RATINGS of OHIOacuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/...2 AMERIC ONSERVA ATION’S 2018 Ratings of Ohio Dear Fellow Conservative, The American Conservative Union Foundation

2018

Letter from the Chairman .......................................................2

ACU & ACUF Board Members ..............................................3

Selecting the Votes .......................................................................3

2018 Winners & Losers ................................................................4

OH Senate Statistics .....................................................................5

OH Senate Vote Descriptions .............................................. 6

OH Senate Scores .......................................................................... 8

OH House Statistics ................................................................... 10

OH House Vote Descriptions................................................11

OH House Scores ..........................................................................14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RATINGS of OHIORATINGS of OHIO

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

2

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION’S 2018 Ratings of Ohio

Dear Fellow Conservative,

The American Conservative Union Foundation is proud to present our ratings of the 2018 meeting of the Ohio General Assembly. Like our Ratings of Congress, which date back 47 years, our state ratings are meant to reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life. We begin with our philosophy i.e., conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person, and then apply our understanding of government (its essential role is to defend Life, Liberty and Property).

Because our ratings are designed to educate the public about how consistently elected officials adhere to conservatism, we carefully examine the entire docket of legislation introduced in each state every year. We select the most meaningful bills and publish the results after the dust has settled. ACUF state ratings—launched in 2011 with ratings for five states—have become a nationally recognized resource for evaluating over 8,000 elected officials comprising each of America’s 99 state legislative chambers.

Each election cycle, citizens choose leaders whose vision for the state most closely matches their own, hoping that candidates’ promises will be kept. ACUF’s ratings measure whether those promises were fulfilled or forsaken. With nearly a decade of data on state legislators’ voting records and average scores for every legislative chamber, citizens in every state can assess how effectively their lawmakers have applied conservative philosophy to the role of government.

We at ACUF believe, as Ronald Reagan once said, that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We hope that by providing this unique tool, these ratings will empower Americans to exercise their right to protect our unique American democracy from tyranny.

Sincerely,

Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union Foundation

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

ACUConservative @ACUFoundation | #ACURatings Conservative.org

TO SEE MORE ACU RATINGS, PLEASE VISIT: acuratings.conservative.org

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SELECTING THE VOTES

ACU researched and selected a range of bills before the Ohio General Assembly that determine a member’s adherence to conservative principles. We selected bills that focus on Ronald Reagan’s philosophy of the “three-legged stool”: 1) fiscal and economic: taxes, budgets, regulation, spending, healthcare, and property; 2) social and cultural: 2nd amendment, religion, life, welfare, and education; and 3) government integrity: voting, individual liberty, privacy, and transparency. This wide range of issues are designed to give citizens an accurate assessment that conveys which of Ohio’s elected leaders best defend the principles of a free society: Life, Liberty and Property.

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Charlie Gerow Vice Chairman

Carolyn D. Meadows 2nd Vice Chair

Bob Beauprez Treasurer

Ron Christie Secretary

Ed Yevoli At-Large

Dan Schneider Executive Director

ACUExecutive Committee

Jackie Arends

Larry Beasley

Kimberly Bellissimo

Morton C. Blackwell

Jamie Burke

José Cárdenas

Muriel Coleman

Sean Fieler

Alan M. Gottlieb

Van D. Hipp, Jr.

