Darke County, OH News

GREENVILLE - Elected officials discussed issues on the November ballot on Friday, August 26th at the Darke County Chamber of Commerce's State of the State Legislative Luncheon. This event was hosted specifically
for Chamber members.

In attendance at the luncheon were State Rep. Dick Adams (R-Dist. 79), State Sen. Bill Beagle (R-Dist. 5), State Rep. Jim Buchy (RDist. 77) and President Pro Tempore and State Sen. Keith Faber (R-Dist. 12). Adams spoke about the importance of workforce development in matching jobs with people as Ohio reopens for business, adding he has talked to several employees with open positions who where they could not find
workers. Adams also serves on the financial oversight and Medicaid reform commissions, and he said changes must be made to ensure Medicaid is as economical and efficient as possible since it is funded by the taxpayers.

"In the state of Ohio right now, every dollar in taxes for state government you send to Columbus, whether it's income tax or sales tax, 39 cents is going to Medicaid," said Adams. "No other area of state government
gets more money. Education is getting 38 cents of every tax dollar, prisons are 11 cents and it goes down from there."

Beagle talked about Issue 3, which addresses the individual mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (nicknamed Obamacare). This issue says that in Ohio no law or rule would compel any
person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system, and a majority yes would be necessary for the amendment to pass.

"We added $247 million to Ohio's rainy-day fund," said Beagle about the fund which had approximately $2 until it was filled with the state's surplus tax revenue. "As business people, you know what a challenge it would be to live paycheck to paycheck and have nothing for contingencies. I'm pleased to report that we're starting to beef up that savings account again."

Buchy briefly discussed Issue 1, which if passed, would increase the maximum age for assuming elected or appointed judicial office from 70 to age 75. He also mentioned the importance of people no longer relying on
workers' compensation or welfare unless it is absolutely essential to prevent abuse of the system.

"What we have to do is get [rid] of the mentality of government paying for me not to produce.We have to make our citizens productive.We're all talking about jobs that are open that we can't fill," said Buchy. "The
two main reasons why we don't is because we have too many welfare programs making people not want to work. No disrespect to welfare for those who can't fend for themselves, but why make it easy not to work?"

Faber addressed Issue 2, where a majority yes vote is necessary for Amended Substitute Senate Bill 5 to be
approved. Issue 2 says the Amended Substitute Senate Bill 5 is a new law relative to government union
contracts and other government employment contracts and policies.

According to Faber, the average private sector employee in Ohio pays 31 percent for the cost of the premiums in their health care while many local government employees pay 9 percent of their health care premiums. He said Amended Substitute Senate Bill 5 does not eliminate collective bargaining, but it
levels the playing field.

"The taxpayers have to have a seat at the table," said Faber.

To learn more about Issue 2, Faber encouraged people to log on to BetterOhio.org.

Stephanie Leis
StaffWriter - The Daily Advocate
sleis@dailyadvocate.com