Small businesses provide most jobs. Many, if not most, small business owners pay taxes on their business earnings through their personal income tax. When they pay less tax, they have more money to give raises, expand their business and hire more workers.

Most people understand the need for taxes to provide essential services such as public education, police and fire protection as well as road construction and repair. However, there must be a balance between the amount of taxes and spending.

I was one of the few who stood up to political pressure and opposed the largest tax increase in Ohio history while a member of the Ohio House. I voted against that increase because we failed to make sufficient cuts to spending.

And to make sure everyone was paying their fair share, I supported the tax reform legislation that ensured all corporations pay their share.

The State Coverage Initiative (SCI) team presented the results of its year-long study to the governor in June, 2008. It laid out recommendations for the governor and legislature on how to expand access to health care, and keep it affordable. These recommendations will be considered during the biennial budget deliberations that will begin in February, 2009.

As a member of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee I work closely with the advocates who receive Medicaid services and the state agencies that serve them. I was one of two Senators selected to serve on the Medicaid Administrative Study Council to help evaluate how the state delivers these services and make recommendations for changes.

Medicaid consumes about 40% of our entire state budget, an estimated $24 billion every two years. This committee made recommendations on delivering effective and efficient health care to our most needy citizens.

During the budget deliberations in2007 I helped craft the provision to expand health care to more children. As part of this expansion I insisted on a fiscally responsible approach that requires parents who are able to help pay for this coverage. I believe people who spend some of their own money on health care are more likely to be more judicious in using the health care system than those who do not pay for some portion of that care.

I extended an open invitation for individuals interested in foster care to participate in discussions. These included public officials from the state and county offices of the Department of Jobs and Family services, foster parents and children, private agencies working with foster children and numerous other organizations working in the foster care system.

At times we had more than 40 people in meetings working on suggestions. They participated in the writing of the legislation. These efforts resulted in the passage of Senate Bill 163 and House Bill 214 which provide more training and assistance for foster parents, and protections for the children in their care.

Sexual predators target children. That is why I supported mandatory sentencing and more restrictive rules on where convicted sex offenders can live.

And while children may be the most vulnerable of our citizens, all residents are potential targets of identity theft. This happens when someone using your social security number or other personal information such as a drivers license to open a credit card account or get money pretending to be you.

I led the effort to pass comprehensive identity theft legislation that protects that personal information. Government offices are not permitted to post this information on web sites. Credit reporting agencies must allow credit card holders to block access to their information and restrict its use. At the time it was passed, House Bill 46 was one of the toughest laws in the country. It went into effect in September, 2008.

My work on this legislation is what led Ron Bridges, Associate State Director, AARP, to say,
“Thanks again for your work to protect personal financial information. It is a matter of peace of mind for many Ohioans.”

I do extensive work with the state agencies that provide support for senior citizens as part of my work as a member of the Finance and Financial Institutions Committee. I was one of two Senators appointed to serve as a member of the Unified Long Term Budget Committee in 2007. This committee worked to identify all the resources the state provides for senior citizens, and make recommendations on how to better utilize those resources.

One of the key focuses was on making it easier for senior citizens to access the services they need at different times. We often refer to this as a “continuum of care.”

For instance, many seniors are able to live comfortably in their own home for many years. Some however, may need occasional assistance. PASSPORT is there to help. At other stages of their lives they may need assisted living accommodations. Others will need the services of a skilled nursing facility.

Members of the ULTCBC recognize the importance of this continuum of care, and made recommendations on how state resources can be reallocated to address the diverse needs of our senior citizens.

My work on this committee is what Barbara Riley, Director of the Department of Aging, was referring to when she said,

“I especially appreciate your work to keep us both focused and yet thinking creatively and collaboratively. You are a real pleasure to work with.”