July 20, 2006

DeGeeter completes Midwestern leadership institute

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter was among 37 select legislators – and one of two lawmakers from Ohio – to complete a leadership training program that identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest.

DeGeeter met with 37 other select lawmakers from 10 Midwestern states July 7 -11, in Madison, Wis., for The Council of State Governments' 12th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

'I was extremely grateful for this leadership opportunity and I am excited to share and exchange the ideas I brought home with other lawmakers in Ohio,” DeGeeter said. 'It was a truly remarkable learning experience.”

The program offers a unique opportunity for lawmakers to improve their leadership skills and explore important issues with nationally renowned scholars, professional development experts, and legislative leaders and colleagues from across the Midwest.

Legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin were chosen to participate through a competitive, nonpartisan selection process.

BILLD was founded in 1995 to help legislators meet the demands of federal devolution and, in many states, term limits. These two emerging forces have highlighted the shortage of training available for legislators, a void that BILLD aims to fill.

A program of The Council of State Governments' Midwestern Office, BILLD is held in partnership with the University of Wisconsin. In addition to leadership training, such as conflict resolution and negotiation, BILLD provides policy seminars on issues such as education, corrections, land use, economic development and welfare, as well as professional seminars on media relations and priority management.

Companion case to DeRolph in federal court
Democrats file legal brief in support; press conferences held in Youngstown, Cleveland

(Columbus) - An amicus or friend of the court brief was officially filed by the Ohio House and Senate Democratic Caucus today in support of a lawsuit pending in federal court against the State of Ohio. The lawsuit, which is Doe v. State of Ohio, is a companion case to the infamous DeRolph v. State case, which ruled Ohio's education funding system is unconstitutional. A ruling by the federal court is expected in the near future to determine whether the case will be dismissed or not.

House and Senate Democrats held a press conference this morning at 9:30 in Youngstown to discuss the importance of filing the brief and the lack of adequate education funding by the Ohio General Assembly. A press conference by legislators is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today in Cleveland at the Cleveland Board of Education.

In Doe v. State of Ohio, the plaintiffs- students with disabilities who are represented by, the Ohio Legal Rights Service, maintain the special education system in Ohio violates not only the Ohio Constitution, but the U.S. Constitution and federal disability laws as well. As part of the lawsuit, Legal Rights Service also requested the court to enforce the ruling in the DeRolph case.

The House and Senate Democrats agree and maintain in their amicus brief that the DeRolph ruling should be enforced and students with special educational needs are being deprived a thorough and efficient education by the state.
  
Since DeRolph IV was decided in 2002, community school enrollment has increased from 21,342 to 65,673, an increase of 207 percent. During that same time period, community school funding has increased from approximately $139 million to $483 million, a 240 percent increase, as of April 1.

Here are the numbers from the last budget:

• Total per pupil aid increased 1.9 percent in FY06 and 1.6 percent in FY07, which is below the rate of inflation, which is over three percent.
• How were districts impacted by the last budget? In FY06, this fiscal year, 114 districts received a zero percent or negative per pupil increase in FY06, while an additional 200 districts received an increase less than 2 percent.
• Additionally, in FY07, 150 districts received a zero percent or less increase in FY07. Another 250 districts received an increase of less than 2 percent per pupil.
• Bottom line: The majority of school districts did not receive inflationary increases let alone any growth in this budget.

DeGeeter Co-Sponsors Legislation to Protect Public Health

(Columbus) - A new report "Public Health at Risk: The Dangers Posed by Sewage Pollution in Ohio's Lake Erie Basin," released today by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group (Ohio PIRG) shows that health-threatening bacteria, parasites and viruses found in sewage are widely detected in Lake Erie's waters. 

House Bill 569 requires sewage treatment utilities to report to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Health, the media and the public when sewage overflows from their system. 

DeGeeter said the legislation, introduced today, would better protect the public from the dangers of coming into contact with sewage pollution.

"Northeast Ohio residents are privileged to have access to one of Ohio's greatest treasures, the Lake Erie waterfront,” DeGeeter said. 'We need to do our part to ensure the health and safety of all those who enjoy our beaches and we also need to make them aware of the health risks associated with this type of pollution."

