Why Does the Ohio Republican Party Fear Their Own Voters?

 

For Immediate Release

 

January 8, 2016

 

Contact: Diana Price

clevelandteaparty@gmail.com

 

 

Why Does the Ohio Republican Party Fear Their Own Voters?

 

Voters across the country are reaching record levels of frustration, mistrust, and outrage. They are tired of backroom establishment politics continually ignoring and thwarting the voice of the people. Yet today, the Ohio Republican Party (ORP) is choosing to stick a finger in the eye of the Ohio electorate.

 

The ORP is doubling down on shady politics that is sure to further divide voters, even more so than the establishment GOP already has. In a deliberate move attempting to ensure a predetermined outcome, the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee is voting to endorse a bottom tier candidate, Gov. John Kasich, instead of respecting the will of Ohio voters and allowing the primary process to take place.

The ORP, run by State Chairman Matt Borges, a hand-picked crony of Governor John Kasich who has already been convicted of improper use of public office, this underhanded stunt should come as no surprise," stated Ralph King, State Coordinator for Tea Party Patriots. "By voting to endorse in the GOP Primary process, the ORP only reinforces the perception across the U.S. that the voice of the voters no longer matters."

Instead of fearing their voters, the Republican State Central Committee should respect the primary process and act as a neutral unifier of Republican voters against the eventual Democrat nominee. Today the Ohio Republican Party shows establishment politics and political cronyism is more important than the voice of the people."

 

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Ohio primary bills and Photo ID Lobby Day info

Photo credit: oxlre.org

These just in from Ohio Tea Party Patriots via Marianne:

Ohio's Turf in Play There is a bill that just passed the House that would push our primary date back another week.  That would mean six more states would do their primaries before us, making Ohio less relevant in the process.   Also, Ohio is a winner take all state.  That means the candidate that received the most delegate votes, receives all the delegate votes, rather than the ones that actually voted for the candidate. Assuming Governor Kasich intends to run for President, if he received one more delegate vote than all the other candidates, he would receive all the delegate votes from Ohio. Why would our legislature want Ohio to be LESS relevant in an election cycle.  Could it be because Kasich is concerned about the lack of support he'll garner from his own state, especially since our state budget has expanded under his leadership?   Could it be because Kasich went against the will of the people and his legislature when expanding Medicaid, which is now 33% higher than projected? Could it be because Kasich continues to lie about Common Core and insult the parents of the children forced to deal with it, while he sends his girls to private school? If they should be changing anything, it should be the "winner takes all" rule.

It's About the Party Not the People Unfortunately, this battle over turf happens at every level, Federal, State and Local.  The role of the Party is to protect the Party and its turf, that is the only way to be successful in the party's agenda, whatever it may be. So how do we protect the people?  It starts at the local level. Become the Party.  Ask yourself: Who is my precinct rep in my county party? If you don't know, find out by calling your Central Committee Chair or your County Board of Elections.  If you don't have one, run for the office.  All you need is five valid signatures on your petition (always get more). Your precinct rep is your voice at the local level.  Know who they are or become one. If you need help, let CTPP  know.

Photo ID Lobby Day Just a reminder for this Wednesday's Photo ID Requirement Lobby Day: WHEN: Wednesday, April 29th: 10:00 a.m. - Attend press conference 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Meet with legislators WHERE: Ohio Statehouse Atrium (East Entrance) If you are unable to attend, please contact your state Representative and Senator and let them know that you support voter photo identification.  Ask them to show support and co-sponsor the legislation. Click here to contact your representative   Click here to contact your Senator # # #

Will Governor Kasich allow the Ohio Legislature to put Pay Increases in Front of Health Care & Education?

For Immediate Release

December 5, 2014

Contact: Marianne Gasiecki
State Co-Coordinator (OH) - Tea Party Patriots
(419) 961-4439

Pay Increases for Ohio 

Legislature Fast Tracked

Salaries More Important than Health Care and Education

Ohio - In a bold display of narcissism and selfishness, the Ohio House has fast tracked an amended substitute bill (Sub HB 661) through House Committee hearings in one day to give themselves a yearly "Cost of Living" increase. 

