Ohio

Ohio Needs More Jobs, No More Mandates by Representative Terry Blair

It is a top priority of the Ohio House of Representatives to provide a comprehensive, high-quality education for Ohio’s youth. Education reform is a crucial component of our work in the Statehouse, and at the center of recent discussions is Governor Strickland’s all-day kindergarten mandate.

The governor’s education plan contains this $200 million mandate that will put many school districts at risk, especially at a time when funding was shaved by $32 million. His provision to force every Ohio school district to offer all-day kindergarten starting in the 2010-2011 school year has received criticisms from many local boards of education; with the reduction in school funding, they will not be able to accommodate the new mandated expenses without making cuts elsewhere-which may mean cuts to other important programs, like extracurricular activities or transportation services.

Here in the 38th House District, our schools will be hit hard by these unfunded mandates. Centerville schools will need 15 more classrooms with 15 additional teachers, which could easily total at least a million dollars each year.

If Ohio’s leaders are serious about improving our state’s education system, they need to provide a stable source of funding to help schools adjust to new regulations. And if state assistance is not available, then individual districts should have the right to be exempt from the mandates based on their budgetary constraints.

To give school districts the right to opt out of all-day kindergarten, I cosponsored House Bill 366 to allow school district boards of education to exempt their districts from unfunded mandates, including the requirement to provide all-day kindergarten. If passed, this measure will return control over expensive mandates back to the school districts, especially when so many are already struggling to make ends meet.

It is important to remember that as state lawmakers, we were sent to Columbus to serve the people back home. Pushing through damaging mandates that will hurt our schools is irresponsible to those who have entrusted us to lead Ohio. I hope that the House majority will move quickly on this common sense legislation for the sake of Ohio’s schools.

Ohio

Legislative Update by Representative Peggy Lehner

I, along with others, have been writing for months about Ohio’s deepening financial crisis. I wish I could report that if the national economic crisis eases that Ohio’s financial crisis could turn out to be a short term problem, but unfortunately that is not the case. In order to put Ohio back on a true road to recovery the General Assembly is going to have to come together in a bi-partisan way to reevaluate our priorities, examine how we do business and seek out creative new approaches to systems that perhaps served us well in the past but are no longer cost effective.

Many people seem to believe this can be done by simply shrinking the size of government but even the most aggressive proposals to do that will not come close to filling the budget gaps. Others may propose raising taxes, expanding gambling or a variety of other revenue producing measures. Bottom line however is that those states that prosper have the lowest tax rates and no state has realized sustainable growth via slot machines.

It is my belief that the only route to a sustainable state government is to aggressively prioritize those services that we consider most important and then figure out the most cost effective way to provide those services. Government cannot be all things for all people but those services that are essential must be delivered as cost effectively as possible this is certainly not how the state operates at this point.

For example, the state spends approximately 23% of its budget on Medicaid-almost $13 billion each year. 70% of those dollars are spent on seniors and the disabled although these populations represent only represent 22% of the Medicaid caseload. A substantial portion of that 70% -nearly $4 billion-is spent on long term health care. The average cost of nursing home care for one year is $65,000. The average cost of providing home health care for one year is approximately $20,000 and is the appropriate and preferred option for a significant number of seniors. Yet Ohio continues to rank near the bottom of the states in its nursing home vs. home health care ratio. Because of budget cuts this past summer to the Medicaid Home health care program (PASSPORT) we have a growing waiting list of seniors seeking home care while we continue to unnecessarily spend billions on nursing home care. If we could just match the average national ratio we could save $1 billion per year or $2 billion per budget cycle. If we managed to rank the best in the country (Oregon) we save up to $4 billion per budget cycle….no small savings (Note: As a comparison, Republican proposals to dramatically reduce the size of state government are projected to just save $2 billion per budget cycle).

This month I will be introducing legislation that expands Ohio’s Home First program. Ohio currently limits the number of home heath slot it provides through Medicaid. However by federal law it cannot limit the number of nursing home slots so the only option for many seniors is to enter a nursing home. Home First is a program that is designed to move a nursing home patient into home health care.-unfortunately at the moment they have to actually be in a nursing home first in order to qualify. The bill I am sponsoring with considerable bi-partisan support will allow a senior who has been determined to need immediate nursing home level of care to bypass the requirement that they must first enter a nursing home and immediately qualify for home health care….regardless of where they are on the PASSPORT waiting list. If you are scratching your head trying to figure out how our current system makes any sense you are not alone but it is a perfect example of how considerable savings can be realized by just rethinking how we are provide services. This is only a first step in changing our nursing home/home health care ratio but it is an important first step.

