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State Representative Jim Buchy
Still Plenty of
Work To Do As The 131st General Assembly Winds Down
This fall, the Ohio Legislature moves into “lame duck session”: the
period between the election of our new legislators and the beginning of
the next General Assembly, when they will be sworn into office.
However, there is still plenty of work to be done for the people of
Ohio between now and then. We must continue to fight the opioid
epidemic, reform our unemployment compensation system, create sound
energy policy, and maintain our growing economy.
The Ohio Department of Health has been fighting hard to reduce the
number of drug overdose deaths, but it is clear that additional
measures must be taken. Senate Bill 319 is a comprehensive opioid
reform bill that clamps down on dangerous drugs being sold in our
pharmacies, provides for resources to help struggling addicts recover,
and increases the availability and accessibility of Naloxone, a common
antidote for drug overdoses. The opioid epidemic is constantly
changing, and Senate Bill 319 will enable Ohio to keep up.
Unemployment compensation will be another area of interest within the
coming months. It is important that we keep our system not only
functional and comprehensive, but sustainable for the future. House
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and Senate President Keith Faber have
recently announced the formation of a joint legislative committee to
review the current state of our unemployment compensation laws and make
commonsense reforms to keep the system solvent for years to come, with
emphasis on Ohio’s labor community, workforce, and businesses.
In addition, all members of the House of Representatives will be
continuing to work alongside local leaders, businesses, and community
organizations to break down barriers that may hinder economic growth.
Our top priorities continue to be to maintain a healthy economy, to
develop the workforce, and provide good jobs for all Ohioans. We will
also be in talks with Ohio’s energy industry, the Senate, and the
Governor regarding energy mandates, and whether the energy mandate
freeze will continue.
As my final year in the State Legislature begins to wind down, I cannot
help but be proud of the tremendous progress we have made in our state.
Through good times and bad, Ohio has remained resilient, making great
strides because of the millions of people who take pride in their state
every single day. We should be proud of how far we have come, but we
should not forget that the job is never done, and there is always more
progress to be made.
Please give me your opinion on these topics and other issues in the
news by completing a brief online survey at
tinyurl.com/buchynovember2016
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