For Ohio Sen. Larry Obhof, the Republican National Convention is an opportunity to share the “Ohio story” with delegates and politicians from across the nation.
During a brief speech Monday evening to The Christian Coalition of America and Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, Obhof, R-Montville Township, shared his thoughts on Ohio policy over the last several years and where the state should go next.
“We’ve got a great success story to tell, not just Cleveland, but Ohio,” he said.
Ohio has moved in a pro-growth, pro-economy direction, he said. Lower taxes and less red tape are to thank, he told the crowd gathered at the Hard Rock Cafe less than a mile from Quicken Loans Arena where the RNC was underway.
Obhof said Ohio is positioned to lead the way in another reform — energy.
“I think it’s time for us to go back to the drawing board,” he said.
Obhof did not detail an approach, but suggested the energy industry could be aided by a government that does not “intentionally (try) to drive some people out of business,” which he said is the case in this nation.
Obhof was joined at the event by other Ohio politicians including Ohio Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina.
Although Faber campaigned for Gov. John Kasich in 14 states during the presidential primary, he used the Monday event as a chance to rally the crowd for presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump.
“If you stay home and you don’t vote for Donald Trump, you’re voting for Hillary Clinton,” he said.
Faber told the crowd Trump would appoint a more favorable Supreme Court justice than Clinton.
Despite President Barack Obama nominating a candidate, the ninth Supreme Court justice seat has remained empty since the death of Antonin Scalia in February.
A Trump presidency is also an opportunity to move the country in a more conservative direction and away from the changes made under the Obama administration, Faber said.
“I’m going to ask the good Lord to allow Trump to be a Reagan-esque president,” he said.
