Republican News

COLUMBUS – State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) was honored at the Buckeye Art Therapy Association’s (BATA) 37th Annual Symposium for her work to advance the licensure of art therapists in the state of Ohio with Sub. House Bill 557. After receiving the award last year for her work on Sub. H.B. 557, BATA renamed the award “The Marlene B. Anielski Legislator of the Year Award.”

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and as the 15th leading cause of death worldwide, it is of vital importance to raise awareness for this issue and provide resources to those in need. Approximately one person succumbs to suicide every 40 seconds—a statistic that is simply mind-blowing—and it’s evident that more needs to be done.

PARMA—Local members of the Walton Hills community came out to the Parma-Snow Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library to attend the 15th Military Resource Fair. The fair, organized by State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills), sought to connect military personnel with the services available to them through federal, state, county, local businesses and organizations.

Oftentimes, many in Ohio look out-of-state for unusual and fun vacation destinations, without realizing that Ohio has a booming tourism industry with many unique options right here at home. It’s incredible what special places you can find in your home state after a little research. In fact, tourism is a major economic driver for the state as a $44 billion industry. In 2017, Ohio welcomed 219 million visitors, most of which come from within a day's drive.

State Representative Steve Hambley (R-Brunswick) this week was appointed by Ohio House Speaker Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) to serve as Co-Chair of the Regional Economic Development Alliance Study Committee.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) today announced that the Department of the Interior has decided to nominate Fort Ancient to be designated as a World Heritage Site. This would be Ohio’s first World Heritage Site.

State Representative Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) was joined today by State Representative Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) to announce the findings of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Military Affairs Task Force. Maj. Gen. (retired) Paul Sullivan, Brig. Gen. (retired) Richard Green, Col. (retired) Cassie Barlow, and Steve Tugend, who served as members of the task force, were also present for the announcement.

COLUMBUS—Speaker Pro Tempore of the Ohio House Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) today has outlined a process that will determine the House’s future leader.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) announced Jerilyn Garrett as the 90th House District winner of the 2018 Ohio House of Representatives Student Art Exhibition. 

COLUMBUS—State Representative Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) this week presented a resolution honoring the Fayette County Dragons Special Olympics basketball team to the team members, coaches, and staff. Rep. Scherer presented the resolution at the Ohio Statehouse in honor of the team’s win of the Special Olympics Division II tournament, and did so alongside State Senator Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) who presented a Senate resolution to the team.

COLUMBUS—The Ohio House Education and Career Readiness Committee today passed legislation aimed at increasing opportunities for Ohio’s youth to become more educated and better informed about financial literacy.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Candice Keller (R-Middletown) testified before the House Federalism & Interstate Relations Committee on House Concurrent Resolution 26, a measure she is sponsoring that names Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Jeffery Rezabek (R-Clayton) and Candice Keller (R-Middletown) provided sponsor testimony in the House Ways and Means Committee for House Bill 575, legislation they jointly sponsored. House Bill 575 seeks to provide financial relief for volunteer firefighters and certain volunteer emergency personnel, and to incentivize Ohioans to continue to offer volunteer services to their communities.

COLUMBUS – State Representative Marlene Anielski (R-Walton Hills) was among the crowd of dozens of people who witnessed the enshrinement of the 2017 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame inductees. Among the class of 2017, is Gulf War veteran, Holly Koester. Captain Koester, a retiree from the United States Army, has dedicated her life to pushing the boundaries of service and sport for disabled veterans.

COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Hughes (R-Upper Arlington) has introduced legislation that provides long-overdue structure reform for the compensating and providing of financial security to Ohioans who have lost their loved ones in the line of duty. The bill changes certain details regarding death benefits for families of deceased Ohio public safety officers. While under current law death benefits are only distributed until the first eligible date of retirement (which is at 25 years of service or 48 years of age), under Rep. Hughes’ bill death benefits will be provided through to a full retirement (which is at 33 years of service or 70 years of age).

COLUMBUS—State Representative Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) today announced that the governor has signed into law House Bill 354, a bill that Reineke sponsored to enhance efficiency in the way Seneca County courts address low-level drug offenses.