When Jon Husted was sworn in as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio was desperately in need of a change.  Weighed down by an antiquated tax code that was hurting our state’s ability to attract and retain jobs, struggling school systems and colleges that were unaffordable and kids that were suffering because of them, the Ohio House of Representatives had become more of a battleground than anything else.  While there were many state representatives who desperately wanted to find a way to help make Ohio a better place for Ohio’s families, the Ohio House was in urgent need of a leader who could bring them together and they found that leader in Speaker Jon Husted.

In talking with a number of state representatives around the state, one thing that clearly emerges is that not only do many of the representatives respect Speaker Husted, but they like him.  Known for his fairness and his willingness to listen to all sides of a discussion, he has earned the respect of many of Ohio’s state representatives.  Under his leadership, Ohio has brought much needed changes to our state and we are grateful for his efforts.

Speaker Husted On Education:  Speaker Husted has become well known for his determination to put the needs of our kids first and foremost.  While giving our children a good education has always been important, with the increasingly competitive job market we currently face it is now a necessity without which our children will not be able to succeed.  While a strong advocate for both our public school systems and school choice, Speaker Husted is best known for his efforts to improve our state’s educational system in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  Understanding that if Ohio is to re-emerge at the forefront of tomorrow’s economy we must change our educational focus, Jon has worked tirelessly to ensure that our schools will have the tools they need to provide our children with a better education in these areas.  Recognizing that many of our students struggle with the cost of attending college, Speaker Husted led the Ohio House effort to pass legislation that will provide a $100 million dollars in scholarships for our students.   In today’s world, the importance of a college education can not be understated.  If our children wish to succeed in the marketplace of tomorrow, they must earn a college degree.  As Moms, we are deeply grateful to Speaker Husted  both for his efforts to ensure that more of our children can afford to attend college and that they are better prepared to succeed once they arrive there.

Speaker Husted Gives A Helping Hand To Children:  One of the greatest gifts a child can ever receive is to have a family who loves them.  Sadly, while every child is a precious gift and deserves to be loved and cherished, not every child has a family to love them.  These children desperately need and deserve a home.  While foster care can truly be a blessing for a child who has been abused, it is not a good permanent solution.  A child needs to know that he or she will be loved-always.  Not just for a day.  In addition, there are a number of couples who would make amazing parents and  have so much love to give, but can not have children themselves.  Sadly, our country’s adoption laws can make it difficult for children who desperately need parents who will love them to be adopted by couples who have a home and the love to give them.  Adopted himself, Jon has been a passionate advocate for improving our adoption laws and for doing everything that can be done to help other children receive the same gift he did-a family who loved him unconditionally-not just on a temporary basis-but for always.  And as Moms, we are sure that there are many children and families who are deeply grateful for his efforts.  

Speaker Husted Helps Children In Need:  It’s hard sometimes to believe that in a country as wealthy as our own, there are children who truly suffer because they do not have enough to eat, but there are many such children in our state.  The Children’s Hunger Alliance is dedicated to helping provide meals for children in Ohio who need them.  A strong advocate and supporter of the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Speaker Husted has worked both through legislation and through assisting with fund raising events to assist them in their efforts to help children.  On the legislative level, Speaker Husted successfully led the effort to pass legislation that would enable Ohio to obtain federal funding for our school breakfast and lunch programs, which in turn has greatly expanded the number of children who are able to receive breakfast and lunch at school.  As Jon has said repeatedly, children who are hungry can not learn and in a country as fortunate as ours has been no child should go hungry.   Through both the legislative efforts and the efforts of the Children’s Hunger Alliance, thousands of children have been able to receive free meals at school and we are deeply grateful to both Speaker Husted and the Hunger Alliance for their efforts.

Speaker Husted On Jobs:  Weighed down by an antiquated tax code, Ohio has struggled to compete for new jobs.  Thanks in large part to the leadership of Speaker Husted, our personal income taxes were cut by 21%, a change that will be phased in over the next few years. Moreover, our legislators in Columbus also moved to reduce Ohio's incredibly burdensome inventory tax, a tax that had played a huge role in deterring businesses from coming to our state.  Ohio families need jobs, and thanks to the efforts of Speaker Husted and those serving at our Statehouse, Ohio will now be able to do a much better job of attracting and retaining new businesses.  And, in fact, when Amylin Pharmaceuticals, which is based in San Diego opened its first facility in Ohio last year they specifically cited Ohio’s tax reforms as one of the reasons they did so.  Although working on tax code reforms may not be an exciting job, it is absolutely crucial to not only keeping businesses and jobs in our state, but also to attracting new ones.  Ohio’s families need jobs and we deeply appreciate Speaker Husted’s efforts in this area.

Speaking Husted On Supporting American Traditions & Values:  Family, faith and freedom are the foundation upon which this country has been built and they are the reasons for its enduring success.  It is these core beliefs that have become the very heart of the American spirit.  And it is these beliefs and values, along with the courageous service and sacrifice of so many, that has made America the kind of country that millions all over the world wish to come to, and millions thank God every day to be a part of. And that is why standing up for issues like the Pledge of Allegiance is so very important. 

Under Speaker Husted’s leadership Ohio became the first state in the nation to create a specialty license plate that says “One Nation Under God” with the American Flag on it.  Sponsored by Senator Bob Spada and State Representative Tom Patton and supported by Moms For Ohio, the plate was designed to provide families who would like to a simple and affordable way to show their support for God’s place in our Pledge of Allegiance.  Unlike other specialty license plates, there is no fundraising attached to the Pledge of Allegiance License Plate, it is simply about doing what Americans do best-standing up for what is right.

During Jon’s time as Speaker, Ohio also joined a number of other states in passing legislation that requires schools to post donated displays of our state and national mottos.  The bill does not cost taxpayers a dime, but it will pay life long dividends for our children.  For the truth is, we all share the same dreams for our children.  We want them to be happy and successful.  We want them to be wise enough to make good choices and brave enough to stand by them in the face of peer pressure.  We hope they will become compassionate, hard-working adults, adults who understand as much about the responsibilities of being a United States Citizen, as they do about the rewards.  And we want them to have the education that they will need to one day go in pursuit of their own dreams.  

But perhaps more than anything else, as parents we hope to give our children a life that is anchored by family and faith and lighted by their hopes and dreams for the future.  But to give them that, we must first give them faith.  Faith in God, faith in their families, and faith in themselves.  And faith in the great country in which we live.  And that is why the traditions and values that have built this great country are so very important; for it is through preserving and protecting them that we will be able to leave our children a country in which the light of liberty still shines brightly.  And a country that will continue to be what it has always been,  “the land of the free and home of the brave”.

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