounds nice, there's lots of kids with this debilitating condition and surely we want to help them, but the devil is in the details. This requirement is mandatory, the disorder MUST be covered, even if there are no dependents that need it, you will be required to carry a rider to cover it! Estimates have this costing $40 per employee per month. The exception...it is not required if insurance is not offered.

In these challenging economic times, the number one challenge confronting Ohio is job creation and job training to get Ohioans back to work. The budget as passed lacks focus on a job plan. But it gets worse because funding for some of our job training entities was actually cut!

The bottom line is that the governor and the House Democrats took the easy way out. They did not make the tough decisions that needed to be made. They did not prioritize. They kicked the can down the road and presented the State of Ohio with a 4,086-page behemoth of a budget that over-spends, over-taxes, and grows the government. It is irresponsible and Ohioans deserve better than that.

Doing business in Ohio

2009-04-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

It's no wonder Ohio is considered unfriendly to business and we are losing jobs at the rate we are!! When someone is about to introduce legislation, a memo is sent to all members of the House, Republican and Democrats requesting cosponsors. I received this cosponsor request today:

Rep. Sandra Williams

Memorandum

To: All House Members

From: Representative Sandra Williams

Date: April 1, 2009

Re: Co-Sponsorship Request

I will soon introduce legislation to increase the fees for renewing a C1, C2, and C2X liquor permit. Currently, C1 permits are $252, C2 permits are $376 and C2X permits are $252. The bill will increase the renewal fees to $2,500 each.

Permit Class Definitions:
C1: Beer only in original sealed container for carry-out only
C2: Wine and certain prepackaged mixed drinks in sealed containers for carry out
C3: Beer in original sealed containers for carry-out

If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact Tatum Rucker at 6-1414 or via email at Tatum.Rucker@ohr.state.oh.us by 5:00 pm on, Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

Thank you for your consideration.

Tatum M. Rucker
Legislative Aide
State Representative Sandra Williams
Ohio House District 11
77 South High Street, 13th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6111
(614) 466-1414
(614) 719-0011 Fax

Passage of Transportation Budget

2009-04-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

Recently I wrote about the mess the Democrats had made when we were first considering HB 2, and how the question was asked if we concurred with the emergency clause and the Speaker broke the rules and never asked the question about whether or not there was concurrence on the actual bill. Well, we never really got that straightened out, the final verdict was that the Speaker's interpretation of the rule is that it can be done that way and besides, he holds the gavel and they're going to do it however they want. He's once again reminding us that the Democrats control the House and they are going to do what they want.

I voted against the transportation budget along with 28 colleagues in the House and 2 colleagues in the Senate. Here's some of the highlights of the bill:

$100 Million in new and increased fees including increases in vision screenings for your drivers license, temporary tags, late license registration, vanity plates, and plate transfers
Takes appropriation authority from the General Assembly (where the State Constitution places it) and gives it to the Controlling Board to spend Billions in Federal Stimulus money
Allows an EMT to withdraw blood for purposes of the OVI law
Requires residential building codes to comply with the International Energy Conservation Code
Creates a new government position to oversee spending of Federal Stimulus funds

While this bill represents an improvement over what it originally was when it left the House, it still represents bad policy and irresponsible spending.

