Latta RSS Articles

National Healthcare Leaders Honor Congressman Bob Latta For Leadership in Healthcare Innovation

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), a coalition of leaders of the nation’s premier health care companies and organizations, honored Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) as a “Champion of Healthcare Innovation” at an award ceremony in Washington.

“Perfecting a 21st century healthcare system that is both affordable and accessible for all Americans and that provides care of the highest quality hinges on support for healthcare innovation. We need to constantly develop new and better ways to deliver care and link patients and consumers to the healthcare system,” said HLC president Mary R. Grealy. “We’re grateful for Congressman Latta’s leadership, dedication and hard work in advancing the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of American healthcare.”

Congressman Latta was honored at the Council’s annual Healthcare Innovations Expo on Capitol Hill. The day-long event is dedicated to showcasing new developments in health care technologies, treatments and practices.

Latta Honors U.S. Military Service Academy Appointments

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

On Sunday, April 29, Congressman Latta honored U.S. Military Service Academy Appointments for the incoming class of 2016. This year six students received appointments and were recognized at an afternoon reception with Congressman Latta and their families.

“I am extremely proud to have nominated great students to our nation’s Service Academies,” said Latta. “I want to congratulate them for what they have already achieved in their lives and wish them the best of luck in their bright futures ahead.”

Academy Appointments

Brittney Wolford from Woodmore High School received appointment to the Air Force Academy
Joseph Curtis from New London High School received appointment to the Naval Academy
Marshall Kobylski from Bowling Green Senior High School received appointment to the Military Academy
Andrew Miller from St. John’s Jesuit High School received appointment to the Military Academy
Matthew Showman from Willard High School received appointment to the Military Academy

Latta: Big Win for Family Farms in NW Ohio

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Labor Department announced it would withdraw a proposed regulation that would have restricted youth involvement on family farms. The decision follows immense pressure from Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), lawmakers, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Ohio Association of Agricultural Educators and Ohio farm families, who have argued against the proposed rule.

“This is clear victory for the agricultural community and the next generation of farmers,” said Latta. “The Department of Labor made the right decision in halting a regulation that is an overreach and intrusion into family farms across America.”

On March 21, 2012, Congressman Latta submitted hundreds of comments to Labor Secretary Solis from Ohioans, who opposed the Obama administration’s attack on rural communities.

“I’d like to thank the hundreds of Ohio farmers who shared their personal stories on how the proposed regulation would negatively impact their families and farms. This is proof that we can’t remain on the sidelines when the President’s Labor Department attempts to intrude on citizens livelihoods and community values,” added Latta.

Latta’s record of leadership in Congress to stop this rule:

On March 27, 2012, Congressman Latta cosponsored the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act, H.R. 4157, a bill to negate the rule.

On March 20, 2012, Congressman Latta led the Ohio delegation in a letter to Secretary Solis along with hundreds of comments and stories from Ohio farmers. The comments submitted can be found here.

On December 13, 2011, Congressman Latta commented on the Department of Labor’s proposed rule. The letter to Secretary Solis can be found here.

Ohio’s Shale Revolution Fuels Job Creation

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

With vast, untold resources thousands of feet below the surface, Ohio is experiencing an industrial renaissance that’s reigniting the state’s manufacturing base and growing the economy. Across the state, we are seeing ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new manufacturing facilities, expansion projects, and hiring announcements due to shale activity. The Utica Shale’s potential is having a direct and immediate impact in job creation, which in turn has revitalized industries and communities across the state.

An eye opening report by ABC News denotes Steubenville, a city long suffering with unemployment rates far beyond the national average, has experienced a resurgence in employment. This past year, the oil and gas industry has created more than 300 new jobs, with more than 10,000 expected in the next three years. According to the ABC News report, if jobs continue to grow at this pace, every adult in Steubenville could be working by April 2015.

Just up the road from Steubenville, MAC Trailer has added nearly 300 employees this past year. The company manufactures in Alliance and Salem, and having recently cut the ribbon on a new manufacturing facility in Kent, they’re expanding operations in order to meet the demands created by the increasing development of the Utica Shale.

In hard-hit Youngstown, we are seeing the same kind of economic growth. V&M Star is creating 350 jobs, which represents the largest private investment in 50 years.

And just this week, the New York Times reported on how shale activity is boosting jobs in Ohio. Timken Company, a steel company in Canton, is expanding their operations to meet the demands created by shale activity. Timken’s growth will lead to the creation of 630 manufacturing jobs.

Ohioans can expect this trend to continue. According to a 2011 impact study by Klienhenz and Associates, Ohioans will see more than 200,000 new jobs by 2015. Future job projections by PricewaterhouseCoopers show shale activity will grow the manufacturing industry nationwide by approximately one million workers between 2025 and 2035. Furthermore, shale gas may reduce manufacturing costs by $11.6 billion by 2025.

The state’s ability to develop the manufacturing industry has contributed to the decrease in Ohio’s unemployment rate to 7.5 percent today down from a 10.6 percent peak in December 2009. Plain and simple, the Utica shale has renewed America’s manufacturing competiveness and is putting people back to work.

Ohio’s best days are ahead of us, and the state’s success will be determined by the environmental, regulatory, and tax structure put in place by all levels of government. Government cannot create jobs, but government can help create an environment that attracts job creators and allows them to hire workers, and rejuvenate the manufacturing sector.

