Reflecting on our Independence

As a young child, I always looked forward to the 4th of July. Not only was it another day to enjoy my summer vacation from school, but it was a day filled with family and friends, great food, and fireworks. In my young mind, it was a day just for me. The 4th of July is my birthday. It didn’t take long for me to understand that it’s also our nation’s birthday and to recognize the significance that the Revolution has had on all of our lives.


What began as a resolution declaring our independence from Great Britain eventually led to an all-out war, in which many Americans gave their lives in the name of freedom. They were defending a people who wanted justice and a government instituted to secure their unalienable rights endowed upon them by God, including, but not limited to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Today, our nation continues to send our young men and women to uphold the same rights and freedoms fought so hard for back then. As the chair of the Ohio House Veterans Affairs Committee, I’m continually searching for ways that we can make a life a bit easier and more enjoyable for our service members. Why? Because just as it was in the days of the Revolution, our country continues to be a place of opportunity and hope for the world; and we must honor and respect those who defend it.

I’m definitely enjoyed spending the 4^th of July with my family and friends. But while I enjoyed my time with them, the food we had, and many of the same activities we all partake in this time of year, I certainly took time to reflect upon the freedoms gained through our independence, the sacrifices of our military members, their families, and all that the United States represents to the world. It is my hope that, this Independence Day, you joined me in such reverence for our nation’s illustrious past and promising future.

Ohio Must Act Responsibly

With the poor economic conditions we are facing, there is a lot of talk about wanting to ensure the next generation has the same opportunities that we have had. In fact, I believe we all want to leave our children with an even better future. It’s human nature to want them to have more than we did.
Some of the life lessons we teach our kids as they grow older are that you have to work to be successful, you have to save up your money and you have to be responsible in the ways that you spend it. I’m working on this right now with my own kids; my seven year old thinks he’s saving to buy himself a cell phone! The question is: why can’t our government follow that advice?

With a budget that is $8 billion in the hole, we must do everything we can to reinvent the way our state government does business. That’s why I’m supporting legislation that will get us back on the right track, including a bill that will ensure our state spends its money as efficiently as possible.

House Bill 2 reduces wasteful government spending as well as ensures our state agencies are delivering services through the most efficient structure. It requires Ohio’s state auditor to conduct a performance audit of select state agencies every two years, which will make our government more productive and responsive. As the state’s fiscal watchdog, Ohio Auditor Dave Yost is in support of this legislation and is eager to see it move forward.

We must make sure that our government operates as cost-effectively as possible and is not bogged down by layers of waste or inefficiency. House Bill 2 will offer both short-term and long-term solutions, which will save tax dollars for our families and businesses down the road.

Another way Ohioans can keep more of their hard-earned money is to ensure that they are not taxed simply because they chose to die within our borders—an egregious policy known as the estate tax. House Bill 3 aims to abolish this “death tax” because when Ohioans are taxed for working, investing and spending in this state, I see no reason why we ought to tax them for dying here, too.

Most states do not have a “death” tax, which means Ohio is put at a disadvantage and causes people to flock to other states as a means of saving their money. The tax is a hit to the middle class—farmers and small business owners like those of the 70th House District—who must face this penalty if their assets obtain a value of just $338,333 (the lowest exemption of any state).

I believe people should keep their own money. I believe children should not be punished for what they inherit from their hard-working parents. And I believe that we need to find ways of ensuring Ohioans stay here to do business and raise their families, rather than contribute to the economies of other states.

The passage of House Bill 3 is an important part of strengthening Ohio. I expect to be working hard on this and other legislation that arise in the Ohio House of Representatives. As your voice in Columbus, I will certainly keep you informed and ensure that our state is not only taking initiative on the economy, but is doing so in the most responsible way.