Ohio can return to prosperity and we can do it in a way that maintains a high quality of life for our citizens. However we must be willing to challenge old ways of doing things and be willing to try new and innovative ideas. We must be willing to borrow great ideas from others and quit worrying about whether the Republicans or the Democrats get credit.

If you have an idea that you think can help turn around Ohio please share it… I would love to hear from you. My Columbus office phone number is (614) 644-6008. Click here to send me an e-mail.

Ohio

Rep. Seth Morgan Announces His Candidacy for State Auditor

Representative Seth Morgan announced on Thursday, January 31, 2010 that he will be running for state auditor to replace current Auditor Mary Taylor, who decided to be Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich’s running mate.

“Since I was first elected to public office in 2001, I have strived to ensure that I am in a position to do what is best for the people I represent. And that is now to be Ohio’s next auditor”, said Rep. Seth Morgan.

Rep. Morgan began his day with the official announcement in Columbus at the Statehouse and then concluded later in the day with a campaign kickoff rally in Huber Heights.

Montgomery County Republican Chairman Greg Gantt was on hand to introduce him at the Huber Heights rally. “Seth is more than qualified to be Ohio’s next auditor.”

“As a CPA and as an elected official, I have a track record of fighting for taxpayers at the local and state level. I have demanded accountability, transparency, and efficiency in government. I want to bring that experience to the auditor’s office,” Morgan said.

Representative Morgan has a broad coalition supporting him for Ohio auditor. Several conservative organizations, Republicans, party leaders, Tea Parties, grassroots activists, religious leaders, business owners, associations and more are behind him.

Additionally, Seth has quickly assembled a stellar campaign team, which includes his wife Debra; Emery Phipps, Political Director; Rob Scott, Communications Director; Leslie Klick, Events Director; Jan Mahaffey, Field Coordinator; Thomas Wise, Campaign Chaplain.

Seth Morgan was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2008 after serving seven years on the Huber Heights City Council. He is a Small Business Owner and Certified Public Accountant. For more information about Seth Morgan visit www.SethMorgan.org.

Ohio

Mary Taylor Announces Her Bid for Re-Election as Ohio’s Auditor

Since being elected in 2006, my office has worked diligently to provide the taxpayers of Ohio with the professionalism and efficiency they deserve from their Auditor.

In that time, we have made measurable progress in providing Ohioans protection from government fraud and wasteful spending of their hard earned tax dollars.

But there is more work to be done- and I plan to finish the job.

With Ohio facing a future budget hole unlike any in our State’s history, it is imperative we hold all of our state and local governments accountable.

I am running for re-election as your Auditor of State to continue the progress we have made in providing Ohio taxpayers with a more accountable and affordable government.

As your Auditor of State, I will continue to be Ohio’s Taxpayer Watchdog, making sure your tax dollars count. I will continue to investigate allegations of public corruption and fraud and hold the perpetrators accountable. I will continue to work with the school districts responsible for educating our children to help make sure they are functional and efficient.

These are just a few of my priorities, and I trust they are what you expect from your State Auditor.

I look forward to working with you and every Ohioan to return our State to an era of prosperity and promise.

Sincerely,

Mary Taylor

You can visit Mary’s campaign website at www.citizensformarytaylor.com.

Ohio

Josh Mandel Announces His Candidacy for State Treasurer

I wanted to let you know that I have announced my decision to run for State Treasurer in the 2010 election.

I decided to run for Treasurer after spending many months on the road, traveling to all corners of Ohio and accumulating over 30,000 miles on my car. Time and time again, I heard the same message from folks throughout the state: they are frustrated that while our economy is hurting and families are tightening their belts, our government continues to over-spend.

I believe that, to change the direction of our state, we need new leaders who believe in good old-fashioned values like honesty, hard work and fiscal responsibility. I learned these timeless values from my family and they were reinforced in me by the Marine Corps. I have carried them with me throughout my life, and I will work day and night to honor them in my service to you as State Treasurer.

My most important duty as Treasurer will be to protect the hard-earned dollars of every Ohioan. I have a proven record of standing up for Ohio’s taxpayers, including spearheading one of the only municipal tax rollbacks in the State’s history as a City Councilman. As State Representative, I helped reform the investment oversight structure for the scandal-ridden Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

I began my previous campaigns for office by campaigning door-to-door in lake-effect snow storms and by promising my supporters that I will never be outworked. My strategy for this race is no different – I promise to run a high-energy grassroots campaign, utilizing technology and engaging the young and the old alike. I hope you will consider joining our team today by making a contribution, signing up to volunteer, or by forwarding this message to your friends.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Sincerely,

Josh Mandel

You can visit Josh’s campaign website at www.joshmandel.com.