Updates from State Representative Hill and Senator Balderson

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – State Representative, Brian Hill and Senator, Troy Balderson were in Zanesville today discussing this year’s plans for Ohio.

Hill said they are starting off the new year with the 132 General assembly and they’re currently preparing for committee assignments and awaiting the governor’s budget proposal at the end of January. Hill is the chair for the house Agriculture and Rural development committee and they’re now looking into what is to come up in this year’s meetings.

“As we move forward there is always a lot of issues dealing with agriculture being our number one industry,” said Hill. “How we work on tax policy that find a way to improve Ohio’s agriculture economy and we’ll be working on those issues. Water quality is always an issue in agriculture. So we’re always watching to  monitor our water policy here in Ohio.”

Hill said those are some of the issues they’ll be looking into this year and taxation deals with Agland is a priority. Balderson said this year the oil and gas have taken a downward turn with financial issues, but time will come and wells are being drilled again in Ohio mostly along the eastern border.

“You know I tell people in Muskingum County, whats important is we’re being affected by those jobs that are down there,” said Balderson. “You know people from this area are hired on to those companies. There are some local manufacturers here that are also benefiting from the oil and gas place.”

Balderson said the big news this year is that PTT Global Chemical Ethane Cracker Plant will be built in Belmont County.