Meanwhile important bills such as the Health Care Compact (HB 227), which would put the destiny of Ohio's health care in the hands of its own citizens, and the bill to Repeal Common Core (HB 597) are pushed aside and allowed to sit idle.

From the time Sub HB 661 was introduced, the Ohio House has managed to pass this bill for their own salary increases through committee hearings and on the floor for a full vote - in less than one weeks time.

This is the same legislature that is reported to be cutting this legislative session short, leaving important bills, such as the previously mentioned, to die at the end of this session.

"Where is the outrage, when people who are paid with our taxes, can't find the time to address important legislation, but in less than a week, can pass their own pay increases?" asked Marianne Gasiecki, Tea Party Patriots State Co-coordinator.

"Since they were able to find time to give themselves pay increases," stated fellow Tea Party Patriots State Co-Coordinator Ralph King, "one would expect that in the spirit of good government, the Ohio legislature would remain in session and actually do their job."

We respectfully request that Governor Kasich take a stand for good government and Ohio citizens by calling on both Ohio legislative bodies to do the responsible thing and stay in session until both HB 227 and HB 597 have been given a full vote by both bodies, added both King and Gasiecki.

Governor Kasich - the Nation is watching!

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Ohio Tea Party Groups say "Well Being of Ohio Citizens Should Come First"

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Marianne Gasiecki
State Co-Coordinator (OH) - Tea Party Patriots
(419) 961-4439

July 17, 2014

American Citizens First Ohio Tea Party Groups say "Well Being of Ohio Citizens Should Come First"

Ohio - July 17, 2014 - Democrat and Republican Governors around the country are refusing to accept the social and financial burden created by this administration's open border philosophy. 

This is why, as Ohio State Coordinators for Tea Party Patriots, we gladly join in support of the over 30 Tea Party and Liberty groups from Ohio, in calling for Governor Kasich to stand strong and resist any attempts by the federal government to relocate the current influx of illegal immigrants, thereby creating a border crisis in Ohio. (Letter attached as PDF)

"Our education and healthcare systems, in all states, are already overburdened, and now taxpayers are being told they are to support the healthcare, education, care and feeding of illegal aliens, because our government refuses to put a stop to the migration, "stated Marianne Gasiecki, Founder of the Mansfield Tea Party and State Co-coordinator for Tea Party Patriots-Ohio. "Now they want to force their failure on the states. Perhaps President Obama should take a lesson from Prime Minister Netanyahu, and put the people of his own country before others."

"The constant claiming of the Democrats and President Obama that they support the middle class, the working poor, etc... rings hollow," said Ralph King, Founder of the Cleveland Tea Party Patriots and fellow State Co-coordinator. "With the Democrats and President Obama's refusal to take action by returning these illegal immigrants to their home countries, it is the same less fortunate American citizens they claim to support, that they will be hurting the most." 

"The failure of this Administration to do their job should not constitute an emergency on our part," continued King. "It is incumbent upon Governor Kasich to put the fiscal well being and social concerns of Ohio citizens first."

We call on all Ohio residents, who are against the relocation of illegal immigrants crossing our border into Ohio, to sign the citizens petition to Governor Kasich at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/say-no-to-federal-relocation-of-illegal-immigrants. 

Tea Party Patriots stands for every American, and is home to millions who have come together to pursue the American Dream and to keep that Dream alive for their children and grandchildren.

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Updates on Protests in Ohio against amnesty, illegal immigration, and the border surge

Photo credit: mysanantonio.com and Breitbart Texas

From the Mansfield Tea Party, following up on Ohio Tea Party and conservative patriots' opposition to the border surge:

We are witnessing a well planned and systematic invasion of our country, and must be vocal and visible in our opposition.

This week, over 30 Ohio tea party and liberty groups signed a letter to Governor Kasich, insisting he remain strong against proposals to dump illegals in the state of Ohio click here to read the letter. Information regarding this letter was also sent to state and national media outlets.