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser

Ed McFadden

Priscilla O’Shaughnessy

Ron Robinson

Mike Rose

Peter Samuelson

Sabrina Schaeffer

Terry Schilling

Matt Smith

Chris Turner

Bill Walton

Thomas Winter

Board Members

ACUFExecutive Committee

Matt Schlapp Chairman

Millie Hallow Vice Chair

Van D. Hipp, Jr. Treasurer

Kimberly Bellissimo Secretary

Dan Schneider Executive Director

Board Members

José Cárdenas

Gordon Chang

Jonathan Garthwaite

Charlie Gerow

Niger Innis

Adam Laxalt

Willes K. Lee

Mary Matalin

Carolyn D. Meadows

Randy Neugebauer

Thomas Winter

The ACUF Legislative Ratings Team

Francis Finnegan

Larry Hart

Fred McGrath

Tyler Muench

Luke Schneider

4


2018 WINNERS & LOSERS

SENATE

BACON

BURKE

COLEY

GARDNER

HACKETT

HOAGLAND

HOTTINGER

HUFFMAN

JORDAN

SENATE

LAROSE

McCOLLEY

OBHOF

OELSLAGER

PETERSON

TERHAR

UECKER

WILSON

90-100% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE EXCELLENCE

HOUSE

BUTLER

DEAN

LANG

MCCLAIN

MERRIN

ROEGNER

HOUSE

ROMANCHUK

SCHERER

THOMPSON

VITALE

WILKIN

ZELTWANGER

SENATE

Schiavoni

Skindell

10% COALITION OF THE RADICAL LEFT

HOUSE

Fedor

Howse

Ingram

HOUSE

Kelly

Ramos

Reece

≤

SENATE

BEAGLE

DOLAN

KUNZE

MANNING

HOUSE

ANTANI

BECKER

BLESSING

BRENNER

FABER

GAVARONE

GONZALES

GREENSPAN

HAGAN

HENNE

HOOD

HOUSEHOLDER

HOUSE

HUFFMAN

JOHNSON

KOEHLER

LANDIS

LATOURETTE

LIPPS

MANNING

PATTON

PELANDA

PERALES

REINEKE

RETHERFORD

HOUSE

RIEDEL

RYAN

SCHAFFER

SCHURING

SEITZ

SLABY

SMITH, R.

SPRAGUE

STEIN

WIGGAM

YOUNG

80-89% AWARD FOR CONSERVATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

5


OHIO SENATE STATISTICS

71%OVERALL AVERAGE

LEHNEREKLUND 79%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

92%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

18%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

O'BRIEN42%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

OHIO SENATE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

# OF STATE

SENATORS

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

090-100%

2018 ACUF PERCENTAGE

0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%

6


1. SB 28 Protecting the Dignity of Aborted Fetal Remains. This bill requires fetal remains resulting from an abortion be shown respect by proper burial or cremation. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice, and believes the human remains from this tragedy should be treated with the utmost respect and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on January 17, 2018 by a vote of 23-9.

2. SB 22 Expanding School Choice by Permitting 529 Tax Exempt Savings to be used for K-12 Education. This bill permits tax-exempt savings held in 529 accounts to be used for K-12 education in addition to traditional higher education costs. The bill is in response to a provision within the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which Sen. Ted Cruz (ACUF Lifetime 99%) championed, which changed the definition of “qualified education” under 529 accounts to include elementary education at all types of schools, including public, private, and religious schools. Educational attainment provides substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports strengthening school choice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 21, 2018 by a vote of 32-1.

3. HB 478 Streamlining Regulations to Advance “5G” Technology. This bill establishes a regulatory framework that permits telecommunications companies to install small-cell wireless facilities on state and local rights-of-way. The bill speeds up the approval process for the installation of such systems while also providing municipalities a voice in their placement. ACU supports the expansion of new technology without costly and burdensome regulation and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on April 11, 2018 by a vote of 26-7.

4. SB 216 Reforming and Improving Public Education through Deregulation. This bill, known as the Public School Deregulation Act, implements a number of reforms designed to increase local control of education and improve educational outcomes. Specifically, the bill eases regulations that prevent schools from hiring and retaining the best teachers, such as licensing and certification requirements, and helps better protect students from poorly performing teachers by increasing the minimum length of service to receive tenure from three years to six years. ACU supports providing students with higher quality educations by reforming the public education system through deregulation and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 28-1.

5. SB 293 Requiring State Agencies to Reduce their Regulations by 30 Percent by 2023. This bill directs each state agency to achieve a 30 percent reduction in their regulatory restrictions by 2023. In the event an agency fails to achieve its required regulatory reduction, the agency will be prohibited from adopting any new regulation unless it simultaneously removes two or more existing regulations. ACU supports significantly reducing Ohio’s regulatory restrictions, considering the state imposes the third most restrictions in the country, as noted by the Mercatus Center, and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 23-9.

6. HB 123 Imposing Price Controls and Additional Regulations on Short-Term Loans. This bill reduces lending opportunities in the state by imposing a series of price controls and regulations on short-term loans. Under the bill, payday lenders are restricted to offering loans of $1,000 or less and for at least 90 days but not more than one year. Monthly payments are capped at 6 percent of a borrower’s monthly income and lenders are prohibited from requiring collateral and forced to provide borrowers with three days to rescind loans without assessing interest. ACU supports the freedom of consumers to know the terms of their loans and freely contract and opposes price controls and regulations that prevent borrowers with limited credit or elevated risk from obtaining loans and opposed this bill. The Senate passed the bill on July 10, 2018 by a vote of 21-9.

