State Representative John Becker (R-Union Township, Clermont County) today announced that the Promont museum in the City of Milford was the May recipient of his monthly donation of $313.73, as well as the recipient of a commendation from Rep. Becker which celebrates the ribbon cutting of Promont’s new walking trail.

Becker first toured the museum some time ago. He was very impressed with its preservation of the former home of John M. Pattison, Ohio’s 43rd Governor.

“The architecture and furnishings remind me of my grandfather’s house in Oldenburg, Indiana, but his residence was not nearly as large or fancy,” Rep. Becker said. “Although I’ve never donated to a museum before, Promont is a gem for the City of Milford, and I’m happy to donate for their maintenance needs,” Becker continued.

Representative Becker has been donating the net value of his pay increase to community organizations and has pledged to do so through at least the end of this year.

His January through April donations went to the Cincinnati Nature Center in Clermont County, Ohio Concerns of Police Survivors (Ohio C.O.P.S.), the Goshen Township Bicentennial Committee in Clermont County and the Days of Wonder school in Batavia, respectively.

These donations are from his personal bank account. No public funds or campaign funds are being used for this purpose.

The legislative pay increase was included in last year’s 132-Senate Bill 296. The original intent of that legislation was to provide health benefits to survivors of safety officers.

Becker voted NO on the controversial pay increase.

“The pay increase that we gave ourselves was the result of legislators shamelessly hiding behind the widows and orphans of deceased police and firefighters who died in the line of duty. The General Assembly then had the further audacity to make it an emergency measure so that it could go into effect on January 1, 2019,” said Representative Becker.

At every opportunity, Representative Becker has voted NO to pay increases for the Ohio General Assembly.

He believes that such changes to legislators’ pay increases should be done with statistical analysis in an open and transparent manner.

Becker described his thoughts on a better process:

“Once the research is complete, draft a bill based on the findings. Hold multiple public hearings, work it through the committee process, and have a robust floor debate before the vote. If the legislation receives favorable consideration from the House, Senate, and Governor, the people have the option for a referendum and/or to express their approval or disapproval on election day.”

Last year, Rep. Becker authored 132-House Bill 649, known as the Average Wage Fully Uniform Law (AWFUL).

It would have tied General Assembly salaries to Ohio’s median household income and tied salaries to the Consumer Price Index. That would have meant an approximate $6,600 pay cut for legislators during calendar year 2019.

For more information, contact Rep. Becker’s office at (614) 466-8134 or [email protected].