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00:00:02>> IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE TO ALL OF YOU THE
00:00:05PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO SENATE,
DOUG WHITE.
00:00:09(applause)
>> THANK YOU.
00:00:20THANK YOU.
PRESIDENT PROTEMPORE, RANDY
00:00:43GARDENER.
>> A QUORUM OF THE HOUSE IS
00:00:46PRESENT.
>> SPEAKER PROTEMPORE.
00:00:49>> A QUORUM OF THE HOUSE IS
PRESENT.
00:00:52>> A OCCUR RUM OF THE 112 5TH
GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEING PRESENT,
00:00:59THIS WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
EXPLORE GUARD.
00:01:03PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE
COLORS BY COLONIAL WHITE HIGH
00:01:08SCHOOL COLOR GUARD AND REMAIN
STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF
00:01:12ALLEGIANCE.
>> LEFT FACE.
00:02:06PRESENT ARMS.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE
00:02:12FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
00:02:15AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD
00:02:20INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
00:02:32>> RIGHT FACE.
RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS.
00:02:39FORWARD MARCH.
>> THANK YOU TO THE COLOR GUARD
00:02:58FOR BEING PRESENT WITH US TODAY.
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
00:03:01THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
OHIO, GOVERNOR BOB TAFT.
00:03:05(applause)
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR THE
00:05:05DELIVERY OF THE STATE OF THE
STATE 2004 SPEECH, GOVERNOR BOB
00:05:10TAFT.
(applause)
00:05:14>> Governor Taft: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
00:05:25THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SPEAKER HOUSEHOLDER, PRESIDENT
00:05:42WHITE, MINORITY LEADERS
DiDONATO AND REDFERN,
00:05:46LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRADLEY,
MEMBERS OF THE SUPREME COURT,
00:05:50STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND
MY FELLOW OHIOANS, I AM HONORED
00:05:56TO BE WITH YOU TODAY, AND I AM
BLESSED TO HAVE WITH ME MY
00:06:00PARTNER OF 37 YEARS, A WONDERFUL
MOTHER TO OUR DAUGHTER ANNA, AND
00:06:06SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN HER VERY
BEST TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS
00:06:09STATE, HELPING KIDS STAY SMART
AND SOBER, BUILDING HABITAT
00:06:14HOUSES, AND LEADING VOLUNTEERS
ON MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY, FIRST
00:06:18LADY HOPE TAFT.
(applause)
00:06:53>> Governor Taft: AND I'M ALSO
VERY BLESSED THAT WE HAVE WITH
00:06:54US TODAY OUR DAUGHTER, ANNA.
ANNA, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
00:06:59THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
(applause)
00:07:07>> Governor Taft: AND TODAY, I
PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE MEN
00:07:11AND WOMEN IN OUR ARMED FORCES
PROTECTING OUR NATION.
00:07:15MANY OF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS
THAT HAVE ANSWER THE THAT CALL.
00:07:20REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOCCIERI ON
ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE AIR FORCE
00:07:24RESERVE.
(applause)
00:07:44>> Governor Taft: AND IF YOU
WOULD STAY STANDING, PLEASE JOIN
00:07:46ME IN SALUTING ALL OF OUR TROOPS
AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR
00:07:51SACRIFICE IN DEFENDING FREEDOM
AROUND THE WORLD.
00:07:55(applause)
>> Governor Taft: AND LET'S
00:08:14ALSO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE
FINEST CABINET ANYWHERE IN
00:08:19AMERICA.
THEY'RE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB IN
00:08:21TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES.
PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED,
00:08:25MEMBERS OF THE CABINET.
(applause)
00:08:38>> Governor Taft: FROM
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO THE BUDGET
00:08:40TO THE DO-NOT-CALL BILL, WE'VE
FLISHED MUSH TOGETHER IN THE
00:08:45LAST YEAR.
I GIVE FULL CREDIT TO THE
00:08:48SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, LARRY
HOUSEHOLDER, THE PRESIDENT OF
00:08:51THE SENATE, DOUG WHITE, AND TO
ALL OF YOU.
00:08:55AND MR. SPEAKER AND
MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR
00:08:59YOUR VISION AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LEAD IN
00:09:04TURBULENT TIMES.
YOU HAVE RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE,
00:09:08AND YOUR EFFORTS HAVE MADE OHIO
A BETTER PLACE.
00:09:11(applause)
>> Governor Taft: OUR GOLDEN
00:09:27BUCKEYE PRESCRIPTION DRUG
PROGRAM OFFERS DISCOUNTS
00:09:30AVERAGING 24 PERCENT, AND HAS
ALREADY SAVED SENIORS $3
00:09:34MILLION.