7. SB 221 Increasing Legislative Oversight of Agency Rules. This bill makes a series of reforms to help protect businesses from burdensome and costly regulations. Specifically, the bill provides an expedited pathway for businesses to petition new regulations imposed by government bureaucrats that adversely impact business. The petitions are subject to the legislature’s review. Additionally, the bill increases the number and scope of regulations eligible for review by the legislative branch and instructs agencies to release internal policies and directives to ensure they are not circumventing the rulemaking process. ACU supports enhancing the veto authority of the legislative branch and increasing oversight of the rulemaking authority of unelected government bureaucrats and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on November 14, 2018 by a vote of 24-8.

OHIO SENATE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

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8. HB 119 Encouraging Self-Sufficiency by Increasing the Integrity of Welfare Programs. This bill reduces fraud by “requiring” (previously only “permitting”) the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to verify the eligibility of individuals receiving medical and nutritional assistance through Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the bill, the ODJFS must make quarterly status checks of the disability status, income, citizenship, identity, and enrollment status in other government programs, of all applicants for both programs. ACU supports efforts to help people live healthier, happier, more productive lives and efforts to reduce intergenerational poverty by encouraging individuals to become self-sufficient and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 12, 2018 by a vote of 23-9.

9. HB 494 Clarifying Franchise Employee Law. This bill clarifies labor law to ensure that individuals who work for a franchisee are not considered to be employees of the larger company itself, known as the franchisor. ACU supports this effort to correct a disastrous ruling by the Obama-controlled National Labor Relations Board which was designed to grow government’s control over businesses and overturned decades of precedent and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 12, 2018 by a vote of 23-9.

10. SB 145 Prohibiting Dismemberment Abortion. This bill bans the practice of “dismemberment abortion,” which involves cutting apart the fetus for extraction. These types of abortions are performed as early as the 14th week of a pregnancy, when unborn babies are fully formed and have beating hearts, functional brains, and motor skills in their arms, legs, hands and fingers. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 23-9.

11. HB 402 Establishing a Freer Market through Telecommunication Deregulation. This bill establishes a freer market and stimulates additional investment into the telecommunication industry by rolling back a number of regulations. Some key provisions include providing private companies more pricing flexibility and limiting the Public Utilities Commission’s authority over certain activities such as mergers and acquisitions. ACU supports deregulation and freer markets and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 23-8.

12. SB 255 Reforming Occupational Licensing to Expand Employment. This bill reduces barriers to employment by making a number of reforms to the state’s occupational licensing system. Under the bill, the renewal of all licensing boards is subject to review every six years, with the board bearing the responsibility of proving the need for its continued existence. Additionally, anytime an occupational license or regulation is enacted or substantially changed, the Legislative Service Commission is required to ensure the license is the “least restrictive form of regulation.” Furthermore, the bill requires licensing authorities to list on their public websites all criminal offenses that would disqualify an individual from obtaining a license, an issue on which the ACU Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice is a leading authority. Unfortunately, the House added an amendment requiring the licensure of home inspectors, but ACU supported the bill as a whole as a step in the right direction. The Senate passed the bill on December 19, 2018 by a vote of 24-8.

13. HB 258 Banning Abortions once a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected. This bill prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill provides exceptions for cases in which the life of the mother is in jeopardy or there is a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the mother. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The Senate failed to override the governor’s veto on December 27, 2018 by a vote of 19-13. (Twenty votes were required and a “Yes” vote supported the ACU position.)

14. HB 228 Restoring “Innocent until Proven Guilty” in Self-Defense Laws. This bill reforms the state’s self-defense law (commonly referred to as “Stand Your Ground”) by shifting the burden of proof back to the prosecutor if an individual is charged with using force against another that the prosecutor claims was not necessary for self-defense. The bill also expands the ability of firearm owners to bring civil actions against local governments which enact unlawful firearm regulations. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment, believes in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” and supported this bill. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto on December 27, 2018 by a vote of 21-11.

