Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site.
Some of the entitlement lobbying groups that fought for the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in Ohio are spending tens of thousands of dollars to defend Republican incumbents in the state’s May 6 primary.
To keep new taxpayer money from Republican Governor John Kasich’s expansion of Medicaid flowing their direction, the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and other healthcare industry groups need to ensure that conservatives who might work to overturn the expansion are not elected.
Several of the Republican incumbents benefiting the most from Obamacare advocates’ campaign spending are listed below, with figures from yesterday’s pre-primary reports to the secretary of state rounded to the nearest dollar.
Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville)
Rep. Pelanda, who in 2012 told Ohioans it may be illegal for them to circulate anti-tax pledges, is being challenged in the 86th House District by Dan Fogt.
Pelanda reported campaign contributions including:
- Donations of $10,000 and $2,156 from Medicaid expansion supporter Virginia Ragan, her top contributor
- Donations of $2,500 and $1,000 from Ohio Health Care Association
- $2,000 from Ohio Nurses Association (ONA)
In addition to topping Pelanda’s donor list, Ragan was the largest donor to Rep. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), contributing $7,156 to Kunze’s campaign.
Kunze is challenged in the Ohio House 24th District primary by Pat Manley.
Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Twp.)
Rep. Sears has been far and away the most prominent advocate of Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion in the Ohio House GOP caucus. She is being challenged in the 47th House District by Scott Allegrini.
Sears reported contributions during the pre-primary period including:
- $4,500 from OHA — the second-largest donation she reported
- $2,500 from HCR Manor Care CEO Paul Ormond
- $2,000 from ONA
- $1,500 from Premier Health Partners CEO James Pancoast
- $1,500 from OhioHealth
- $1,000 from HCR Manor Care
- $1,000 from Ohio State Medical Association
- $1,000 from HCR Manor Care CFO Steven Cavanaugh
- $500 from Humana
- $500 from OHA President Michael Abrams
- $500 from Kettering Health Network CEO Fred Manchur
Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton)
Sen. Oelslager, one of union bosses’ favorite Ohio Republicans, faces Dennis Harbert in the primary for the Ohio Senate 29th District seat.
Oelslager reported contributions including:
- $9,500 from Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA), Local 11 of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
- $5,000 from Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199
- $3,000 from OHA
- $1,500 from ONA
Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville)
Rep. Rosenberger, widely considered a front-runner for speaker of the Ohio House when Bill Batchelder is term limited at the end of the year, faces a primary in the 91st House District from Barb Cole.
Rosenberger reported contributions including:
- $2,000 from Ohio Health Care Association
- $1,000 from Premier Health
- Donations of $1,000 and $500 from Ohio Provider Resource Association
- $1,000 from WellPoint
Sen. Shannon Jones (R-Springboro)
Sen. Jones is being challenged for the Republican nomination in Ohio Senate District 7 by conservative activist Kelly Kohls.
Jones reported contributions including:
- $3,000 from OHA — which tied for she second-largest contribution she reported — plus $2,671 of in-kind support from OHA
- Donations of $2,500 and $1,000 from Ohio Health Care Association
- $1,250 from UnitedHealth
In addition to directly funding Sen. Jones, Sen Oelslager, and others, OHA donated $10,000 plus $2,559 of in-kind support to the Republican Senate Campaign Committee.
OHA didn’t give anything to any Ohio Democratic Party accounts.