AND THANKS TO YOU IN THE GENERAL
00:09:37ASSEMBLY, BEST Rx WILL DO EVEN
MORE.
00:09:41OHIOANS HAVE ASKED FOR OUR HELP,
AND TOGETHER, WE'RE GETTING THE
00:09:45JOB DONE!
(applause)
00:09:54>> Governor Taft: IN FACT,
WE'VE PASSED A LOT OF IMPORTANT
00:09:58BILLS.
AND I WON'T REPORT ON THEM ALL,
00:10:00BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE
TIME.
00:10:03INSTEAD, WE NEED TO FOCUS ALL
OUR ENERGIES ON OHIO'S ECONOMIC
00:10:08FUTURE.
MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IS TO
00:10:12SPEND EVERY DAY DOING ALL I CAN
TO HELP CREATE JOBS FOR OHIOANS.
00:10:18EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON A GOOD
JOB.
00:10:20STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG
COMMUNITIES, THE PURSUANT OF THE
00:10:25AMERICAN DREAM, AND A TAX BASE
TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS
00:10:29AND SERVICES FOR OUR SENIORS.
YET IN THIS GLOBAL ECONOMY, NO
00:10:34JOBS ARE SAFE.
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CONNECTIONS
00:10:38AND LOW-COST, SKILLED LABOR
OVERSEAS ARE AN EXPLOSIVE
00:10:43COMBINATION.
BY ONE ESTIMATE, 4,000
00:10:46ENGINEERING, PROGRAMMING, AND
ACCOUNTING JOBS WILL LEAVE THE
00:10:50UNITED STATES EVERY WEEK.
WE ARE BATTLING FOR OUR ECONOMIC
00:10:57SURVIVAL.
WE MUST FOCUS ON WHAT WE DO
00:11:03WELL.
WE MUST FOCUS ON GROWING SECTORS
00:11:05OF THE ECONOMY.
WE MUST FOCUS ON JOBS THAT PAY A
00:11:08GOOD WAGE.
AND WE MUST DO SO EVERY DAY OF
00:11:12THIS NEW YEAR.
WE HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR A
00:11:16STRONG ECONOMY.
OUR WORK ETHIC AND OUR WORKFORCE
00:11:19ARE SECOND TO NONE.
WE HAVE THE BEST LOCATION TO
00:11:24SUPPLY NORTH AMERICA.
THAT'S WHY MORE THAN 970
00:11:29FOREIGN-OWNED COMPANIES HAVE
INVESTED IN OHIO.
00:11:33WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE DOING
MORE THAN EVER TO BUILD NEW
00:11:37SCHOOLS AND BETTER HIGHWAYS
THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT ARE
00:11:41CREATING 9,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
00:11:46THE CLEAN OHIO FUND IS
REVITALIZING ABANDONED SITES IN
00:11:50OUR CITIES, EXPANDING OUTDOOR
RECREATION FOR FAMILIES, AND
00:11:54IMPROVING OUR ENVIRO ENMEANT.
AND YOU IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
00:11:59HAVE GIVEN US THE ECONOMIC TOOLS
WE NEED TO COMPETE.
00:12:02IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN COMPETING
EVERY DAY, AGGRESSIVELY, PROJECT
00:12:07BY PROJECT, AND WE'VE HAD
SUCCESS.
00:12:12LAST YEAR, WE COMPLETED PROJECTS
WITH MORE THAN 130 FIRMS
00:12:17LOCATING OR EXPANDING IN OHIO,
CREATING JOBS AND INVESTING MORE
00:12:22THAN $800 MILLION IN OHIO'S
ECONOMY.
00:12:27WE SCORED A MAJOR VICTORY WHEN
USEC ANNOUNCED IT WILL INVEST $1
00:12:32BILLION TO CREATE 500 NEW JOBS
IN SOUTHERN OHIO.
00:12:37(applause)
ALSO THIS MONTH, SUMCO, A LEADER
00:12:51IN MAKING SILICON WAFERS FOR
COMPUTERS, ANNOUNCED IT WILL
00:12:54SPEND $50 MILLION AND CREATE 260
GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN OUR STATE.
00:13:02AND SITE SELECTION MAGAZINE NOW
RANKS OHIO AS THE FOURTH BEST
00:13:06BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE NATION.
(applause)
00:13:16>> Governor Taft: ALL OF THIS
IS GOOD NEWS, BUT IT IS NOT GOOD
00:13:20ENOUGH.
WE MUST FACE THE FACTS.
00:13:22EVEN AS THE NATION'S ECONOMY HAS
STARTED TO REBOUND, OHIO
00:13:26EMPLOYMENT HAS NOT.
OUR CHALLENGE IS CLEAR.
