State Reps. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) recently introduced House Bill (HB) 378, a bill that would create the Ohio Broadband Development Grant Program, a program designed to encourage the expansion of broadband technology to unserved areas in the state.

“Whether it’s for applying for jobs, accessing critical health and financial information, taking classes or just trying to stay in touch with friends and family, the internet has become a vital part of our everyday lives,” said Rep. Cera. “HB 378 directs resources to build our broadband infrastructure and allow Ohioans in all corners of the state to be more connected than ever before.”

HB 378 appropriates $100 million over the next two years from the proceeds of bonds issued to support Ohio’s Third Frontier Program. Political subdivisions, businesses, nonprofits and co-ops would all be eligible to participate in the grant program, which will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency.

“With this bill, we have the opportunity to level the playing field for rural Ohioans when it comes to vital broadband infrastructure,” said Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell), Rep. Cera’s bipartisan partner on the bill. “High speed broadband is the only way we can continue growing our economic base by attracting new commercial development and securing a strong labor force, our most valuable resource.”

The bill has been assigned to the House Finance Committee, where Reps. Smith and Cera serve as chair and ranking member, respectively. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.

Franklin County’s six Democratic House members made a unique joint appearance for a town hall Thursday, where they highlighted state challenges, concerns about the new two-year state budget and legislation they are working to pass.

All six voted against the two-year, $65.5 billion budget that passed in late June.

“Show me your budget and it will show me your priorities,” said Rep. Kristin Boggs, D-Columbus, who organized the event. Lawmakers can talk about opioids and education, but “If it’s not addressed in the budget, that’s pretty cheap talk.”

Democrats didn’t think the budget did enough in those areas, Boggs said, and it sought to do things like freeze enrollment in Medicaid expansion. Republicans have overridden some of Gov. John Kasich’s Medicaid-related vetoes, which “chipped away at” Medicaid coverage, Boggs said.

Rep. Richard Brown, D-Canal Winchester, said the people in his district want good jobs, good schools, decent health care.

“The state of state is not as great as some Republicans would lead you to believe,” he said.

Brown ran down some state statistics — job growth trailing the national average for 56 consecutive months, more babies die by their first birthday in Ohio than 45 other states and we rank 45th in college affordability.

“We can do better and must do better,” Brown said.

They were joined by Reps. Hearcel Craig, Bernadine Kennedy Kent, David Leland and Adam C. Miller.

Members highlighted some legislation they are focusing on. Leland, D-Columbus, for example, wants to add Ohio to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, requiring the state’s elector to cast their vote with whoever wins the popular vote nationally.

Leland also wants to do away with Ohio’s marriage penalty, where couples with two incomes pay a higher income tax rate when filing jointly than if they filed separately. Leland wants to do away with the state requirement that Ohioans must joint file their state taxes if they file jointly on their federal income tax return. He would pay for it by eliminating the pass-through income tax exemption for business owners earning more than $250,000.

Kennedy Kent wants to end Ohio’s distinction as the only state not to mandate police officers to report child abuse if witnessed. She also wants to require every county educational service center to employ an emergency response planner and wants more access to health care.

“I want everyone to be able to get health care,” she said. “It’s well worth it that we save everyone and everyone appears to be equal.”

The modest crowd asked questions of the Democrats on topics including the state barber board, distracted driving and immigrant settlement.

Mark Cole of Columbus said the property tax is being abused. “More and more taxes are being dumped on middle-income homeowners. The city is granting tax abatements to everyone who asks for it.”

Lawmakers said city council could speak for itself, but they agreed that cuts to the local government fund by the state and lack of education funding is adding to the problem.

“Many of us are stuck with the bill. Our homeowners and our seniors are suffering,” Craig said.

The Ohio House Democratic Caucus announced that state Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire, has been appointed to a bipartisan panel of state legislators that will recommend solutions to prevent gerrymandering in the Buckeye State’s congressional districts.

Read the full story from the Steubenville Herald-Star here

Oak Harbor Mayor Joe Helle plans to announce Saturday that he’s running for the Ohio House for District 89, seeking to represent Erie and Ottawa counties.

Helle, 31, is seeking the Democratic nomination for state representative in next year’s primary. If he wins it, he would likely oppose the incumbent, state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, in the November 2018 general election.

Helle, who has been Oak Harbor’s mayor for a bit longer than a year and half, said Friday he decided to go ahead and announce early. His campaign site, joehelle.us, will go live Saturday. It has a ticker counting down to when Helle makes his official announcement at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“When I go to do something, I throw myself into it completely,” Helle said.

An early announcement also gives Helle time to start raising campaign funds and to let voters get to know him.

“I’m well known in Ottawa County but Erie County is going to be a challenge,” he said.

Helle is a former U.S. Army infantry sergeant who served in Iraq during the surge and also served in Afghanistan. He was discharged in 2011.

Since then, he has worked as a paramedic and a police officer and also served as regional manager for Team Rubicon, a veterans relief organization. He has two daughters, ages 2 and 6.

Helle said he’s running for the Ohio House for the same reason he ran for mayor — because he sees problems that need to be fixed. He said he respects Arndt’s service to Ottawa County, but believes it is time for a change.

Oak Harbor has lost about $150,000 in local government funds in the last couple of years. The cuts in state funding to local governments have forced local governments to raise taxes and reduce services, Helle said. Oak Harbor discovered it could not afford batteries and tires for its police cruisers.

“They are very much taking the target off their backs and putting it on ours,” he said.

Helle said he’s also upset with state lawmakers over the cuts in Medicaid they are trying to impose. House Republicans united to attack the program, Helle said.

“It’s an attack on our community’s most vulnerable. We’re attacking the people who need the care the most,” he said.

Read the full story from the Sandusky Register here