State may change pension requirements for teachers

Apr. 26, 2012, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum

By Jessica Alaimo
CentralOhio.com

Teachers may have to work longer and pay more into their pension system if a proposal to the Ohio Legislature is accepted.

The Legislature is moving on public pension reform, and three of the funds have updated their proposals. The most significant updates are in the State Teachers Retirement System, or STRS.

These reforms are happening because three of the five pension systems don't meet the state-required obligation of being able to pay off all their benchmarks within 30 years. All funds recognize changes need to be made for long-term stability.

Read more in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.

Ohio considering workers' comp reform

Apr. 19, 2012, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette

By Jessica Alaimo
CentralOhio.com

Ohio lawmakers want to attract more employers to the state, and one key to doing so is improving the state's workers' compensation system.

State Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, is overseeing hearings on three bills that would do just that. Hottinger is chairman of the House Insurance Committee.

The bills do not involve privatization of or competition for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.

The state's main goal is to make sure injured employees get access to better medical care so they can go back to work sooner, Hottinger said.

Read more in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.

Anti-abortion measures gaining traction in Ohio

Jan. 15, 2012, Marion Star

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

If you have been out and about over the weekend, there’s a good chance you were approached about the Personhood Amendment, a ballot measure that could effectively end abortion in Ohio.

It’s just another step forward in a successful yet contentious era for Ohio’s abortion opponents. The Ohio Legislature passed seven anti-abortion measures last year — the most in recent memory of Ohio Right to Life Society President Mike Gonidakis.

“Elections have consequences,” Gonidakis said. “In 2010 every Ohio Right to Life-endorsed candidate was elected.”

These candidates pursued the organization’s legislative agenda, he said. But there’s more on the horizon, with pending measures so volatile the anti-abortion movement is fractured. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is already promising legal action.

12 for ’12: Key issues for Ohio

Jan. 2, 2012, Marion Star

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

If Ohio's New Year's resolution is to have even more political bickering, maneuvering and nasty ads, 2012 could very well be its year.

Once again the state will be a hotbed for presidential campaign activity. There will be at least one referendum on the fall ballot, and the attacks are already flying in the U.S. Senate race.

And nobody will be snoozing in Columbus, either.

Here are 12 public policy issues that will be upcoming this year. They range from Medicaid, to school funding, to public pensions, to regulating our four-legged friends big and small.

Map shift brings Schaffer back

Oct. 1, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo and Carl Burnett Jr.

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — Republicans moved the borders of Ohio’s new legislative districts Friday, putting state Sen. Tim Schaffer back into Licking County, although he won’t live in his remodeled district.

The moves cleared the way for state Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, to seek his former Senate seat in 2014 when term limits force Schaffer, R-Lancaster, out of the Senate and Hottinger out of the House. Hottinger confirmed he might run for the Senate in 2014, a seat he once had for eight years.

Friday’s changes came after several politicians didn’t like what they saw when the new state legislative districts were announced this past week by the Apportionment Board.

New law means more thieves will go to jails, not prisons

July 9, 2011, Fremont News-Messenger

By Jona Ison and Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

Law enforcement officials fear savvy career criminals will start swiping bigger-ticket items once the law allows them to steal $999 worth of stuff and still get slapped with a misdemeanor.

In a sweeping overhaul of Ohio’s sentencing laws last month, the General Assembly approved a provision increasing the threshold for felony-level thefts and vandalism. The legislation, which aimed to keep lower-level offenders out of prison as a cost-savings issue, passed with strong bipartisan support. Gov. John Kasich signed the bill into law June 29.

Projections differ when it comes to how much the legislation will save the state. Legislative analysis puts the savings at $78 million a year, while the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections estimated savings of $46 million over four years, The Associated Press reported.

Ohio House to vote on budget changes

May 5, 2011, Fremont News-Messenger

By Jessica Alaimo

Special to the News-Messenger

The revised version of Gov. John Kasich’s budget contains both good and bad news for local governments.

The good: A House committee eased proposed cuts to tangible personal property tax reimbursements, increased aid to schools, and provided funds to help local entities share services.

The bad: The new legislation repeals the estate tax, cutting off one revenue stream for local governments. It also reverses a proposal by Kasich that would have lessened local entities’ pension obligations.

Kasich and Republican legislators, who have the majority in both houses, must mend an $8 billion budget gap in the next state biennium. To keep repeated promises to voters, they must do so without raising taxes.

Local governments get more details on cuts

Apr. 21, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

Ohio municipal governments found out more details last week about the steep cuts they could face under Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget.

The Ohio Department of Taxation released figures showing the depth of the cuts from the proposed accelerated phase-out of state reimbursements for certain taxes for Ohio’s counties, cities, villages and townships.

