Public Policy Advocates

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Governor Strickland Announces Plan to Eliminate Waiting Lists for the PASSPORT, Assisted Living, and PACE Programs

Governor Strickland announced this week a transfer of about $5 million from the Department of Job and Family Services to the Department of Aging.  If approved by the controlling board, this transfer will provide PASSPORT, Assisted Living, and PACE program services to the nearly 500 senior citizens currently on waiting lists.  Both chambers of the legislature have introduced legislation which would address similar issues and both bills appear to be moving towards passage.  Despite the Governor’s action, legislation will continue to move forward, because the bills would also expand options for the elderly to permit qualification for enrollment directly into the PASSPORT, Assisted Living and PACE programs through the Home First process without first having to be admitted to a nursing facility.  In addition to providing immediate relief to seniors in need of care, this fund transfer is expected to cut Medicaid costs significantly.

Strickland, Kasich Appear in First Joint Public Forum

This week Governor Strickland and his Republican challenger John Kasich both appeared before the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation to discuss the needs of Ohio’s agricultural industry, and also took part in Q&A sessions on a wide range of topics.  During his Q&A session, Mr. Kasich took the opportunity to criticize Mr. Strickland for his support of the development of passenger rail between Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.  Mr. Kasich said the $400 million in federal money could more effectively be used to improve roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.  However, Mr. Strickland said that the money, which was granted to Ohio as part of a federal rail development program, can only be used for passenger rail development, and can not be used for other transportation-related projects such as roads and bridges.

House, Senate Differ on Implementation of Alternative Energy Tax Credit

Last week Governor Strickland called on the legislature to introduce a bill that would eliminate the Tangible Personal Property Tax on businesses that begin construction on alternative energy production or storage facilities.  Rep. Roland Winburn (D-Dayton) and Sen. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) both announced intentions to introduce legislation to that effect, but the prpopsals differ significantly.

Mr. Winburn’s plan would phase out the TPP on businesses that qualify as alternative energy producers, reducing their tax rate over the next decade.  Mr. Widener’s plan would instead allow alternative energy companies to apply to the Ohio Air Quality Development Agency for property-tax-exempt status.  In lieu of the TPP, these companies would pay $6,000 per megawatt of energy produced, which he estimates will reduce the tax liability of these companies by approximately $35,000 per megawatt. 

Sen. Widener said that his proposal was preferable to local communities, who would know exactly how much tax money to expect from these businesses, instead of relying on a varying formula each year.  Mr. Widener said this will allow schools and local governments to more accurately budget in the future.

Businesses & Universities Connect For Economic Development in Biomedical and Health Care

Governor Strickland and Higher Education/Board of Regents’ Chancellor Eric Fingerhut announced the second round of Ohio Centers of Excellence, a program to align business and university researchers, with the focus this time on biomedicine and health care at 14 Ohio universities. Centers at 14 universities throughout the state are committed to focusing their academic and research activities on biomedical and health care to create jobs in Ohio and further strengthen Ohio’s international reputation as a leader in bioscience research and development. Ohio is already home to 775 bioscience-related companies, including the headquarters to two Fortune 500 companies–Cardinal Health and Procter & Gamble.  

A new report from Greater Ohio and the Brookings Institute, Restoring Prosperity: Transforming Ohio’s Communities for the Next Economy, says Ohio has the makings of an advanced economy but needs to better focus on its strengths and reform a government structure built for the 19th century.  “The Biomedical and Health Care sectors are two of the fastest growing industries in the country,” said Chancellor Fingerhut. “Each Center of Excellence brings unique approaches that, together, will drive economic growth and establish Ohio as the national leader in biomedicine and health care.”  For the full press release from Governor Strickland on this program, click here.