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The Daily Advocate
Reprinted with permission
Heather Meade
Staff Writer
10/20/21
GREENVILLE - The four state representatives for the Darke County area, State Reps. Richard Adams (R-Troy) and
Jim Buchy (R-Greenville), and State Senators. Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) and Keith Faber (R-Celina) were in
attendance Friday at the Darke County Chamber of Commerce’s State of the State Legislative Luncheon, along with
local chamber members and business owners.
“My personal opinion, they need no introduction,” stated Jeff Kniese, president and CEO of Greenville Federal.
“We’re very blessed to have this type of representation, as a small business person myself, we appreciate what you
do to encourage the environment to let us thrive on our own.”
Adams gave an update on legislature that affects small businesses, House Bill 209, a bipartisan bill passed
unanimously in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, he said.
“It’s indicative of the fact that when our colleagues are willing to work with us, we can come up with some good
legislation that has the support of all legislators,” stated Adams. “This bill affects local government, and as a result
affects local tax payers, and also affects the banking industry, and consequently affects businesses. Basically, this
bill would allow a local entity to have deposits that will yield overnight interest…It permits depository banks to
completely insure the deposits of the public entities. Banks have the option of not setting aside collateral to
guarantee that these deposits are fully and completely safe, which enables them to have collateral available to use
for making loans to small businesses, allows a great deal of latitude to be more active in the lending business to
grow small business and create jobs.”
Another important topic in Ohio right now is Medicaid, he said, and the possible addition of 800,000 Ohioans to the
program through the Affordable Healthcare Act. Adams stated that there is no revenue stream for Medicaid, and 39
cents of every tax dollar sent to Columbus goes to fund Medicaid, compared to 36 cents on the dollar for education.
Medicaid currently falls under the roof of Job and Family Services, but Adams remarked that the state is working on
creating an agency to handle Medicaid and keep their focus on that program, which now only has three criteria for
eligibility.
Beagle addressed workforce development in the state of Ohio, stating that 123,000 jobs have been created since
January 2011, but business owners find themselves having a hard time finding workers with the skills to fill those
positions. Governor John Kasich created the Office of Workforce Transformation to reign in the program, which
was housed in 77 state programs and 13 state departments, he said. The state is trying to streamline workforce
development, Beagle commented, with a one-stop shop for employers and job seekers, making it easier to
connect and create more growth for Ohio.
Buchy commented on the agriculture in Ohio, with Mercer County coming in at number one and Darke County at
number two.
“There’s a basic reason why we’re so strong here in agriculture, and why our economy and our lifestyle is the best
in the world – it’s family, it’s us,” Buchy stated. “Where mom and dad are married, living under the same roof,
rearing their children with the love of God, love of country, love of family, discipline, morality, honesty, integrity
and hard work…It’s not coincidence, it’s families. Doesn’t make any difference if we’re small business or large
business…it comes back to families.”
Buchy urged voters to consider the Supreme Court candidates, stating that Ohio needs justices who interpret the
law, rather than rewriting it.
“Everybody in this room, all the small business people in this room, you all get up every morning, work those long
hours and weekends, spend time away from your family and you do it for a reason – it’s the same reason we do
what we do in the legislature: it’s about your family,” Faber remarked. “Jim Buchy said it well: in this area, we
believe families are important. They’re the bedrock of our local communities. And so when you talk about what
we’ve done and where we’ve been, we talk about that family.”
Since January 2011, 123,000 jobs have been created in Ohio, said Faber, bringing Ohio to number four in the
country in job growth, moving up from 48th previously.
“Let’s make sure we’re clear on something, government didn’t create those jobs, those of you in this room created
those jobs,” Faber stated. “Government can kill a lot of jobs, but Ohioans and small business people create jobs.
Over 70 percent of the jobs in this district and this state are small business.”
Ohio’s lawmakers realized that taxes and spending weren’t the only problems in Ohio, Faber stated, and so Ohio
is working on regulatory reform; getting out of the way so that businesses can take the lead in creating jobs and
continuing to boost Ohio’s economy.
“Our ability to move at speed of business made a difference in keeping FRAM in Greenville – if we’d just sat
around…we would not have gotten the response they needed to keep that plant open. It makes a difference, and
it’s making a difference all across Ohio,” Faber said.
Faber also urged a “no” vote on Issues 1 and 2, stating that there are processes in place already for changing the
constitution if needed, so a constitutional convention isn’t necessary and could cause unneeded problems, as
would changing the way districting is done in Ohio.
All four representatives urged Ohioans to vote this Nov. 6.
“Voters can no longer be apathetic,” commented Adams.
Faber urged employers to give employees an hour to go vote this election.
“This is God’s country, and we still believe families are important. Give your children the same opportunities we’ve
had in Ohio,” Faber stated.
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