What are they afraid of?

Ohio lawmakers ain't what they used to be.

Yes, yes, I know. The majority of them are still Republicans. (Some things never change.)

But that's not where I'm going with this New Year's Eve observation.

What are Ohio lawmakers afraid of and why are they so afraid that many – if not the vast majority of them – no longer exercise that simplest of tasks, like providing a weekly newspaper column for their constituents?

Once upon a time not all that long ago, it was a given that members of the Ohio General Assembly would submit a weekly newspaper column, 52 weeks out of 52. Year in and year out. Republicans and Democrats, alike.

I know. Because I used to reserve space for these columns each and every week. (We could throw in members of Congress, too, but I've grown rather tired of their pablum in recent years.)

Thinking back, I recall state lawmakers like Sen. Cooper Snyder of Clinton County, Rep. (and Sen.) Doug White of Adams County, Rep. Dennis Stapleton of Fayette County, Rep. (and Sen.) Mike Shoemaker of Ross County, Rep. (and Sen.) John Carey of Jackson County, Rep. (and Sen.) Tom Niehaus of Clermont County, Rep. Danny Bubp of Brown County, Rep. Todd Book of Scioto County, and others, I'm sure, sending a weekly column to each newspaper in their respective House or Senate district.

And let's remember, too, that for many of these years, the state lawmakers' columns arrived via the USPS. We picked up the correspondence at the local post office, then paid a typesetter to put the column into our old Micro-Tek systems before a copy editor could begin placing the Statehouse news on a newspaper page. Later, we all had these newfangled facsimile machines. Still, the process required a typesetter and a copy editor.

All that said, every one of the aforementioned Ohio lawmakers could be counted on to submit a newspaper column on a regular basis in order to inform his rural constituents about the latest legislation and how it might impact them.

Today, the process of getting the news from Columbus to the 88 counties is much, much simpler. An almost instantaneous email will send the same column that used to be delivered to the post office. Yet, the news is much, much less forthcoming.

For a brief example, go to any media website today in Ohio's 91st House District (which includes Highland County) and count the number of newspaper columns submitted by Rep. Cliff Rosenberger in 2013. I'll guarantee you that you won't find 52 columns. In fact, you won't find five columns.

My last conversation with Rosenberger was in June of 2013. (June 19, if my records are accurate, and they usually are.)

When I asked why he hasn't told any of his constituents where he stands on controversial state issues, such as the huge budget increase (20 percent more spending than under former Gov. Ted Strickland), Medicaid expansion, or the controversial House Bill 5 and its impact on local revenue, here was his answer:

"I don't want the governor to know where I stand on these issues."

Forget the governor.

How about letting the voters and taxpayers in the 91st District know where you stand? After all, they elected you. Shouldn't you be accountable to them instead of being a politician of expediency? Are you that wrapped up in being considered for the House speakership?

State Sen. Bob Peterson, who also represents Highland County in the 17th Senate District, fares a little better, but not much.

Why?

Why don't these lawmakers want to share with voters their opinions on issues that impact each and every taxpayer in the state?

I think I know the answer.

It seems to me that the most convenient path for them is to say nothing. Lord knows, most of them do nothing of any real significance.

If they say nothing, nothing can be used against them.

To be sure, taking a stand on principle has its consequences. It also has its rewards.

Just ask honorable lawmakers like Cooper Snyder, Doug White, John Carey, etc.

I once wrote a column under the headline "We need more John Careys."

John earned that column by being in touch with voters, taxpayers, business owners, public officials and anyone else who wanted to know what was happening in Columbus and how lawmakers' actions would affect them.

Today's lawmakers are so far out of touch that they might as well put their campaign websites on their public office business cards. It's been known to happen.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.