State Rep. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today applauded a nearly $4.5 million low-interest loan from the Ohio EPA to the city of Willoughby. The state loan, awarded earlier this week, will fund an upgrade to Willoughby’s sewage system while also improving water quality in Lake Erie.

“The Ohio EPA loan to Willoughby is an example of how the state and local communities can work together to improve infrastructure while also protecting our environment,” said Rogers. “I am pleased to see the state work with the city to help complete this important project while preserving a tremendous resource.”

State Rep. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today applauded the Ohio Supreme Court’s 5-2 decision reversal in State v. Gonzales, which will restore state penalties for cocaine trafficking. Rogers, along with Rep. Robert Cupp (R-Lima), sponsored House Bill (HB) 4, legislation recently passed by the House to restore the cocaine penalties invalidated by the court’s initial decision in this case. Rogers today indicated he still intends to pursue passage of HB 4 into law to bring greater clarity to state drug trafficking penalties. 

“I was delighted to learn today that the Ohio Supreme Court reversed their State v. Gonzales decision, effectively returning cocaine trafficking penalties to what the General Assembly intended,” said Rogers. “The court’s initial decision would have incentivized drug dealers to traffic large quantities of cocaine without risk of a higher penalty, jeopardizing the safety of communities all across Ohio.” 

State Rep. John M. Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today hailed the unanimous House passage of House Bill (HB) 4, bipartisan legislation to restore cocaine penalties invalidated by a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision. Rogers is jointly sponsoring the legislation with former Ohio Supreme Court Justice-turned legislator Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Allen County). 

“If left unchecked, the recent Supreme Court ruling will open the floodgate for cocaine-related trafficking and could increase illicit cocaine usage, addiction, overdoses and drug-related violence in our communities,” said Rogers. “Today’s unanimous vote in the Ohio House is an important step towards keeping our communities safe by restoring the intent of the law and enabling law enforcement to indict drug-traffickers and prosecute their cases consistently.” 

State Rep. John M. Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today testified in the House Criminal Justice Committee in support of House Bill (HB) 4, his legislation to restore cocaine penalties invalidated by a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision. Rogers is jointly sponsoring the legislation with former Ohio supreme Court Justice- turned legislator Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Allen County).

“Ohio’s recent court decision sets a new, dangerous trajectory for our state by allowing drug dealers to buy and sell more cocaine with reduced consequences,” said Rogers. “Instead of effectively handcuffing law enforcement from keeping dangerous drug dealers off our streets, I believe that we should be handcuffing the criminals who make our state and communities less safe with dangerous drugs.”