State Rep. Stephen Slesnick

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 27, 2013
Contact: Holly Nagle, Legislative Aide (614) 466-8030


State Rep. Stephen Slesnick Votes Against Budget that Denies Healthcare to Ohioans and Leaves Middle- Class Families Behind
275,000 Ohioans and 26,000 veterans continue to go without health coverage

COLUMBUS- The Ohio House of Representatives passed the state’s two year operating budget this afternoon, Sub. HB 59, without including the expansion of Medicaid-- despite widespread support from groups all across the political spectrum and the healthcare industry. Medicaid expansion would have provided healthcare coverage to more than 275,000 Ohioans, 26,000 veterans, and created an estimated 28,000 jobs in the healthcare field.

“Sub. HB 59 is rife with partisan politics and demonstrative of the House Majority’s utter disregard for the proper legislative process. It is so unfortunate that instead of electing to provide much needed healthcare coverage to thousands of Ohioans by expanding Medicaid, my colleagues who supported this bill today voted to forego $13 billion dollars in a political stand against Obamacare.

The last minute inclusion of significant policy changes dictating what should be private healthcare decisions between a woman and her doctor have no place in the state budget bill. I strongly oppose the passage of medically inaccurate language to mandate ultrasounds for the detection of a fetal heartbeat for women seeking abortions and to restrict women’s access to safe and legal healthcare by defunding Planned Parenthood and prohibiting clinics that provide abortions from obtaining emergency transfer agreements with hospitals.

Promises to address the unconstitutional school funding model fell flat, while charter schools benefit through increased vouchers and lowered educational standards. The new tax package unfairly advantages the wealthiest Ohioans, while the middle class, working poor, and senior citizens of our state are disproportionately burdened with the bill. This unequal impact is furthered by the GOP refusal to restore local government funding after historic cuts were made in their previous budget.

In sum, I voted against this budget because I believe it fails to address the needs of the constituents that I was elected to represent.”

Today's Windsor decision by SCOTUS is a historical ruling in the advancement of gay rights, and I am so pleased that legally married same-sex couples will now be afforded the equal rights that they so deserve.

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Rep. Slesnick continues to receive positive press regarding his proposal to remove the front license plate requirement:

1 license plate idea deserves support - MariettaTimes.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Ohio, Community... Local state representatives should approve a House proposal to remove the front license plate requirement from Ohio’s law books. State Reps.