Latest news with #OhioCapitalJournal
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Many unaware of threats to Ohio Medicaid, advocates say
Dozens gathered at the Ohio Capitol to protect Medicaid benefits. (Photo by Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal.) As threats build to Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, even many Ohioans who stand to be affected don't know it, advocates said Saturday. Dozens gathered on the west lawn of the Ohio Statehouse to raise awareness that a massive spending bill passed by Republicans in Congress could end up ending health care for more than 750,000 Ohioans. 'People say, 'Oh, I'm not on Medicaid,'' said Bria Bennett of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative. 'But when they hear Caresource (Ohio's biggest Medicaid managed-care provider), they say 'Oh yeah, my kids are on Caresource.' That's a problem everywhere. People are so focused on 'How am I getting to work? Is my car going to get me to work? Is my uniform clean for work?' They're worried about all those things that trying to dip into the policy things that our politicians talk about is difficult.' The U.S. House-passed Republican reconciliation budget — President Donald Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' — would hand out $4.6 trillion in tax cuts over 10 years. The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School estimated that 70% of the benefit would go to the richest 10% of Americans. Republicans, such as Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, have denied that the budget would cut health benefits for Americans. But then she undermined her own argument by saying 'We all are going to die.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Parts of the bill, including a strict new work requirement, led the independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to conclude that it would cost about 10 million Americans their health insurance. That's nearly half of the 24.6 million Americans who are covered under the Medicaid expansion that was passed as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Most Medicaid recipients have jobs, and a 2018 assessment in Ohio said that health coverage made it easier for those people to seek and keep employment. Meanwhile, work requirements have been shown to be ineffective for anything other than hassling people off of the system. Researchers at Harvard University and the Urban Institute found that Arkansas's work requirement did nothing to boost employment in the state. The federal government covers 90% of the cost of the Medicaid expansion. In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine proposed that if a significant portion of that funding were eliminated, the state would cut those people off — ending health coverage for 770,000 Ohioans. That's nearly 7% of the state. It might come as a surprise for many, but 26% of Ohioans are on Medicaid, and low-income residents are so numerous that 30% of households make 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Bennett of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative said it's jargon like that that obscures the dire reality in which millions of Ohioans live. 'I don't know what 200% of whatever is,' she said. 'That's just a number to me. We're trying to make things relatable because people don't necessarily know that it affects them.' For the record, for a family of four 200% of the federal poverty level is $62,400 a year. Bennett said such households would be devastated if they lost Medicaid benefits. 'I know folks who have four-plus kids. Because of what they make, all of their kids are on Medicaid,' she said. 'If that's taken away, there are no more doctor's appointments. There's no more dentist's appointments.' And, she said, those life-saving services shouldn't be axed to pad the pockets of the wealthy in an era of exploding income inequality. 'We should not be giving tax breaks to the wealthy when the poorest and most vulnerable of us cannot even afford health care,' Bennett said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Statehouse leaders appoint financial tech exec to teacher pension fund before influential vote
The entrance to the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System headquarters in Columbus. (Photo by Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio Statehouse Republican leaders have appointed a financial tech executive to the retired teachers' pension fund ahead of the vote for a new executive director. Lynn Beal has been appointed to STRS Ohio by House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon. Beal is the vice president and head of implementation and customer success at Upstart, an AI platform that 'partners with banks and credit unions to provide consumer loans,' according to her LinkedIn profile. Having previously working at JP Morgan, she specializes in data science, analytics and insights. Askedwhy he chose Beal, McColley said she presents what he wants to see in a board member. 'When we look into an awful lot of what's happening with any board, really, not just the pension boards, it's important for us to understand what's going on because oftentimes we're the insurer of last resort,' McColley said. 