WATCH: DeWine delivers State of the State address
You can watch the full address in the video at the end of this story
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVG) - Gov. Mike DeWine delivered the annual State of the State address on Wednesday, his second-to-last such speech as the state’s chief executive.
The main focuses of his speech surrounded investing in children and building up the state’s workforce.
Read DeWine’s prepared remarks by clicking here.
DeWine touted strong job numbers in the state and new investments companies are making in Ohio. He said the state faces a significant challenge in building up the workforce, but also calls it Ohio’s greatest opportunity.
He is tasking Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel to create what will be Ohio’s “Workforce Playbook.” He wants to create what would be a regional strategy to build up Ohio’s workforce.
“He will focus on how we will produce enough workers to meet those needs as we’ve talked about, as we strive to retain home-grown talent, recruit new talent into Ohio, and also rally our existing workforce,” DeWine said.
The governor also called on businesses to give a chance to rehabilitated inmates looking for jobs.
“Our trained ex-offenders want to work,” DeWine said. “I say to the employers in Ohio: Give them a chance. Help them find the dignity, purpose, and hope that comes with a job.”
As he has in previous addresses, the governor called on lawmakers to invest in children.
He emphasized the need for kids to have better access to dental care and eye exams. He’s also asking the legislature to fund driver’s education courses in high schools. DeWine teased a new statewide school fitness initiative coming soon that Tressel will lead.
DeWine also called on lawmakers to ban cell phones in schools, less than a year after he signed a bill requiring them to create official policies governing cell phone use.
Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said there was nothing in the speech that he views as a “non-starter.”
“We’ll look at any of the proposals that the governor puts forward. It certainly is well within his ability to do so. It comes down to how much it’s going to cost and how it balances with the priorities of each of our chambers.”
Watch the full remarks in the video below or anywhere you stream 13 Action News.
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