00:13:31TURN JOB LOSSES INTO JOB GAINS.
SELL OUR STATE AS NEVER BEFORE.
00:13:36GO FROM NUMBER FOUR TO NUMBER
ONE, AND BECOME THE BEST PLACE
00:13:40IN AMERICA TO GROW A BUSINESS
AND CREATE NEW JOBS.
00:13:44(applause)
WITH EVERY DECISION WE MAKE,
00:13:57EVERY BILL WE PASS, EVERY BUDGET
WE APPROVE, WE MUST ASK
00:14:01OURSELVES, HOW WITH REIMPROVING
OHIO'S CLIMATE FOR JOBS?
00:14:07SOON, I WILL SEND YOU A JOBS
BILL TO MAKE OHIO MORE
00:14:10COMPETITIVE.
THAT BILL WILL GIVE US NEW
00:14:13ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS AND
INCREASE OUR INVESTMENT IN
00:14:17TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT.
TODAY, I WILL APPOINT A JOBS
00:14:22CABINET TO KEEP US ON TARGET.
CHAIRED BY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
00:14:26BRUCE JOHNSON, IT WILL FOCUS ON
HELPING THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
00:14:30JOBS, ENABLING OUR COMPANIES TO
FIND THE SKILLED WORKERS THEY
00:14:34NEED TO SUCCEED, AND CUTTING RED
TAPE THROUGH REGULATORY REFORM.
00:14:40AND IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET I
PRESENT LATER THIS YEAR, I WILL
00:14:44GIVE HIGHEST PRIORITY TO THOSE
COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT CREATE
00:14:48JOBS AND GROW OUR ECONOMY.
(applause)
00:15:02THE OHIO ECONOMY HAS SO MANY
STRENGTHS.
00:15:06WE MUST BUILD ON THEM ALL.
THROUGH OUR THIRD FRONTIER
00:15:11PROJECT, WE'RE INVESTING TO
CREATE HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
00:15:15WE'VE JOINED WORLD-CLASS TEAMS
FROM UNIVERSITIES AND BUSINESS
00:15:19TO ACCELERATE GROUNDBREAKING
RESEARCH THAT WILL CREATE NEW
00:15:22PRODUCTS AND NEW SERVICES.
WE'RE ADVANCING THE FIELDS OF
00:15:26JET PROPULSION, INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, FUEL CELLS, AND
00:15:31BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TO TREAT
PARKINSON'S DISEASE, LUNG
00:15:34CANCER, AND CHILDHOOD DISEASES.
SIMPLY PUT, WE'RE STAKING OUR
00:15:39CLAIM TO THE GOOD JOBS OF THE
KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, NOT JUST FOR
00:15:44SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND
PHYSICIANS, BUT JOBS FOR LAB
00:15:47TECHNICIANS, DATA MANAGERS, AND
NURSES, AS WELL.
00:15:51IN BIO MEDICINE, WE'RE FUNDING
NEW BUSINESS-RESEARCH TEAMS AT
00:15:55CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN
CINCINNATI, THE UNIVERSITY OF
00:15:57UNIVERSITY OF
CINCINNATI, THE OHIO STATE
00:16:01UNIVERSITY.
IN NORTHEAST OHIO, WE'RE FORGING
00:16:04EXCITING NEW PARTNERSHIPS AMONG
CASE WESTERN RE, THE CLEVELAND
00:16:08CLINIC, AND UNIVERSITY
HOSPITALS.
00:16:11THOSE THREE TOGETHER HAVE
ATTRACTED OVER $1 BILLION IN R&D
00:16:16FUNDING.
THEY'RE CREATING NEW COMPANIES
00:16:18AND HELPING EXISTING ONES
DEVELOP NEW IDEAS AND PRODUCTS.
00:16:23TOGETHER, THEY PROVIDE 57,000
GOOD JOBS WITH A COMBINED
00:16:28PAYROLL OF $2.7 BILLION.
AND THEY'RE HELPING KEEP OUR
00:16:34BEST AND BRIGHTEST HERE IN THE
STATE.
00:16:37(applause)
DR. STAN HAZEN, FROM THE
00:16:50CLEVELAND CLINIC, IS WITH US
TODAY, A THIRD FRONTIER PROJECT
00:16:53IS SUPPORTING HIS WORK IN
DEVELOPING BLOOD TESTS TO
00:16:56IDENTIFY PATIENTS AT RISK OF
HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
00:16:59DR. HAZEN WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
CINCINNATI.
00:17:04THSTAN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING U,
AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING IN OUR
00:17:09STATE.
(applause)
00:17:23LET'S ENABLE MORE TALENTED
OHIOANS LIKE DR. HAZEN TO PUT
00:17:26THEIR SKILLS TO WORK HERE IN
OHIO.
