TAFT, VOINOVICH HOST OHIO MANUFACTURING SUMMIT
Under Secretary Bond Joins Governor, Senator to Address Industry Concerns and
Strategies
COLUMBUS (December 11, 2003) - Governor Bob Taft and U.S. Senator George Voinovich today hosted an Ohio Manufacturing Summit to identify and address state and national issues of concern to Ohio's manufacturing industry.
"For decades manufacturing has put bread and butter on the tables of Ohio families," Taft said. "People came from all around because the good manufacturing jobs were here in Ohio. We have been and remain the best place to make products to serve the North American marketplace, and we're here today to make certain that Ohio remains a world leader in manufacturing."
Taft discussed several issues of critical importance to the manufacturing industry. He called upon the Ohio General Assembly to enact comprehensive tort reform and take steps to further improve Ohio' system of Workers' Compensation. He highlighted environmental permitting concerns, committing to further streamline the permitting process. Taft also announced that Ohio will implement the routine maintenance, repair and replacement section of the federal New Source Review environmental rules by February 1st 2004, and finalize the remainder of the rules by the end of next year. In addition, the Governor addressed health insurance costs, workforce development, exports and tax reform.
During his remarks, Taft announced that he had signed House Bill 127, which extends the Machinery and Equipment tax credit for ten years.
The Summit included discussions on the health of Ohio's manufacturing industry and reports on manufacturing concerns at the state and federal levels. A keynote luncheon address was given by Phil Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce. The daylong event also featured presentations and dialogue with nationally known speakers including: Jerry Jasinowski, president, National Association of Manufacturers; and Patricia Panchak, editor-in-chief, IndustryWeek.
According to State Development Director Bruce Johnson, Ohio manufacturers lead the nation in the production of steel, rubber and plastics and fabricated metals. The state ranks third in the nation in manufacturing gross state product and the industry directly employs 847,000 people.
# # #
Contact: Maria Smith at (614) 466-6619 or Bill Teets at (614) 466-2609, ODOD;
or
Orest Holubec, Governor's Office, at (614) 644-0957.