What a year it's been! For a first-time legislator, it was all I expected and not at all what I expected.
The economy set the stage for painful budget decisions the likes of which Ohio had not seen since the Great Depression. But we protected education at all levels. Cuts to human services were difficult for all of us, but despite the debilitating national recession we came together and fought as hard as we could to protect those hardest hit by this tough economy.
On a more positive note, we passed sorely needed election reform, legislation that will help those facing foreclosure, passed into law a dating violence prevention act, and set nutritional standards for school vending machines, among others.
My first bill passed out of the House - Sub. HB 7, which requires any new building built with state capital money to be built to certain environmental and energy standards.
This was an interesting process. It started out as a one sentence bill with one standard to meet. It's said politics makes strange bedfellows - well a coalition came together that consisted of the Sierra Club at one extreme and the Ohio Chemical Technology Council on the other, with many interested parties in between. We worked for months and came up with a bill that met our goal but also gave choices and provided waivers for reasonable requests. This is the way democracy works!
I've really enjoyed working with communities and individuals in the district. Whether it be someone not getting their unemployment check or Canal Winchester dealing with the SWACO or the townships dealing with sky-high water and sewer rates, I've done what I can to expedite responses and solutions.
I'm looking forward to 2010 and the progress we're going to make. Kinship Care is something that's close to my heart and I'm excited to get HB 197 through committee. This is a bill that will make it easier for family members (grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) who are taking care of a child to make medical decisions and enroll them in school.
I've already introduced HB 344 that will eliminate some of the charges that private water companies can pass through to their customers. I've begun working on a domestic violence bill that will protect victims, punish abusers, and prevent future violence from occurring. I've already met with several domestic violence prevention groups in the Columbus region and received many phone calls from those affected by domestic violence from all around the state.
The last year has been long and difficult at times, but I take heart in recognizing we are building a better place to work and live for ourselves and for our children. I am glad my 30 years of experience in and out of government can help us work toward this end.
State Representative Marian Harris represents Ohio House District 19.
