Pair of Republican candidates for 47th House seat argue on Medicaid expansion
4/10/2014In their first joint appearance, the two Republican candidates for the 47th House seat argued nearly opposite stances on the Medicaid expansion at a forum today sponsored by the Fallen Timber Republican Club.
With about two dozen spectators and other candidates looking on at Heartland of Browning near Waterville, Scott Allegrini of Sylvania panned the expansion of the government health care program for the poor as making more people dependent on government.
RELATED: 106,000 Ohioans enroll in expanded Medicaid
His opponent, incumbent state Rep. Barbara Sears of Monclova Township, said the expansion makes fiscal sense for Ohio.
Ms. Sears defended her support of the Medicaid expansion as one of her proudest accomplishments. She defended the program as largely privatized, saying 80 percent of Medicaid recipients are getting care through private plans, such as Paramount and others.
Mr. Allegrini attacked the educational standards known as Common Core. Ms. Sears said Common Core standards have been adopted in Ohio for math and English, but are voluntary for school boards.
Both said they would oppose legislative efforts to legalize gay marriage.
The two are on the ballot May 6 for the House district that includes most of western Lucas County and most of Fulton County.
No Democrat filed for the seat.
Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.