Thursday, May 17, 2012

May 17


Ohio House approves new license plate designs

Associated Press

Published: May 17, 2012 - 06:38 AM


COLUMBUS: The Ohio House has passed a bill that would offer state drivers several new license plate designs to choose from when they hit the road.

The plates’ designs range from advertising Superman’s birthplace to promoting a children’s hospital foundation.

Two of the plates are only available to military personnel or immediate family members of those killed in combat. Four of the plates require a contribution toward the organization featured on the plate.

House Speaker William G. Batchelder said the designs showcase the state’s history while honoring military servicemen and women from Ohio.





Ohio Senate passes public pension reforms in a rush

Published: Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 7:30 PM Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 6:04 AM

By Joe Guillen, The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A set of public pension reforms that include increased contributions by some public employees passed in a blur through the Ohio Senate Wednesday with bipartisan support.

The reforms also would increase the number of work years it would take for some employees to be eligible for retirement. Other changes include a new formula for determining a retiree’s income and a new set of guidelines for cost-of-living adjustments.

“We know the changes are not popular, but they are necessary,” said Senate President Tom Niehaus, a Republican from Clermont County.

While the reforms received little scrutiny in the Senate, the House of Representatives plans to take a slower approach. Speaker William G. Batchelder, a Republican from Medina, wants to review the results of an actuarial study expected this summer before moving forward, a spokesman for Batchelder said Wednesday.
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/05/ohio_senate_passes_public_pens.html





House Passes MBR Financial Institutions Tax, Cincinnati Metro Housing Bills



Hannah Report 5/16/12

Wednesday's House session started off as a solemn occasion, with the chamber unanimously agreeing on legislation naming portions of Ohio's roads after a number of individuals.

Many of the representatives rose to speak about the service members in their district that were being honored under HB325 (Landis), with the chamber rising for a moment of silence after each, or to applaud families in attendance. The bill was also amended on the floor to include another highway naming in Franklin County and to reflect a promotion one service member was given posthumously.

It was the last unanimous vote of the day until the House voted in unison to reject the Senate changes to HB487 (Amstutz), the Mid-Biennium Review (MBR).
http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189423


Retirement System Revamp Clears Senate; Credit Card Interest Rate, Central State Measures Pass

Gongwer 5/16/12



The Senate took action Wednesday on four fast-tracked measures aimed at providing long-term financial stability to Ohio's public pension systems.

During a fairly lengthy and substantive session, the chamber also dispensed with three other measures, including a major budget update (see separate story), a push for Central State University's designation as a land grant institution and a bill to align Ohio's credit card interest rate cap with those of other states.

The four pension bills would impose long-sought changes in the financial structure of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (SB 343 ), State Teachers Retirement System (SB 342 ), Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (SB 340 ) and School Employees Retirement System (SB 341 ).

The legislation generally increase the contribution rates for employees, lower pension calculations, moderate final average salary determinations and require employees to work longer to gain full retirement. (LSC Analysis Memo)

"We know the changes are not popular, but they are necessary," Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) said in a rare floor speech.





No comments:

Post a Comment