Our forefathers said states are meant to be laboratories for experimentation for better governance. In this case, Ohio has proven it can spur an economic recovery in a responsible and safe manner.

May Courthouse Conferences

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Monday, April 30, 2012

Wyandot County

Where:	Wyandot County Courthouse, Assembly Room 109 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, OH 43351
Time:	9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Seneca County

Where:	Seneca County Annex Building 117 E. Market St., 2nd Floor Tiffin, OH 44883
Time:	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Sandusky County

Where:	Common Pleas Courtroom - (Judge John P. Dewey) 100 N. Park Ave. Fremont, OH 43420
Time:	9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Huron County

Where:	Huron County Office Building, Mediation Room 12 E. Main St. Norwalk, OH 44857
Time:	1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Latta Votes for Small Business Tax Cut

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) voted today to help small businesses owners save, spend and reinvest more of their income by supporting the Small Business Tax Cut Act, H.R. 9. The legislation would provide small businesses with fewer than 500 employees a 20 percent tax cut. The legislation passed by a vote of 235 to 173.

"The Small Business Tax Cut Act is important for allowing business owners the ability to invest more of their own hard-earned money on their companies and workforce, rather than handing that hard-earned money to Washington," said Rep. Latta. "Cutting taxes will give companies the opportunity to expand and hire more employees. It’s estimated that the bill will benefit over 22 million small business owners across the country, including hundreds of thousands in Ohio, reducing their taxes by almost $46 billion."

"Regardless of the benefits this bill offers, President Obama has issued a veto threat denying any help to small businesses in Ohio who are in need of much needed tax relief. His approach hurts business competiveness and American workers," added Latta.

NOTE:

As of 2009, in Ohio, there are 189,099 small businesses with between 1 and 500 employees

employing 2,140,200 individuals.

Of the small businesses in Ohio with between 1 and 500 employees: 24,760 are women-owned and they employ 239,406 individuals.

The top three industries by employment:

• Over 353,000 employees in health care and social assistance

• Over 296,000 employees in manufacturing

• Over 246,000 employees in accommodation and food services

Congressman Latta Statement on Tax Day

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) today issued the following statement on tax day:

“Tax day is a stark reminder that taxpayers will spend over six billion hours a year collecting data and completing IRS forms and will pay about $2.6 trillion in federal taxes. For Ohioans, this means taxpayers will have to work 103 days to pay off all of their tax obligations before they can start keeping their own income.

“Unfortunately, this trend will worsen with further excessive spending by the Obama Administration. The President’s health care law alone will impose tax increases on hardworking Americans; it’s estimated the health care law will hit a family of four with an additional $3,290 in taxes by 2035.

“With the economy still experiencing sluggish economic growth, we need to pass into law tax relief legislation that will allow families and businesses to save, spend and reinvest more of what they earn, so we can get our economy back on track.”

Latta Delivers Floor Speech on Sportsmen's Heritage Act

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) spoke on the House floor today in favor of the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act, H.R. 4089. The bill combines four legislative priorities that expand and enhance recreational hunting, shooting and fishing opportunities.

“The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act is extremely important to the outdoor sporting community; it will increase public access to our nation’s public lands, prevent an unjustified ban on certain types of fishing tackle and also promote the conservation values of hunting and recreational shooting,” said Rep. Latta.

The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act was introduced by Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL) and as a vice co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Congressman Latta was an original cosponsor of the bill. Additionally, Congressman Latta serves as a hunter education instructor in Ohio.

Latta on Gas Prices: “High gas prices are essentially another tax on Americans."

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

According to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the month of March, “the gasoline index rose 1.7 percent following its 6.0 percent February increase.” This spike in gas prices has pushed food costs by 0.2 percent. In response to the latest CPI numbers, Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) released the following statement:

“Increases in gas prices place a tremendous burden on farmers, middle class families and small businesses who are operating on the margins and view abnormally high gas prices as another tax,” said Rep. Latta. “In order to put downward pressure on gas prices and help provide relief at the pump, we need President Obama to bring more oil to the market by allowing access to federal leases.

“President Obama hasn’t hinted that he will increase energy supplies, however, Republicans in the House of Representatives have acted and passed six bills that would increase U.S. domestic energy production and supply. Before gas prices hit $5, I encourage the President and Senate Democrats to work with us on our all of the above energy solutions.”

Latta Appointed to 1812 Bicentennial Commission

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) recently was appointed to Ohio’s 1812 Bicentennial Commission as an Ex-Officio member. In his capacity, Latta will help the commission raise public awareness about the importance of the War of 1812 to the citizens of Ohio.

"I know I speak for all the members of the State of Ohio's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission when I say how pleased we are to have Congressman Latta join the commission,” said Commission Chairman Joseph H. Zerbey, IV. “Bob is known for his passion on matters historic and his particular interest in the War of 1812; how it affected so many Ohioans, where so many paid the supreme sacrifice to preserve their country and the nascent state of Ohio. He will be a significant asset as he joins with other Ohioans to promote the lessons, history and significance of the ‘Forgotten War,” added Zerbey.

"I look forward to working with commission members to help celebrate and remember what has been called America’s ‘second war for independence,” said Latta.

For information on the commission, visit www.warof1812ohio.gov.