Taking on A New Approach to Business Across Ohio

Ohio’s small business people and entrepreneurs know all too well that bureaucratic red tape and over-regulation have been main culprits in driving jobs away from the Buckeye State in recent years. Far too many of our communities have taken the hit as families have moved away in order to find work and gain greater financial security. Clearly, something needed to be done.

To return prosperity to Ohio we must get control over run-away government regulations, but this does not mean that a laissez-faire regulatory system is what Ohio needs. History has taught us the important role government must play to protect working people, minority groups, our natural environment and the other interests of a civil society.  We all recognize that there must be rules of the road to protect against those unscrupulous operators who would allow self interest to trump civic virtue.  But we cannot allow cumbersome and unnecessary regulations to continue deterring business in Ohio.

What we need is a thoughtful approach to government regulation which considers a cost-benefit analysis before acting. 

With the bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 2, we empowered the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) with new authority to shut down bureaucratic overreach and stand up for common sense.  As Chairman of this committee, I will work with my fellow committee members and a very capable team of analysts to review every rule proposed by Ohio's various state agencies.  

As an oversight authority created decades ago, JCARR's charge has long been to evaluate the impact of any proposed regulations and to ensure that they do not go beyond an agency's intended authority. However, due to its limited scope and authority, JCARR has sometimes been powerless to prevent the implementation of burdensome regulations that have contributed to jobs and capital exiting Ohio.

This recent legislative action provided JCARR with a "fifth prong" that will allow us to recommend the invalidation of any rules deemed as negatively affecting our state’s businesses.  Under the change, agencies now must file a "business impact analysis" for any proposed regulation that will affect Ohio’s job creators.  The newly-established Common Sense Initiative Office (CSIO) will assist in evaluating the roughly 9,000 rules that come before JCARR on an annual basis.

Though the rule review process often proves too technical and dry to garner much attention, the purpose of this recent change is simple in that it will allow Ohio to grow jobs, expand sustainable industries, and prosper through the elimination of unnecessary and nonsensical government regulations.   

Quality, well-paying jobs empower working Ohioans and allow families to live the American dream. This is the notion that inspired me to run for office in the first place.  The solution to Ohio's problems is better, smarter government, and in some cases, less government.  That is what this new approach does.  Ohio has always been a great place to live and raise a family.  We can once again make it a great place to work and start a business.

I welcome your views and encourage you to contact my office with any questions or comments you might have.  My phone number in Columbus is (614) 466-4823 or you can contact me electronically by visiting my Statehouse website www.OhioSenate.gov/Frank-LaRose.html.