State Rep. Stephen Slesnick

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG. 6, 2013
Contact: Holly Nagle, Legislative Aide (614) 466-8030

Rep. Slesnick Appointed to Summer Study Committee on Tax Reform

Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton) was recently appointed to the House Tax Reform Legislative Study Committee, one of three such committees being conducted during the summer recess by the Ohio House of Representatives.

“I encourage my constituents and all Ohioans to participate in these hearings, either in person or by submitting written testimony,” said Rep. Slesnick. “The best way for us to represent your interests is by hearing your opinions.”

A total of five hearings will be held through August and September:

• August 14: University of Cincinnati East Branch (1981 James E. Sauls Sr. Drive, Batavia, OH 45103); 10 a.m. All taxes except municipal income taxes.
• August 21: Ohio University Chillicothe Branch (101 University Drive, Chillicothe, OH 45601); 10 a.m. All taxes except municipal income taxes.
• September 3: Bowling Green City Council Chambers (304 North Church Street, Bowling Green, OH 43402); 10 a.m. All taxes except municipal income taxes.
• September 12: North Ridgeville City Council Chambers (7307 Avon Belden Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039); 10 a.m. All taxes except municipal income taxes.
• September 17: Ohio Statehouse (1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215), room to be determined; 1 p.m. Municipal income taxes only.

The other study committees will explore issues impacting higher education, and prescription drug addiction and healthcare reform. The goal of these meetings is to engage the public and spur public dialogue surrounding these important topics.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUG. 5, 2013
Contact: Holly Nagle, Legislative Aide (614) 466-8030

State Rep. Stephen Slesnick Announces Funds for City of Canton
State support to assess environmental suitability of city’s property

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton) announced today the release of state funds in the amount of $200,000 for a Phase II Environmental Assessment on the former RTI Facility located on Trump Avenue in the City of Canton. The property was originally developed for industrial use in the early 1900’s as part of the larger Republic Steel Plant. The funds will be used to assess the environmental suitability of the property and the possible need for any remediation. Potential future uses include steel making support, oil and gas suppliers and support businesses, trucking companies, heavy manufacturing and warehousing.

"I am pleased to see that the state has taken notice of the need for an environmental assessment of this currently inoperative piece of land," said Rep. Slesnick. “This former steel plant has a lot of potential uses that are sure to benefit our local economy, and I am optimistic that the evaluation will yield positive results.”

The Phase II Environmental Assessment will include the installation of 58 soil borings to a depth of 20 feet, 39 shallow soil borings to a depth of two feet, 21 monitoring wells to a depth of 25 feet, and two deep monitoring wells to a depth of 100 feet, five sediment and surface water samples, geotechnical survey data evaluation and reporting. All assessment work will be conducted within the property boundaries.

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Join me in signing this petition to kill HB 203 and prevent the Ohio General Assembly from enacting a Stand Your Ground law like Florida's:

Ohio House Republicans, Ohio Governor John Kasich: Keep "Stand Your Ground" Out of Ohio, Kill... Please join State Representative Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus in opposing House Bill 203, the so-called "Stand...

For those in need of assistance paying cooling bills this summer, there are grants available through the "Neighbor to Neighbor" program. To qualify, your household income must be at or below 250% of the federal povery guidelines, and be able to show a good fatih effort to pay your electricity bills. Applications are being accepted now through August 31. For more information, please visit the wesbsite:

Home | Dollar Energy Fund Fund Since 1983, Dollar Energy Fund has been working to meet our mission to improve the quality of life for households experiencing hardships by providing utility assistance and other services that lead to self-sufficiency. Programs such as Hardship, Neighbor To Neighbor, Home Energy Assistance, Low Inco...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 19, 2013
Contact: Holly Nagle, Legislative Aide (614) 466-8030

State Rep. Stephen Slesnick Votes to Approve Holocaust Memorial on the Ohio Statehouse Grounds

COLUMBUS- The Capital Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) yesterday voted to approve the artist and design for the Ohio Holocaust Memorial, to be built on the Southwest lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. The measure passed the Board with a vote of 8-1.

