Joe Uecker

State Representative

08/19/07

Ohio’s economy is finally, although slowly, turning around:

When I first took office with the Ohio General Assembly in January of 2005, I stood for a platform of turning Ohio around economically. This in turn would help solve many of Ohio’s other woes, predominantly those barriers which make running a business in Ohio difficult.  During my campaign, I met a constant barrage of various business groups who complained that Ohio’s largest impediment to success was how Ohio taxed businesses. I was thrilled beyond imagination when the new General Assembly met and decided as a group that business tax reform was a number one priority for the next two years.  Within the next six months a new law ushered in a rather revolutionary form of taxation that does not penalize companies for investing in themselves which in turn we hoped would also encourage companies to relocate to Ohio. We tied this tax reform with a 21% multi-year phased-in personal income tax reduction.  While the new tax reform tends to favor manufacturing concerns, when all Ohioans have good paying jobs, everyone benefits. All indications are that this in fact is happening.  There continues to be issues with certain industries that I and Senator Tom Niehaus have been lobbying to correct but we were flatly turned down by Governor Strickland who warned he would veto any attempt to make these changes that would in effect, reduce the amount of tax revenues.  Tom and I will continue to fight for these changes.

This month the State Department of Taxation issued its report that Ohio’s revenues are strong and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services is reporting that Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 % from 6.1% a month earlier.  This is still above the national average but all indications are that Ohio’s economy is turning around.  I reported in an earlier column that the head of one company that relocated into Clermont County told me he specifically chose Ohio over Kentucky and Indiana because of the more favorable business tax structure, as well as the General Assembly’s commitment to break down Ohio’s regulatory barriers. 

Now I know I sound high on businesses and that’s because I am.  Ohio’s businesses provide jobs with livable wages that help us maintain the quality of life we currently enjoy in Clermont County.  I am still a little curious about Ohio’s unemployment rate that is somewhat higher than the national average.  Have you looked at the help wanted section in the Sunday Enquirer lately?  With the number of jobs businesses need filled, how can our unemployment be so high? Curious. 

I recently returned from my first legislative conference.  I spent a week inside the impossibly large Boston Convention Center.  The weather outside was beautiful and there I was stuck inside seminars in rooms each day that were cold enough to hang meat. In my past careers I have attended conferences that offered a smattering of a few interesting classes.  This conference however was chock full of highly informative seminars.  I spent an entire Sunday learning about up and coming energy policies and technology.  With federal legislation on the horizon that will most likely mandate an energy portfolio that will require states to adopt alternative energy standards, this was very timely.  Ohio will begin examining electric re-regulation in the coming months and alternative energy technology will certainly have a forefront in the discussion. With my position on the House Public Utilities Committee and the House Alternative Energy Committee, the full day and week of energy seminars will most certainly pay off.

Do you have any comments regarding what is in store for Ohio’s energy policies?  If you do, please feel free to forward your comments to me.  I’d love to hear from you. Simply call me at my office at (614-466-8134) or write me an email (Joe@JoeUecker.com).  You can also check out my website for other articles I have written (www.JoeUecker.com).

Joe Uecker

State Representative

Ohio’s 66 District

Representing Batavia, Goshen, Miami and Union Townships as well as the Cities of Loveland and Milford and the Villages of Batavia and Amelia. 

Columbus Phone: 614-466-8134

Local Phone: 513-532-0912

Email:   Joe@JoeUecker.com

Website: http://JoeUecker.com