Additionally, as State Co-coordinators for Tea Party Patriots in Ohio, Ralph King and I issued a press release stating our support of the above mentioned letter (click here to read our statement).  This press release was also sent to state and national media outlets.

In working with other Tea Party Patriot State Coordinators, it is our intent that these letters and press releases will be used across the country in clearly stating American citizens' opposition to the influx and dumping of illegal aliens.

What You Can Do

Sign the Petition to Governor Kasich

Ohio residents are encouraged to join us and sign our petition to Governor Kasich telling him to stand strong and resist federal relocation of illegal aliens to Ohio here.  

Following is some of the language used in the petition:

"This petition concerns the illegal immigration crisis happening on our southern border, in which a massive influx of immigrants is seeking unauthorized entry to the United States. In addition to our outrage over the deliberate role the federal government is taking in this effort that violates our immigration laws, there are serious concerns regarding the government's attempts to relocate illegal aliens in states across the U.S., including Ohio..."

Please feel free to forward this information to others who are in opposition of illegal immigration and amnesty for people who continue to break our laws.

Be Visible in Your Opposition

From our friends at Ohio Citizens for Sensible Immigration:

Americans to protest in Chardon and Cleveland

to coincide with

National Day Of Protesting

Against Immigration Reform,

Amnesty, and Border Surge

Chardon, OH

At the intersection of 

Cherry Avenue & Center Street (RT.44)

Friday, July 18th 11:00am-1:00pm

 Google map here 

Cleveland / Garfield Hts., OH

At the I-480 & Turney Road Overpass (on the Overpass)

Saturday, July 19, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Google map here

Americans want our immigration laws enforced and our borders secured!  Amnesty is unacceptable.  Please join us this Friday with appropriate signs and/or flags!

For more protests taking place in Ohio, go here.

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Ohio Tea Party & Conservative Groups Tell Governor Kasich – “Stand Strong against Federal Relocation of Illegal Immigrants”

From our friends at the Ohio Grassroots Rally Team.....

Ohio Grassroots Rally Team

Arzella Melnyk / Coordinator grassrootsohio@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

July 16, 2014

Contact: Arzella Melnyk (440)256-1446

Tea Party & Conservative Groups Across Ohio Tell Governor Kasich –

“Stand Strong against Federal Relocation of Illegal Immigrants”

Lake County, Ohio – As the failure to secure our southern border has allowed thousands of illegal aliens to cross into the United States and the federal government is attempting to relocate them in various states, Tea Party & Conservative groups across Ohio are unified in their voices to stop Ohio from being one of the dumping grounds.

“As this crisis continues, we must speak out against the forced relocation of these illegal aliens by the federal government, stated Arzella Melnyk, of The Ohio Grassroots Rally Team. “Together with over 30 Tea Party and Conservative groups from across Ohio, we are asking Governor John Kasich to stand strong and resist any federal relocation attempts of these illegal immigrants within the borders of our state.” (Letter attached as PDF)

With the Administration requesting close to $4 billion to relocate and house these illegal immigrants, driving our country even deeper into debt, there is a growing chorus of American citizens from across the political spectrum who are starting to speak out and wonder “what about us?”

Americans can no longer afford to bear the social or fiscal burden of illegal immigration, caused by the failure of this Administration to protect us from the ill effects of illegal immigration. Governors of several other states are taking a stand against the relocation of these individuals into their state; we want Governor Kasich to take a stand for residents of Ohio.

*** Ohio residents are encouraged to join us and sign our petition to Governor Kasich telling him to stand strong and resist federal relocation of illegal aliens to Ohio at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/say-no-to-federal-relocation-of-illegal-immigrants

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Below is the letter being sent to Governor Kasich from Tea Party & Liberty groups from across Ohio.....

Ohio Grassroots Rally Team
Arzella Melnyk / Coordinator grassrootsohio@gmail.com

Governor John Kasich

Riffe Center, 30th Floor

77 South High Street

Columbus, OH 43215

RE: Illegal Immigrant Relocation / Ohio

Dear Governor Kasich,

This letter concerns the illegal immigration crisis happening on our southern border, in which a massive influx of immigrants is seeking unauthorized entry to the United States. In addition to our outrage over the deliberate role the federal government is taking in this effort that violates our immigration laws, there are serious concerns regarding the government’s attempts to relocate illegal aliens in states across the U.S., including Ohio.

