In a filing with the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), The Buckeye Institute charged the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) with an unfair labor practice for violating the Janus rights of The Buckeye Institute’s client, Ryan Smith, a United States Marine Corps combat veteran. The Buckeye Institute’s filing with SERB follows the union’s silence on Buckeye’s May 15 demand letter to OCSEA’s state leadership, insisting that the union investigate conduct at the union orientation.

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Abbotsford Education Association v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, urging the Wisconsin Court of Appeals to uphold the carefully constructed constitutional balance between the peoples’ right to govern themselves while ensuring fundamental rights are not trammeled. “For the opponents of Wisconsin’s Act 10, their remedy is found in the statehouse, not the courthouse.”

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee on the policies in Ohio Substitute House Bill 96—Ohio’s biennial budget. In the testimony, The Buckeye Institute, noted that “[s]ignificant growth in Medicaid and education spending—the two largest budget items—could prove especially dangerous to the state’s long-term fiscal health and make it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain pro-growth tax policies like those adopted in the last budget.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the newly released jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “Ohio’s private sector added 20,900 new jobs in April, easily offsetting the small, 2,500 downward revision to the March report. With April’s report, Ohio’s private sector employment is averaging 15,000 new jobs a month, indicating that businesses intend to hire at a strong clip in 2025.”

The Buckeye Institute commented after Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 15 into law. “With the signing of House Bill 15, Ohio is now a national leader in smart, free-market energy policy. While more work remains to ensure cost transparency and protect consumers from overpaying for costly infrastructure, The Buckeye Institute-championed policies are pro-consumer and pro-business—ending costly, uncompetitive subsidies, bringing back greater predictability in public utility rate cases, and incentivizing new energy development.”

The Buckeye Institute sent a demand letter to the state leadership of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association insisting that it investigate Tim Federkiel, president of AFSCME/OCSEA Chapter 2200, for violating the Janus rights of The Buckeye Institute’s client Ryan Smith, a United States Marine Corps combat veteran. Given Mr. Federkiel’s actions, Buckeye demanded that OCSEA rescind any agreement between Mr. Smith, the union, and any of its affiliates, including any membership application or dues deduction authorization.

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Education Committee on the K-12 budget in Ohio House Bill 96—Ohio’s biennial budget. In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, noted that “putting students first means funding students rather than systems” and praised this budget for doing just that. 

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio House Medicaid Committee in support of Ohio’s proposed Medicaid waiver, which enhances the program’s integrity and promotes economic stability, financial independence, and improved health outcomes. In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, reminded lawmakers that Congress designed Medicaid to offer healthcare to “those unlikely to be employed, such as expectant mothers, the elderly, disabled adults, and children.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Wolford v. Lopez, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and tell lower courts they are bound by the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on the Second Amendment. In its brief, The Buckeye Institute urged the U.S. Supreme Court to grant the petition and reverse the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sending a clear message to lower courts that they must respect and follow U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, commented after the Ohio General Assembly passed Ohio House Bill 15. Once signed, the policies in the bill will help ensure a healthy supply of affordable, reliable energy to meet growing demand. The bill now goes to Governor DeWine for his signature. “The passage of Ohio House Bill 15 is the best news for Ohioans worried about affordable, reliable energy in more than a quarter of a century.”