Office of the Governor Press Releases

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Alan Schriber requesting the Commission to consider a moratorium on PUCO jurisdictional gas and electric utility disconnections this winter.

The complete letter follows:

December 18, 2007

Chairman Alan R. Schriber
Public Utilities Commission
180 E Broad St.
Columbus, Oh 43215

Dear Chairman Schriber:

As the cold of winter sets in, it is vital that we remember those who are unable to heat their homes. Recently members of an Ohio family lost their lives after their electricity was disconnected, leaving them without power or heat, and resulting in a fire from the use of candles in their home. I'm sure you agree that we need to do everything we can possibly do to prevent this from happening again.

It is my understanding that most of the gas and electric utilities have internal policies that allow for disconnections on a restricted basis during periods of extreme cold. It is also my understanding that those policies have been superseded in the past by PUCO ordering a moratorium on disconnections. I am writing you today to strongly urge you to consider such a moratorium. I am convinced that this would be the best and most appropriate way to ensure that no Ohio family is placed in harms way during the cold winter months.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to the Commission’s timely response.

Sincerely,



Ted Strickland
Governor, State of Ohio

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today launched Connect Ohio, a public-private partnership that will help expand broadband services across the state by working with local communities and providers to map gaps in access.

“The digital divide in Ohio takes many forms – from lack of access to computers and broadband services to a lack of technological skills necessary for the jobs of the future,” Strickland said. “The goal of Connect Ohio is to create customized support for local communities to meet their individual technological needs while helping expand broadband service to all residents and businesses.”

Connect Ohio Initiatives, LLC, is a subsidiary of Connected Nation and will operate as a non-profit with a headquarters in Columbus. Connect Ohio’s three-year strategy involves a partnership between the state and broadband providers to create detailed maps of broadband coverage in order to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability in Ohio.

Connect Ohio will also work to establish public-private partnerships that will assist in supplying computers to areas that have broadband service but lack computer access.

“The Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association and its member companies commend Governor Strickland's goal of encouraging broadband deployment to areas of the state currently underserved by Internet access providers,” said Jonathon McGee, executive director of the Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association.

“Connect Ohio is the first true public-private partnership dedicated solely to expanding our broadband network in Ohio,” said Charles Moses, president of the Ohio Telecom Association. “We believe Connect Ohio will identify gaps in broadband access and usage and create specific local plans to address the needs of individual communities. OTA member companies have a long history of investment in Ohio and remain committed to developing the finest telecommunications network possible.”

The Connect Ohio model is based on community-specific needs, allowing private providers, the state and community partners to develop customized plans for broadband service in their areas. Connect Ohio will conduct annual, quantitative surveys on the use of and access to broadband services and computing applications. Using this data, teams in each county will analyze the situation in their community to determine the necessary level of support and technical guidance needed to expand access.

The local expansion efforts will boost the supply of broadband consumers and create a growing demand for broadband services across Ohio.

“We look forward to partnering with the cable and telecommunications industries and their workers to build demand for their services and deploy broadband to areas of the state that are currently underserved,” Strickland said.

The executive director of Connect Ohio will hire staff members, including regional program managers to build teams and facilitate local planning. The Ohio Office of Information Technology, in collaboration with the Ohio Broadband Council, will oversee Connect Ohio’s work.

The state cost for the program is estimated to be $2.9 million in the 2008-2009 biennium and $3.9 million in the 2010-2011 biennium.

“Under the Connect Ohio strategy, broadband providers will realize new possibilities in expansion and Ohioans will have quick and affordable access to high-speed internet service,” Strickland said. “This, in turn, brings the state closer to establishing the technological infrastructure we need to be successful and competitive.”

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement regarding the findings of the EVEREST report on Ohio elections systems:

“Confidence in the elections system is important and fundamental to our democracy,” Strickland said. “I commend Secretary of State Brunner for her leadership in seeing this study through to its conclusion. The report raises serious issues that deserve serious review and consideration. Our work now is to take these findings and, working closely with the Secretary of State and the legislative leaders, determine the appropriate direction to ensure the people of Ohio have confidence in their election system.”

Columbus, Ohio – As called for in the biennial budget, Governor Ted Strickland today signed an executive order establishing the Executive Medicaid Management Administration (EMMA), an independent state office that will coordinate the management and implementation of the Ohio Medicaid program across state agencies.

“In order to provide the best value to Ohio taxpayers, we must improve the way the Medicaid program is administered,” Strickland said. “The Executive Medicaid Management Administration will ensure that Medicaid services are coordinated and delivered efficiently and cost effectively.”