8


OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

SB 28

SB 22

HB

478

SB 216

SB 293

HB

123

SB 221

HB

119

HB

494

SB 145

HB

402

SB 255

HB

258

HB

228 ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

BACON R 3 + + + X X - + + + + + + + + 11 12 92% 100% 91%

BALDERSON R 20 + + + X + - X X X X X X X X 4 5 n/a† 100% 91%

BEAGLE R 5 + + + + + - + + + + + + - + 12 14 86% 100% 87%

Brown D 11 - + + - - X - - - - - - - - 2 13 15% 14% 14%

BURKE R 26 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 93%

COLEY R 4 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 96%

DOLAN R 24 + + + + + - + + + + + + - + 12 14 86% 86% 86%

EKLUND R 18 + + + + + + - + + + + + - - 11 14 79% 71% 84%

GARDNER R 2 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 86%

HACKETT R 10 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 90%

HILL R 20 X X X X X X X X X + + + + + 5 5 n/a† 100% 93%

HOAGLAND R 30 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 100%

HOTTINGER R 31 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 91%

HUFFMAN R 12 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 93%

JORDAN R 19 + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 91%

KUNZE R 16 + + + + + X + + + + + X - - 10 12 83% 86% 77%

LAROSE R 27 + + + + + - + + + X X + + + 11 12 92% 100% 88%

LEHNER R 6 + + + + + - - + + + + + + - 11 14 79% 100% 83%

MANNING R 13 + + + + + - + + + + + + - + 12 14 86% 86% 81%

McCOLLEY R 1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 94%

O'Brien D 32 - + + + - - + - - - - + X X 5 12 42% 14% 20%

OBHOF R 22 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 93%

OELSLAGER R 29 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 84%

PETERSON R 17 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 92%

Schiavoni D 33 - + - X - - - - - - X - - - 1 12 8% 14% 11%

OHIO SENATE SCORES

9


OHIO SENATE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

SB 28

SB 22

HB

478

SB 216

SB 293

HB

123

SB 221

HB

119

HB

494

SB 145

HB

402

SB 255

HB

258

HB

228 ACU Votes

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

Skindell D 23 - - - X - X - - - - - - - - 0 12 0% 0% 4%

Sykes D 28 - + + + - - + - - - - - - - 4 14 29% 14% 18%

Tavares D 15 - + - + - - - - - - - - - - 2 14 14% 14% 7%

TERHAR R 8 X + + + + + + + + + + + + + 13 13 100% 100% 94%

Thomas D 9 - + - + - - - - - - - - - - 2 14 14% 0% 5%

UECKER R 14 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 14 14 100% 100% 93%

Williams D 21 - + - + - - + - - - - - - - 3 14 21% 14% 13%

WILSON R 7 + + + + + - + + + + + + + + 13 14 93% 100% 96%

Yuko D 25 - + - + - - - - - - - - - - 2 14 14% 14% 8%

“+” Member voted with ACU’s position“-” Member voted against ACU’s position“X” Member was absent for vote“E” Member was excused for vote

† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2018 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.

10


OHIO HOUSE STATISTICS

65%OVERALL AVERAGE

EDWARDSBRINKMAN58%

LOWEST REPUBLICANS

84%REPUBLICAN AVERAGE

20%DEMOCRAT AVERAGE

CERA58%

HIGHEST DEMOCRAT

OHIO HOUSE CONSERVATIVE RATINGS

RED = REPUBLICANS BLUE = DEMOCRATS

# OF STATE REPS

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

090-100%

2018 ACUF PERCENTAGE

0-9% 10-19% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89%20-29%

11


1. HB 281 Forcing Taxpayers to Subsidize Broadband Expansion. This bill establishes a residential broadband expansion program that will provide grants to subsidize the construction of the “last mile” or last portion of the physical infrastructure required to provide residential broadband service. The program established under this bill duplicates efforts of other state and local broadband funding programs. ACU opposes this further government interference in the marketplace which forces taxpayers in one region of the state to subsidize the amenities of individuals who choose to reside in rural areas of the state and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on January 31, 2018 by a vote of 92-5.

2. SB 22 Expanding School Choice by Permitting 529 Tax Exempt Savings to be used for K-12 Education. This bill permits tax-exempt savings held in 529 accounts to be used for K-12 education in addition to traditional higher education costs. The bill is in response to a provision within the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which Sen. Ted Cruz (ACUF Lifetime 99%) championed, which changed the definition of “qualified education” under 529 accounts to include elementary education at all types of schools, including public, private, and religious schools. Educational attainment provides substantial economic returns for families and for states, which is illustrated by the ACU Foundation’s Family Prosperity Index. ACU supports strengthening school choice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on February 28, 2018 by a vote of 90-7.

3. HB 343 Increasing Transparency over Property Tax Challenges by Local Governments. This bill increases government transparency and better protects property owners who are faced with valuation challenges (increased property taxes) by local governments. Under the bill, local governments would be required to pass a resolution to authorize a property tax complaint and property owners would be notified in writing regarding when the resolution will take place. ACU Foundation’s Center for 21st Century Property Rights is a leading voice on issues such as this and works to protect the rights of all property owners. ACU supports increasing government transparency and protecting property owners from predatory and frivolous tax complaints and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on March 21, 2018 by a vote of 59-38.