00:17:29LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
THIRD FRONTIER PROJECT THROUGH
00:17:33THE TOBACCO AND CAPITAL BUDGETS
THIS YEAR.
00:17:37AND GIVEN THE LOSS ON ISSUE ONE
LAST YEAR, I WILL ASK YOU TO
00:17:40REDIRECT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO
PROTECT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS
00:17:43ALREADY MADE.
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IS ONE OF
00:17:49OUR THIRD FRONTIER PRIORITIES.
DESPITE RECENT JOB LOSSES, OHIO
00:17:55REMAINS A MANUFACTURING
POWERHOUSE, AND WE MUST ACT NOW
00:17:58TO ENSURE ITS LONG-TERM VIE AL
VITALITY.
00:18:04OUR WORKERS ARE PRODUCTIVE AND
MANUFACTURING PROVIDES 850,000
00:18:08GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN OHIO.
YET MANUFACTURING FACES ENORMOUS
00:18:13PRESSURES, INCLUDING COMPETITION
FROM OVERSEAS, AND RISING COSTS
00:18:17OFTEN BEYOND CONTROL.
OHIO MUST REMAIN THE BEST PLACE
00:18:23TO MAKE PRODUCTS, AND WE CAN
TAKE THREE STEPS RIGHT AWAY TO
00:18:28ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
FIRST, LET'S IMPROVE WORKERS'
00:18:32WORKERS'
COMPENSATION.
00:18:34TOGETHER, WE'VE TRANSFORMED OUR
SYSTEM FROM A LIABILITY TO AN
00:18:37ASSET.
WE'RE PROMOTING SAFER WORKPLACES
00:18:40AND CARING FOR INJURED WORKERS.
PREMIUMS, ON AVERAGE, ARE LOWER
00:18:45TODAY THAN WHEN I TOOK OFFICE.
BUT WE CANNOT STANDSTILL.
00:18:49OUR COSTS ARE HIGHER THAN SOME
OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.
00:18:54LET'S ACT NOW TO PASS AN
INTENTIONAL TORT BILL, AND ALSO
00:18:58ENACT HOUSE BILL 223 TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF WORKPLACE INJURIES
00:19:02CAUSED BY ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.
(applause)
00:19:17SECOND, I AM ASKING YOU TO
EXTEND THE MAXIMUM TERM OF OUR
00:19:21SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE ZONE
PROGRAM FROM 10 TO 15 YEARS.
00:19:26MICHIGAN AND INDIANA ALREADY
HAVE ZONES THAT EXTEND BEYOND
00:19:31OURS.
LARGE PROJECTS HAVE LONGER PAY
00:19:33BACKS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES
NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET
00:19:36TO COMPETE FOR NEW JOBS.
AND FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS ARE
00:19:42DRIVING UP THE COST OF DOING
BUSINESS IN OHIO.
00:19:46SOME COMPANIES HAVE GONE INTO
BANKRUPTCY.
00:19:49WHILE OHIO HAS BEEN SLOW TO
RESPOND, OTHER STATES HAVE ACTED
00:19:54ACTED.
30 STATES HAVE LIMITS ON
00:19:55PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
MICHIGAN DID AWAY WITH THEM
00:19:59ALTOGETHER.
TEXAS AMENDED ITS CONSTITUTION
00:20:01TO CURB LAWSUIT ABUSE.
AND LITIGATION COSTS FOR OUR
00:20:06COMPETITORS OVERSEAS ARE MINIMAL
MINIMAL.
00:20:10THERE'S NO QUESTION WE CAN
COMPENSATE INJURED PARTIES FULLY
00:20:13AND FAIRLY AND STILL PROTECT
BUSINESSES FROM FRIVOLOUS
00:20:18LAWSUITS.
LET'S ENACT COMPREHENSIVE
00:20:20LAWSUIT REFORM, AND ENACT IT
NOW!
00:20:27(applause)
OUR STRONG ECONOMY WASN'T BUILT
00:20:48BY MANUFACTURING ALONE.
AGRICULTURE REPRESENTS THE BEST
00:20:53TRADITIONS OF OUR PAST AND IS A
KEY TO OUR FUTURE.
00:20:58THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
AND HARD WORK, OUR FARMERS ARE
00:21:01THE MOST P PRODUCTIVE ANYWHERE.
WE'RE EXPORTING CROPS AND
00:21:05LIVESTOCK ALL OVER THE WORLD.
POPCORN TO AFRICA, HOGS TO
00:21:10MEXICO, HARDWOOD TO CHINA, AND
ICE CREAM TO SOUTH KOREA.
