http://www.house.gov/

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/

Legislative Corner  -  Kay Ball, RN, PhD, CNOR, FAAN When the Music Stops, Grab a Seat!  Now that new and old members of the OH House and Senate are settling down a bit, the work must begin.  First at hand was the assignment of members to committees.  The Committees in the OH House that have the most impact on nurses are two Health Committees and the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee.  The Central OH members have been highlighted.

House Health Committee:
Chair - Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland) 
Vice Chair - John Carney (D-Columbus)  Edna Brown (D-Toledo)   
Robert Hagan (D-Youngstown)   
Tom Letson (D-Warren)   
Deborah Newcomb (D-Conneaut) 
Debbie Phillips (D-Athens)   
Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton)   
Roland Winburn (D-Dayton)   
Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights)

Ranking Minority Member - Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napolean)
Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville)
David Burke (R-Marysville)
Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton)
Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green)
Bruce Goodwin (R-Defiance)
Matt Huffman (R-Lima)
Robert Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati)
Scott Oeslager (R-N. Canton)

House Healthcare Access & Affordability Committee:

Chair - Loraine Fende (D-Willowick) 
Vice Chair - Nancy Garland (D-Columbus) 
Linda Bolon (D-Palestine)   
Marian Harris (D-Columbus)   
Mike Moran (D-Hudson)   
Matt Patton (D-Strongsville)   
Brian Williams (D-Akron)

Ranking Minority Member - Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania)
David Burke (R-Marysville)
Bob Hackett (R-London)
Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering)
Ross McGregor (R-Springfield)
Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown)

House Finance & Appropriations

Chair - Vernon Sykes (D-Akron)   
Vice Chair - Linda Bolon (D-East Pallestine)
Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland)   
Edna Brown (D-Toledo)   
John Carney (D-Columbus)   
Ted Celeste (D-Columbus)   
Kathleen Chandler (D-Kent)   
Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati)   
Steve Dyer (D-Akron)   
Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta)   
Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield)   
Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton)   
Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood)   
Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton)
Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo)
Tyrone Yates (D-Cincinnati)

Ranking Minority member - Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster)
David Burke (D-Marysville)
Matt Dolan (R-Novelty)
Clyde Evans (R-Rio Grande)
Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green)
Bruce Goodwin (R-Defiance)
Cheryl Grossman (R-Grove City)
David Hall (R-Killbuck)
Ron Maag (R-Lebannon)
Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky)
Ross McGregor (R-Springfield)
Robert Mecklenborg (R-Green Twp)
Seth Morgan (R-Huber heights)
Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania)
Lorraine Fende (R-Willowick)   

On the Senate side, the Senate Health Committee and the Senate Finance Committee will continue to impact nurses throughout Ohio.  Here are the members of those committees.  The central Ohio members

Senate Health, Human Services & Aging Committee

Chair - Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls) 
Vice Chair - Karen Gillmor (R-Tiffin)  Stephen Buehrer (R-Delta)   
David Goodman (R-Columbus)
Kirk Schuring (R-Canton)
Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany)

Ranking Minority Member - Sue Morano RN (D-Lorain)
Ray Miller (D-Columbus)
Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland)

Senate Finance & Financial Institutions Committee

Chair - John Carey (R-Wellston)   
Vice Chair - Mark Wagoner (R-Ottawa Hills)
Gary Cates (R-West Chester)   
Keith Faber (R-Celina)   
Tom Neihaus (R-New Richmond)
Tom Patton (R-Strongsville)
Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati)
Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany)
Chris Widner (R-Springfield)

Ranking Minority Member - Dale Miller (D-Cleveland)
Ray Miller (D-Columbus)
Shirely Smith (D_Cleveland)
Jason Wilson (D-Columbiana)

Become aware of these members because they are the ones who will hear our concerns and ideas when bills are introduced.  Don't ever be afraid to contact any of the House or Senate members to voice your opinions on healthcare issues.

Mbentivegna@juno.com