Selena Hoffman, Field Associate with Ohio PIRG, commended DeGeeter and other legislators for supporting this key legislation.

"Ohioans expect sewage treatment facilities to be treating sewage – not dumping it into our waterways," Hoffman said.  "I applaud the Cleveland-area legislators for their efforts to protect the health of Ohioans from sewage pollution."

Each year, billions of gallons of untreated sewage laden with viruses, bacteria and parasites are dumped into Lake Erie waters. 

Ohio PIRG's new report reveals the following water quality test results:

• Water testing in the Cuyahoga River in 2000 and 2002 found infectious viruses in 73 percent of all water samples taken, with 20 percent of samples testing positive for Hepatitis A, 50 percent testing positive for Salmonella bacteria, and 44 percent testing positive for Giardia.

• From 2000-2005, water quality testing at Ohio's Lake Erie beaches found unsafe levels of bacteria in about one out of every six tests. 

• Some beaches exceeded the limit very often including the Century Beach in Lorain, which exceeded the limit in 82 percent of the tests, followed by Camp Perry in Port Clinton, which exceeded water quality limits in 70 percent of the tests, and Edgewater State Park in Cleveland which exceeded water quality limits in 50 percent of the tests.

• Sewage may also contain toxic substances such as cyanide compounds, formaldehyde, and lead that are discharged from industrial facilities. Industries in the eight northern Ohio counties along Lake Erie dumped an estimated 2.6 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the region's sewer systems in 2003. These toxic substances pollute Lake Erie's waters during sewer overflows.

In Ohio, bacterial, viral and parasitic illnesses affect thousands of Ohio residents every year.  Data from the Ohio Department of Health shows that in 2003, Ohio residents suffered over 4,000 cases of infectious illnesses that can be contracted from pollutants found in sewage.  

A recent study conducted at one Cleveland-area beach found that swimmers who fully immersed themselves in the water were 40 percent more likely to contract diarrhea, vomiting, nausea or severe stomachache than those who had no contact with the water.

"Thousands of Ohioans contract infectious illnesses each year from contaminants that may be attributed to sewage pollution," said Dr. Amy Jo Sutterluety, Professor at Baldwin-Wallace College and board member of the Ohio Public Health Leadership Institute. "Sewage overflows contribute to higher levels of bacteria, pathogens and viruses, and the public should be aware of these health threats."

One of the most recent instances of sickness linked directly to sewage pollution occurred in 2004 at Ohio's South Bass Island where over 1,400 people were sickened from drinking water that was contaminated with sewage pollution.  

The Clean Water Act calls for states to develop systems to notify the public when there are sewage overflows.  Currently, Ohioans are not informed when sewage overflows occur, nor does the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency consistently track or record the amount of sewage pollution that occurs throughout the state. 

An earlier Ohio PIRG study documented sewage pollution from 11 communities in Ohio, in 2004, which discharged over 8.9 billion gallons of sewage into Lake Erie's waterways. 

DeGeeter represents the 15th House District, which includes Parma, Brooklyn, Middleburg Heights and Linndale. He is the ranking Democratic member of the House Criminal Justice Committee.

January 31, 2006

DeGeeter: New election laws hinder senior citizens

COLUMBUS, Ohio - State Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter, (D-Parma), today voted against House Bill 3, legislation that would require all Ohioans to present identification in order to vote.

DeGeeter said he could not support the bill because it is a roadblock for voters – especially senior citizens – and it would discourage many residents from expressing their fundamental right to vote.

"I am deeply concerned for senior citizens in my district and for all older Ohioans," DeGeeter said.  "This legislation hurts a generation that cherishes the right to vote and has gone to great lengths to protect and defend our democracy.  To turn these men and women away at the polls is simply wrong."

Additionally, disabled voters who cannot sign their own name have to execute a power of attorney in order to vote.

"The citizens who will be most inconvenienced by these election law changes have watched voting rights expand over time,” DeGeeter said.  'These election law changes strip away voting rights for senior citizens, and I cannot support this legislation."

