Timeline: Ohio’s Obamacare Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid expansion was the biggest political issue in Ohio during 2013, as evidenced by the energy Governor John Kasich, the entitlement lobby, and the legacy press sank into securing billions in Obamacare funding. For an overview of how the policy fight played out, refer to Media Trackers interviews with Brian Thomas on Cincinnati’s 55KRC from June… Continue reading Timeline: Ohio’s Obamacare Medicaid Expansion

Ohio Supreme Court Leaves Kasich’s Obamacare Power Grab Unchecked

Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site. The Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision on December 20 denying a request from 6 Ohio House members and 2 Right to Life groups to block Governor John Kasich’s Obamacare Medicaid expansion end-run around the state legislature. “The relators fail in their quest because they have not adequately shown that the Controlling… Continue reading Ohio Supreme Court Leaves Kasich’s Obamacare Power Grab Unchecked

Day 1 of Ohio Medicaid Sign-Ups Tops Month 1 on Obamacare Exchange

More Ohioans applied for Medicaid on December 9 than selected Obamacare “Health Insurance Marketplace” plans through the entire month of October, based on figures released yesterday by the Ohio Department of Medicaid. “A total of 1,165 needy Ohioans had submitted applications for health benefits through the state’s new online Medicaid system as of midafternoon Monday, the… Continue reading Day 1 of Ohio Medicaid Sign-Ups Tops Month 1 on Obamacare Exchange

Gov. Kasich Spins, Stumbles Through Fox News Obamacare Segment

Governor John Kasich fumbled through a November 15 The O’Reilly Factor interview with guest host Laura Ingraham, frustrated by more thorough questioning about the Obamacare Medicaid expansion than any Ohio reporter has subjected him to. Introducing the segment with a clip of the president’s November 14 speech in Cleveland, Ingraham explained that President Obama “heaped praise… Continue reading Gov. Kasich Spins, Stumbles Through Fox News Obamacare Segment

Only 1,150 Ohioans Have Chosen Obamacare Plans

Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site. Only 1,150 Ohioans selected plans through the Obamacare “Health Insurance Marketplace” in the first month following its launch, according to a November 13 release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For context, Ohio Stadium in Columbus seats 102,329. There are more than 1,400 beds on the… Continue reading Only 1,150 Ohioans Have Chosen Obamacare Plans

Ohio Union Officers & Staff Take Millions from Workers

Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site. Ohio’s 100 highest-paid union officers and employees received a sum of more than $16.6 million last year. Excluding national unions headquartered in the state, 393 Ohioans were paid at least $100,000 using dues taken from workers. Of those 393 Ohioans, 50 were paid more than $150,000 and… Continue reading Ohio Union Officers & Staff Take Millions from Workers

Ohio House Committee Waters Down Municipal Tax Reform Bill

Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site. Municipal income tax reform legislation House Bill 5 (HB 5) was recently reintroduced in the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee, and the revised version has met sharp criticism from several large taxpayer advocacy groups. The latest iteration of the bill “substantially alters many of the provisions of HB… Continue reading Ohio House Committee Waters Down Municipal Tax Reform Bill

Obamacare Means Higher Insurance Costs for Middle-Aged Ohio Men

Cross-posted from the archived Media Trackers Ohio site. Middle-aged men will see even steeper health insurance premium hikes as a result of Obamacare than will middle-aged women and young men and women throughout Ohio, based on a comparison of current policies to Obamacare plans listed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In all 88 Ohio counties, Obamacare… Continue reading Obamacare Means Higher Insurance Costs for Middle-Aged Ohio Men