GOP lawmakers in Ohio should change their focus

Ohio’s Republican Gov. John R. Kasich deserves credit for reining in the GOP-controlled General Assembly on politically explosive issues such as abortion, gun rights and the expansion of the Medicaid program.

Unfortunately, Kasich will be leaving office at the end of the year because of term limits, and his successor, Republican Mike DeWine, is seen as a champion of social conservatives who intend to flex their muscles in 2019. We would hope that DeWine, who has been around Ohio politics for a long time, fights the urge to take Ohio so far to the right that the current political divide grows even wider.

After the November general election in which Republicans maintained control of all administrative offices and the General Assembly, Ohio’s status as a Red State was confirmed. Democrats have little say about what’s going on in state government, which means extremist Republicans have the opportunity to set the policy agenda – if they are given free rein.

Kasich, who has drawn national attention because of his willingness to publicly criticize fellow Republicans, including President Donald Trump, has pushed back against policies that are designed to divide the state and nation.

Thus, last week the GOP-controlled Legislature was unable to advance proposals to restrict early abortions, expand gun owners’ rights and roll back expansion of the Medicaid program.

The threat of a veto by the governor resulted in a standoff in the Statehouse. But whether this is a permanent development or whether advocates of the extremist agenda are simply biding their time remains to be seen.

The most egregious of the big-ticket policy issues is the fetal heartbeat bill, which would be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

Despite the fact that the bill is constitutionally problematic, sponsors are determined to enact it. Fortunately, Kasich has said he would veto the measure, while opposition to it is picking up steam.

Some health-care providers oppose the bill, and abortion-rights groups have organized testimony in the Legislature by dozens of “abortion storytellers.” They have used their personal experiences to highlight potential negative impacts of the bill.

Right to choose

But Ohioans opposed to a women’s right to choose see a brighter future for the measure next year when DeWine, currently attorney general, takes office as governor.

DeWine, who has also served as lieutenant governor, U.S. senator and representative and state senator, said during the campaign he would sign the heartbeat bill if it came to his desk.

He told The Vindicator during his Editorial Board endorsement interview he is unwaveringly pro-life and believes the unborn must be protected.

The other politically explosive issue deals with Kasich’s decision to expand the Medicaid program to include Ohioans who are working but do not receive health-care coverage from their employers or cannot afford private coverage.

The success of the Medicaid expansion initiative vindicates the governor, who went against fellow Republicans in the General Assembly.

Early in his campaign for governor, DeWine opposed Medicaid expansion, but as the campaign progressed and he heard from enrollees, DeWine changed his mind and embraced the program.

The third issue that has Kasich locking horns with Republicans lawmakers is one the National Rifle Association is pushing. The proposal would give armed Ohioans the right to “stand your ground” in public places such as parks, roads or stores.

Kasich, who has developed a thoughtful, common-sense, necessary set of restrictions on gun access, is right in fighting attempts to make guns and gun-use even more liberal than they are now.

We repeat our appeal to the Ohio General Assembly to pass Kasich’s intiative, which would help prevent a repeat of recent mass shootings, including those in California and Nevada.

Republicans will continue to dominate the House and Senate, but they should remember an extremist legislative agenda will undermine Ohio’s push to lure high-tech companies and other major employers.