The Committee to Protect Ohioans is currently running a television advertisement branding House speaker, Larry Householder, as “Tax Hike Larry”. The ad is a kick-off in an effort to block legislation affecting asbestos-related lawsuits, the treasurer of the newly formed issue advocacy group said Monday.
The committee is attempting to cast Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) as a poor fiscal manager and question his leadership during a time when the state’s sales tax was increased to collect another $1.3 billion in annual state revenue.
The ad shows Mr. Householder as news clips detail the purchase of office equipment and other facets of the speaker’s tenure. There is no mention of the asbestos bill in the ad, but the group says their aim is to “educate” the public as to the shortcomings of Republican leadership in Columbus.
The first TV ad ran in southwest Ohio last weekend and will become a statewide effort including spots during the Fiesta Bowl football game.
The asbestos bill, sponsored by Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-Canton), attempts to respond to an explosion of asbestos litigation filed in the state by requiring injured persons in pending and future cases to meet medical criteria in order for their cases to proceed through the civil justice system. Proponents contend the legislation, which also provides protections for certain companies, is necessary to weed out bogus claims to ensure that those of legitimately injured persons could be heard. Opponents maintain that applying the new medical requirements to 40,000 pending cases is unconstitutional.