DeGeeter votes in support of DNA testing

Ohioans who believe they have been wrongly convicted of a crime would have a chance to prove their innocence through DNA testing legislation that passed the Ohio House with the support of state Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter, (D-Parma).

Senate Bill 262, approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives, makes permanent two earlier laws that gave state prisoners one-year windows to seek DNA testing that might prove their innocence.

'Two innocent men have been cleared of crimes they didn't commit thanks to DNA testing. I think we've proven this works,” DeGeeter said.

'When an innocent person is wrongly convicted of a crime, justice isn't being done. We have a responsibility as a state and as a society to make sure justice prevails.”

DeGeeter and Sayre awarded fellowships  for Midwestern Leadership Institute

COLUMBUS - Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter, D-Parma, and Rep. Allen Sayre, D-Dover, are among 37 select lawmakers that have been chosen to participate in a leadership seminar that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest.

DeGeeter and Sayre will meet with fellow lawmakers from 10 other Midwestern states on July 7 -11, in Madison, Wis., for the Council of State Governments' 12th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD). The program offers a unique opportunity for lawmakers to improve their leadership skills and explore the issues of the day with nationally renowned scholars, professional development experts, and legislative leaders and colleagues from across the Midwest.

 'I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to share ideas and learn from other devoted lawmakers,” said DeGeeter.
In addition to leadership training, such as conflict resolution and negotiation, BILLD provides policy seminars on issues such as education, corrections, land use, economic development and welfare, as well as professional seminars on media relations and priority management.
'I am truly honored to have been selected to take part in BILLD and am looking forward to exploring different ways to improve the state of Ohio and the 96th House District,” said Sayre. 
Assistant Minority Leader Todd Book, a past BILLD participant, is certain that DeGeeter and Sayre will represent Ohio well at the conference. 

May 2006

DeGeeter announces release of funds for Lake Erie beach monitoring by County Board of Health

(Columbus) – The Cuyahoga County Board of Health in Parma has received state funding to monitor the water quality at public beaches in the area.

State Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter, D-Parma, said the Ohio State Controlling Board released the funding this week. The $56,244 grant will enable the Health Department to monitor the water quality at local public beaches this year and provide a detailed report for Ohioans and tourists throughout the summer months.

'With summer rapidly approaching, our thoughts turn to picnics, baseball games and visiting one of Ohio's greatest treasures – the Lake Erie waterfront and our public beaches,” DeGeeter said.

'This grant helps protect families visiting the beach this summer by ensuring the water quality is at a safe level for everyone to swim.”

DeGeeter added that this is the second consecutive year the Health Department has received such a grant. The Department moved its headquarters to Parma in 2003.

Water samples are collected Monday through Thursday during the summer recreational season, Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information about the water quality reports, contact the Health Department at (216) 201-2000, or visit www.ccbh.net.

August 17, 2006

DeGeeter speaks to seniors about White Cane Law

(Columbus) – State Rep. Timothy J. DeGeeter recently paid a visit to the Parma Senior Center in an effort to help raise awareness about Ohio's White Cane Law. DeGeeter said he decided to meet with the Center's Low Vision Group last month because the White Cane Law aids many residents who are visually impaired, yet many drivers don't realize the law exists.

'It's amazing how many people don't pay attention to pedestrians, let alone visually impaired pedestrians,” DeGeeter said. 'Because of this, the White Cane Law is vitally important for their safety and we need to raise more awareness about this issue.”

DeGeeter added that the White Cane Law dates back to the 1930s, when the Lions Club first tried to recognize white canes and the idea that motorists should yield to any pedestrian carrying the cane. Soon after, each state made the concept part of its motor vehicle code, and the section became known as the White Cane Law.

The law states: 'The motorist will yield the right of way to a person carrying a cane that is white or metallic in color with or without a red tip or a person accompanied by a dog trained for the purpose of guiding the person.”

'Motorists need to recognize this law in an effort to better protect those who are visually impaired,” DeGeeter said. 'Having knowledge of issues like this is essential for everyone involved – drivers and pedestrians.”

The Low Vision Group meets every Thursday, except during the summer.