4. HB 478 Streamlining Regulations to Advance “5G” Technology. This bill establishes a regulatory framework that permits telecommunications companies to install small-cell wireless facilities on state and local rights-of-way. The bill speeds up the approval process for the installation of such systems while also providing municipalities a voice in their placement. ACU supports the expansion of new technology without costly and burdensome regulation and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on April 11, 2018 by a vote of 72-17.

5. HB 36 Protecting Religious Organizations’ Liberties to Solemnize a Marriage. This bill protects the right of religious organizations to hold marriage ceremonies consistent with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill also prohibits the state from penalizing or withholding benefits from religious organizations which exercise their right. ACU supports the constitutional protections provided under the First Amendment to practice one’s religion and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 61-30.

6. HB 428 Protecting the Religious Freedoms of Students. This bill, known as the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act, requires public schools to provide religious student groups the same access to school facilities that is provided to secular student groups. Furthermore, the bill prevents schools from limiting religious expression to only lunch periods, or prohibiting expression in homework, artwork, or other assignments. ACU supports the constitutional protections provided under the First Amendment to practice one’s religion and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 67-26.

7. SB 216 Reforming and Improving Public Education through Deregulation. This bill, known as the Public School Deregulation Act, implements a number of reforms designed to increase local control of education and improve educational outcomes. Specifically, the bill eases regulations that prevent schools from hiring and retaining the best teachers, such as licensing and certification requirements, and helps better protect students from poorly performing teachers by increasing the minimum length of service to receive tenure from three years to six years. ACU supports providing students with higher quality educations by reforming the public education system through deregulation and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 60-33.

OHIO HOUSE VOTE DESCRIPTIONS

12


8. HB 211 Reducing Employment by Establishing a Home Inspection License. This bill establishes a new bureaucracy, the Ohio Home Inspector Board, and forces anyone wishing to perform home inspections to become licensed by the state. To become licensed, an individual must do the following: submit to finger-print based background check, pay a fee up to $250, hold a high-school degree or higher, carry at least $300,000 in insurance, undergo training, take an examination and complete 14 hours of continuing education. ACU opposes the proliferation of licensing requirements which are primarily designed to restrict competition and drive up consumer costs and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on June 27, 2018 by a vote of 87-7.

9. HB 123 Imposing Price Controls and Additional Regulations on Short-Term Loans. This bill reduces lending opportunities in the state by imposing a series of price controls and regulations on short-term loans. Under the bill, payday lenders are restricted to offering loans of $1,000 or less and for at least 90 days but not more than one year. Monthly payments are capped at 6 percent of a borrower’s monthly income and lenders are prohibited from requiring collateral and forced to provide borrowers with three days to rescind loans without assessing interest. ACU supports the freedom of consumers to know the terms of their loans and freely contract and opposes price controls and regulations that prevent borrowers with limited credit or elevated risk from obtaining loans and opposed this bill. The House passed the bill on July 24, 2018 by a vote of 61-24.

10. SB 221 Increasing Legislative Oversight of Agency Rules. This bill makes a series of reforms to help protect businesses from burdensome and costly regulations. Specifically, the bill provides an expedited pathway for businesses to petition new regulations imposed by government bureaucrats that adversely impact business. The petitions are subject to the legislature’s review. Additionally, the bill increases the number and scope of regulations eligible for review by the legislative branch and instructs agencies to release internal policies and directives to ensure they are not circumventing the rulemaking process. ACU supports enhancing the veto authority of the legislative branch and increasing oversight of the rulemaking authority of unelected government bureaucrats and supported this bill. The House voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on November 14, 2018 by a vote of 70-22.

11. HB 40 Establishing a Government Expenditure Database Accessible to the Public. This bill increases government transparency by requiring the Treasure of State to establish and maintain the Ohio State Government Expenditure Database, which will be accessible to the public and include information about expenditures of state entities made in each fiscal year. ACU supports increased transparency over government expenditures and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on November 15, 2018 by a vote of 76-13.

12. HB 625 Protecting Consumers from Local Bag Bans and Taxes. This bill prevents local governments from banning or imposing taxes on “auxiliary containers,” such as plastic bags, used for transporting food and merchandise. ACU believes that the government (including both state and local) should not limit an individual’s choice of how they take their groceries home and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on November 28, 2018 by a vote of 59-30.