With the federal government actively seeking locations across the country to accommodate this unprecedented overflow of illegal adult immigrants and unaccompanied minors, Ohio should not be allowed to be used as a dumping ground, nor should the residents of Ohio be forced to bear any part of the burden of the ongoing border crisis created by the current Administration in Washington D.C.

Besides the negative fiscal impact it will have on our state, it will create an even further strain on educational, health, safety, and other vital services provided by our state to Ohio residents. Illegal aliens are being admitted into the United States with contagions, and TSA has suspended photo i.d. requirements for illegals boarding commercial aircraft. Some of the illegals are criminals, belong to gangs, and have no legal relative in the United States. Ohioans should not be exposed to the health hazards and security risks posed by such aliens. 

Therefore, we the undersigned Tea Party & Liberty group coordinators from Ohio respectfully request that you exercise all Federal & State Constitutional power and authority afforded to you as Governor of this state, to vigorously resist any federal relocation attempts of these individuals within the borders of our state.

In closing, by standing strong against any federal relocation attempts, it will show by action, that you truly put legal Ohio residents first.

Regards,

Arzella Melnyk

Coordinator

Ohio Grassroots Rally Team

Marianne Gasiecki 

Founder

Mansfield Tea Party

State Co-Coordinator

Tea Party Patriots

Ralph King

Co-Founder

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

State Co-Coordinator

Tea Party Patriots

Julie Aldrich

President 

OH Citizens for Sensible Immigration 

John Muzik

Vice President 

OH Citizens for Sensible Immigration 

Amy Brighton

Co-Founder

Medina Tea Party Patriots

Kay Clymer

President/Organizer

Zanesville Patriots

Bob Connors

Director

We the People Ohio Valley

Susan Holzapfel

Coordinator

Women for Liberty

Jeff Malek 

Founder 

Medina County Conservative Coalition 

Diana Price

Co-Coordinator

Cleveland Tea Party Patriots

Claudia Leonard 

Director 

Ohio Fire Coalition 

Judith O'Hare

Leader

Marion Voices of Liberty

Steve Salvi 

Founder 

Ohio Jobs & Justice PAC 

Nelson Hack

Coordinator

Morrow County Tea Party

John McAvoy 

Founder 

Toledo Tea Party 

Warren Edstrom

Coordinator

Knox County 9-12

Ann Becker 

President 

Cincinnati Tea Party 

Tom Zawitsowski

Executive Director

Portage County TEA Party

George Brunemann

Leader 

Southwest Cincinnati Tea Party

Richard Hohn & Gary Blakeman

Founding Members

Southwest Ohio Patriots

Mike Snead 

President 

Greene County TEA Party 

Ralph Kraus

Founder / Coordinator

Firelands Patriots of Erie County

Beth Cox 

Coordinator 

Preble County Liberty Group 

Jim & Jennifer Hiles

Co-Founders

Hocking Hills Tea Party Patriots

Gary Young

Founder 

North Ridgeville Tea Party Patriots 

Steve Berecek

Leader

Northeast Ohio Freedom Alliance

Barry Momyer 

Chairman 

Eastern Ohio Concerned Citizens 

Wendy Sizemore

Coordinator

Pickway 9/12 Tea Party Group

Jim Green 

President 

North Central Ohio Conservatives 

Kelly Kohls

Chairman

Warren County Tea Party

Ed & Judy Zell

Co-Founders 

Hocking Hills Tea Party Patriots 

Bonnie Oleksa

Founder

Mansfield North Central Tea Party

Chuck White

Organizer

Steubenville For Liberty

Julie Prince
President
Conservative Warriors

Cody Ragle
Coordinator
The Coalition

Chuck Laughlin
Executive Director
Lake County Liberty Coalition

Kirsten Hill
Chairman
Totally Engaged Americans

Dan Offineer
Board Member
Knox County Patriots

Denise Whalen
Board of Directors
Hocking Hills Tea Party Patriots

John David Matthews
Coordinator
Ashtabula Tea Party Patriots

Call to Action: Stop the Ohio Republican Party's Backroom Deals

With the retirement of current Ohio Republican Party (ORP) Chairman Bob Bennett, this coming Friday the ORP will be electing a new chairman. The importance of this race is immeasurable as the new ORP Chairman will be the face and will set the course for the future of the Republican Party and the conservative cause in Ohio.

