This month Tom Brinkman was awarded a new title by his son & daughter in-law: Grandpa! His first grandchild, Aspen Brinkman was welcomed to the Brinkman family in early February. Tom & Cathy Brinkman have now joined the ranks of being grandparents.
Brinkman Receives F Rating from Pro-Abortion Group
I am proud that the National Abortion Rights League (NARAL) recently awarded me an F rating. Fighting for the rights of Ohio’s unborn children will always be of paramount importance to me!
Hear Ye, Hear Ye!
In late March, State Rep. Tom Brinkman attended Mariemont’s Town Hall meeting, an annual tradition for the village dating back to its founding in 1941. Another tradition of the village is their Town Crier who is considered an officer of Town Meeting whose official duties include opening the Town Meeting and leading the Memorial Day Parade.
St. Rep. Tom Brinkman and Mariemont’s Town Crier, Bob Keyes
Brinkman Gets Sworn-in for Another Term as State Representative
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger administers the oath of office to State Representative Tom Brinkman with his wife, Cathy, holding the Bible.
Thank you!
Thank you! I will continue to work hard for you as your State Representative.
Yard Signs Are Popping Up!
Have you got your Brinkman sign???
Brinkman Appointed Chairman of Ohio House Insurance Committee
From the Ohio House of Representatives:
State Rep. Brinkman Appointed to Serve as Chairman of Ohio House Insurance Committee
COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) today announced that State Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Mt. Lookout) has been appointed to serve as Chair of the House Insurance Committee. He has served as Vice Chair of the committee since April.
“I look forward to bringing my background in the insurance agency and my previous experience as a chairman to the service of the people of Ohio in this new role as chairman of the Insurance Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives,” said Rep. Brinkman.
The committee hears bills on a variety of issues related to insurance topics in Ohio, such as workers’ compensation, health insurance policies, and insurance claims. Rep. Brinkman also serves on the Commerce and Labor and the Public Utilities committees.
Governor Signs Brinkman’s Township Omnibus Bill
Governor Signs Brinkman’s Township Omnibus Bill
On June 28th Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 413. This Township Omnibus Bill was introduced by State Representative Tom Brinkman and was just one in a series of bills Brinkman has passed to make township government more efficient and effective. The Ohio General Assembly completed its work on HB 413 on May 25, 2016. Interestingly, almost ten years ago to the day, another Township Omnibus Bill (HB 385) also sponsored by Representative Brinkman was passed by the 126th session of the Ohio General Assembly.
Representative Brinkman stated, “A majority of my constituents live in townships. The ideas that go into these bills are a result of my close working relationship with those township elected and administrative personal along with the outstanding assistance of the Ohio Township Association.”
For their part; the Ohio Township Association featured HB 413 on the cover of the July/August 2016 issue of OHIO TOWNSHIP NEWS and stated: “Rep. Brinkman’s support and dedication to bettering township government is to be commended.” HB 413 is effective on September 28, 2016.
Brinkman Appointed Vice Chair Of House Insurance Committee
Brinkman Appointed Vice Chair Of House Insurance Committee
Speaker of the Ohio House Clifford A. Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) has appointed State Representative Tom Brinkman (R-Mt. Lookout) to serve as Vice Chair of the House Insurance Committee, which will become effective May 1st.
“I am honored to be selected to serve as Vice Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and look forward to bringing my lifelong experience with insurance of all types into crafting legislation for Ohioans,” Rep. Brinkman said.
The committee hears bills on a variety of issues related to insurance topics in Ohio, such as workers’ compensation, health insurance policies and insurance claims. Rep. Brinkman continues to serve on the Commerce and Labor Committee and the Public Utilities Committee.
Rep. Tom Brinkman is currently serving his first term as state representative, after serving as a member of the Ohio House for four 2-year terms from 2001 to 2008. An experienced life insurance salesman and a life-long resident of Cincinnati, Representative Brinkman is a graduate of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (1979), with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. He represents the 27th Ohio House District, which includes portions of eastern Hamilton County.
Brinkman: Unions the ultimate zombies
The following appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer on April 13, 2016.
Brinkman: Unions the ultimate zombies
St. Rep. Tom Brinkman
Since I have spoken publicly about my intention to propose a right-to-work bill this legislative session, I have gotten numerous questions. Supporters want to know what it will take to win and finally make union membership an individual choice, not a job requirement.
Other concerned voices ask why I would resurrect this issue now, when it is sure to ignite passionate disagreement. To them, I can only say that this is the right thing to do.
The United States was founded on principles. Freedom of association – to belong or not belong to a religious, civic, social, or labor organization – is one of the most precious. But this right is violated every day by our current labor laws.
Over the past three-quarters of a century, unions have become the ultimate zombies. They are granted overwhelming protection under the law, such that a certified union remains in a workplace forever. The employees who voted it in retire and move on, but the union outlives them all.
The result is de facto employee disenfranchisement. Department of Labor statistics show that a mere 7 percent of unionized workers actually voted for the labor organization claiming to represent them. The rest were never offered a say.
The problem is compounded here in Ohio, because it is perfectly legal to require these employees to pay dues to a union they don’t like and have no way to get rid of. The only way out is to abandon a job they need to feed their families. Hundreds of thousands of Buckeyes fall into this trap.
Change is needed to remedy this injustice. Right-to-work laws put an end to mandatory union membership. That way, employees can vote with their dollars. If they believe the union is doing good things, they can pay dues and get actively involved, just as they can today. But if they believe the incumbent union has fallen out of touch with workers’ interest, they can opt to rescind their financial support.
Already 26 states offer employees such freedom. Not only is it welcomed by workers, it has proven beneficial to the economy. A Glassdoor Economic Research study found that of the 50 cities recovering most quickly since the Great Recession, 72 percent were in states with right-to-work laws. And most of them saw an increase in the average hourly wage as well.
Just look at the windfall right-to-work states are seeing right now in automotive, aerospace and high-tech manufacturing jobs, and you’ll see what Ohio is missing out on.
Right-to-work in Ohio is an essential step that can be made through the passing of Ohio HB 377, but another necessary change can only be made at the federal level. Congress must update the U.S. statutes that cover union certifications and operations. The Employee Rights Act is the best legislative vehicle being considered.
This bill would ensure that unions serve at the will of their members. One of its most important provisions is a periodic recertification election, which would at last give current employees a vote in whether or not their workplaces remain unionized. Other provisions would guarantee employees fair, democratic election processes and protect their paychecks from mandatory political giving. For the many Republican union members across Ohio whose pay is being docked to fund Hillary Clinton’s bid for president, this would be a welcome change.
To be clear, the message here is not anti-union. Neither a right-to-work law nor the Employee Rights Act would ban, restrict or inhibit unions in any way. Only labor organizations surviving solely because employees have been denied the right to choose their own representation have any reason for concern.