13. SB 145 Prohibiting Dismemberment Abortion. This bill bans the practice of “dismemberment abortion,” which involves cutting apart the fetus for extraction. These types of abortions are performed as early as the 14th week of a pregnancy, when unborn babies are fully formed and have beating hearts, functional brains, and motor skills in their arms, legs, hands and fingers. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 65-28.

14. HB 119 Encouraging Self-Sufficiency by Increasing the Integrity of Welfare Programs. This bill reduces fraud by “requiring” (previously only “permitting”) the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to verify the eligibility of individuals receiving medical and nutritional assistance through Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Under the bill, the ODJFS must make quarterly status checks of the disability status, income, citizenship, identity, and enrollment status in other government programs, of all applicants for both programs. ACU supports efforts to help people live healthier, happier, more productive lives and efforts to reduce intergenerational poverty by encouraging individuals to become self-sufficient and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 65-20.

13


15. HB 494 Clarifying Franchise Employee Law. This bill clarifies labor law to ensure that individuals who work for a franchisee are not considered to be employees of the larger company itself, known as the franchisor. ACU supports this effort to correct a disastrous ruling by the Obama-controlled National Labor Relations Board which was designed to grow government’s control over businesses and overturned decades of precedent and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 61-25.

16. SB 255 Reforming Occupational Licensing to Expand Employment. This bill reduces barriers to employment by making a number of reforms to the state’s occupational licensing system. Under the bill, the renewal of all licensing boards is subject to review every six years, with the board bearing the responsibility of proving the need for its continued existence. Additionally, anytime an occupational license or regulation is enacted or substantially changed, the Legislative Service Commission is required to ensure the license is the “least restrictive form of regulation.” Furthermore, the bill requires licensing authorities to list on their public websites all criminal offenses that would disqualify an individual from obtaining a license, an issue on which the ACU Foundation’s Nolan Center for Justice is a leading authority. Unfortunately, the House added an amendment requiring the licensure of home inspectors, but ACU supported the bill as a whole as a step in the right direction. The House passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 56-28.

17. HB 402 Establishing a Freer Market through Telecommunication Deregulation. This bill establishes a freer market and stimulates additional investment into the telecommunication industry by rolling back a number of regulations. Some key provisions include providing private companies more pricing flexibility and limiting the Public Utilities Commission’s authority over certain activities such as mergers and acquisitions. ACU supports deregulation and freer markets and supported this bill. The House passed the bill on December 13, 2018 by a vote of 65-21.

18. HB 258 Banning Abortions once a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected. This bill prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill provides exceptions for cases in which the life of the mother is in jeopardy or there is a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the mother. ACU believes abortion is a human tragedy, supports restrictions on the practice and supported this bill. The House voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on December 27, 2018 by a vote of 61-28.

19. HB 228 Restoring “Innocent until Proven Guilty” in Self-Defense Laws. This bill reforms the state’s self-defense law (commonly referred to as “Stand Your Ground”) by shifting the burden of proof back to the prosecutor if an individual is charged with using force against another that the prosecutor claims was not necessary for self-defense. The bill also expands the ability of firearm owners to bring civil actions against local governments which enact unlawful firearm regulations. ACU supports the founders’ belief in the Second Amendment, believes in the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” and supported this bill. The House voted to override the governor’s veto of the bill on December 27, 2018 by a vote of 67-22.

14


OHIO HOUSE VOTE DETAIL

Party Dist.

HB

281

SB 22

HB

343

HB

478

HB

36

HB

428

SB 216

HB

211

HB

123

SB 221

HB

40

HB

625

SB 145

HB

119

HB

494

SB 255

HB

402

HB

258

HB

228 HB 360

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

ANIELSKI R 6 - + - + X + + - - + + + + + + - + - + 12 18 67% 100% 76%

ANTANI R 42 - + - + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 80% 85%

Antonio D 13 - + - - X X X X X - + - - - - - - - - 2 14 14% 30% 12%

ARNDT R 89 - + - + + + + - - + + - + + + + + - + 13 19 68% 90% 78%

Ashford D 44 - + - - - - - - - X - X X X X X X X X 1 10 n/a† 30% 9%

Barnes D 12 - + - X - + - - X + + + + X - - + - - 7 16 44% 20% 33%

BECKER R 65 - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 19 89% 100% 87%

BLESSING R 29 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 87%

Boccieri D 59 - + - - + - - - - + X + - - - + - X X 5 16 31% 44% 30%

Boggs D 18 - + - + - - - - - - - - - + + - - X X 4 17 24% 30% 20%

Boyd D 9 - - - + - - - - X - - - X X X X X X X 1 11 n/a† 25% 14%

BRENNER R 67 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 94%

BRINKMAN R 27 - + + - + + - - + + + - + - - + - + + 11 19 58% 100% 73%

Brown D 20 - + - - - - - - - + - - - + - - - - - 3 19 16% n/a 16%

BUTLER R 41 + + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 18 19 95% 100% 88%

