Dear Constituents,

I hope you and your family had a memorable end to 2009 and a
positive start to the New Year. Each time we begin a new year,
it provides an opportunity to remember the past, while looking
ahead to the future. This is true for legislators, as much as it is
for each individual.

The House will hold its first official session day on January 13th –
and many committees began meeting today, January 12th. We
understand there is much work to be done and we are hitting the ground
running to make sure we tackle our most pressing challenges with creative,
fair and responsible solutions.

Over the holiday break, I have been working with my colleagues – on both
sides of the aisle – on ideas which would create a more favorable business
climate, promote responsible energy choices and further ensure our students
receive the high quality education they deserve.

My colleagues in the House have also been working hard. The House will
soon vote on a Joint Resolution (HJR12) to place an initiative on the May
ballot to renew and expand the Ohio Third Frontier (website) program.
The Third Frontier Program has created thousands of Ohio jobs and jump
started high-growth industries such as the biomedical, advanced materials
and alternative energy sectors. The Third Frontier has helped to grow
companies in the 92nd district, including DHI, Global Cooling, and Thermo-
Fisher. We cannot risk slowing the positive economic growth that this
successful program has generated.

The House will also be introducing redistricting reform. While the details
are not finalized, it is apparent that our redistricting process in Ohio is a key
reason for much of the partisan gridlock which too often derails positive
legislation. The first step to reducing the gridlock is to create competitive
districts, such as the 92nd, all across the state.

Also, I invite you to visit me during my In-District Office Hours, on Thursday

January 21st from 10am to 12p at the Village Bakery in Athens. This is
an excellent opportunity for us to be able to talk one on one about what you
think I should be focusing on while in Columbus.

As always, if you have questions, thoughts or concerns on matters before the

Ohio legislature; or if you need assistance with a state government agency,
please contact my office.

PS. We’ve updated the online survey! Please take a few moments to answer
4 quick questions about your legislative priorities and share any comments
you may have. Take it here.

News from Around the District

State Grant helps Thermos Fisher add new jobs in 2010: Thermos
Fisher, a manufacturer in Washington County, will be adding 116 new jobs in
2010 thanks for a grant from the State of Ohio. Read More

Eastern Local Receives OAHCE Grant: Eastern Local Schools in Meigs

County received a grant from the Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher
Education for the ‘Seeds4Success’ program. The program promotes higher
education options for students from lower-income areas. Read More

ACENet receives microenterprise program funding: The state

controlling board released $58,300 for small business loans and technical
training in the Athens area. The “Microenterprise Business Development”
program from the Department of Development will be administered through
ACENet and will provide loans to 8 small businesses and provide training for
200 locals. Read More

January Events with Representative Phillips

Representative Phillips holds Office Hours in District – January 21st 10:00am –

12:00pm Village Bakery, Athens
Governor Strickland’s State of the State Address – January 27th, 12pm,
Statehouse, Columbus
 Spotlight: Tax Information and Assistance

Ohio Department of Taxation: The Ohio Department of Taxation

administers personal and business taxes. You can find all the necessary
forms and information for filing your taxes on their website. You can also E-
File online at their website. Filing electronically saves you and the
department time and processes your return much faster than paper filing.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): The credit provides low-income

individuals and families with a refundable tax credit based on their income;
families making up $48,279 are eligible for the credit, based on how various
factors. At least 1 in 5 Ohioans is eligible for this federal credit, but
estimates say that over 25% of Ohioans who qualify, don’t apply for it. You
can find out more information from the Ohio Treasurer’s office here.

Free Tax Filing Services: This list, from Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce, is an
excellent source of information for local organizations which provide free tax
filing assistance. Also, the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) provides free filing
services for taxes as well as other assistance programs. If you are eligible
for the EITC, you are eligible for free filing as well!

If you have questions regarding your taxes or about filing, I encourage you to
contact the Department of Taxation (here) or any of the above organizations.
If you have difficulty contacting them or your questions/concerns are not
answered, my office can assist you in working further with any state
department.

To view the print edition of the January 2010 newsletter, please

click here (works best with high-speed internet, may take a minute to load)

Previous editions of ‘Spotlight’:

Ohio Utility Assistance 2009 - here

To view any of our recent communications releases, click on the

links below:
December 2009 E-News (HB 318/Burr Oak/EITC) - here
Updated: Rep Phillips Announces Funds for Trimble Local Schools – here
Rep Phillips Announces Funds for Waterway Improvements - here

To share your thoughts and opinions in my January 2010 legislative

survey, please click here

Contact Information:
Representative Debbie Phillips
 Riffe Center, 11th Floor
77 S High St, Columbus OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-2158
Fax: (614) 719-6992
District92@ohr.state.oh.us