We are going to make sure the legislature doesn’t stray from their main priority of making Ohio a better place in which to do business. Our goal for 2019-2020 is to create policy that further strengthens free enterprise. At the beginning of each new legislative session, the Ohio Chamber develops a list of Public Policy Priorities that make it clear to legislators what Ohio employers expect from their state legislature. A competitive, modern economy will create an environment in which businesses can expand and create jobs with less government interference. When businesses are not stifled, Ohio’s communities thrive and all Ohioans win.
Ohio employers depend upon a well-educated, prepared workforce, yet virtually all of them are experiencing workforce-related challenges. Strengthening the talent pipeline, incentivizing the hiring of recovering addicts and former felons and ensuring better coordination among entities responsible for workforce programs are all components of successfully building Ohio’s workforce for today and tomorrow.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Kevin Boehner.
From energy mandates to wind turbine setbacks to the future of coal and nuclear power plants, a serious debate over reforms to energy policy has been a constant at the Statehouse over the past four years. We support efforts to create a comprehensive energy policy that balances a diverse portfolio of energy sources and technologies and provides for reliable sources of energy. We also know that economic development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive objectives and will work to ensure that environmental regulations are created without imposing undue expense and regulatory burdens on Ohio businesses and industries.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Stephanie Kromer.
The Ohio Chamber’s Research Foundation conducts a quarterly survey of Ohio business leaders to gauge their perceptions of our economy. For seven straight quarters, the cost of health care has been their top concern. We support meaningful reform aimed at lowering the overall cost of health care so it’s more affordable for employers, and we oppose the enactment of any new health insurance coverage mandates.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Keith Lake.
Employers need to be able to manage their workplaces and financial resources free of undue interference from all levels of government. Fighting against government mandates on employer wage and hour practices, advocating for uniform-statewide employment laws and maintaining employer control over their premises and workplace policies is what we do every day to make Ohio a better place for business. In addition, reform is overdue to our nearly insolvent Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. The time to fix the system is now, while the unemployment rate is low.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Kevin Shimp.
Decisions made in Columbus can have a significant impact—positively or negatively—on a business’s ability to compete and operate successfully. Therefore, there is a need for them to engage in both the public policy-making and political process to protect their interests and to ensure the values of the free enterprise system are not overlooked. This ability is crucial and must not be undermined. With special interests increasingly seeking to bypass the deliberative legislative process and take issues directly to the voters, the time has come to enact meaningful reforms to the ballot issue process.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Keith Lake.
The needs and concerns of Ohio’s small businesses—while the same as any other business in most areas—can nonetheless be unique. For example, complying with state rules and regulations can often represent a more significant burden on small businesses. That’s why continuing to build on the major regulatory reforms of the past decade and further empowering the Common Sense Initiative area are critical for the growth and vitality of small businesses.
For more information or to join the Ohio Small Business Council, please contact Kevin Boehner.
Perhaps in no other policy area has as much been done over the past eight years to make Ohio’s business climate more competitive. Now, the important improvements to lower overall rates, reduce the tax burden on small businesses and substantially streamline Ohio’s complicated municipal net profits tax must be protected, along with making additional reforms to clarify and modernize Ohio’s tax code.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Tony Long.
Over the past eight years, average private employers' workers’ compensation rates have declined by 37%, and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has delivered nearly $4.5 billion in rebates back to employers. Nonetheless, several reforms to the system need to be made in order to continue to provide timely benefits to injured workers while minimizing employer costs.
For more information or to join the committee, please contact Kevin Shimp.