00:21:13OUR FARMERS SUPPORT MORE THAN
1,000 FOOD PRODUCT COMPANIES
00:21:19OPERATING IN OUR STATE.
AND FORTUNE MAGAZINE HAS JUST
00:21:22NAMED ONE OF THEM THE BEST
COMPANY TO WORK FOR IN AMERICA,
00:21:24THE J.M. SMUCKER COMPANY OF
ORRVILLE BELIEVES IN LISTENING
00:21:28TO WORKERS, TRAINING WORKERS,
AND APPRECIATING WORKERS.
00:21:32THEY'RE UNDER FAMILY MANAGEMENT.
THEY DISTRIBUTE TO MORE THAN 45
00:21:37COUNTRIES, AND THEIR PRODUCTS
ARE DELICIOUS.
00:21:39CEO TIM CHUCKER IS WITH US
TODAY.
00:21:41TIM, WITH A NAME LIKE SMUCKER,
YOU'VE GOT TO BE GOOD!
00:21:45THANKS.
(applause)
00:22:11THANKS FOR LUNCH, TOO.
FARMING NOT ONLY PUTS FOOD ON
00:22:18OUR TABLES, IT ALSO FUELS OUR
FUTURE.
00:22:21WE'VE ALREADY PASSED ETHANOL
INCENTIVES, AND WE'RE PULLING
00:22:24OUT ALL THE STOPS TO BREAK
GROUND ON AN ETHANOL PLANT THIS
00:22:28YEAR.
AND LET'S WORK WITH OUR
00:22:30DELEGATION IN CONGRESS.
ONE OF THE STRONGEST ON CAPITOL
00:22:34HILL, TO END THE ETHANOL PENALTY
THAT COSTS US $150 MILLION A
00:22:39YEAR.
IT'S HIGH TIME THE FEDERAL
00:22:41GOVERNMENT STOPS PENALIZING OHIO
FOR CONSUMING A CLEANER BURNING,
00:22:46RENEWABLE FUEL!
(applause)
00:23:04NOW CORN ISN'T THE ONLY GOOD
THING WE'VE GOT GROWING IN OHIO.
00:23:07FAMILY FARMS ARE PART OF A
GROWING SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR
00:23:11THAT'S ALSO ONE OF OHIO'S GREAT
STRENGTHS.
00:23:13IN FACT, SMALL BUSINESS IS BIG
BUSINESS IN OHIO, EMPLOYING HALF
00:23:19OF OUR WORKFORCE AND GROWING 80
PERCENT OF OUR NEW JOBS.
00:23:23SMALL COMPANIES ACCOUNT FOR
ONE-THIRD OF OUR EXPORTS.
00:23:26IN SHORT, SMALL BUSINESS IS
CRUCIAL TO OHIO'S ECONOMY.
00:23:30THAT'S WHY I FORMED OUR SMALL
BUSINESS COUNCIL, AND APPOINTED
00:23:34LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRADLEY AS
OUR POINT PERSON FOR THE SMALL
00:23:37BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND LAST YEAR, WE STARTED AN AM
00:23:41BUDS MAN PROGRAM TO EXPEDITE PER
MISTS AND RESOLVE SMALL COMPANY
00:23:46ISSUES WITH STATE AGENCIES.
THROUGH THE OHIO BUSINESS
00:23:49GATEWAY, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
ONE-STOP WEB SITE, 47,000
00:23:54BUSINESSES ARE NOW FILING
RETURNS AND MAKING PAYMENTS IN
00:23:59PAPERLESS TRANSACTIONS.
AND THE MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX
00:24:03REFORMS WE ENACTED WILL ALSO
MAKE FILING EASIER FOR SMALL
00:24:07COMPANIES.
THESE STEPS ARE HELPFUL, BUT THE
00:24:10NUMBER ONE PROBLEM FOR SMALL
BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IS THE HIGH
00:24:13COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE.
PREMIUMS ARE SKYROCKETING AND
00:24:17COMPANIES ARE CUTTING BENEFITS.
TO HELP SMALL COMPANIES, I ASK
00:24:22FOR A MORATORIUM ON NEW HEALTH
INSURANCE MANDATES DURING THIS
00:24:26LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
(applause)
00:24:38IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, NEW
MANDATES, HOWEVER WELL
00:24:43INTENTIONED, COULD PUSH MORE
SMALL COMPANIES TO REDUCE OR
00:24:46ELIMINATE BENEFITS.
IN THE MEANTIME, INSURANCE
00:24:50DIRECTOR ANN WOMER BENJAMIN WILL
RECOMMEND STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO
00:24:53HELP SMALL BUSINESS WORKERS GET
THE HEALTH BENEFITS THEY NEED.
00:24:59ANOTHER STRENGTH IS OUR GROWING
FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR.
