Testimony - ABC of Ohio, Opposition to HB 235, House Commerce and Labor Committee (January 26, 2022)

Summary

Testimony dated January 26, 2022, from Beth Lear, ABC of Ohio, Vice President of Government Affairs, to Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan and Members of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, in opposition to HB 235. The testimony states that the real reason for the legislation is that special interests want to limit who is permitted to work construction at refineries in Ohio. It argues that safety is not the issue, that quality employees cannot be mandated by government, and that gasoline prices will go up because the cost of compliance will be passed on to consumers. ABC of Ohio asks the committee to oppose HB 235.

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Full text

January 26, 2022


To: Chairman Stein, Vice Chair Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan and Members of the House
Commerce and Labor Committee
From: Beth Lear, ABC of Ohio, Vice President of Government Affairs

Re: Opposition to HB 235

Once again the serious issue of “safety” is being used as a red herring to convince legislators to expand
government intrusion into private businesses. The real reason for this legislation is because special interests
want to limit who is permitted to work construction at refineries in Ohio.

Why this bill is NOT needed:

    1. Safety is not the issue: Are there real safety concerns at refineries? Of course, because they
       process highly volatile fuel, which is why these facilities are already highly regulated at the federal,
       state and local levels. There has been no proven safety issue that will be resolved by this bill.


    2. Quality employees can not be mandated by Government: Refineries already have the ability to
       hire the best and do. This bill will actually force refineries to comply with an imperfect government
       regulatory one-size-fits-all scheme that will take away the ability of each refinery to hire the very
       best workforce for their specific needs.


    3. Gasoline prices will go up: When government intervenes and limits competition, costs go up. The
       cost for compliance will be steep and that cost will be passed onto consumers at the gas pump at a
       time when inflation and energy costs are both rising at an astronomical rate. Legislators who
       support this bill will be responsible for those who cannot afford the drive to work or the grocery or
       the doctor’s office.

This legislation is not in response to any safety failure, but is a concerted effect by special interests
nationally to lockdown more construction jobs for their friends and is anti-free market. The same bill has
been pushed in California, Washington, Illinois and Minnesota, where no Republican super majorities exist.
Ohio would be the first Republican-dominated state to mandate an exclusionary superclass of government-
created journeymen.

For these reasons, ABC of Ohio asks you to oppose HB 235.


                     Beth Lear
                     VP of Government Affairs
                     (614) 725-6018
                     blear@abcofohio.org
                     www.ABCofOhio.com


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