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Editorial

Ohio’s public employees earn insurance reduction

Ohio’s public employers are doing an admirable job emphasizing workplace safety. Because of that effort, they will see a 3.9% rate reduction in workers’ compensation insurance premiums to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Low medical inflation costs can claim some of the credit, but Ohio’s counties, municipalities, public schools and other public taxing districts have seen declining injury claims, too. “Ohio’s employers continue to prioritize workplace safety,” said Gov. Mike DeWine. “These efforts are what allow us to continue to reduce rates and save employers ...

Ensure Medicaid is available to all

West Virginia’s Medicaid eligibility review has booted approximately 100,000 off the rolls so far. But according to a report by WDTV, many may remain eligible but did not respond to paperwork requests or may have a new address. Renate Pore, health care policy consultant for West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare, told WDTV that will mean fewer resources for some of our state’s most vulnerable residents. “The 100,000 people who no longer have Medicaid coverage,” Pore told the station, “may not even know they no longer have Medicaid coverage until they go to a doctor’s ...

With government let’s remember less is more

Though the Republican National Committee’s online platform summary does now contain not one, but two, references to “America’s greatness” and what “makes America great,” it is conspicuously lacking a tenet many political conservatives still hold dear: When it comes to government, less is more; and decisions should be made as locally as possible. Perhaps it is no surprise then that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s takeover of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District stinks of government power-grab and tyranny. According to a lawsuit filed by Disney, the DeSantis-controlled ...

Ohio’s rainy day fund should be used wisely

When a state manages to build a substantial rainy day fund, there are inevitably those who believe they know exactly how it should be spent ... rather than waiting for the aforementioned rainy day. Such is the case with an Ohio child welfare organization that is suggesting the rainy day fund and billions in other unused revenue should be used to help expand child programs and services. Certainly the data from which the Children’s Defense Fund Ohio has drawn its conclusions suggests there is work to be done. Too many children are at a disadvantage from the start, and face challenges ...

Legislators need to focus on priorities

At the start of the Ohio 2024 Legislative Session, lawmakers would do well to heed Gov. Mike DeWine’s thoughts on what should be prioritized and accomplished. Speaking with WCPO, DeWine appeared to hope lawmakers would move away from the distracting nonsense with which they’ve become obsessed and instead focus on doing real good for Ohioans — particularly when it comes to education, mental health and addiction. “Focus more and more on mental health this coming year ... kind of go back to John Kennedy 60 years ago,” DeWine said. “When he signed The Community Mental Health ...

Play it smart as we steer toward 2024

This message is one we feel obliged to repeat this time each year. There are some people across our country, across our state and across our own area who will awaken Monday with a brand new year in the offing helped along with a drink or more. There will be so much promise and anticipation for 2024. Many will celebrate and share good times Sunday evening with family and friends as midnight beckons the fleeting hands of 2023’s clock. They will sing —or slur — along to “Auld Lang Syne.” Even if they don’t know all of the words. Which, actually, most of us couldn’t recite ...