Something called “gateway sexual activity” had been a hot topic around the Statehouse this week. Many lawmakers said an amendment, which would have prohibited sex educators from talking about masturbation, was in itself, out of touch with mainstream thinking. Ohio House Finance Chair Ron Amstutz said he himself has questions about the proposal. So lawmakers passed a plan to get rid of that controversial sex ed amendment -- at least for now.
Lawmakers added something to the budget bill as well. Legislators had already removed Gov. John Kasich’s proposed expansion of Medicaid from the budget. But Democrats, faith leaders, and business leaders lobbied hard to get that expansion back in the budget.
While lawmakers didn’t do that, they voted to add a new health care option. It would allow the state to seek a waiver from the federal government, study options for a few months and return with a new plan aimed at getting more insurance coverage for low income Ohioans this fall.
Republican State Representative Mike Dovilla said there’s a difference between health care and health insurance. And he said this further study could result in more poor people being able to buy private insurance.
DOVILLA: "The future of Medicaid in Ohio must not be a knee-jerk reaction to the whims of extremists or health care lobbyists. That’s why I remain committed working with my colleagues in the general assembly to evaluate all viable options for offering quality health care at sustainable costs to those most in need."
In the end, the Republican’s proposal to study health care options more passed with support from both parties. But Democrats, like House Minority Leader Armond Budish, made it clear that they would prefer a clear expansion of Medicaid to 275,000 more low income Ohioans -- the plan that Governor Kasich originally proposed.
BUDISH: "We had the opportunity to do the right thing today. Not to just kick the can down the road. Not empty promises, as this amendment proposes."
One controversial provision that stayed in the budget bill would re-prioritize federal funding for family planning. Backers of Planned Parenthood said it would essentially defund the organization’s federal dollars to provide contraceptive care. But they promised to continue to fight the move as the budget now heads to the senate.
There's more below from Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen on the fate of Kasich's tax plan.
