As rapid-fire policy changes continue to flow from President Donald Trump’s administration, Franklin County leaders are taking a proactive step.
For the first time, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners has hired a Washington lobbying firm to advocate for the county to Congress and federal agencies. The firm will also help county leaders keep abreast of the quickly changing federal landscape.
Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley told The Dispatch that the commissioners are concerned about proposed federal cuts that could harm residents, including cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Head Start. Crawley has called Head Start, which pays for child care for low-income families, a lifeline.
Crawley said the commissioners also want to advocate for county projects receiving federal grants, since so many federal grants have been cut or are in limbo now.
The county will pay Batie and Associates $96,000 for a year of consulting and lobbying services. The three commissioners, who are all Democrats, unanimously approved the contract at their meeting on June 10.
“We are living in unprecedented times and we think it’s important for us to meet with our congressional representatives, understand what’s going on at the agency level, bolster those relationships and let our congressional members know what’s important to our residents,” Crawley said.
This move builds on existing relationships and lobbying that the county already does. For example, Crawley said she met with Sen. Bernie Moreno’s office after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut $250 million in grants through the Ohio Department of Health, impacting local departments like Franklin County’s.
The Board of Commissioners has a two-person Government Affairs office that already works from Franklin County to lobby the Ohio General Assembly and federal officials on behalf of the county.
Kevin Pangrance, director of the Government Affairs office, said his team will be in contact with Batie and Associates daily.
“Things are changing so fast, sometimes it’s hard to keep up with,” Crawley said. “We have an administration that is making changes daily and moving faster than the speed of business.”
Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Trump administration cuts prompt Franklin County Commissioners to hire DC lobbying firm
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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