00:25:03THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY ALONE
EMPLOYS MORE THAN 100,000
00:25:07OHIOANS AT AN AVERAGE SALARY OF
OVER $50,000.
00:25:11INSURANCE IS AN EXPORT PRODUCT
BRINGING DOLLARS BACK TO OUR
00:25:16STATE.
OUR STRATEGY MUST TARGET
00:25:19INSURANCE, AND I ASK YOU TO
ENACT LEGISLATION TO MAKE
00:25:21INSURANCE COMPANIES, LIKE OTHER
OHIO BUSINESSES, ELIGIBLE FOR
00:25:25THE JOB CREATION TAX CREDIT.
WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS
00:25:32ON OUR STRENGTHS, THE KNOWLEDGE
ECONOMY, MANUFACTURING,
00:25:36AGRIBUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS,
AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, WE MUST
00:25:39ALSO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE.
OUR ECONOMY FACES A NEW KIND OF
00:25:45THREAT.
CONGRESS HAS ORDERED A BASE
00:25:48CLOSURE PROCESS FOR 2005, AND WE
MUST STAND READY.
00:25:51MORE THAN 38,000 JOBS ARE AT
RISK AT FEDERAL MILITARY BASES
00:25:56IN CLEVELAND, COLUMBUS, DAYTON,
LIMA, SPRINGFIELD, AND
00:26:01YOUNGSTOWN.
THESE BASES HAVE AN ECONOMIC
00:26:03IMPACT OF NEARLY $4 BILLION A
YEAR.
00:26:07I THANK YOU IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY FOR ALREADY PROVIDING
00:26:11$1.5 MILLION TO HELP THESE
COMMUNITIES PROTECT THEIR BASES.
00:26:15BUT WE MUST DO EVEN MORE.
TODAY, I'M ANNOUNCING THE
00:26:19FORMATION OF THE ALL-OHIO TASK
FORCE TO SAVE DEFENSE JOBS TO
00:26:24SUPPORT THESE LOCAL CAMPAIGNS.
AND WITH YOUR HELP, WE'LL
00:26:28PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION
TO FULLY MEET COMMUNITY
00:26:33REQUESTS.
THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THESE BASES
00:26:35DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO
PROTECTING US.
00:26:38WE OWE IT TO THEM TO FIGHT FOR
THEIR JOBS!
00:26:43(applause)
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE WE MUST
00:26:58DO TO IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY,
REFORM OUR TAX CODE!
00:27:05(applause)
LAST YEAR, AFTER MONTHS OF
00:27:38DEBATE, YOU ALL MADE A
COURAGEOUS DECISION TO STABILIZE
00:27:41OUR BUDGET, PROTECT OUR BOND
RATING, HOLD SPENDING UNDER
00:27:45CONTROL, ALL WHILE MAKING
CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN
00:27:48EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT OUR
00:27:51CHILDREN AND SENIORS.
AND I COMMEND YOU FOR IT.
00:27:55BUT WE HAVEN'T SOLVED OUR
LONG-TERM PROBLEM.
00:27:58LAST WEEK -- EXCUSE ME, LAST
YEAR, I PROPOSED A SWEEPING PLAN
00:28:01TO LOWER RATES, BROADEN THE
BASE, AND TREAT TAXPAYERS
00:28:06FAIRLY.
OTHERS IN THIS CHAMBER BROUGHT
00:28:09FORTH CREATIVE IDEAS.
WE KNOW THAT TAX REFORM IS HARD
00:28:12TO DO, HARD IN A BUDGET YEAR,
HARD IN AN ELECTION YEAR, BUT IT
00:28:17MUST BE DONE.
SO LET'S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND
00:28:20GET IT DONE THIS YEAR.
(applause)
00:28:34AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, THERE ARE
MANY THINGS WE MUST DO TO
00:28:39IMPROVE OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE,
BUT IN THE QUEST FOR PROSPERITY,
00:28:43WHAT MATTERS MOST IS OUR PEOPLE.
FROM TRUCK DRIVERS TO TEACHERS,
00:28:48FROM STEEL WORKERS TO AUTO
WORKERS, FROM MANAGERS TO
00:28:53RESEARCHERS, I'LL PUT OHIO
WORKERS UP AGAINST ANY IN THE
00:28:56WORLD.
BUT THAT WORLD IS CHANGING.
00:28:58WE MUST CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO
TRAIN A WORKFORCE THAT IS
00:29:02STATE-OF-THE-ART, FLEXIBLE,
INNOVATIVE.
00:29:04IN SHORT, WORLD-CLASS.
BEING WORLD-CLASS MEANS HIGH
00:29:09ACADEMIC STANDARDS THAT ENABLE
STUDENTS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH
00:29:12SCHOOL PREPARED FOR THEIR
FUTURES.