In the announcing of his retirement, Bennett, a known lover of backroom deals, has declared his support for current OPR Executive Director Matt Borges to be his successor as ORP Chairman. 

In a previous post regarding the mindless decision to elect Mr. Borges as the new ORP Chairman, we noted his troubled and checkered past as a former lobbyist for Equality Ohio - a gay rights group was noted. Also noted was his guilty plea to charges of "illegal use of public office" related to pay-to-play schemes (which have been expunged), while working in the State Treasurer's Office .  It has also been reported that Mr. Borges has some outstanding issues  with the I.R.S.

Although, as previously noted, Borges was a lobbyist for a gay rights group, this does not mean he supports gay rights (though he has refused to state his position on same-sex marriage).  However, it does show his willingness to push the agenda of anybody with the money to pay him or in this case make donations to the ORP.

The fact that Borges has plead guilty to pay-to-play type schemes shows, as ORP Chairman, he will be more beholden to donors with the largest checkbook and his lobbyist/consultant class friends, and NOT to the rank & file conservatives and grassroots groups across the state.

In a show of support for backroom deals over integrity, transparency and good government, all the GOP Statewide office holders, with blind party loyalty, have endorsed Bennett's hand picked successor, Matt Borges, for ORP Chairman.

Please contact the below GOP Statewide elected officials and request that they IMMEDIATELY rescind their endorsement of Mr. Borges as ORP Chairman, as their support of a person with such a checkered past is a direct reflection on them as a GOP office holder and as a future GOP candidate for reelection.

Statewide GOP Officials

(Twitter users - #orpbackroomdeals)

Governor John Kasich

PH#: (614)466-3555
Contact: Click Here
Twitter: @JohnKasich
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnRKasich

Lt. Governor Mary Taylor

PH#: (614)466-3555
Contact: Click Here 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryTaylorOH

Secretary of State Jon Husted

PH#: (614)466-0562
Contact: Click Here 
Twitter: @OhioSOSHusted
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohiososhusted

Attorney General Mike DeWine

PH#: (614)466-4986
Contact: Click Here
Twitter: @OhioAG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikeDeWine 

State Auditor Dave Yost

PH #: (614)466-3402
Contact: Click Here
Twitter: @OhioAuditor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.yost

State Treasurer Josh Mandel

PH#: (614)466-2160
Contact: Click Here
Twitter: @JoshMandelOhio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshMandel

More Obamacare Failures / Reason # 9,547 Not to Expand Medicaid in Ohio

In yet exposing another failure of Obamacare that was predicted, businesses are dropping health care coverage for employees. The reason - insurance premiums rising over the implementation of Obamacare!

During the forcing of Obamacare down the throats of Americans, President Obama and his talking heads were repeatedly saying Obamacare would not take away your employee health insurance. In fact, in cases with businesses with over 50 employees, employers would be penalized for not offering employee health insurance.

We countered with it would be cheaper for businesses to pay the fine for not offering coverage, and by design, premiums would rise under Obamacare, thus forcing businesses to drop coverage, ultimately forcing people into government run health insurance.

And they say we were crazy Tea Party people....

From Cincy Enquirer -- (Emphasis Added)

Businesses in Ohio made some of the deepest cuts in the nation to employee health insurance benefits during the past decade, according to a report released Thursday.

The State Health Access Data Assistance Center, an independent group that studies health care, found about 11 million American workers lost their employer-provided health insurance plans between 2000 and 2011. That’s a drop of 10 percentage points nationwide.

Ohio had the fourth biggest drop in the country, falling 13.7 percentage points.