Kasich’s proposal also calls for the local government fund, which provides state assistance to government entities, to be cut in half by the end of the next biennium.

What are Marion County legislators working on?

Feb. 6, 2011, Marion Star

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

The legislative session is under way in Columbus, and lawmakers are preparing to tackle some of the state’s biggest issues.

An $8 billion budget hole could mean major changes to local governments, jails and prisons, state employees and schools.

The Ohio General Assembly returned to work last month. As of Thursday evening, 86 bills have been introduced in the House, and 61 in the Senate.

What have Marion County lawmakers been up to these last few weeks?We contacted them to find out.

Lawmakers look at comp time

Jan. 31, 2011, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to The News-Messenger

Some Ohio lawmakers want to change how hourly employees for small businesses get paid.

State Reps. Andy Thompson, R-Marietta, and Jarrod Martin, R-Beavercreek, want to allow small, private employers to give compensatory time to employees. That would mean employees who work more than 40 hours in a week could bank compensatory time instead of collecting overtime pay.

Thompson and Martin’s bill would apply only to businesses with gross sales of less than $500,000. Larger businesses are governed by federal law, which allows comp time for public-sector employees but not private-sector employees.

GOP looks to end Ohio estate tax

Jan. 12, 2011, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO AND RUSS ZIMMER

CentralOhio.com

COLUMBUS — A bill was introduced Tuesday at the Statehouse to eliminate Ohio’s estate tax, also known ominously as “the death tax” by its detractors.

The state’s estate tax is the strictest in the nation, said state Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, one of the bill’s sponsors.

Although the federal government doesn’t tax estates worth less than $5 million, Ohio starts taxing estates at $338,000. This includes everything: cash assets, property, land and machinery.

Hottinger and state Rep. Cheryl Grossman, R-Grove City, rolled out a plan Tuesday to repeal the tax at a Statehouse news conference. Gov. John Kasich also supports the measure.

Collective bargaining process won’t go down without a fight

Dec. 31, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to The News-Messenger

Incoming state leaders plan to target public employment laws in 2011, but on Thursday backers of the collective bargaining process promised to put up a fight.

Officials from Policy Matters Ohio, a progressive think tank, argue that states without collective bargaining have the same budget shortfalls as Ohio. They also defended the state’s prevailing wage law and say that, overall, the state’s public employment laws are good for the economy.

“The right of public workers to unionize is not driving the fiscal crisis of states,” said Wendy Patton, a senior associate with Policy Matters Ohio.

Policy Matters Ohio has traditionally backed Democratic causes, and executive director Amy Hanauer has given to a number of Democratic candidates, including outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland.

Republicans will control state government next year. Gov.-elect John Kasich and GOP legislative leaders say collective bargaining leads to higher costs for state government and overpaid workers. They would like to see substantial changes to the state’s laws.

Pensions lurk over state, local governments

July 24, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News-Messenger

The good news first: We’re all living longer.

The bad: It’s costing the state and local governments a ton of money.

Since the average person spends many more years in retirement than in years past, there is a looming question of how to pay for it.

Most private sector employers have responded by dropping the traditional pension plan in favor of a 401(k) system, in addition to Social Security benefits. However, public employees still pay a determined amount into one of Ohio’s five public pension funds throughout their working careers. Then, they are guaranteed a pension for the rest of their life, the amount based on their earnings and years in public service.

That guarantee comes at a price — one that cash-poor state and local governments are struggling to pay for. Unless substantial changes aren’t made to Ohio’s pension systems, the funds will need to come from somewhere.

For taxpayers, that could mean fewer government services, higher taxes or both. For retirees, it could mean working longer before they are eligible to retire, and lower payouts when they do.

Ohio pension Q&A

July 24, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

By JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Unfunded actuarially accrued liabilities. Benefit accrual rate. Solvency. Fiduciary net assets.

STRS, FAS, YOS?

Yow.

Understanding Ohio’s public pension system — and why it’s a ticking time bomb that is threatening Ohio’s budget — can be daunting.

Here are some questions and answers that will help you wade through all the acronyms and financial jargon.

State lawmakers advised to tweet with caution

Jan. 29, 2010, Fremont News-Messenger

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

COLUMBUS — It’s dangerous to tweet and drive. But, according to state legislative leaders, it’s also dangerous to tweet and legislate.

The use of Twitter — a microblogging service allowing users to easily send short messages to the masses—became an issue for debate after state Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, tweeted messages during the State of the State address Tuesday, including: “I believe! I believe! I believe! Lame. Governor Strickland how about the $7 BILLION deficit looming???”

At a conference Thursday with reporters and state leaders, it was a point of contention and a point of humor. Legislative leaders spoke about controlling technology on the floor as a schoolteacher would talk about controlling a group of unruly kids.