CARFAGNA R 68 - + + + - + + - - + + + + + + + + - + 14 19 74% 100% 87%

Celebrezze D 15 - + - - - - - - - + + - - - - - + - - 4 19 21% 50% 18%

Cera D 96 - + - + + - - - - + + + - + + + + - + 11 19 58% 50% 34%

Clyde D 75 - + - - - - - - - - X - - X X X X X X 1 12 n/a† 10% 9%

Craig D 26 - + - + - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 19 16% 30% 18%

CUPP R 4 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + - + + + 15 19 79% 100% 89%

DEAN R 74 - + + X + + + + X X + + + + + + + + + 15 16 94% 90% 90%

DEVER R 28 - + - + - + + - + + + + + + + + + + - 14 19 74% 100% 83%

DEVITIS R 36 - + + X + + + - X + + X X X X X X + + 9 11 n/a† 100% 91%

DUFFEY R 21 - X + + - + + - - + + X + + + X X - + 10 15 67% 89% 73%

OHIO HOUSE SCORES

15



Party Dist.

HB

281

SB 22

HB

343

HB

478

HB

36

HB

428

SB 216

HB

211

HB

123

SB 221

HB

40

HB

625

SB 145

HB

119

HB

494

SB 255

HB

402

HB

258

HB

228 HB 360

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

EDWARDS R 94 - + - + + + - - - + + + + - + - - + + 11 19 58% 100% 79%

FABER R 84 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

Fedor D 45 - - - - - - - - - X X - - - - - - - - 0 17 0% 20% 10%

Galonski D 35 - + - + - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - 3 19 16% 11% 13%

GAVARONE R 3 - + + + + + + - X + + + + + + + + + + 16 18 89% 100% 94%

GINTER R 5 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + - + + + 15 19 79% 100% 88%

GONZALES R 19 - + + + + + + - X + X + + + + X + X X 12 14 86% 90% 82%

GREEN R 66 - + - + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 15 19 79% 100% 87%

GREENSPAN R 16 - + + + X X X X - + X + + + + + + + + 12 14 86% 100% 93%

HAGAN R 50 - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 19 89% 100% 91%

HAMBLEY R 69 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + - + + + 15 19 79% 100% 83%

HENNE R 40 - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 19 89% 100% 92%

HILL, B. R 97 - + + + + + + - - + + + + X X X X X X 10 13 77% 100% 91%

HILL, E. R 97 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X + + 2 2 n/a† n/a n/a

Holmes D 63 - + - + + - - - - + + - + - - + + - - 8 19 42% 50% 46%

HOOD R 78 - + + - + + + + + + + X + + + + + + + 16 18 89% 86% 80%

HOOPS R 81 - + + + + + + - - + - + + + + + + + + 15 19 79% n/a 79%

HOUSEHOLDER R 72 - X + + + + X - + + + + + X X X X + + 11 13 85% 100% 92%

Howse D 11 - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - X X 1 17 6% 10% 9%

HUFFMAN R 80 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

HUGHES R 24 - + - + + + - - - + + + + + + + + + + 14 19 74% 100% 87%

Ingram D 32 - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - 1 19 5% 10% 8%

JOHNSON R 90 - + X X + + + - X + + + + + + + + + + 14 16 88% 100% 89%

KELLER R 53 - + + + + + + - + X + X X X X X X + + 10 12 n/a† 100% 100%

Kelly D 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 19 0% 10% 5%

Kent D 25 - + - X - + - - X - - - - - - - - - - 2 17 12% 20% 16%

KICK R 70 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + - + + + 15 19 79% 100% 89%

KOEHLER R 79 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 90%

16



Party Dist.