Workers who kept their insurance saw premiums double in most states, with costs for single coverage increasing by about $2,500 a year in the state.

Analysts blame the decline in employer-provided insurance on a combination of economic turmoil, ever-increasing health care costs and uncertainty over President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, known by some as Obamacare. More....

Sadly, as more Obamacare programs are implemented and are showing to be failures, Governor Kasich wants to expand Medicaid under Obamacare in Ohio.

In spite of, and ignoring the fact that to date every aspect of Obamacare that has been implemented or is trying to be implemented has failed, Governor Kasich's arrogance has suppressed and clouded his judgement.

To protect Ohio from being infected and dragged down by the failures of Obamacare, we are asking that you contact the GOP members on the Ohio House Finance & Appropriations Committee and urge them to support provisions in Substitute HB 59, that remove Medicaid expansion in Ohio under Obamcare.

To contact the OH House Finance & Appropriations Committee click here.

OH Senate President Kieth Faber & Rep. Matt Huffman question Governor John "I Love Obamacare" Kasich's Medicaid Expansion

As Governor Kasich continues criss-crossing the state trying to sell his shameful, untruthful and morally bankrupt argument for expanding an unsustainable Medicaid expansion in Ohio under Obamacare, Ohio Senate President Kieth Faber and OH Rep Matt Huffman speak out on the perils of this fiscally irresponsible and financially unsustainable proposal.

While Faber & Huffman should be applauded for speaking out, the OH Representative from the Cleveland area who serves on the Finance Committee, Rep. Marlene Anielski (614)644-6041 (click here to email), is leaning towards Medicaid expansion and refuses to even return constituent phone calls.

From Lima Ohio.com --

LIMA — On the same day that two powerful state legislators — Senate President Keith Faber and state Rep. Matt Huffman — laid out a case why the state needs to move cautiously before accepting federal funds for Medicaid, Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in Ohio’s Appalachian foothills extolling his proposal to expand the coverage.

Such is the battle that continues to play out among fellow Republicans over Medicaid, a tug-of-war that is soon to come to a head. It pits lawmakers who are trying to rein in government spending against the leader of their party who is on a crusade to help the poor with money provided under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

The battle is becoming so intense that a core of Republicans spent part of last week’s “spring break” in Columbus trying to figure out a deal that would convince the governor to alter his push.

“Our colleagues in the General Assembly could design a better system to take care of the people we all care about,” Faber said Wednesday during a meeting at The Lima News.

Kasich, meanwhile, was in Jackson County arguing a much simpler case.

The governor told a Republican gathering that by accepting Obama’s expansion of the Medicaid program, $13 billion in taxpayer money would come back to Ohio from Washington over seven years.

“This is money that residents have already paid in federal taxes,” Kasich said.

Faber bristles at such talk. He said the plan Obama has put forth feels like an ultimatum more than anything, and said long-term funding of the program is troublesome at best.

“They essentially loaded the revolver and pointed it at the states, and said do this or else,” Faber said. “Nobody really believes this is free money from heaven. You’re essentially borrowing it from China and giving our kids the bill. And then the question is, how sustainable is it? Is it going to stay? You can’t back out of it.”

Without flexibility, the Celina Republican said, “It’s fraught with peril, no matter which way you go.”

Huffman said the problem is that government thinks in “small bites” of time instead of 10 to 20 years in the future. He compared the proposed Medicaid expansion to the funding problems of Social Security, noting it “appeared to be OK and financially affordable at the time, but here we’re looking back now 45 years later, and the whole thing is a disaster.”

Huffman doesn’t want to make another two-year decision that ultimately will be a bad decision over time.

“It’s gotta stop. At some point, the system is going to collapse,” the Lima state representative said.

Local effects

The Medicaid expansion would help individuals who earn up to 138 percent of federal poverty, roughly $15,000 annual income for an individual and $32,000 for a family of four. Many of these individuals who aren’t insured are likely working low-wage jobs without benefits. They may have to limit working because of a mental health condition that isn’t severe enough to qualify for disability.

For local businesses and organizations, the expansion would assist in a variety of ways.

