 I am greatly honored to represent Ohio's 80th House District, covering Miami and southern Darke counties. If you are ever in Columbus, please feel free to call and schedule a visit at The People's Office of District 80.
Medicaid Oversight Changes and Reforms Pursued by the General Assembly
Like many Ohioans, I was deeply concerned by recent reports detailing alleged widespread fraud and abuse within Ohio’s Medicaid home healthcare program. Taxpayers deserve accountability, transparency, and confidence that public dollars are being used to help the people who truly need it — not exploited through fraud and waste.
For years, members of the Ohio House Republican Caucus have pushed for stronger oversight measures to protect the integrity of our Medicaid system. We have consistently advocated for increased transparency, stronger auditing procedures, and more robust fraud prevention efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly.
In the most recent operating budget, the Legislature included several important reforms aimed at improving oversight within the Department of Medicaid. These measures required additional reporting on fraud detection efforts, increased financial transparency and strengthened independent auditing procedures. These are important first steps, but the reports we are now seeing make it clear that additional action may be necessary.
Ohioans work hard for their tax dollars, and they deserve a government that treats every dollar with care and responsibility. Fraud such as this takes valuable resources away from the individuals and families who legitimately rely on these services.
I fully support continued efforts by the Auditor of State, Attorney General, and law enforcement officials to investigate these allegations and hold bad actors accountable. I am also committed to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to ensure Ohio has the tools necessary to prevent fraud before it happens and quickly identify abuse when it does occur.
If you suspect Medicaid fraud or abuse, I encourage you to report it directly to the Auditor of State’s office by calling 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).
Praying for Awakening Across Ohio and America
 People gathered for the National Day of Prayer across Ohio and the U.S., calling upon God to bless and awaken our nation. A great crowd gathered again this year at the First United Methodist Church in Greenville to pray. I was greatly encouraged to join them!
“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.” - George Washington, calling for the nation to pray, October 3, 1789
Getting Data Centers Right
Whether you oppose data centers or not, here are the facts. Americans demand data centers because we love our smartphones and AI. The U.S. must control the data centers because they are a national security key. We cannot allow China to control them. But they don’t all need to be built in Ohio! We are the fourth largest data center state, with just over 200 of them. They consume massive amounts of electricity and water, so we cannot force homeowners to carry the inflation caused by data centers. They must pay their own way. Ohio is a local control state, so it is local officials who make decisions about zoning and land use for data centers.
Additionally, the Legislature has formed a committee to study the impact of data centers on farmland, energy, and taxes, and consider the need for legislation to impose regulations. The committee will be made up of eight legislators, four from the Senate and four from the House; six Republicans and two Democrats. The committee will begin meeting on May 27.
Demanding Decency and Protecting Children
I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 249, also known as the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act. The bill aims to protect Ohio’s children, preserve family values, and update Ohio’s outdated obscenity laws.
House Bill 249 establishes important measures to protect children from being exposed to cabaret performances that are marketed to adults with adult themes, imagery, and performances. The ultimate goal is to protect children and families from sexualized performances taking place in public spaces while preserving the free speech rights of performers.
The Indecent Exposure Modernization Act creates the offense of “unlawful adult cabaret performance,” which prohibits a person, with knowledge of its character and content, from recklessly engaging in an adult cabaret performance in a location other than an adult cabaret. The bill underscores that an offense does not apply to a bona fide film, concert, or other artistic performance that is not obscene or not harmful to juveniles, or an adult cabaret performance in a private residence where no minors are present.
Under the bill, performing an “unlawful adult cabaret performance” is a first-degree misdemeanor or a fourth- or fifth-degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense.
The legislation also updates the offense of public indecency in the law to include exposure of a person’s “private area” rather than just the exposure of “private parts,” following a case in Xenia.
House Bill 249 awaits consideration in the Ohio Senate.
Working To Lower Property Taxes, Not Abolish Them
Many ask where I stand on this. I do not support the idea of abolishing property taxes. But I do believe in making reforms that lower them. Darke County Commissioner Matt Aultman and I were asked to join this CAUV event in Greenville to discuss what is being done to rein in skyrocketing taxes. Go here to see a summary of these reforms, a highlight of which is H.B. No. 186, which caps inside millage at the rate of inflation.
Most people understand that property taxes generate revenue that is kept local to fund schools, police, fire, and EMS services, as well as numerous other infrastructure needs. From Ohio’s earliest days to now, property taxes have been broadly accepted as the most sensible way to pay for local services.
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