Mark Romanchuk Introduces Legislation to Index Legislators' Pay to Median Household Income
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2020
(Mansfield) – State Representative Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario) today announced the introduction of House Bill 695, which adjusts state legislators’ pay to Ohio’s statewide, inflation-adjusted median household income for the previous 12 months. He is jointly sponsoring the bill with Rep. John Becker of Clermont County.
“Elected officials seldom ‘share in the pain’ when there is an economic downturn. This change will tie a legislator's salary to the economic well-being of the state,” Romanchuk said.
The most recent US Census Bureau figures available from the last day of December that are to be used for the following calendar year are $56,111. Majority and minority leadership as well as committee leadership will be recognized via their existing percentage increases relative to the magnitude of the work anticipated from those members.
#InThisTogetherOhio must become more than a hashtag. It must become a commitment that we use to empathize with our unemployed constituents who are struggling to make ends meet while our own finances don't reflect their circumstances. However you feel about the extent of our state's response, it's self-evident that our government's actions have caused financial hardship for millions of Ohioans. It only makes sense that we sacrifice a little bit when many people have lost their entire livelihoods. We are going to have to make some tough decisions about how to balance our budget moving forward. This should be one of the easy decisions.
The Ohio Constitution prohibits in-term changes to General Assembly members’ compensation (Article II, Section 31), so a member’s salary will not reflect this bill’s provisions until the commencement of their new term.
Media coverage of the legislation can be found here.
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Representative Romanchuk, the Republican nominee for Ohio Senate District 22, has over 30 years of experience in small business, systems engineering and management, and community development. He is the owner and president of PR Machine Works, Inc., a contract manufacturer providing precision machining, fabrication, and assembly services in the city of Ontario. He serves on the Ashbrook Center Board at Ashland University and is the co-founder and past president of the Regional Manufacturing Coalition.
In his past elections for the Ohio House, he was endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business which awarded him the Guardian of Small Business Award. He maintains a 100% pro-life voting record, has been endorsed in each election by Ohio Right to Life, and is a co-sponsor of Ohio’s “Heartbeat Bill” which was recently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. Romanchuk has also previously been named a “Friend of Agriculture” by the Ohio Farm Bureau, their highest distinction.
Representative Romanchuk resides in Ontario with his wife, Zoi.
Contact: Evan McCory
(330) 317-6401
