Ohio General Assembly - Busy, Busy, Busy
After a summer recess filled with hearings throughout the state, members of the General Assembly have returned to Columbus with a busy fall schedule. The Senate Committee on Medicaid, Health, and Human Services explored infant mortality in a series of hearings this summer while the House held study committees on tax reform, higher education, prescription drug addiction and healthcare.  These committees have issued or are preparing their respective reports, which likely means legislation introduced later this session.
 
The Kasich Administration won approval to expand Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through the Ohio Controlling Board.  The Governor was forced to pursue this controversial route because of strong opposition within his own party. Under ACA, the cost of Medicaid expansion will be funded 100% by the federal government for the first three years and 90% thereafter.  In addition to strong opposition to ObamaCare, many Republican legislators do not believe the federal government will keep its promise to pay expansion costs, hence their opposition.

The Controlling Board normally makes routine adjustments to the state budget but the Governor argued the board has authority to expand Medicaid without further legislative action. The board did just that on a divisive 5-2 vote earlier this week, thereby allowing the state to meet the Jan. 1 start date of expanded eligibility.

The Controlling Board's action has already been challenged in the Ohio Supreme Court.  How such a challenge impacts expansion remains to be seen.

The General Assembly is reviewing Ohio's energy policy, with specific attention on the state's Renewable, Advanced and Energy Efficiency Standards created by SB 221 in 2008.  Sponsored by the Senate Public Utilities Committee Chairman Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), SB 58 has been the subject of intense debate over the past few weeks. Most notably, the bill would remove the in-state requirement for renewable energy resources, expand the list of energy efficiency measures that can be counted toward meeting efficiency benchmarks, and permit forms of advanced energy that also produce energy efficiency savings to be counted toward both the advanced and energy efficiency standards.
 
SB 58 has sparked strong opposition from wind, solar, renewable energy, environmental and even some business groups.  Chairman Seitz has promised ample opportunity for testimony on the measure as he continues hearings this fall.  In the meantime, the House Public Utilities Committee will get a head start on SB 58 by considering HB 303 (Stautberg, R- Cincinnati), a companion measure in the House, speeding possible adoption of the legislation.

The Kasich Administration is preparing its capital budget for consideration early next year. Because state revenues have generally improved in recent years, the 2014 capital bill is expected to include more money for colleges and universities as well as funding for arts and other community projects.

For more information about pending legislation or the General Assembly's upcoming agenda, please contact Zach Holzapfel or Tony Brigano.

Cristal is the world's second leading producer of titanium dioxide and a leading producer of titanium chemicals.  The company, headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, operates seven manufacturing plants on five continents, with locations in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Brazil.

Nearly 500 associates work in the Cristal Ashtabula, Ohio complex, making it the largest employer in the northeast county. Earlier this month, Cristal announced a $64 million expansion project at the Ashtabula complex that will retain the existing workforce and create more than 25 new jobs in the coming years.

The Ashtabula expansion project will increase current production capacity
 by 20% and install a new environmentally friendly air handling system.  This will help Cristal to become more competitive in titanium dioxide manufacturing and allow the company to manufacture and market its own liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon.

Hicks Partners was pleased to work with the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, Team NEO and JobsOhio to secure valuable economic incentives for Cristal's expansion.

"From Fortune 50 companies to entrepreneurs to non-profit organizations, we have worked with an extraordinary group of clients in the past decade.  We look forward to our next ten years of growth and success." said Brian K. Hicks, President and CEO of Hicks Partners.

Founded in August 2003, Hicks Partners provides government relations, economic  development and public relations services.  The firm has served clients in a multitude of industries, including energy, healthcare, manufacturing, chemicals, real estate development, local government and non-profit organizations.   Over the past decade, the firm has helped more than 150 clients impact government policy, promote their cause and generate valuable growth capital.  In all, Hicks Partners has secured more than $160 million of federal, state and local economic development incentives for clients to help create or retain more than 6,200 jobs in the past decade.