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Jul 31 2018

Ohio 12 On The Issues: Balderson Voting Record

As a state legislator since 2009, Republican Troy Balderson has cast a number of significant votes. Here is a look at some of the most important positions he has taken throughout his 10 year legislative career: Clean Energy
  • Balderson was the primary sponsor of legislation (SB310) that imposed a two-year freeze of Ohio’s renewable energy and energy efficiency standards, resulting in billions in lost investment and cost savings for consumers. [ASES. Ohio GOP Unveils Proposal To Freeze Renewable Energy Benchmarks. 4/3/14.] [Cleveland.com. Ohio legislature approves two-year freeze on renewable energy, energy efficiency standards. 5/28/14.][Center for American Progress. The Economic Fallout of the Freeze on Ohio’s Clean Energy Sector. 3/10/15.]
Guns
  • Balderson voted for Senate Bill 17, which made Ohio one of the handful of states that allow concealed firearms to be carried into places where liquor is served, including bars, sports arenas and nightclubs. [Ohio House of Representatives. Journal. p. 812. 6.15.11.] [Cleveland Plain Dealer. Guns in bars bill passes Ohio House, Senate concurs, Gov. John Kasich to sign it. 6.16.11.]
  • Balderson also voted for Senate Bill 199, which opened the door to the carry of concealed firearms in locations including daycare facilities and college campuses [Ohio Senate. Journal. p.2000. 12/8/16.][Cleveland.com. Gov. John Kasich signs bill to allow concealed carry at colleges, daycares, plus 16 other bills
Healthcare
  • Balderson voted for the Medicaid expansion freeze contained in Ohio’s two-year budget, blocking enrollment in Ohio’s highly-successful Medicaid expansion, which covers over 700,000 low-income Ohioans. The measure would effectively block re-enrollment as currently eligible individuals cycle off due to income and employment fluctuations and was estimated to result in a loss of coverage for 500,000 Ohioans. The measure was vetoed by Governor Kasich. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p. 1027. 6/28/17.][Cleveland Plain Dealer. [NBC4i. Kasich signs Ohio state budget, vetoes Medicaid freeze. 7/1/17.]
Labor
  • Balderson voted for Senate Bill 5, legislation that would have eliminated collective bargaining rights for public employees. The legislation would have exposed police, firefighters, teachers and nurses to unsafe working conditions by restricting the right of these employees’ to negotiate the type of equipment used and work assignments. The legislation also subjected public employees to an unfair, predetermined process for setting wages, made older workers vulnerable to layoffs without remedy and created punitive measures against public employees, including imprisonment and fines. The legislation was overturned by a citizen referendum in a major victory for organized labor. [Ohio House of Representatives. Journal. p. 405. 3/30/11.][CBS News. Ohio governor signs Senate Bill 5 into law. 3/31/11.][Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ohio voters overwhelmingly reject Issue 2, dealing a blow to Gov. John Kasich. 11/8/11.]
Local Communities
  • Balderson voted for a two-year state budget (House Bill 59) that cut funding for local first responders and other county and municipal services by $720 million compared to the prior two-year period. [Ohio Senate. Journal. 6/27/13. p. 1062.][Policy Matters Ohio. Ohio’s 2014-15 Budget. 10/3/13.]
Tax Fairness
  • With his vote for HB59 (above), Balderson supported the creation of a measure to exempt business income from the state income tax for owners of pass-through entities, a half-billion dollar annual giveaway with no evidence it would create jobs [Policy Matters Ohio. Ohio’s 2014-15 Budget. 10/3/13.] Since its creation, the tax break has been expanded and is now estimated to cost taxpayers $1.1 billion annually, with no evidence of job creation.
Voting Rights
  • Balderson voted for gerrymandered congressional maps (House Bill 319) that created 16 districts, 12 of which are drawn to favor Republicans in a state where the 2010 gubernatorial election was decided by a 2-point margin. These rigged maps produced the current 7-county 12th Congressional district Balderson is now seeking to represent. Prior to their inclusion in HB 319, the redrawn Congressional maps were drafted in a hotel room by legislative staffers in close coordination with Congressional Republicans. In one instance, lines were re-drawn to ensure a large corporate donor remained within the district of an incumbent Republican. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p1616. 9/21/11.][Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio Dems sue over GOP congressional maps. 9/29/11.][Canton Repository. Boehner’s team had role in creating Timken ‘peninsula. 12/12/11.]
Women’s Health
  • Balderson cosponsored and voted for legislation (House Bill 214) to criminalize abortion after a fetal Down Syndrome diagnosis. The legislation was quickly blocked by a federal judge as unconstitutional. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p. 1536. 12/13/17.][Cleveland.com. John Kasich signs Down syndrome abortion ban. 12/22/17.] [Cleveland.com. Federal judge blocks Ohio Down syndrome abortion ban. 3/14/18.]
  • Balderson voted for legislation (Senate Bill 28) that requires the burial or cremation of fetal material resulting from an abortion (but not miscarriages). Ohio would be the fifth state to pass this intrusive requirement; legislation in the other four states is tied up in court. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p. 1582. 1/17/18.][Columbus Dispatch. Ohio Senate passes bill requiring burial, cremation of aborted fetuses. 1/17/18.][ThinkProgress. Ohio Senate passed a bill that requires fetal tissue to be buried or cremated. 1/18/18.]
  • Balderson voted for legislation (SB145) that would outlaw the most common form of 2nd trimester abortion. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p. 1030. 6/28/17.][cleveland.com. Ohio bill would ban most abortions after 13 weeks. 5/4/17.]
  • Balderson voted to ban abortions after a detectable heartbeat (House Bill 493), which can occur as early as six weeks of gestation, before most women know they are pregnant. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p.1816. 12/6/16.][Washington Post. Ohio governor vetoes ‘heartbeat bill’ but signs another abortion restriction into law. 12/13/16.]

