New Year’s resolutions
With another year beginning, we decided to ask Ohio’s elected officials for their 2020 priorities.
Gov. Mike DeWine: DeWine said his STRONG Ohio gun-violence bill ranks at the top of his list. Although the bill’s future is unclear to those on the outside, DeWine said he’s optimistic it will be passed.
“I think we’re making progress in the state legislature,” he said. “I’m happy where we are, but we need to continue pushing that forward. It will save lives.”
DeWine said other priorities include addressing drug-addiction and mental-health issues. He also specifically identified the “wraparound” funding for schools that was part of his state-budget plan. As we’ve previously reported, DeWine said he plans to seek the same amount, if not more, wraparound funding in future budget proposals.
“So while I can’t guarantee anything the legislature will or won’t do, I will say there’s been no opposition for using that money for wraparound services in the legislature,” he said. “Local schools are in a pretty good position for there to be a steady flow of money heading out into the future.”
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted: Husted says simply that his 2020 priorities are to make Ohio the “most innovative, entrepreneurial state in the Midwest” and to help “Ohioans get the skills they need to compete and win.”
Attorney General Dave Yost: Yost’s 2020 priorities include fighting for financial resources resulting from litigation against opioid manufacturers and distributors and pharmacy-benefit managers, the middleman companies that negotiate drug purchases on behalf of the state, spokesman Dave O’Neill said.
Yost also plans to continue pursuing anti-human trafficking initiatives.
“Attorney General Yost plans to continue his mission of protecting the unprotected by giving a voice to the powerless,” O’Neill said.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose: LaRose’s top three 2020 priorities are all related to next year’s election: election security, recruiting and training poll workers and promoting voter confidence.
He particularly plugged his office’s initiative to require security upgrades at all 88 local county boards of election, his partnership with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to educate voters and strengthen public confidence in elections and VoteOhio.gov, where Ohioans can sign up if they’re interested in being a poll worker.
State Auditor Keith Faber: Faber said his priority in 2020 will be promoting efficiency, both in his office’s internal functions and in its interactions with local governments across the state.
“These efforts include upgrading our financial audit technologies, increasing our performance audit capabilities and expanding our response to cybersecurity threats,” he said. “These changes will provide the tools and resources needed to find savings for Ohioans and best management practices for agencies.”
State Treasurer Robert Sprague: The treasurer’s office’s priorities include improving OhioCheckbook.com, which was recently merged with a similar effort overseen by the DeWine administration’s Office of Budget and Management.
“Ohioans deserve to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are spent, and these improvements to Ohio Checkbook promise to keep the power of transparency at their fingertips,” Sprague said.
Other initiatives include ResultsOhio, Sprague’s social-impact bond program, and legislation Sprague is backing that would allow for families to obtain low-cost loans to help cover the costs of adoption.