July 2015

Local hiring restriction could stifle job opportunities for Ohioans

Many Ohio communities use local hiring quotas for
publicly financed projects as a way to strengthen local
workforce participation and, in turn, strengthen local
economies. Residency requirements give qualified
workers the opportunity to find rewarding employment
in their own communities. These opportunities change the future of not only a
family but an entire community.
However, legislation currently being debated in the Ohio House of Representatives would restrict this practice, potentially giving an edge to out of state contractors. House Bill 180, which recently
passed out of the House Commerce and
Labor Committee along partisan lines,
prohibits cities and other municipalities
from setting local hiring requirements for
public works projects.
Current and upcoming public works projects such as
the $331 million Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland and
the $1.4 billion sewer system upgrade in Akron represent significant opportunities for municipalities to open

the door to employment for their residents.

HB 180 may preclude many municipalities efforts to
use local hiring quotas to combat poverty and unemployment, especially in urban areas, which typically
have higher unemployment rates than the
national average.
Ohioans deserve a fair shot at goodpaying local jobs because they have a
stake in rebuilding the communities
where they live and raise their family.
When workers live in the same municipality as a construction project then the local
community benefits from the worker
spending their paycheck at the local grocery store, restaurant, or day care.
I believe Ohio lawmakers should be empowering cities
to expand economic opportunities for their residents,
not putting up roadblocks.
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

House marks first Prescription Drug Abuse & Awareness

Education Day
As part of the effort combat the growing rate of
On May 1, Ohio legislators recognized the inaugural Prescription Drug Abuse and Awareness Ed- drug abuse, the awareness day helps educate
Ohioans about the dangers of misusing prescripucation Day. In 2014, state legislators passed a
law designating the awareness day as
tion medicationespecially pain killers,
the first Friday in May.
which are extremely addictive.
Recently, the Ohio Department of Health
reported that there have been more than
10,000 deaths caused by drug overdoses
in Ohio since 2002mainly attributed to
the states prescription pill and heroin
epidemic. According to the report, from
1999 to 2013, Ohio experienced a 413
percent increase in deaths caused by overdoses.

By encouraging open discussion about

the dangers of abusing prescription
drugs, we can help those who already
find themselves addicted to identify and
connect with resources and treatment.