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: Special Election, Uncategorized

Jul 31 2018

Ohio 12 On The Issues: Guns

Ohio is the battleground for the nation’s next Special Election for Congress, and gun safety is on the ballot. On August 7, voters in seven Ohio counties will choose between two candidates with very different approaches to how and whether government can act to reduce gun violence.

In Their Own Words

Troy Balderson, Republican

“We have seen some unimaginable tragedies in our country caused by people who have no absolutely no regard for the law. I do not believe that banning or regulating guns from law-abiding citizens will do anything to end gun violence. We must address mental health and devote resources to identify and treat individuals with mental health problems. While I am supportive of arming teachers, that decision should be left up to individual school districts – not decided as blanket federal policy for the entire nation.” (Columbus Dispatch, July 27)
Troy Balderson

Danny O’Connor, Democrat

“I grew up in rural Ohio, and I appreciate the sportsmen tradition of our state. I support banning bump stocks, implement universal background checks, and an assault weapons ban. I have been given the recommendation of Moms Demand Action in this campaign.” (Columbus Dispatch, July 27)
Danny O’Connor

On Red Flag Laws

Balderson – “‘I would not take anybody’s guns’ he said, including those who, after obtaining a gun, are found to have a mental health issue. ‘If they’re licensed and lawfully allowed to have a gun, we can’t go confiscate it.'” (Columbus Dispatch, July 2) O’Connor – “‘Red flag’ laws, why don’t we have them? If someone who commits domestic violence wants a gun, they should be denied. Why don’t we have a ban on people on the no-fly list from owning firearms?” (Columbus Dispatch, July 2)

Voting Record

As a state lawmaker, Balderson has taken some key votes on gun legislation in the Ohio Senate. O’Connor, as Franklin County Recorder, does not have a voting record on the issue. Guns in Bars – In 2011, Balderson voted for Senate Bill 17, making Ohio one of the handful of states that allow concealed firearms to be carried into places where liquor is served, including bars, sports arenas and nightclubs. [Ohio House of Representatives. Journal. p. 812. 6.15.11.] [Cleveland Plain Dealer. Guns in bars bill passes Ohio House, Senate concurs, Gov. John Kasich to sign it. 6.16.11.] Guns in Daycares, College Campuses – In 2016, Balderson voted for Senate Bill 199, which opened up daycares and college campuses to the carrying of concealed weapons. [Ohio Senate. Journal. p.2000. 12/8/16.][Cleveland.com. John Kasich signs bill to allow concealed carry at colleges, daycares, plus 16 other bills. 12/19/16.]

Endorsements

Balderson – NRA, Buckeye Firearms Association O’Connor – Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, Giffords Courage
>> Return to our District 12 Special Election Resources Page

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: Gun Safety, Special Election · Tagged: #OH12, Congress, guns, OH-12

Jul 30 2018

Ohio 12 On The Issues: ECOT

The Ohio 12th Congressional District is not immune to the effects of the ECOT scandal. Plagued with allegations of improper campaign contributions, enrollment fraud, poor academic performance, and an outsized influence over state government – the now defunct school has become a pariah within the state. With voters in 7 counties headed to the polls on August 7th to elect their next representative to Congress, we put together a fact sheet about the impacts of the scandal on schools in the 12th district.

Key Facts

  • Overall, Ohio schools lost $590 million in funding to ECOT since 2012. In District 12, $105.8 million was diverted from traditional public schools to ECOT over the same period.
  • To make up for lost funding, schools in the 12th District were forced to raise $7.1 million in local property tax dollars to subsidize losses to ECOT since 2012.
  • GOP candidate for OH-12, Troy Balderson has taken $10,850 in campaign contributions from ECOT founder Bill Lager and ECOT lobbyists.
  • Danny O’Connor has not received campaign contributions from individuals related to ECOT.