00:29:15IN THIS AREA, WITH YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND THE SUPPORT OF
00:29:17THOUSANDS OF EDUCATORS AROUND
THE STATE, WE'RE MAKING REAL
00:29:21PROGRESS.
OHIO JUST RECEIVED AN "A" RATING
00:29:25FOR OUR STANDARDS ARE AND
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND A "B" FOR
00:29:29OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TEACHER
QUALITY.
00:29:32IN READING AND MATH, OUR
STUDENTS ARE NEAR THE TOP IN
00:29:34NATIONAL COMPARISONS.
TO BUILD ON THIS PROGRESS, OUR
00:29:39TASK FORCE ON SCHOOL FUNDING IS
HARD AT WORK, AND I LOOK FORWARD
00:29:42TO ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I URGE YOU TO ENACT SENATE
00:29:46BILL 2 TO GIVE TEACHERS THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE THE BEST
00:29:51BEST.
A WORLD-CLASS WORKFORCE ALSO
00:29:54REQUIRES MORE STUDENTS
GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE.
00:29:58THE TUITION TAX DEDUCTION YOU
ENACTED IS SAVING STUDENTS AND
00:30:02THEIR FAMILIES MORE THAN $14
MILLION A YEAR.
00:30:05OUR COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK NOW
SERVES HALF OF OHIO'S SCHOOL
00:30:10DISTRICTS, REACHING OUT TO
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO EXPLAIN
00:30:13THAT A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS BOTH
ESSENTIAL AND ATTAINABLE.
00:30:18WE'LL GROW THIS NETWORK TO HELP
STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS IN
00:30:22EVERY COMMUNITY IN THIS STATE.
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT IS AT AN
00:30:26ALL-TIME HIGH, BUT OUR
PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON EDUCATING
00:30:30FAR MORE PEOPLE TO HIGHER LEVELS
OF KNOWLEDGE.
00:30:35THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY IS
00:30:38DEVELOPING STEPS TO ACHIEVE THAT
GOAL.
00:30:42LET'S WORK WITH THE BUSINESS AND
HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITIES TO
00:30:44FIND WAYS TO BEAT THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE AND INCREASE ENROLLMENT
00:30:49BY 25 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT
DECADE.
00:30:52LET'S DO IT.
(applause)
00:31:03WE MUST ALSO DO MORE TO HELP
BUSINESSES UPGRADE THE SKILLS OF
00:31:07THEIR CURRENT WORKERS AND HELP
THOSE WITHOUT JOBS TO FIND AND
00:31:11KEEP ONE.
AS THE ECONOMY TRANSITIONS,
00:31:14ON-THE-JOB TRAINING MUST BECOME
A MORE CENTRAL PART OF OUR
00:31:18STRATEGY.
THEREFORE, WE SHOULD DOUBLE OUR
00:31:21COMMITMENT TO JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS THAT MATCH COMPANY
00:31:23TRAINING INITIATIVES.
TWO YEARS FROM NOW, I WANT TO
00:31:27REPORT TO YOU THAT WE HAVE
TRAINED 200,000 MORE PEOPLE IN
00:31:30THE SKILLS OF TOMORROW.
IN ADDITION, MY JOBS BILL WILL
00:31:36CREATE THE OHIO WORKFORCE
GUARANTEE AS A NEW INCENTIVE TO
00:31:40ATTRACT BUSINESS INVESTMENT.
IF YOU'RE A COMPANY CREATING 100
00:31:44GOOD JOBS AND NEED WORKERS,
WE'LL RECRUIT, SCREEN AND TRAIN
00:31:48THEM SO THAT YOU CAN PUT THEM TO
WORK IMMEDIATELY.
00:31:52(applause)
AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
00:32:0531 FULL-SERVICE, ONE-STOP
WORKFORCE CENTERS WILL BE
00:32:09OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE STATE
BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
00:32:12A NUMBER OF MODEL PROGRAMS ARE
ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
00:32:16ONE IS THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY JOB
CENTER IN DAYTON.
00:32:21ANOTHER IS THE EMPLOYMENT SOURCE
IN CANTON, A POWERFUL ECONOMIC
00:32:25DEVELOPMENT TOOL FOR THAT
REGION, RECRUITING, SCREENING,
00:32:28AND TRAINING WORKERS FOR
COMPANIES SEEKING A GOOD
00:32:31LOCATION TO INVEST OR GROW.
RECENTLY, THE EMPLOYMENT
00:32:36SOURCE'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPLY
300 WORKERS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR
00:32:40IN THE DECISION OF THE ALLIANCE
CASTINGS COMPANY TO EXPAND IN
00:32:44OHIO.
