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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 ...

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 ...

East Palestine still waiting for fed help

Perhaps the federal government is concerned only with certain kinds of environmental and health disasters. Perhaps only politically expedient targets are worth the effort. Whatever the reason, help has been hard to come by in East Palestine, as nearly a year after the fiery Norfolk Southern derailment that shocked the community, there is still no federal disaster declaration and still no long-term health monitoring. Recall that Gov. Mike DeWine demanded such a program, and (at the time) Norfolk Southern promised there would be one. DeWine also asked President Joe Biden for a ...

Child’s death should be a stark reminder

Tragedy has struck again in Ohio, as the Ohio Department of Health announced Friday the first pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season — a 9-year-old girl from Clermont County. It is a sad reminder that age is not the only determining factor for when these viruses become deadly. In fact, Ohio generally reports one to six influenza-associated pediatric deaths per year, according to the ODH. “If you haven’t gotten a flu vaccine, now is a good time,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA. “We are in the heart of flu season, and a vaccine may help prevent you or your ...