'We've got to know what's going on with all of this stuff, to understand the decisions that the board is making, and frankly, as I pointed out before, it's not easy to find people who want to do this, and so we're thankful that people are willing to step up.' This position has remained vacant since Claudia Herrington finished her term in the winter. The decision comes at a time when lawmakers are going back and forth with STRS board members. In emails obtained by News 5, McColley, Huffman, Gov. Mike DeWine and Treasurer Robert Sprague asked the board not to move forward yet on a new director. 'We respectfully request that the Board hold on scheduling the vote for the new executive director until the June 11-13, 2025 meetings,' the leaders said in a joint letter on May 8. 'This will ensure that the legislative leaders can make their appointment and that individuals can have time to become acclimated before further leadership decisions are made.' This comes after a year of controversy in which elected educators are accused of participating in a $65 billion corruption scheme. The board chair denies all allegations, and some retired educators are accusing the Statehouse Republicans of trying to stop transparency. The board did not select an executive director during its last meeting, but it may make a decision in its upcoming meeting in June. The finalists are Steven Toole, former head of the North Carolina Retirement Systems and Greg Samoryski, the head of Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds push back against bill prohibiting foreign nationals from buying property in Ohio
Hongmei Li speaking at a press conference in opposition to SB 88. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal) An Ohio Senate committee heard from opponents Tuesday of a measure placing restrictions on foreign ownership of land. The sponsors argue keeping foreign governments — particularly China — at least 25 miles from military installations and critical infrastructure is a matter of national security. But opponents contend the bill casts too broad a net, wrapping in ordinary people who have visas or are working their way through the immigration process. They add the bill violates several constitutional and statutory provisions. More to the point, they argue it would codify racism and xenophobia. The proposal finds its roots in a measure proposed during the last general assembly which found its way into the last state operating budget. Gov. Mike DeWine left a prohibition on foreign ownership of farmland to remain in place that budget cycle, but he vetoed the provision restricting ownership within 25 miles of military bases. 'Restricting ownership of Ohio farmland protects Ohio's rich agricultural tradition from adverse interests,' DeWine said in his veto message. 'However, including other non-agricultural real property in this provision could have unintended economic development consequences.' The sponsors of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88 are taking another crack at that idea, and they've expanded their scope to include 'critical infrastructure' like power, water, and transportation facilities. The list is broad enough, Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, acknowledged, to 'effectively blanket the entirety of the state of Ohio.' Under the bills, the Ohio Secretary of State would develop a list of entities barred from owning property in the state and update it at least every six months. For countries identified as 'foreign adversaries,' their government, citizens, and businesses would face ownership restrictions automatically. 'I introduced this bill,' Johnson said, 'because I strongly believe that Ohio's land should not be for sale to those who seek to destroy the American way of life.' He added that while his bill is very similar to the Ohio House version, he takes 'a hardline stance' against existing owners. Senate Bill 88 wouldn't just prohibit purchases in the future, it would require any current owners subject to the restrictions to sell their land within two years. But at the beginning of Tuesday's hearing, the committee adopted an amendment eliminating the forced-sale provisions in the bill. At a press conference Tuesday morning, state lawmakers and grassroots organizers criticized the legislation as 'a symbol for hate' and 'legalized discrimination.' 'These bills represent a step backwards into the darker history of racism in America, rather than progress toward justice and inclusion,' Hongmei Li from the Ohio Chinese American Council argued. She said the proposal hearkens back to legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted immigration and naturalization, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Li added the measure seems to violate the Fifth Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE What's more, she argued, 'there are multiple existing federal laws that already address legitimate threats without resorting to racial profiling and discrimination.' At Tuesday's committee hearing, more than 100 opponents showed up in person, filling the seats, lining the walls two rows deep, and spilling into the hallway. The committee had to organize an overflow room to accommodate the spectators. More than 230 people submitted testimony against the bill. Xu Lu, a college professor from Findlay and a U.S. citizen, acknowledged the bill would not target him directly, but he wanted to testify against it because it is 'simply a wrong bill.' He insisted the measure is unethical. 