For the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin counties, the expansion would help many of their clients by opening up their annual funds to programming beyond health care assistance.

“We’re very concerned for the overall health of our community. We are currently using resources to pay for some of these services. This [Medicaid expansion] would help us to restore some of our programming,” said Phil Atkins, associate director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. “Many of our clients need services that even expanded Medicaid won’t pay for. … It won’t pay for things like housing. It won’t pay for things like getting people ready for jobs.”

Without the expansion, the board has to be more selective in what they can do for community members. Sometimes that even means rationing health treatments for clients.

At Baton Rouge Health Services Community in Lima, the Medicaid expansion would help about 10 percent of its workforce who work part time without benefits.

“Given that we’ve already endured quite a bit of Medicaid cuts on the reimbursement side, I think having some sort of a relief from the health insurance coverage would really help skilled nursing facilities,” said Georgiana Saffle, president at Baton Rouge.

Leaders from both local hospitals, Lima Memorial Health System and St. Rita’s Medical Center, expressed support for the Medicaid expansion in newspaper columns they wrote for The Lima News in February.

“We are already caring for people regardless of their ability to pay as part of our mission to improve the health of our communities,” wrote Bob Baxter, CEO of St. Rita’s Health Partners. “Expanded Medicaid Eligibility would allow our charity funds to go further and more equitably spread the cost of care.”

Alternative ideas

While Faber and Huffman agreed health care coverage is needed in certain situations, such as those who suffer from mental health problems or those who don’t have benefits through their low-wage jobs, not everyone should necessarily be included within the 138 percent of poverty threshold.

They said the program may not have the best incentives for people.

“The system has to have incentives for people to improve their lives, and not simply service what they want at the moment,” Huffman said. “And when you do that, it’s painful to people. When you say you can’t get this, unless you’re job training, unless you’re getting your education, unless you’re drug-free.”

Huffman also discussed the possibility of larger medical organizations using other monies to care for the poor. Some GOP members, such as Barbara Sears, of Toledo, have also discussed using more state funds than federal funds.

Kasich says state funding is off the table.

“Some in the legislature think we can spend state of Ohio money and reject the federal money. … I won’t tolerate it,” Kasich told the Columbus Dispatch. “We’re not going to make you pay twice. … That’s not acceptable.”

The Kasich administration has been negotiating with the White House since November to use federal funds to pay for some people to buy private insurance.

During the governor’s State of the State address in Lima in February, Kasich told legislators, “Our economy is stronger, our credit is up, we’re doing the right things. … The Lord would not want us to ignore those who are now vulnerable. These are people who played by the rules. They’re hurting.”

The next part of the process is coming soon.

Mike Dittoe, a spokesman for House Speaker William G. Batchelder, told the Dispatch that the Republican caucus has not achieved a consensus on what to do about Medicaid, but expects a bill from the House in two weeks that would show “which direction we’re pointed.”

Medicaid Expansion is Wrong Way for Ohio

The below is from Marianne Gasiecki, Founder of the Mansfield Tea Party and Tea Party Patriots Co-State Coordinator for Ohio....

From the Columbus Dispatch --

Ohio Right to Life President Michael Gonidakis recently accused tea party leaders of being more interested in their own ideology than in the health of Ohio residents .

Jeff Malek, coordinator for the Wadsworth 9-12 Group, was quoted as saying, “Instead of trying to understand why so many conservatives reject the expansion of Medicaid in Ohio, Mr. Gonidakis falsely accuses the tea party of a sentiment that has never been expressed by anyone within the movement.”

Unlike Gonidakis, the tea party and other conservative organizations believe that life has value and should be treated with dignity and respect, something Medicaid cannot provide.

A recent report from the Government Accountability Office revealed that children on Medicaid receive worse care than children with no insurance. Mothers seeking specialty care for their children covered by Medicaid were denied appointments 66 percent of the time and dental appointments 64 percent of the time.

Medicaid patients with head and neck cancer are 50 percent more likely to die. Regarding other major surgical procedures, Medicaid patients have a longer length of stay, the highest hospital costs and the highest risk of death. How is that caring for our residents?

