Lawmakers vow to protect Lake Erie

SANDUSKY — Two state lawmakers who represent Sandusky say they'll use their new committee assignments to make sure the H2Ohio program to clean up Lake Erie gets adequate funding. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, and state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, were named to Finance committees that will oversee the state budget. Gov. Mike DeWine wants $240 million for the H2Ohio program, which pays for efforts to clean up Lake Erie. Both lawmakers represent Erie County. "H2Ohio has been an incredible success and I was proud to take a leading role in ensuring that the program received even more funding in the Senate after we received the House-passed version in 2019," Gavarone told the Register. "I was honored to be asked by President Huffman to serve as his vice-chair of finance." "Being on the finance committee is a big deal for our district. As the budget process starts there, it will allow me to advocate for common sense expenditures that will help our district like better roadways to and from other parts of the state as well as the H2Ohio program," Swearingen said. "I will work with Gov. DeWine to further fund H2Ohio. It's vital to our district that we continue to preserve and protect Lake Erie," he said. Local lawmakers in the Ohio General Assembly have announced their committee assignments, including new leadership positions for Gavarone and Swearingen. The committee announcements also offer important clues on where local lawmakers could have the most influence, as much of the day-to-day work by lawmakers is carried out in committees. The Senate president, Sen. Matt Huffman, named Gavarone the chairman of the Local Government & Elections Committee and the vice-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. In addition, Gavarone was named to three other Senate panels: the Judiciary Committee, the Small Business & Economic Opportunity Committee and the Rules & Reference Committee. In addition, Huffman named Gavarone vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. The panel has five Ohio Senate members and five Ohio House members; it reviews rules from more than 100 state agencies. Huffman also named Gavarone to the Ohio Ballot Board, which reviews the ballot language for proposed state questions. House Speaker Bob Cupp named Swearingen vice chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee. Cupp also named Swearingen to three other House committees: Civil Justice, Finance and Primary and Secondary Education. Other local member committees State Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, has been named vice chairman of the Transportation Committee. Reineke also will serve on three other committees: Small Business and Economic Opportunity; Workforce and Higher Education, and Energy and Public Utilities. Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, will be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He'll also sit on the Finance, Local Government & Elections and the Transportation committees. State Rep. Dick Stein, R-Norwalk, will be chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee. He'll also be on the Public Utilities and the Technology and Innovation committees. State Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, will serve on four committees: Energy and Natural Resources; Families, Aging and Human Services; Primary and Secondary Education, and Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports. Click said his priorities this year include "protecting Ohio's energy grid, protecting the lives of the unborn, assisting municipalities during the upcoming operating budget year, and focusing on education and those struggling with addiction."