WITH US TODAY IS SHARON PARRY,
00:32:48THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
EMPLOYMENT SOURCE.
00:32:51SHARON, THANKS FOR BEING SUCH A
GREAT EXAMPLE AND SHOWING THE
00:32:53REST OF THE STATE HOW IT CAN BE
DONE.
00:32:57(applause)
MY FRIENDS, WITH COMPANIES LIKE
00:33:16SMUCKERS, PLACES LIKE THE
CLEVELAND CLINIC, PROGRAMS LIKE
00:33:20THE EMPLOYMENT SOURCE,
WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH, TALENTED
00:33:25WORKERS, AND A STRONG PRO-JOBS
AGENDA, WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO
00:33:30TELL ABOUT OHIO.
AS JIM RHODES USED TO SAY, "DZ
00:33:36WE HAVE MORE THINGS IN OHIO BY
ACCIDENT THAN OTHER STATES HAVE
00:33:39ON PURPOSE."
YET WE NEED TO TELL OUR STORY
00:33:44BETTER.
I'LL PROMOTE OHIO IN JAPAN AND
00:33:47TAIWAN LATER THIS YEAR, AND I
KNOW THAT EACH OF YOU PROMOTE
00:33:50OHIO IN OUR DISTRICTS.
BUT SELLING OHIO'S ECONOMY MUST
00:33:54HAPPEN EVERY MONTH, EVERY WEEK,
AND EVERY DAY.
00:33:58SO THIS YEAR, WE'LL CREATE A
NON-PROFIT CORPORATION TO
00:34:03PROMOTE AND MARKET OUR
TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC ASSETS.
00:34:06WE'LL PARTNER WITH FOUNDATIONS,
BUSINESSES, AND LOCAL ECONOMIC
00:34:10DEVELOPMENT GROUPS, AND IN
FUTURE BUDGETS, WE'LL SEEK YOUR
00:34:13HELP TO TELL OUR STORY.
LET'S MAKE SURE THE REST OF THE
00:34:19WORLD KNOWS WHAT YOU AND I
ALREADY KNOW, THAT OHIO IS THE
00:34:23BEST PLACE IN AMERICA TO LIVE,
TO WORK, AND TO RAISE A FAMILY.
00:34:28(applause)
THE OHIO STORY IS ALL ABOUT OUR
00:34:48PEOPLE, INVENTIVE AND
INDUSTRIOUS MEN AND WOMEN.
00:34:52WE START OUR CARS AND LIGHT OUR
HOMES, ALL BECAUSE OHIOANS DARED
00:34:57TO DREAM.
BECAUSE OF OHIOANS, WE ARE
00:35:01EARTHBOUND NO MORE.
100 YEARS AGO, THE WRIGHT
00:35:05BROTHERS TOOK TO THE SKIES.
THEN OHIOANS LEAPED BEYOND THE
00:35:09ATMOSPHERE WHEN JOHN GLENN
CIRCLED THE GLOBE AND NEIL
00:35:12ARMSTRONG TOUCHED THE MOON.
IT'S NO WONDER THEN, AS WE REACH
00:35:17OUT TO A PLANET 124 MILLION
MILES AWAY, OHIOANS ARE ONCE
00:35:23AGAIN LEADING THE WAY.
ENTREPRENEURS AT CMC ELECTRONICS
00:35:29ELECTRONICS, SCIENTISTS AT OHIO
STATE, AND ENGINEERS ARE AT NASA
00:35:32GLENN AND WRIGHT-PATT ALL PLAY
PIVOTAL ROLLS IN THE MISSION TO
00:35:38MARS.
OHIOANS ARE TRULY AN INNOVATIVE,
00:35:41CREATIVE, AND RESOURCEFUL PEOPLE
PEOPLE.
00:35:44WE CAN TACKLE AND SOLVE DAUNTING
PROBLEMS.
00:35:48WE KNOW THE RISKS ARE WORTH TAKE
TAKING, THE DEFEATS WORTH
00:35:53SUFFERING.
WE KNOW THAT SUCCESS WILL BE WON
00:35:56AND VICTORIES ENJOYED.
AND WE KNOW, AS WE WORK TOGETHER
00:36:02TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR OUR
FUTURE PROSPERITY, THAT OUR
00:36:06CHILDREN WILL ACHIEVE BEYOND
EVEN THE DREAMS OF TODAY.
00:36:12MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY GOD
BLESS OHIO.
00:36:16(applause)
THANK YOU.
00:37:38>> THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SENATOR
ANDY GARDENER FOR A MOTION.
00:37:42>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT
THIS JOINT CONVENTION BE
00:37:46ADJOURNED.
Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions