The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) advocacy team monitors healthcare related legislation throughout the legislative process.
Read on for this week’s updates and contact Workforce and Advocacy Manager Caitlin Laudeman with questions or for ways to get involved. fake text for space fake text for space fake text for space
Legislature Votes to Place 60% Amendment on August Ballot
Source: NEA Consulting Weekly Ohio Update
Voters can go to the polls in August to decide whether the Ohio Constitution should be more difficult to amend under a joint resolution adopted by Republicans in the House and Senate on May 10. While there were questions about whether the House had the 60 votes necessary to adopt Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR2) (R-Rob McColley, Napoleon, OH) heading into session, the measure ultimately passed 62-37 after several passionate speeches from lawmakers and demonstrations by protesters in the gallery. Representatives Jamie Callender (R-Concord, OH), Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville, OH), Brett Hillyer (R-Dennison, OH), Jeff LaRe (R-Canal Winchester, OH), and Tom Patton (R-Strongsville, OH) joined Democrats in voting against SJR2.
The House voted 56-42 to add the Tuesday, August 8, election date to SJR2, with Reps. Callender, Edwards, Hillyer, LaRe, Patton, Jon Cross (R-Kenton, OH), Adam Holmes (R-Nashport, OH), Mike Loychik (R-Cortland, OH), Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville, OH), and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth, OH) joining Democrats in voting against the amendment. After the House approved SJR2, the Senate concurred with House amendments by a vote of 26-7.
According to the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) synopsis, the amendment “states that the election is being prescribed pursuant to the General Assembly’s power to prescribe elections for the purpose of voting on a constitutional amendment under Section 1, Article XVI of the constitution” and “states that the election is to be conducted in a manner prescribed by applicable laws, rather than in a manner prescribed by law.”
Tell Your State Senator to Support the Family Medicine Appropriation in the Ohio Department of Higher Education Budget
It is crucial that the state of Ohio does its part to provide adequate support for family physicians who meet population health needs, improve health outcomes, and lower health costs. Thank you to all who submitted messages to their state representatives last month to support the reinstatement of the 3% increase to the family medicine line item in the state budget. While the increase was not reinstated in the house passed budget, we have a second opportunity to have the funding increase reinstated in the senate. Send a message to your senator today! Submissions are open through May 16.
No Danger to Public After Train Derailment Near New Castle, PA
Source: NEA Consulting Weekly Ohio Update
The Lawrence County (Pennsylvania) Department of Public Safety said there is “no threat to the public, no issues with drinking water and no need for evacuations or sheltering” after a Norfolk Southern train derailed near New Castle, PA, late May 10. The site is near the Ohio border and East Palestine, where a Norfolk Southern train carrying vinyl chloride derailed in February. “Norfolk Southern crews are on scene working out a plan to remove the cars. The majority of the first responders have cleared the scene. We have noticed many comments reporting a white powder spilling into the water and ‘strange smells’ in the area. The only product that escaped one of the cars was soy beans. The only ‘hazardous material’ car that derailed was carrying paraffin wax,” Lawrence County officials said in a social media post.