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Dear Constituents,
As your state representative, one of my main priorities in the Statehouse is creating
jobs to grow our economy and rebuild our middle class. But, after the last six years of
slow job growth and low wages1, the future of our middle class is more uncertain than
ever. Many new policies at your Statehouse have only led to tax-shifting2 and richer
pockets for the wealthiest one percentmeanwhile, many working Ohioans feel they
lack opportunities to get ahead or even get by.
Ohio House Dems
I believe that one of the ways the legislature could help develop a thriving, stable Are Now On:
economy is to give greater attention not only to small businesses, but to growing,
recession-proof industries. One of the fastest emerging sectors of our economy is the
alternative energy industry, with solar, wind and thermal power becoming increasingly
popular with energy consumers. We use energy in everything we do, from watching
TV to cooking to turning on our bedroom light. Even in a recession, we depend on
energy throughout the day, meaning that while other businesses struggle, the energy
industry is relatively stable.

The economic benefits of alternative energy are more evident than ever. The
advanced energy sector has grown rapidly, creating thousands of jobs 3 and
stimulating the economy. Advanced energy jobs have increased by 20 percent since
20154, and wind and solar power have created jobs 12 times faster than the rest of
the U.S. economy.5

I believe its time to face the facts: promoting new, clean energy technology will help
create good-paying jobs, attract companies and bring better wages and benefits to
hardworking Ohioans. Additionally, Ohio has the opportunity to lead the nation in
innovation, helping to pave way for a better future for our children and our childrens
children. I believe if we miss an opportunity like this, we risk being left behind.

As the world directs its attention more toward clean energy, its safe to say that this
industry is not going away anytime soon. I hope my colleagues in the Statehouse will
support clean energy development in Ohio to help our economy grow strong and stay
strong. Ohioans deserve more than the tired policies of the past. Now is the time for
our legislature to redirect economic priorities, focusing less on ways to pocket-stuff
the wealthy, and more on ways to fuel our future.

Sincerely,

Kent Smith
State Representative
Ohios 8th House District
1
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2016/02/ohio_ranks_above_nation_in_per.html
2
https://www.policymattersohio.org/research-policy/fair-economy/work-wages/state-of-working-ohio/still-
struggling-state-of-working-ohio-2016
3
https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/01/25/u-s-solar-energy-employs-more-people-than-oil-coal-
and-gas-combined-infographic/#70a784672800
4
https://www.usnews.com/news/at-the-edge/articles/2017-03-15/clean-energy-is-seeing-explosive-job-growth-
dont-let-budget-kill-it
5
http://fortune.com/2017/01/27/solar-wind-renewable-jobs/

In This Issue
Medicaid restrictions among potential law changes/HEAP helps with high energy costs

In an unusual move and what I believe was a politically-

charged response, the Republican-controlled legislature voted
to override 11 of the governors line-item vetoes in the House
chamber, and six line-item vetoes in the Senate chamber.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a program

designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high
costs of home heating. HEAP is a federally funded program
administered by the Ohio Development Services Agencys
Office of Community Assistance (OCA).

Click here to read more.

Need help? You may be entitled to free legal services

Americas legal system was built to protect and uphold two of our
countrys greatest values: justice and fairness. Sadly, today high
legal costs leave many American families without access to justice
working Americans have a hard time paying for legal fees while
keeping the lights on or putting food on the table.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations funded by the Ohio

Legal Assistance Foundation (OLAF) which ensure legal aid for Ohio-
ans, making it easier to afford civil legal services.

Click here to read more.

Columbus Office
77 South High Street
State Representative Columbus, OH 43215
Kent Smith (614) 466-5441 Phone
Contact Information
Send me an e-mail! rep08@ohiohouse.gov
On the Web: http://www.ohiohouse.gov

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2017 State Representative Kent Smith