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Testimony of Michael F. Curtin, Former State Representative, 17th Ohio House District (June 23, 2021)

Summary

Written testimony of Michael F. Curtin, identified as a former state representative for the 17th Ohio House District, dated June 23, 2021, to the House Commerce and Labor Committee on Substitute SB 113. The testimony opposes the bill and says this is only the third time the author has testified on legislation, apart from sponsor testimony, each time over the health and safety of Ohioans. It credits Ohio's prohibition on discharging consumer grade fireworks, which contain up to 500 milligrams of gunpowder, for far fewer children in emergency rooms with eye injuries and missing fingers. It states that the bill would legalize discharge 24 hours a day on and around eight holidays spanning over 10 months, and that it contains a tax increase.

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“Testimony of Michael F. Curtin, Former State Representative, 17th Ohio House District (June 23, 2021).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-06-23-commerce-labor-testimony-sb113opcurtinwritten-1181a286d3/, SHA-256 add1445ebdd3c330185e77324d939257dd5af22785de8d574c07c9055f11b146.

Full text

Testimony of Michael F. Curtin
Former state representative, 17th Ohio House District
1568 Roxbury Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43212
June 23, 2021

   Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan,
and Members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, thank you
for the opportunity to offer testimony regarding Substitute SB 113.

  For nearly four decades as a newspaperman, four years as a state
representative, and now five years as a retired curmudgeon and
volunteer, I’ve had the privilege of studying public policymaking in our
great state.

  Over that nearly half-century, this marks only the third time I’ve
ventured forth to testify on legislation, other than the times I offered
sponsor testimony on bills during my tenure here.

   On each occasion, first in the late 1990s, last June, and now today, the
overriding issue prompting my concern was the health and safety of our
fellow Ohioans, a concern I know we all share.

  It’s an unfortunate fact that on most measures of health and overall
quality of life, Ohio ranks poorly compared to the nation as a whole. On
most measures of health and safety, we lag our fellow states.

  Here’s one notable exception. Compared with the rest of the nation,
we send far fewer of our children to emergency rooms with permanent
eye injuries, missing fingers and other life-altering casualties.

   The reason for this: Our state’s longstanding prohibition on the
discharge of so-called consumer grade fireworks, which contain up to
500 milligrams of gunpowder.

   The Ohio State Fire Officials Association tells us there is no safe way
to use these fireworks. All of our hospitals, including our children’s
hospitals, tell us the same. So do our veterans organizations, our first
responders, and our insurance organizations.
    Everyone in this state whose mission is to protect the health and well
being of Ohioans is unified in opposition to this bill. Almost no one is for
it, except for the fireworks industry itself.

   This bill, in one fell swoop, would transform Ohio from one of the four
safest states in the nation to one of the five most dangerous when it
comes to the discharge of fireworks.

   By legalizing discharge of consumer-grade fireworks 24 hours a day
on and around eight holidays spanning over 10 months, this bill would
give Ohio one of the most dangerous fireworks policies in the United
States.

  If ever there were a bill to invite and encourage the use of fireworks
by children, this is it.

  Ohio’s longstanding law on fireworks has served this state well, very
well. Especially our children. Our current law is a good and effective law.
There is no good reason to abandon it.

  There is one other consideration that I believe you should think about
very seriously. This bill contains a tax increase, which runs counter to
the pledge of no new taxes that a number of you have made to your
constituents.

   Thank you for allowing me to appear, and thank you for your careful
consideration of this issue that is vitally important to the health and
safety of all Ohioans.

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