Gov. John Kasich stated he was using his lessons learned from the Good Book as justification for the expansion of this huge government program, urging lawmakers to examine their consciences and not let concerns about government spending trump this “moral imperative.” Debt is frowned upon in the Bible; in fact, it is considered to be a sin to incur debt without paying it back. Even our Founders frowned upon burdening future generations with our debt.

I'm also confident in saying that, when taking care of our fellow man, it doesn't mean providing inferior care, and yet that’s exactly what Gonidakis and Kasich are promoting.

Chris Long, president of the Ohio Christian Alliance, expressed a similar sentiment: “In my years of pastoring in the inner city, no one was denied medical care. In fact, the people that I pastored who were at or below the poverty line received excellent medical care with existing programs.”

Many conservative organizations, and governors, have offered free-market-based solutions to providing cost-effective, quality care to those in need. If caring for our fellow man is truly the objective, that is the direction our legislators should take us.

Marianne Gasiecki
Ohio State Co-Coordinator
Tea Party Patriots

OBAMACARE, THE SCOTUS DECISION, AND STATES' RIGHTS

It’s not over till it’s over. The 5-4 SCOTUS decision upholding Obamacare is prompting a wide range of reactions. According to Dov Fischer at American Thinker:

There is now a formal United States Supreme Court opinion on the books, overdue by nearly a century, holding that the federal government may not wield the Commerce Clause to impose on American citizens the obligation to buy health insurance or anything else we do not want. . . .

What is the point here? If the “federal government may not wield the Commerce Clause to impose on American citizens the obligation to buy health insurance or anything else we do not want,” under this ruling, they may instead wield the authority of Congress to impose a tax to coerce Americans to buy things they don’t want.

It’s actually worse than that. Andy McCarthy makes the case that

the Supreme Court decided that Americans have no right to due process. Indeed, the Court not only upheld a fraud perpetrated on the public — it became a willing participant. …

Chief Justice Roberts & Co. . . . said the American people are not entitled to an honest legislative process, one in which they can safely assume that when Congress intentionally uses words that have very different meanings and consequences — like tax and penalty — and when Congress adamantly insists that the foundation of legislation is one and not the other, the Court will honor, rather than rewrite, the legislative process. Meaning: if Congress was wrong, the resulting law will be struck down, and Congress will be told that, if it wants to pass the law, it has to do it honestly. . . .

Further, it shielded the political branches from accountability for raising taxes, knowing full well that, had Obama and the Democrats leveled with the public that ObamaCare entailed a huge tax hike, it would never have had the votes to pass. . . .

The ObamaCare mandate was enacted as a penalty flowing from Congress’s Commerce Clause power. It has been upheld as a tax flowing from Congress’s power to tax-and-spend under the General Welfare Clause. As the dissent sharply demonstrates, the contention that the mandate could have been enacted as a tax is frivolous.

State Governors, such as Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) are already stepping up to the plate by refusing to to “establish a federally mandated health care exchange in his state.” So has Democrat Governor John Lynch (New Hampshire). Media Trackers reports that Gov. John Kasich has announced that Ohio will not “create a health insurance exchange” with the federal government. It's an opportunity to call Kasich's office with words of solid support. PH (614) 466-3555 or e-mail him here.

Fischer further commented on the potential political consequences of the SCOTUS ruling:

Congress has a massive new mess awaiting it, all as voters prepare to vote for a new Congress and for 33 Unite States Senate seats, 23 now held by Democrats and their two “independent” allies. House Republicans solidly will vote symbolically to overturn the legislative monstrosity, and they will find endangered House Democrats breaking ranks with their leadership to vote with them. Senate Democrats facing reelection will be caught in a vise. Harry Reid will be trying desperately to prevent a vote on ObamaCare repeal from reaching the Senate floor, even as national news coverage focuses on the two national parties’ conventions.

Politico reports that "House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Thursday that the Republican-led House will vote on repealing the health care law soon after the July 4 recess.” It’s not too early to call the representatives from Ohio. Republican contact info is here.