"I was honored to vote in favor of accepting the recommendations of the Artist Selection Committee, and am pleased to see the project come to fruition after 2 years of planning," said Rep. Slesnick. "Being one of only two Jewish legislators, and the only Jewish member of the CSRAB, I am extremely happy to be part of this monumental decision. I fully support bringing cognizance to the atrocities of the Holocaust, and paying tribute to the lives lost and Veterans who played a role in the liberation. I look forward to continuing my work with CSRAB and the Ohio Jewish Communities to ensure the memorial's completion."

Ohio will be the first state to have a Holocaust memorial on statehouse grounds. The $2 million memorial will be privately funded, with $300,000 for site preparation provided by the state. More information can be found by visiting: http://ohiojc.org/statehouseholocaustmemorial.html

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Ohio Jewish Communities, Ohio Jewish Communities Columbus, OH Statehouse Holocaust Memorial To create a memorial that would help legislators and visitors to The Statehouse understand not just the history of the Holocaust, but the fact that today we must stand against evil. To construct something that can teach people about man’s inhumanity to man. To create a monument to remember the victi...

Happy Fourth to all of my friends, family, constituents and followers!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 27, 2013
Contact: Holly Nagle, Legislative Aide (614) 466-8030


State Rep. Stephen Slesnick Votes Against Budget that Denies Healthcare to Ohioans and Leaves Middle- Class Families Behind
275,000 Ohioans and 26,000 veterans continue to go without health coverage

COLUMBUS- The Ohio House of Representatives passed the state’s two year operating budget this afternoon, Sub. HB 59, without including the expansion of Medicaid-- despite widespread support from groups all across the political spectrum and the healthcare industry. Medicaid expansion would have provided healthcare coverage to more than 275,000 Ohioans, 26,000 veterans, and created an estimated 28,000 jobs in the healthcare field.

“Sub. HB 59 is rife with partisan politics and demonstrative of the House Majority’s utter disregard for the proper legislative process. It is so unfortunate that instead of electing to provide much needed healthcare coverage to thousands of Ohioans by expanding Medicaid, my colleagues who supported this bill today voted to forego $13 billion dollars in a political stand against Obamacare.

The last minute inclusion of significant policy changes dictating what should be private healthcare decisions between a woman and her doctor have no place in the state budget bill. I strongly oppose the passage of medically inaccurate language to mandate ultrasounds for the detection of a fetal heartbeat for women seeking abortions and to restrict women’s access to safe and legal healthcare by defunding Planned Parenthood and prohibiting clinics that provide abortions from obtaining emergency transfer agreements with hospitals.

Promises to address the unconstitutional school funding model fell flat, while charter schools benefit through increased vouchers and lowered educational standards. The new tax package unfairly advantages the wealthiest Ohioans, while the middle class, working poor, and senior citizens of our state are disproportionately burdened with the bill. This unequal impact is furthered by the GOP refusal to restore local government funding after historic cuts were made in their previous budget.

In sum, I voted against this budget because I believe it fails to address the needs of the constituents that I was elected to represent.”

Today's Windsor decision by SCOTUS is a historical ruling in the advancement of gay rights, and I am so pleased that legally married same-sex couples will now be afforded the equal rights that they so deserve.

Thanks to my colleaugues on the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee for favorably passing HB 133. I will work hard to ensure it is brought for a vote on the House floor after the summer recess.

I'm pleased to announce that HB 133, legislation to remove the front license plate requirement, is scheduled for a 4th hearing and possible vote in the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday, June 25 at 1pm. If you wish to submit testimony to the committee in support (or in opposition) of the measure, then please send it to my Legislative Aide, Holly Nagle: [email protected]

If you would like to be added to my e-newsletter list, please send your email address!

Rep. Slesnick continues to receive positive press regarding his proposal to remove the front license plate requirement:

1 license plate idea deserves support - MariettaTimes.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community... Local state representatives should approve a House proposal to remove the front license plate requirement from Ohio’s law books. State Reps.