Republican Congressman Steve Stivers of Columbus recently reintroduced his measure changing the materials used to make U.S. coins. Stivers says he wants to see coins made from steel, instead of copper and nickel.
One of the beneficiaries of the bill would be local steel maker Worthington Industries, a past contributor to Stivers' campaigns. Stivers says it currently costs the U.S. Mint 1.8 cents to make a penny and 9.5 cents to make a nickel. He says the steel can be made in America without importing materials from other countries. Stivers says two other countries have already made the switch.
Stivers first introduced the measure in 2012, and the Mint called for a two year study of the proposal. That study has been completed, and the Mint says more study is needed.