Buckeye Institute Experts Weigh-In on Senate Veto Overrides

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 22 -- The Buckeye Institute issued the following news release:

The Buckeye Institute's experts commented on actions taken by the Ohio Senate regarding Governor John Kasich's vetoes in the state's biennial budget.

Medicaid Managed Care Sales Tax Replacement Plan

"We are pleased that the Ohio Senate did not override Governor Kasich's veto of the Medicaid managed care organization sales tax replacement plan and we hope it is not resurrected at a future point," said Greg R. Lawson, research fellow at The Buckeye Institute. "This is a difficult decision, given that county and local officials are clamoring for more taxpayer dollars, however, it is the right one. This is not the time to raise taxes on health insurance plans, but it is time for local governments to justify their local spending to local taxpayers."

Healthy Ohio Waiver

"It is disappointing that today the Senate did not act to join the House in overriding Governor Kasich's veto of the Healthy Ohio waiver," said Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive vice president at The Buckeye Institute and a nationally recognized expert in health care policy. "With Washington's failure to act on health care reform, the Healthy Ohio waiver would empower Medicaid recipients to obtain better care, put Ohio's Medicaid program on sounder financial footing, and ensure that needy Medicaid enrollees have to access to good medical care."

Hederman continued, "The Senate has until the end of the legislative session to reconsider and override the governor's veto of Healthy Ohio. In addition, the Ohio House also has until the end of the legislative session to override the governor's veto of the Medicaid expansion freeze, which the Senate could then act on. These two actions would further ensure that Medicaid is made sustainable and is focused on the truly needy."

Legislative Oversight of the Controlling Board

"The Senate acted wisely and deserves a round of applause for joining the House in restoring legislative oversight to the Controlling Board," said Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive vice president at The Buckeye Institute and a nationally recognized expert in health care policy. "The Senate's action guarantees that the full legislature will have the final say in approving major new spending programs and all the strings that come with them."