Dewine handing out funds he once opposed
Kissing babies on the campaign trail has pretty much fallen by the wayside, but handing out government funds still works.
Especially when it’s other people’s money that you didn’t want in the first place.
Like other states, Ohio has received a big influx of funding from the federal government to help blunt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now Gov. Mike Dewine is busy traveling Ohio touting large chunks of Washington’s largess — spending that the governor and other Republicans opposed.
Even more galling to Democrats who almost unanimously pushed for the aid to states, Dewine used a quintessential Statehouse photo op Monday — backed by flags and uniformed law enforcement officers — to say, “While Democrats work to defund the police, we’re investing $250 million in law enforcement and first responders.”
The proposal, which must be OK’D by the legislature, would award $175 million to help state and local law enforcement departments in preventing and solving crimes in communities that have experienced an increase in violence or have faced difficulties countering violence during the pandemic.
Another $75 million would support “the resilience and recovery of first-responder entities that have faced new challenges and stressors brought on by COVID-19.”
The following day, Dewine and Lt. Gov. Husted announced $109 million in new grants for 101 water infrastructure projects, part of the Ohio BUILDS program granting almost $250 million from federal COVID relief funds for 183 projects the governor’s office says affect every county in Ohio. (BUILDS stands for Broadband, Utilities, and Infrastructure for Local Development Success.)
Tuesday through Thursday, Dewine and members of his administration hit the road to visit several communities receiving a grant — although the governor’s stop at the Massillon wastewater treatment plant in northeastern Ohio might not have made the list of political hot spots.
The Democratic National Committee’s “war room” called out Dewine and two other GOP governors Wednesday for reaping the political reward when they and all Republicans in Congress opposed President Joe Biden’s stimulus funding earlier this year.
“As long as elected Republicans try to claim credit for funding they and every congressional Republican opposed, Democrats will be right here to hold them accountable and expose them as the hypocrites they really are,” the DNC said.
Dewine spokesman Dan Tierney said it would be irresponsible of the governor not to accept the federal money even though he opposed its allocation.
“Just letting the money go to California or New York is not an option,” Tierney said. “We have an opportunity to tell Ohioans what is being done with it, that it is being used in a responsible manner and for projects that can make a difference.”
Ohio’s Democratic race for governor is starting to get chippy
The competition between John
Cranley and Nan Whaley for the Democratic gubernatorial nod had been mostly a genteel match-up between two southwest Ohio mayors.
But in the past few days, Cincinnati Mayor Cranley started openly taking some shots at the Dayton mayor.
For example, after Whaley unveiled a plan Monday to lower the cost of Ohioans’ utility bills this winter, the Cranley camp poo-pooed the idea:
“Mayor Cranley issued a simple challenge: Fire the entire PUCO and make changes to permanently strengthen the voice of consumers. Mayor Whaley’s plan only works if the Cranley plan has been implemented, and it’s disappointing that yet again she seems to accept the corrupt status quo.’’
Then on Thursday, Cranley circulated a Dayton Daily News story that the city’s firefighters union had endorsed him in a “snub” of Whaley.
The newspaper reported, “Kraig Robinson, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 136, said Whaley has not appeared to make public safety a priority, allowing fire stations to remain closed even while the city receives massive federal stimulus money.”
Whaley’s campaign spokeswoman said the city allocated $11 million in federal funds just Wednesday to “address community health and crime through a new joint police-fire station with space for the community.”
Centene is the gift that keeps on giving for several states across the US
Since Centene Corp. agreed in June to pay Ohio $88 million to resolve accusations of Medicaid fraud by the healthcare giant’s pharmacy benefits manager, the St. Louis-based company has reached similar deals for millions more in payments to other states.
The latest came Monday when Centene agreed to pay Kansas $27.6 million, plus the costs of the state investigation. The Kansas allocation brought the total to $214 million slated for five states. More such payouts are expected in coming months.
When the precedent-setting Ohio agreement was struck with Attorney General Dave Yost, Centene noted that it had set aside $1.2 billion for future settlements.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the settlement for a PBM’S actions “is the first of its sort in Kansas, and other investigations continue.”
Tell Politifact your choice as the 2021 Lie of the Year: Biden? Trump? Tucker?
Each year, Politifact awards the Lie of the Year to “the most significant falsehood or exaggeration that worked to undermine an accurate narrative.”
The fact-checker is asking the public to weigh in with its selections. Just fill out the Google form and submit it.
It’s not an open-ended contest, however, so you can’t vote for your favorite Ohio politician. The nominees include two statements from President Joe Biden, two from former President Donald Trump, one from Fox commentator Tucker Carlson and a couple of anonymous statements about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Last year’s Lie of the Year went to claims that deny, downplay or disinform about COVID. drowland@dispatch.com @darreldrowland