Because of its size, several agencies currently share responsibility for Ohio’s Medicaid program, which has resulted in fragmentation of the program’s policies and processes.

EMMA will work to facilitate efficiency in Medicaid programs and operations and eliminate duplicate functions. In addition, EMMA will facilitate Ohio’s compliance with federal Medicaid regulations, avoid conflicting policy decisions and maximize federal funding by making timely and effective decisions.

Strickland has appointed Cristal Thomas as the executive director for EMMA. Thomas currently serves as the assistant director of Ohio Health Plans at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. As executive director of EMMA, she will be a member of the governor’s Cabinet.

Thomas will be responsible for developing a governance structure for EMMA, preparing an operating budget for the office and providing strategic direction and management for major Medicaid policies and functions.

The executive director and her staff will work directly with a council of Cabinet-agency partners to implement EMMA’s responsibilities.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will continue to serve as the state’s single Medicaid agency. Federal law requires one state agency to assume responsibility for Medicaid grants and waivers, administer the state Medicaid plan, and ensure that all activities are conducted in line with federal laws and regulations.

EMMA will be required to submit an annual report to the governor and legislative leaders updating them on its progress.

Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has issued the following proclamation in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and has ordered all state flags at public buildings and grounds to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday. President George W. Bush has directed the U.S. flag to be lowered.


Each December we remember what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called “a day that will live in infamy.”

On the morning of December 7th, 1941, the Japanese naval forces of the First Imperial Fleet, augmented by aviation elements of the Japanese Air Force, launched an unprovoked attack against United States forces stationed at the Pearl Harbor military facilities in Hawaii.

This surprise attack resulted in the outright loss, or damage, to 347 of the 394 aircraft parked at the Hickam, Wheeler, and Bellows airfields, the sinking or serious damage of 18 of the 96 sailing vessels in the harbor, the deaths of 2,403 military members, and the wounding of well over a thousand more.

The people of Ohio joined with their countrymen in responding to this attack. On December 8th, 1941, war was declared by the United States upon the Empire of Japan and on the other Axis Powers, Germany and Italy, four days later.

This surprise attack on U.S. Forces at Pearl Harbor is known as the catalyst for the involvement of some twenty six million brave Americans and our Allies in the successful prosecution of World War II.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TED STRICKLAND, Governor of the State of Ohio, do hereby proclaim Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7, 2007 and I hereby order, by the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Ohio by the Ohio Constitution, that the flag of the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio from sunrise to sunset, December 7th, 2007. I ask all Ohioans to join in recognizing the historical significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and pause in memory of the brave individuals that defended us on that day.

ON THIS SIXTH DAY OF DECEMBER, TWO THOUSAND SEVEN

Ted Strickland
Governor

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today that the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives has launched Feed Ohio – an initiative to increase the number of Summer Food Service Program sites in Ohio by assisting with start-up and programming costs.

“During the summer, nearly 500,000 Ohio children are at risk of hunger because they no longer receive free or reduced-cost meals at school,” Strickland said. “We hope that by offering these grants we break the cost barrier associated with establishing summer food sites.”

Currently, less than 20 percent of eligible Ohio children participate in the Summer Food Service Program due to lack of parental knowledge of the program, lack of sponsors and host sites, and financial challenges in setting up a site. The Feed Ohio grant program will work with community partners to eliminate these barriers and fill a gap in funding for the sites.

The Ohio Summer Food Service Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Education, which provides training and site certification. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses sponsors and sites for food and other expenses. The grants offered by the GOFBCI are intended for start-up and enrichment costs for the program.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services serves as the fiscal agent for the grant distribution. The grant application is available on the ODJFS Web site (link here). Applications will be accepted until January 11, and awards will be issued on February 4.

“No child should go hungry in Ohio,” Strickland said. “I urge organizations statewide to consider hosting or expanding a summer food program site and taking advantage of the financial assistance available.”
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, Feed Ohio grants, and how to start a site, please visit:

USDA Summer Food Service Program

USDA Summer Food Service Program: Ohio Contacts

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Web Site: Feed Ohio RFGA

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today signed the following bill:

House Bill 50

State Representative Clyde Evans sponsored HB 50, which allows townships to remove junk motor vehicles from public and private property, and to borrow money to pay for removal of junk motor vehicles and other debris from private property.

Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland today signed the following bill:

House Bill 238

State Representatives Bob Latta and Jimmy Stewart sponsored HB 238, which revises provisions governing the restitution value of a wild animal that is unlawfully held, taken, bought, sold or possessed.