Rookie Representative and former teacher touches on possible STRS divesting

The following article was taken from the Findlay Courier on 5/26/07. Newly elected State Representative-and retired educator -- Cliff Hite (R) from the 76th Ohio House District mentions possible divestment of STRS monies. I am pleased to see that he addresses the fact of STRS losing $$ should the divestment bill become law but, in the same article he suggests that the addition of six months to the divestment timetable in this bill may somehow ameliorate the situation. So does he want divestment or not -- or will he commit himself? Could we retirees benefit if we let him know how we feel about the financial damage that this bill would do to our system? Here is his contact information. John [Curry]

Representative Cliff Hite
77 S. High St
13th floor
Columbus, OH 43215-611
Telephone: (614) 466-3819
Fax : (614) 719-3976
Email Address: district76@ohr.state.oh.us

He wants to be in the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities (FIRE) Committee meeting because it’s discussing a bill that would require all public pension plans to withdraw from any investments connected to Iran, where the money might be used to sponsor attacks on U.S. troops.

“The problem is, when you do that, there are some fee problems in exchanging one system (for) another,” Hite says. “There’s the potential for loss and nobody wants that in their pension.”

The bill is targeting “19 organizations to stay away from,” Hite notes. The state teachers pension fund has “some of their money in them so they’re going to have to divest it,” Hite says, “but now they have 18 months to make that change instead of just a year.”

Rookie representative learning a new game

By JOHN GRABER
STAFF WRITER
Findlay Courier, May 26, 2007

COLUMBUS -- Cliff Hite is learning his way around the corridors of power in Columbus, but he’s wary of people in that other political party.

The new state representative tells a visitor, “You see those guys, they’re OK, they’re Democrats though ...”

He describes another man as “one of the smartest, interesting people down here, but he’s a Democrat.”

Two things are clear when shadowing Hite, a Findlay Republican, down in Columbus: No. 1, he’s not in Findlay anymore, and No. 2, he really loves his job.

“I’m really getting in my comfort zone,” says Hite, who is in his first term representing the 76th House District. “I’m learning where to go to ask questions when I have them.”

Making the trip across High Street from Hite’s office in the Vern Riffe Center to committee hearing rooms in the Capitol is like a stroll through the winner’s circle at the Indianapolis 500 -- all hugs and backslaps. Even the security guards’ eyes light up when they see Hite coming.

But don’t fool yourself, this is no “lovefest.”

Politics is all about networking and getting people to see things your way, and there’s plenty of work being done during those backslaps and joking conversations.

“Hey, you don’t have a problem with my bill, do you?” Hite asks Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown, the ranking member of the House Education Committee, after running into him in the lobby of the Riffe Center.

Hite, who sits on the education committee, introduced a bill that would give teachers extra time to administer tests to special needs students. The first two hearings on the bill went so smoothly there’s talk of forgoing the third hearing and fast-tracking it to the floor of the House.

After some muffled talking followed by some roaring laughter, Gerberry points to Hite and says, “No, you’re OK!”

Hite smiles, walking away from Gerberry and his companion, knowing he’s got their votes.

“They’re nice guys; they’re Democrats though,” says Hite.

It’s not all schmoozing and laughter, though. That trip across the street is followed by three hours of fairly tedious committee meetings.

Hite is kept hopping because two of the committees he’s on are meeting at the same time.

That creates a dilemma for him. He wants to be in the Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities (FIRE) Committee meeting because it’s discussing a bill that would require all public pension plans to withdraw from any investments connected to Iran, where the money might be used to sponsor attacks on U.S. troops.

“The problem is, when you do that, there are some fee problems in exchanging one system (for) another,” Hite says. “There’s the potential for loss and nobody wants that in their pension.”

The bill is targeting “19 organizations to stay away from,” Hite notes. The state teachers pension fund has “some of their money in them so they’re going to have to divest it,” Hite says, “but now they have 18 months to make that change instead of just a year.”

While he wants to keep track of that bill, Hite is the vice chairman of the State Government Committee and he’s expected to be at that panel’s hearing.

There’s discussion in that committee that has Hite concerned, too. A bill would allow electronic gambling machines at Ohio horse tracks, giving people an opportunity to bet on randomly selected, unnamed horse races from the past.

“Some money (from the betting) goes to the racing commission, some goes to the winnings purse, just like if you were watching a regular horse race,” Hite says.

“The downside is it will expand gambling. The downside is there are some people saying these are really just glorified slot machines. The downside is we will probably have more people who will suffer from this gambling addiction that can take place, which is a distinct possibility ...

“Some of the plus side is the money that’s raised through this would help the Passport program, which is a program to help the aged stay in their homes with assistance, rather than having to go to nursing homes and things like that. That would save the state millions of dollars; so it’s a great program.”

About halfway through the State Government Committee hearing, Hite hops up and heads over to the FIRE Committee in order to make sure he doesn’t miss a vote. When he learns no vote is scheduled, he scoots back over to the other hearing, but not before taking the opportunity to schmooze with a few fellow lawmakers.

The day’s not done when the hearings are over. It’s 1 p.m. and Hite has to prepare for a 3 p.m. meeting with Gov. Ted Strickland. He wants to introduce the governor to the idea of a regional vocational school in Findlay that would serve areas like McComb and Fostoria as well.

“I’m just going to talk to the governor about it,” Hite said. “I’m not trying to push anything on him.”

After that meeting, Hite plans to visit a Columbus area school where a teacher wants to talk to him about his education bill. Then he can finally head home to the more GOP-friendly confines of Findlay.

Don’t feel sorry for Hite and his hectic schedule, though. He doesn’t mind.

“I love it,” says the former Findlay High School football coach. “It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I thought that my passion was coaching and teaching and that it didn’t get any better than that, but I think this is even better.

“It’s been a wonderful learning experience. It’s just the next level of education for me. After being a teacher and preparing for that classroom atmosphere all these years and helping kids be critical thinkers, now it’s my turn to increase my knowledge so I can be a better representative.

“I may have learned more in the last two years than the last 50 before that, just because there’s so much information,” Hite says.

“... It’s information saturation, but you get to deal with people every day. You get all kinds of different opinions, very well thought out, too. And sometimes it doesn’t matter if it’s a liberal or a conservative viewpoint. Everybody who comes with their argument all believe they have Ohio’s best interest at heart.”

Contact staff writer John Graber at: (419) 427-8417 johngraber@thecourier.com