'Imagine somebody who risked their life, escaped North Korea and ended up in Ohio,' he offered. 'This bill will tell them they do not belong here.' Caixia Jin is also a U.S. citizen and explained she works for an automotive company assisting foreign workers through the visa and green card process. 'They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with American citizens,' Jin said. 'Many of them are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants themselves as well.' ACLU Chief Lobbyist Gary Daniels emphasized that a less restrictive law in Florida has already been placed on hold, and promised lawsuits would be filed quickly if lawmakers pass the bill. But he argued lawmakers shouldn't reject the proposal over litigation, they should abandon it 'because it is fundamentally wrong, it is profoundly unfair, and it is fueled by racial animus.' Daniels described reading hundreds of bills and attending thousands of hours of committee hearings. 'I struggle to come up with a bill that has so much hostility against race and nationality as this particular bill — not even close,' he said. Fourteen-year-old Melody Miao is an Oxford resident, and she'll be a junior in high school this fall. 'Ohio is the only place I've ever called home,' she told the committee. 'I grew up here, went to school here, learned the Pledge of Allegiance by heart, memorized the Bill of Rights, and watched fireworks every July 4,' Miao said. 'Still, I've lived my entire life, fearing that no matter how much I loved my country, I wasn't American enough.' 'I can't help but wonder,' she said, 'how are we so blind to the foundations of our nation crumbling right beneath our feet?' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Republican lawmakers plan to pass marijuana restrictions by end of June
The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio Republicans plan to pass recreational marijuana reform by the end of June. Both the House and Senate are working together to create restrictions, which have drawn criticism from legalized marijuana supporters around the state. Under the law passed by Ohio voters in November 2023, if you are 21 years old or older, you can smoke, vape, and ingest marijuana. Individually, you can grow six plants, but you can grow up to 12 plants per household if you live with others. Right now, Ohio House and Senate leaders are negotiating for multi-chamber-approved cannabis reform. 'Generally, trying to get to a place that more people support,' House Finance Chair Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said. The lawmakers are trying to combine two bills: Senate Bill 56 and House Bill 160. Both make dozens of changes to cannabis access, but most notably, S.B. 56 limits THC content and reduces home growing to six plants, while H.B. 160 limits THC and keeps home growing the same. Asked if Statehouse Republicans had come to an agreement yet, Stewart said 'stay tuned.' He added that he did like the House's substitute bill — one that addressed the 'desire in the caucus to have low-dose drinks.' 'I think that there are going to be some adjustments on the criminalization side that should hopefully address some of those concerns,' Stewart said. That answer depends on who you ask. Ohio Senate Republican leaders have continued to say that the voters knew they wanted legal weed — but the lawmakers claim that voters didn't know everything they were voting on. Stewart and House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, have echoed those claims. 'It's obviously a complex issue growing out of the '23 initiative and with the growth of the THC, hemp, and artificially created hemp products,' he said. Huffman said he wanted to deal with delta 8, low-level THC products sold in convenience stores with no age limits first, as his 'primary goal is regulating the sale of all these products, including getting them out of the stores where they're accessible to minors.' Ohio Democratic lawmakers, and some Republicans, disagree with Huffman, saying it's about control. 'We want to make sure that the will of voters is protected,' House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, said. 'We want to make sure that the use of that revenue is upheld.' Contact them. To find your district's legislators, click here. You will see a page where you can put in your address. From there, two people should pop up on the screen. If you click the lawmaker's icon, you will be directed to their page. From there, you will see a banner with different options. Click the one that says 'Contact.' Depending on your browser, you may need to click a 'More' option before 'Contact.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio continues to rank terribly among the states, from the economy to health care
