How many legislators were Larry Householder 'yes' men?
The people are not being represented
Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo, D- Upper Arlington, held a news conference asking why no legislation has been passed in the wake of the First Energy bribery scandal.
She only needs to look around to Republican legislators - how many of them were picked as "yes" men and then elected with funding from Householder?
They were brought on to support an agenda, and not as representatives of the people.
Gregory Bouton, Westerville
The future of Columbus housing
The Feb. 20 article “Why Columbus apartment rents rank among the fastest-rising in the nation,” highlights the urgency of addressing our city’s housing crisis, one that disproportionately impacts people of color and households earning lower incomes.
Columbus’ population is set to double in the coming decades and our economy continues to experience exponential growth.
However, it raises the question: during this period of rapid transformation and opportunity, how can we support new and existing residents?
More: Why Columbus apartment rents rank among the fastest-rising in the nation
Since 2021, I have championed legislation at city council to make the principle, Housing for All, a reality within Columbus.
While building housing supply to meet growing demand is important, so is enshrining tenant protections, like pay-to-stay and third-party payment legislation council passed last July, ensuring our most marginalized populations are not at risk of displacement, financial uncertainty, or housing insecurity.
As we grow, I implore residents to broaden their view of community and become more inclusive of new and unique housing to allow all of our residents to find a place they can call home.
If we don’t reckon with the current and future reality of housing, Columbus will not be affordable for anyone. That is unacceptable.
Shayla Favor, Columbus City Council, a candidate for Franklin County prosecutor
Takes charge of Medicaid
As advocates for the health and well-being of children across the state, the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its member pediatricians want to ensure Ohioans are aware of a concerning issue affecting families across our state: the unwinding of Medicaid benefits.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, as a condition of receiving enhanced federal funding, state Medicaid agencies continued Medicaid coverage for all members, even those who did not renew their eligibility or were no longer eligible.
The emergency officially ended in February 2023 and state Medicaid offices have resumed normal operations. As a result, an alarming number of families are no longer eligible or didn’t complete paperwork and have lost their Medicaid coverage.
There are important steps families must take to retain, regain, or obtain new coverage:
Review your coverage. Take time to review your Medicaid benefits and understand what services are covered for your children. Look for coverage changes after the emergency ended and note any new requirements or limitations.
Ensure contact information is current. It is critical to inform your Medicaid provider of any changes to your name, address and phone number - specifically changes that occurred during the emergency, March 2020 to February 2023.
Respond to requests for information. Check your mail and respond to renewal packets and requests for information from your County JFS. If you get a letter telling you to renew, or requesting information, respond immediately or risk losing coverage.
Check eligibility. Children may be eligible for coverage even if a parent is not. Through Healthy Start or CHIP, children (up to age 19) in families with income below the federal poverty level may be eligible.
If you are uncertain about the status of your Medicaid coverage, please contact your insurance provider today.
Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO, Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Statehouse filled with Larry Householder 'yes' men
