Speaking to Portage County Republicans Tuesday at their annual Lincoln Day Dinner, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said she wants people, including her two sons, to be able to achieve the American Dream.
But, she said, she feels some in Washington, D.C. "don't believe you deserve what you earn."
Taylor quoted Abraham Lincoln's view on success: "That some achieve great success is proof that all others can achieve great success as well."
She said one role of government is to not get in the way of that success, something the Kasich administration is trying to do through its Common Sense Initiative -- a review of state regulations to remove those that are impediments to business, and by cutting the tax burden for Ohioans.
Taylor, who lives in Green, served as state representative to the old 43rd District, which included a part of southwestern Portage, before she was elected state auditor.
Taylor said the state is still in recovery mode from the recession. She said 115,000 new jobs have been created since she and Kasich took office and the jobless rate is coming down.
"Ohio is headed in the right direction," she said.
Taylor also said the state's rainy day fund is replenishing. She said the fund is projected to have $2 billion in it by the end of this fiscal year. That will trigger an automatic tax benefit for every Ohio taxpayer, she said.
Taylor did caution listeners about the expected costs of implementing the Affordable Care Act, the new federal health care law known as Obamacare.
After months of the Kasich administration trying to have the law repealed, Taylor said state officials have decided to allow the federal government to run the health insurance exchange in Ohio required under the act. The state will keep its authority to regulate health plans in and out of the new online exchange, Taylor said.
Under the law, exchanges where consumers can buy private health insurance subsidized by the government can be run by either the states or the federal government or by a state-federal partnership.
Taylor said a report on health insurance premiums under the law predicts some plans could see increases of between 10 to 15 percent while some could go up to 150 percent.
Party chairman Janet Esposito presented two awards to volunteers. Mary Parson was given a Lifetime Award for her dedication to the county party for many years, and Marilyn Sessions was presented a plaque in honor of her volunteer service to the party's Victory Center during the past general election.
About 118 people attended the dinner at the Rusty Nail banquet center in Twin Lakes.
Contact this reporter at 330-298-1125 or msever@recordpub.com
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