Medicaid for mothers
Over the past decade, infant mortality rates in Lucas County and the rest of Ohio have remained heartbreakingly high, especially for African-Americans and poor families. Yet as they prepare to pass a new state budget, many lawmakers want to reduce support for expectant mothers who are Medicaid recipients. That shouldn’t happen. Infant mortality is a […]
Steinberg: Don’t bet on that casino
There is something garish about plaid suit jackets — a certain Nathan Detroit vibe, particularly if the pattern is on the loud side. I have a few such jackets, which though more tasteful than the “Guys and Dolls” wardrobe, I hope, hardly ever get worn. But my eye recently fell upon a subdued blue and […]
Group again highlights that GOP tax plan benefits wealthy
Policy Matters Ohio finds that the state’s wealthiest taxpayers would see the biggest benefit from the House-passed tax plan In what has becoming a recurring theme, state GOP leaders propose a tax plan, and an analysis by Policy Matters Ohio finds that the state’s wealthiest taxpayers would see the biggest benefit. Calling it a “gift […]
Messing up Medicaid
Gov. Kasich must stand up to state lawmakers who would undermine Ohio’s Medicaid program The House version of Ohio’s next budget includes one redeeming measure: It continues Gov. John Kasich’s highly successful Medicaid expansion, despite grumbling from Tea Party extremists who care more about rigid anti-government ideology than they do about results. Even so, the […]
Want a Steady Income? There’s an App for That
A Silicon Valley start-up wants to put workers on an even keel. This article originally appeared in the New York Times Magazine. Anand Giridharadas Heather Jacobs, a chain-spa masseuse in Simi Valley, Calif., never knows how much money is coming her way. When her spa charges $99 for a 55-minute massage, she makes $18. But […]
Report: House Plan Could Undermine Ohio’s Medicaid Expansion
A report from Policy Matters Ohio finds a proposal in the Ohio House could make it more difficult for low-income families to obtain and maintain health insurance coverage under Medicaid expansion. Photo credit: Alex E. Proismos/Flickr. COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new state budget proposal would undermine Ohio’s expansion of Medicaid, according to a new report […]
Huge bill from Medicaid feared
April 25–Enrollment in Medicaid under Ohio’s expanded eligibility requirements is growing much faster than expected, raising concerns about cost overruns that might impact taxpayers in the coming years when the state would be required to fund up to 10 percent of the cost of expansion. As of March, the number of Ohioans enrolled in expanded […]
Kasich’s ‘Ohio Model’ A Poor Model
Ohio Gov. John Kasich likes to brag these days that he’s produced a $2 billion surplus. He especially likes to make this claim to his dear friends at Fox News where he knows it’s always softball time. Yet no one quite knows what he did and he doesn’t have to explain how he supposedly resurrected […]
Low-income working families increasing: proliferation of low-wage jobs a reason
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The number of low-income working families has grown since the Great Recession, and their numbers are projected to increase — especially among minority groups, according to a recent report. There were 10.1 million low-income working families in 2009, the year the recession ended. (The recession officially began in December 2007 and ended […]
Utility ‘bailout’ cases reflect larger Ohio energy debate
As FirstEnergy awaits a decision on its proposed electric security plan after a similar proposal from American Electric Power (AEP) was rejected by regulators last month, broader themes about Ohio’s energy future are emerging in the debate. The plan recommended by FirstEnergy would have Ohio electricity consumers pay for operating costs of what critics deem […]
Governor Gets Support For Severance Tax Increase
Ohio Governor John Kasich’s plan to increase the severance tax is getting some support from an unlikely source Ohio Public Radio’s Andy Chow reports. “They understand the business community—they understand the value of the product and they also understand the needs in eastern Ohio.” That’s a rare statement from Wendy Patton of Policy Matters Ohio […]
Kasich should reconsider severance taxes because of low oil prices, trade group says
The oil and gas industry’s top trade group hopes the recent downturn in prices and activity spurs Ohio Gov. John Kasich to lessen his severance tax proposal. Kasich is expected to unveil his budget plan next week, and might give an idea of what his severance tax plan is at a conference this afternoon. Legislators […]