HB

281

SB 22

HB

343

HB

478

HB

36

HB

428

SB 216

HB

211

HB

123

SB 221

HB

40

HB

625

SB 145

HB

119

HB

494

SB 255

HB

402

HB

258

HB

228 HB 360

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

LANDIS R 98 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

LANESE R 23 - + + + + + + - - + + - + + + + + + + 15 19 79% 90% 84%

LANG R 52 - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 18 19 95% n/a 95%

LATOURETTE R 76 - + + + X + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 15 18 83% 100% 88%

Leland D 22 - + - - - - - - - - - - - + + - - - - 3 19 16% 30% 13%

Lepore-Hagan D 58 - + - - - - - - - - X - - X X X X X X 1 12 n/a† 50% 19%

LIPPS R 62 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

MANNING R 55 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + X X 14 17 82% 100% 80%

MCCLAIN R 87 - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 18 19 95% n/a 90%

MERRIN R 47 - + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 18 19 95% 100% 97%

Miller D 17 - + - - - - - - X - + - - - - - + - - 3 18 17% n/a 17%

O'Brien D 64 - + - + + - - - - - + - - + - + + - - 7 19 37% 50% 31%

Patmon D 10 - + + X X X X X - X X X + X X X X + + 5 7 n/a† 56% 41%

Patterson D 99 - + - + - - - - - - + - - + - - - - + 5 19 26% 30% 28%

PATTON R 7 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

PELANDA R 86 - + + + X + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 15 18 83% 100% 87%

PERALES R 73 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 87%

Ramos D 56 - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 19 5% 20% 11%

Reece D 33 - - - X - X - - - X X - - - - - - X X 0 13 0% 11% 12%

REINEKE R 88 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 90%

RETHERFORD R 51 - + + + + + + - + + X X + + + + + + + 15 17 88% 90% 91%

REZABEK R 43 - + + + - + + - X X X X X X X X X X X 5 8 n/a† 100% 83%

RIEDEL R 82 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

ROEGNER R 37 + + + + + + + - X + + X + + + + + + + 16 17 94% 100% 92%

Rogers D 60 - + - + - - - - - + + - - + - - + - + 7 19 37% 40% 30%

ROMANCHUK R 2 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 19 19 100% 100% 88%

ROSENBERGER R 91 - + + X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 3 n/a† 100% 93%

17



Party Dist.

HB

281

SB 22

HB

343

HB

478

HB

36

HB

428

SB 216

HB

211

HB

123

SB 221

HB

40

HB

625

SB 145

HB

119

HB

494

SB 255

HB

402

HB

258

HB

228 HB 360

Votes Cast

2018 %

2017 %

LIFETIME AVG

RYAN R 71 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 87%

SCHAFFER R 77 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + X + + + 15 18 83% 100% 92%

SCHERER R 92 X + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 18 94% 100% 90%

SCHURING R 48 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

SEITZ R 30 - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 19 89% 100% 95%

Sheehy D 46 - + - + - - - - - - + - - + + - + - - 6 19 32% 40% 22%

SLABY R 38 - + + + + + + - + + X + X X X X X + + 11 13 85% 100% 89%

Smith, K. D 8 X + - - - - - - X - + - - - - - - - - 2 17 12% 10% 7%

SMITH, R. R 93 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 91%

SMITH, T. R 43 X X X X X X X X + + + + + + + + + + + 11 11 n/a† n/a n/a

SPRAGUE R 83 - + + + + + + - - X + X + X X + + + + 12 15 80% 100% 91%

STEIN R 57 - + + + + + + - - + + + + + + + + + + 16 19 84% 100% 92%

Strahorn D 39 - + - - - - - - - - + - - - - + - - - 3 19 16% 40% 20%

Sweeney, B. D 14 X X X X X X X X X - + - - + - - - - - 2 10 n/a† n/a n/a

Sweeney, M. D 14 - + - + X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2 4 n/a† 40% 24%

Sykes D 34 - + - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 19 11% n/a 11%

THOMPSON R 95 - + + X X X X X + + + X + + + + + + + 12 13 92% 90% 86%

VITALE R 85 + + + - + + + + + + + + X X X X X + + 13 14 93% 100% 86%

West D 49 - + X + - - - - - - + + - - - + - - - 5 18 28% 40% 34%

WIGGAM R 1 - + + + + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 19 89% 100% 95%

WILKIN R 91 X X X X + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 14 15 93% n/a 93%

YOUNG R 61 - + + + + + + - X + + + + X X X X + + 12 14 86% 100% 91%

ZELTWANGER R 54 + + + X + + + - + + + + + + + + + + + 17 18 94% n/a 87%

“+” Member voted with ACU’s position“-” Member voted against ACU’s position“X” Member was absent for vote“E” Member was excused for vote

† Legislator did not vote on enough of the selected bills and as a result the 2018 percentage was not rated. 2/3rds of the selected bills must be voted on to receive a score.

Documents

RATINGS of OHIOacuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/...2 AMERIC ONSERVA ATION’S 2018 Ratings of Ohio Dear Fellow Conservative, The American Conservative Union Foundation