The Ohio Statehouse. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.) Ohio continues to rank terribly in nearly every way possible, according to the latest state rankings from the U.S. News & World Report. The Buckeye State slid two more spots in the report's latest rankings of the 50 states, moving from No. 36 in the 2023 report to No. 38 in the latest iteration. In addition to ranking No. 38 overall, Ohio also ranks No. 41 in natural environment, No. 41 in higher education, No. 39 in economy, No. 34 in health care, No. 30 in crime and corrections, No. 30 in education overall, No. 30 in infrastructure, and No. 25 in fiscal stability. On only one metric, opportunity, does Ohio crack the top half of states, at No. 17. The U.S. News & World Report has been ranking the states since 2017, and Ohio has bounced around the bottom states in America that entire time. In 2017, we were No. 35. In 2018, we dropped to No. 40. The year of 2019 saw us roaring back to No. 39. After no rankings in 2020, we came in at No. 36 in 2021 and climbed mightily to No. 34 by 2023 before dropping back down to No. 36 last year and now No. 38 this year. Before anyone starts howling with indignation about how horribly unfair and biased the U.S. News & World Report must be, I'll note that the No. 1 ranked state for three years running is Utah — not exactly a bastion of crunchy liberal thinking. So no, these aren't politicized rankings: Ohio's elected leaders fully earned this pathetic spot for our state via their poisonous politics and terrible policies and priorities. Ohio politicians don't need to worry though. Ohio voters seem determined to give them all endless free passes to do whatever they want no matter how atrocious the outcomes or rampant the corruption. I assume their cushy careers will all be fine no matter how terribly Ohio does by every available metric, as long as they put the right party label next to their name on the ballot given whatever their geographic location. Actions don't matter. Outcomes don't matter. Rampant corruption doesn't matter. Only partisan politics matters. Right? Let's take a look at some of those outcomes. On the issue of crime, for corrections outcomes, Ohio ranks No. 46. On public safety, No. 22. Our incarceration and juvenile incarceration rates are both above the national average, but the violent crime rate is below the national average. On the economy, we rank No. 30 for business environment, No. 43 for employment, and No. 36 for growth. Our venture capital investment, migration from other states, and job growth numbers all fall below the national average. In education, our pre-K-12 ranks No. 15, while higher education ranks No. 41. Our student debt at graduation is higher than the national average, but so is our high school graduation rate and math scores. Back in 2010, Ohio was ranked by Education Week as having the 5th best public school system in the nation. We've fallen far, and state lawmakers are looking at abandoning the Fair School Funding Plan, so who knows what that will do. School districts are already struggling mightily, with Akron for instance looking at $44 million worth of cuts. Being No. 15 in K-12 right now isn't a point of pride or reason for optimism. On fiscal stability, Ohio's long-term outlook ranks No. 16, most likely because we have around $3.7 billion sitting in our rainy day fund. The short-term outlook isn't so hot though, ranking No. 40 among the states, with our liquidity still well below the national average. Health care is all pretty terrible for Ohio. We rank No. 40 in public health, No. 36 in health care access, and No. 28 in health care quality. Access to health care is set to take an enormous tumble if President Trump and Republicans in Congress pass the enormous Medicaid cuts they want. More than 1 in 4 Ohioans rely on Medicaid – including 40% of children, 20% of working-age adults, and 10% of seniors. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans stand to lose their health insurance under the Trump Republican cuts. Right now about 8.4% of Ohioans don't have health insurance. That number is poised to skyrocket under the Trump plan. Again though, please rest assured, in case you were worried, the wealthy and well-connected will continue to do fabulously well. In infrastructure, at No. 30 overall, Ohio ranks No. 15 in transportation, but comes in at No. 30 for internet access, and No. 32 for energy. On natural environment, we rank No. 24 on air and water quality, but No. 45 for pollution. As far as opportunity, Ohio is affordable, ranking No. 16. However, things get worse when it comes to equality, ranking No. 21. They fall off a cliff when it comes to economic opportunity, ranking at No. 38. These rankings don't capture some other things of note. For instance, 1.8 million Ohioans are food insecure. That's out of a population of 11.88 million, which means more than 15% of our population is regularly going hungry. Data from Feeding America shows 1 in 5 Ohio children live in homes that are food insecure. Ohio is also among the top eight states for worst infant mortality. Taken all-in-all, while there might not be much opportunity to improve your lot in Ohio, at least it's a vaguely affordable place to stagnate in poverty. We might have a lot of infant deaths, low incomes, hungry children and families, a lack of health care access, poor public health outcomes, horrible pollution, pathetic corrections, a bad employment situation, a bad energy situation, dim prospects for growth, worsening higher education, and disinvestment from public schools, but at least we have… middling prospects for long-term fiscal stability. Congratulations, Ohio. We're No. 38. We're No. 38. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