District by District Funding Losses

Below are the amounts transferred to ECOT from traditional public school districts within Congressional District 12 in the six years beginning in 2012. Only districts with 10% or more of their area within the district are shown.
School District Six-Year Total
 LOUDONVILLE-PERRYSVILLE EX VILL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $290,498
 BIG WALNUT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $699,803
 COLONEL CRAWFORD LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $146,901
 BUCKEYE VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $755,548
 CARDINGTON-LINCOLN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $377,539
 CENTERBURG LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $234,120
 CLEAR FORK VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $322,874
 COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $62,897,188
 PICKERINGTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,893,354
 WALNUT TOWNSHIP LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $377,070
 DELAWARE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,235,565
 DUBLIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,034,643
 EAST MUSKINGUM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $408,464
 ELGIN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $153,210
 FRANKLIN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $548,100
 GAHANNA-JEFFERSON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,673,660
 GALION CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $976,680
 GRANVILLE EX VILL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $85,791
 HEATH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $580,128
 FREDERICKTOWN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $342,909
 MOUNT VERNON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,590,207
 HIGHLAND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $456,297
 HILLIARD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,691,660
 JOHNSTOWN-MONROE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $364,019
 LAKEWOOD LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $419,091
 LEXINGTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $643,067
 LICKING HEIGHTS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,896,324
 LICKING VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $177,765
 JONATHAN ALDER LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $376,032
 MADISON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,602,237
 MANSFIELD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $4,054,484
 MAYSVILLE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $241,282
 MORGAN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,250,852
 MOUNT GILEAD EX VILL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $402,196
 NEWARK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,862,686
 NORTH FORK LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $423,721
 NORTHERN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $455,142
 NORTHMOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $315,768
 NORTHRIDGE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $234,170
 OLENTANGY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $603,908
 TRI-VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $638,633
 PLAIN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $267,510
 PLEASANT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $150,513
 NOBLE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $242,395
 NEW LEXINGTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,102,135
 REYNOLDSBURG CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,220,537
 RIVER VALLEY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $295,346
 SOUTHWEST LICKING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,374,364
 WEST MUSKINGUM LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $409,038
 WESTERVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $3,997,740
 WORTHINGTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $2,176,859
 ZANESVILLE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,303,256
 ONTARIO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $389,266
 FAIRBANKS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $127,720
 MARYSVILLE EX VILL SCHOOL DISTRICT  $1,556,007

>> Read our Fact Sheet About ECOT’s Impact on Ohio’s 12th District

>> Return to our District 12 Special Election Resources Page

Written by Chase Brown · Categorized: ECOT, Special Election

Jul 23 2018

Ohio 12 On The Issues: Healthcare

Ohio is the battleground for the nation’s next Special Election for Congress, and healthcare is on the ballot. On August 7, voters in seven Ohio counties will choose between two candidates with very different approaches to healthcare issues. To make sense of what’s at stake, we put together a fact sheet to highlight the issues in play in Congress for residents of the 12th Congressional District.

Healthcare Facts

  • Since the ACA’s passage, the uninsured rate in District 12 has dropped from 9.2 to 4.1 percent.
  • 30 percent of the district’s 748,000 residents have some form of public healthcare, including
  • 9% of District 12 kids rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Nineteen percent of District 12 residents are on Medicaid, including many seniors and people with disabilities
  • 328,300 residents of District 12 have a pre-existing condition
>> Read our Fact Sheet About What’s At Stake

The Candidates

During the primary, Republican Troy Balderson claimed to have “fought Obamacare” and his campaign has stated that Balderson “wants to repeal and replace it in Congress.” Balderson, however, says he would like to see the requirement to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions preserved. As a State Senator, Balderson voted to freeze Medicaid expansion during state budget negotiations. The plan would prohibit new enrollment in the program and block re-enrollment as current enrollees cycle off due to income and employment fluctuations and was estimated could result in a loss of coverage for 500,000 Ohioans. The measure was vetoed by Governor Kasich. A major theme of Democrat Danny O’Connor‘s campaign is preserving access to affordable healthcare. O’Connor is running televised ads featuring his mother, a breast cancer survivor, noting that the experience led him to realize everyone–regardless of income–should have access to affordable healthcare. O’Connor supports the Affordable Care Act and says he wants to preserve the law. O’Connor says he favors so-called “common sense” reforms including “extending open enrollment periods during tax season, protecting those with pre-existing conditions and spending money to encourage younger and healthier people to get federally subsidized individual insurance plans.” He has also promised to take on pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Regarding healthcare for older Ohioans, O’Connor says he would not change the current retirement age for Medicare, while Balderson says he is open to raising the retirement age. >> View Our Healthcare Fact Sheet >> Return to our District 12 Special Election Resources Page  

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: Healthcare and Human Services, Special Election · Tagged: healthcare, Medicaid

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