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WEST CHESTER TWP. — About 30 business and community leaders gathered at AK Steel's corporate headquarters Thursday, Sept. 4, to discuss business regulatory reform with a bipartisan task force of state congressmen.

The task force was formed in July by Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, and House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, to collect input from business owners, chambers of commerce, local economic development directors and other members of the public about their experiences and their ideas for how to reform Ohio's regulatory process. Thursday's event kicked off a series of meetings planned for locations across the state.

"It's important we look at Southwest Ohio as a great area we can make better," said task force chairman Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina.

One of the first to testify was Marti Sinclair of the Environmental Community Organization.

"We're concerned because regulatory reforms can cut both ways," she said, asking the task force to not loosen environmental regulations for the sake of expediency.

Faber addressed that concern in his opening remarks.

"The task force wasn't formed to eliminate air and water regulations," he said. "We all want clean air and water. The question is, do we need 21,000 regulations to get there?"

Other witnesses focused on regulation's effect on business.

"Businesses just want to be free from burdensome regulations that do nothing but increase revenue for the state," said John Mcminn of the Ohio Small Business Council.

Joseph Maas of JTM Provisions had a similar sentiment.

"I hear and see other manufacturing companies moving to other parts of the world; I believe it's not because of labor rates, it's because of regulations," he said.

After the two-hour hearing. Faber thanked attendees and encouraged other state residents to send written comments to the task force.

"What we're looking for is ways we can do things better," he said.

The task force plans to hold hearings through the fall. For more information or to send comments to the task force, contact Faber at sd12@mailr.sen.state.oh.us.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5127 or mcunningham@coxohio.com.