House Vote on Senate's Version of Transportation Budget

2009-03-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

An interesting thing happened last week. It was Tuesday March 24, 2009. We were in the House Chambers for Session. The Agenda included a vote on concurrence with the Senate version of the Transportation Budget.
Everything appeared to be normal, there was an emergency clause in the bill and the Speaker called for the vote, repeating the question to be voted on, as is customary; The question is, shall the emergency clause be a part of the bill? (I'm paraphrasing because I forgot my papers in the office) The vote came down: 93 nays 6 yeahs. The Speaker then states: (again paraphrasing), The measure failed to receive the constitutional requirement for passage, therefore the House does not concur with the Senate, the bill will go to conference committee.
My immediate thought was that maybe I voted wrong or made some sort of freshman mistake because I did indeed concur with the Senate changes. There was immediate reaction from other members, papers were rustling, a few people quickly left their seats to speak to others, and quiet discussion followed. Minority Leader Batchelder went to speak to the Clerk. The Speaker then proceeded through the remainder of the Agenda.
I sat in my chair speaking with my colleagues who sit around me. We were all wondering what had just happened because we voted according to the question asked. Normally, and by House Rules, whenever there is an emergency clause; the emergency clause and the bill are voted on separately. We had not voted on concurrence! Yet the Speaker said we did and that we voted against it!!!
Later that evening in caucus, the leadership outlined what had happened and what recourse and actions we might take. We were sure to get copies of the Journal - both, to make sure that it would not be changed and to prove that there was never a vote taken on concurrence with the Senate. Some members, like Leader Batchelder, said that in his forty some years in the Legislature, he had never seen anything like this! One would think that the Speaker of the House would know the House Rules!
Of course, all the rest of the week, the media reported that the House had rejected the Senate changes to the Transportation Budget by a vote of 93-6, which I think looks pretty bad. It looks like we overwhelming didn't like what changes the Senate had made. That is simply false. I mean, it would probably have gone to conference anyhow, but the vote would have been more like 53-46.
What happens from here I'm not sure. The Conference Committee has been scheduled and rescheduled about six times now. Of course, I don't know what they have to talk about in conference committee, the only thing we voted on was the emergency clause! It has been suggested that because the democrats screwed it up that they will have to accept the Senate changes or that they might be able to request a reconsideration.
Whatever happens, I know this much; the democrats don't seem to know what they are doing and I did not vote against the Senate changes to the Transportation Budget, I voted against the emergency clause!

Just Another Government Outrage

2009-03-18T20:46:00.001-07:00

I've recently learned that we are now providing social benefits to individuals based on a "categorical eligibility" meaning that if you qualify for one program (like unemployment) then you automatically qualify for other entitlement programs without any further verification of need! The result is that we are now giving food stamps to individuals with multiple rental properties and one family with a net worth of more than $400,000!
Read more here: http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/17/ws031909commission.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

The Dayton Daily News has written about three articles on it.

Soverignty and the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

2009-03-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

The definition of sovereignty is the supreme power or control especially over a body politic; freedom from external control; controlling influence. We think of countries around the globe as independent sovereign states and I have to ask, do we think of Ohio as a sovereign state? The answer should be yes! Ohio and the other forty-nine states that make up the United States are in fact sovereign. These fifty independent states should be likened to fifty small countries, each with their own boundaries, laws, and leaders. Indeed, there is a legal argument to be made with that statement, see http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/02/21/were-the-states-sovereign-nations-2/ for more discussion on that.

The states delegated certain rights of their sovereignty to a central federal government with ratification of the constitution and I will briefly examine the term delegate as it is done in the link above. To delegate is to transfer power or to assign. Therefore, it is fair to say that the states assigned or transferred certain rights to the federal government. However, ever so mindful as the founders were, there was a fear that eventually a large central government would become too large, too powerful, and begin to overtake or usurp the rights and power of the states. Thus, in the Bill of Rights passed very shortly after the constitution, we have the 10th Amendment, which reads:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

The tenth amendment defines the entire scope of the federal government. More precisely, it limits the scope of the federal government to only those powers delegated to it by the states. Therefore, the federal government derives its power from the states. It is an agent of the states.

It can be argued that since its inception, through the Civil War, the passage of the 16th and 17th Amendments and into today, the federal government has been overstepping its authority of the states. In The Federalist Papers, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay argued in favor of a central federal government telling us that the federal government could never grow too large because the people would not stand for it, they would never allow that to happen. They were wrong.

Today, the federal government continuously dictates to the states. The federal government tells the states that they must pass this legislation or that legislation if they are to receive federal funding. One most egregious example is in the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, states are required to raise Medicaid eligibility standards to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. Here's an example of what that means: Federal poverty guidelines for a four person household equals a yearly income of $21,200, 300% = 21,200 X 3 = $63,600!!! Therefore, in my house with my wife and three kids and my income as a State Representative, I can qualify for Medicaid!! Do we really need to give handouts to people with that kind of income?

It is for these reasons and so many more which I've not covered today, that I have introduced Ohio's State Sovereignty Resolutions. The Resolution is not as strongly worded as some states have introduced (there's no language of secession), but more strongly worded than other states.

The Resolution is to reaffirm our rights under the Constitution as a sovereign state, to tell the federal government that we believe in the Constitution and to let the federal government know that we expect them to abide by it. To learn more about Ohio State Sovereignty and what other states have been doing, visit The Ohio Republic. Be sure to click through to the other sites that they are connected to.