DD Council Public Policy Committee

Quick Sheet

1/31/09 – 2/6/09*

 

111th Congress –

 

Congress introduced 153 public bills from 1/31/09 to 2/6/09.

 

The US Senate spent much of the week debating an economic stimulus package. News earlier in the week was that spending for health and human service programs that provide services to people with disabilities may be impacted by changes in the Senate. Advocates have been asked to weigh in on this issue (Action Alerts).

 

The US House agreed to changes the senate made to HR 2, reauthorization and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). President Obama signed the bill on Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

 

128th General Assembly –


 

Governor Ted Strickland presented his two year budget plan on Monday, February 2, 2009. A review of the budget was sent earlier in the week. If you would like another copy, please contact Paul Jarvis.

 

The Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate have announced appointments to Committees. House appointments can be found at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/JournalText128/HJ-02-05-09.pdf. and Senate appointments are as follows:

 

Agriculture

Schuring, Chair                         Wilson, Ranking Minority

Gibbs, Vice Chair                      Morano

Carey                                       Roberts

Faber

Gillmor

Grendell

 

Education

Cates, Chair                              Sawyer, Ranking Minority

Schuring, Vice Chair                  Morano

Carey                                       Roberts

Gibbs

Husted

Niehaus

 

Energy and Public Utilities

Widener, Chair                          R. Miller, Ranking Minority

Schaffer, Vice Chair                  Kearney

Buehrer                                    Sawyer

Coughlin                                   Wilson

Gillmor

Hughes

Husted

Patton

 

Environment and Natural Resources

Schaffer, Chair                          Morano, Ranking Minority

Stewart, Vice Chair                   D. Miller

Cates                                        Turner

Gibbs

Grendell

Niehaus

 

Finance and Financial Institutions

Carey, Chair                             D. Miller, Ranking Minority

Wagoner, Vice Chair                 R. Miller

Cates                                        Smith

Faber                                        Wilson

Niehaus

Patton

Seitz

Stewart

Widener

 

Government Oversight

Husted, Chair                            Smith, Ranking Minority

Niehaus, Vice Chair                  Cafaro

Faber                                        Kearney

Grendell

Seitz

Wagoner

 

Health, Human Services and Aging

Coughlin, Chair              Morano, Ranking Minority

Gillmor, Vice Chair                    R. Miller

Buehrer                                    Smith

Goodman

Schuring

Stewart

 

Highways and Transportation

Patton, Chair                             Turner, Ranking Minority

Buehrer, Vice Chair                  Schiavoni

Cates                                        Wilson

Gibbs

Goodman

Schaffer

 

Insurance, Commerce and Labor

Buehrer, Chair                          Schiavoni, Ranking Minority

Faber, Vice Chair                      Kearney

Gillmor                                      Turner

Hughes                                     Wilson

Schaffer

Seitz

Stewart

Widener

 

Judiciary - Civil Justice

Seitz, Chair                               Kearney, Ranking Minority

Goodman, Vice Chair                Schiavoni

Buehrer                                    Smith

Faber

Grendell

Wagoner

 

Judiciary – Criminal Justice

Grendell, Chair                          Roberts, Ranking Minority

Hughes, Vice Chair                   Schiavoni

Coughlin                                   Smith

Faber

Goodman

Seitz

 

Reference---5

Schuler, Chair                           Cafaro, Ranking Minority

Harris, Vice Chair                     Smith

Niehaus

 

Rules---11

Harris, Chair                             Cafaro, Ranking Minority

Niehaus, Vice Chair                  Smith

Carey                                       R. Miller

Faber                                        Wilson

Husted

Schuler

Wagoner

 

State and Local Government and Veterans’ Affairs

Hughes, Chair                           Fedor, Ranking Minority

Stewart, Vice Chair                   R. Miller

Carey                                       Turner

Grendell

Seitz

Wagoner

 

Ways and Means and Economic Development

Gibbs, Chair                              Roberts, Ranking Minority

Widener, Vice Chair                  Kearney

Patton                                       D. Miller

Schaffer

Schuler

Schuring

 

 

U.S. House:

(Bills Introduced)

 

HR 868 (Capps)  – A bill to provide funds to states to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities under the Medicaid program. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 

HR 886 (Lewis) – A bill to apply and earnings test in determining the amount of monthly insurance benefits for individuals entitled to disability insurance benefits based on blindness. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

HR 897 (Putnam) – A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a deduction for qualified long-term care insurance premiums, use of such insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and a credit for individuals with long-term care needs. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

H. Con. Res. 40 (Pascrell) – A concurrent resolution expressing the need for enhanced public awareness of traumatic brain injury and support for the designation of a National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 

 

U.S. Senate:

(Bills Introduced)

 

No pertinent bills introduced this period.

 

 

 

 

128th General Assembly

 

Status Report:

House Bills:

 

No bills were introduced at this time.

 

 

 

Senate Bills:

 

No bills were introduced at this time.

 

 

NEXT WEEK:

 

 

In Ohio:

 

The House Finance and Appropriations Committee will begin hearings on the state operating budget. On Tuesday, the Office of Budget and Management and the Ohio Department of Taxation will kick off discussion, with the Legislative Service Commission scheduled at 1 p.m. Wednesday’s hearings will feature the Ohio Department of Education and Thursday’s hearings will include the Board of Regents, the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

 


* This document prepared by Ohio DD Council staff on 2.7.2009