Republicans have controlled the Ohio House of Representatives for over a decade, and today outnumber Democrats 60 to 39. As a result, Democrats have had limited success in promoting their own genuine reform agenda. But the consequences of GOP rule in Ohio do not present a pretty picture. Right now, residents face a dismal economy, miserable job growth ranking 49th in the nation, a chronic state budget crisis, and a Republican governor with the lowest approval rating in America.

But change is afoot. House Democrats are working to write a new economic story for Ohioans who go to work every day and play by the rules, but see so little promise of opportunity and prosperity for them and their families in return. Democrats have acknowledged their minority status, identified clear alternative policies, and embraced the mantle of reform.

"Ohio is in the midst of a values debate," Democratic Minority Leader Chris Redfern said. Over the last two months, with more than 30 members of the House Democratic Caucus, Redfern has crisscrossed the state in a tour dubbed "Fighting For Ohio's Families." The effort is a no-frills, hands-on opportunity for state legislators to meet with, listen to, and discuss the issues that have the greatest impact on Ohio's parents and children.

The tour coincided with a debate over Republican Governor Bob Taft's budget proposal. The questions it raised provided a platform for exploring the core principles that public officials embrace through the policies they promote. "Do we want a budget that delivers tax cuts for the wealthy while we place an even greater burden on the middle class?" Redfern asked. "Is that standing up for Ohioans? Is that ensuring that government is in line with our values?"

The tour met with police, firefighters, and librarians in Cincinnati; veterans in Toledo; families in Marietta and Alliance; seniors in Bluffton and Canton; and college students in Mansfield and Dayton. Redfern and his colleagues toured a preschool in Seven Hills, spoke with high school students in Akron, and visited factories with labor leaders in Youngstown and Lorain. They've met over 1,000 Ohioans and traveled more than 2,610 miles across the state.

The tour visited regions of the state where demographics span the political spectrum. Their itinerary was dotted with a range of cities, suburbs, and rural counties.

"This tour will give us a chance to spend time in local communities, listening to the people most at risk in this budget," Redfern said at the launch.

Ultimately, the House Republicans passed Taft's budget, but not before a serious debate and clear airing of Democrats' family-friendly alternatives. They offered creative proposals to target tax relief for middle-class families, reign in spending, implement serious fiscal discipline, and create a more affordable higher education system in order to better equip Ohio's workers for the high-skill jobs of the future.

The House caucus members will continue -- as will the tour -- working in the spirit of reform toward substantive change presenting tangible solutions and getting the big things right. That begins by listening to concerns of everyday parents and children in Ohio.

"This tour is a tremendous opportunity for us to share our vision and our priorities with Ohioans," Redfern said.