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The State of Ohio

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Ohio's junior US Senator rises fast to join the Trump ticket as his running mate. As Republicans convene in Milwaukee, Democrats rally in Columbus. And demand continues to grow at Ohio's foodbanks. Studio guest is Joree Novotny, Executive Director for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

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00:00:39	Ohio's junior U.S.
00:00:40	senator rises
00:00:41	fast to join the Trump ticket
00:00:41	as his running mate.
00:00:44	As Republicans
00:00:44	convene in Milwaukee.
00:00:46	Democrats rally in Columbus,
00:00:48	and demand continues
00:00:48	to grow at Ohio's food banks.
00:00:51	That's this
00:00:51	weekend. The state of Ohio
00:01:12	Welcome to the state of Ohio.
00:01:14	I'm Karen Kasler.
00:01:15	The Republican
00:01:15	National Convention came
00:01:17	and went this week,
00:01:18	and an Ohioan is on the ticket
00:01:18	as a vice presidential
00:01:21	candidate for the first time
00:01:21	since 1944, 80 years ago, U.S.
00:01:26	Senator JD Vance, who's a year
00:01:28	and a half
00:01:28	into the only elected office
00:01:30	he's ever
00:01:30	held, was announced
00:01:30	by former President
00:01:32	Donald Trump
00:01:33	as his running mate on Trump's
00:01:33	social media platform.
00:01:36	That night, he was introduced
00:01:36	to the convention crowd
00:01:39	by Ohio's lieutenant governor,
00:01:39	John Houston.
00:01:42	Ohio is the heart of it all.
00:01:44	And that is certainly the case
00:01:44	once again here today.
00:01:48	The vice presidency
00:01:48	is an office of sacred trust.
00:01:53	The man who accepts
00:01:53	this nomination
00:01:55	accepts with it
00:01:55	the awesome responsibility
00:01:59	to give wise counsel
00:01:59	to the president
00:02:03	to represent America abroad.
00:02:06	To preside over the Senate
00:02:06	and to be ready
00:02:09	to lead our nation
00:02:09	at a moment's notice.
00:02:12	Such a man must have
00:02:15	an America
00:02:15	first attitude in his heart.
00:02:18	He must. Amen.
00:02:26	He must
00:02:27	embrace his obligation
00:02:27	to the American family.
00:02:31	The American worker
00:02:31	and the American soldier.
00:02:35	He must believe that America
00:02:35	is exceptional.
00:02:40	True.
00:02:47	And be prepared
00:02:48	in the tradition of our
00:02:48	founders, to pledge his life,
00:02:52	his fortune, his sacred honor,
00:02:52	to preserve, protect,
00:02:56	and defend the Constitution
00:02:56	of the United States.
00:03:06	He must share the values
00:03:06	and principles
00:03:09	of our presidential nominee,
00:03:09	and be trusted
00:03:12	to faithfully implement
00:03:12	the will of the people.
00:03:16	J.D. Vance is such a man.
00:03:18	Vance
00:03:18	spoke to the RNC on Wednesday
00:03:20	and promised to never forget
00:03:20	where he came from,
00:03:23	referencing growing up in
00:03:23	Middletown near Dayton.
00:03:26	Now, I pledge
00:03:26	to every American,
00:03:27	no matter your party.
00:03:29	I will give you everything
00:03:29	I have to serve you.
00:03:32	And to make this country
00:03:32	a place
00:03:34	where every dream you have for
00:03:34	yourself, your family
00:03:38	and your country
00:03:38	will be possible once again.
00:03:41	reactions from Ohio
00:03:41	Republicans to Vance
00:03:43	as Trump's VP
00:03:43	was predictably positive.
00:03:46	Governor Mike
00:03:47	DeWine was on the convention
00:03:47	floor after Vance spoke.
00:03:50	Look,
00:03:50	I think he he is consistent
00:03:53	with Trump's appeal
00:03:53	to working on women.
00:03:57	I think what the president
00:03:57	has done,
00:03:58	president
00:03:58	President Trump has done
00:04:00	great is to pick
00:04:00	someone who is younger,
00:04:03	which I think is good,
00:04:03	you know,
00:04:07	but also someone
00:04:07	who really shares his
00:04:09	desire to expand the base
00:04:09	of the Republican Party.
00:04:13	And so that's
00:04:14	that's always something
00:04:14	that we have a governor.
00:04:16	Bernie Marino,
00:04:17	who is running to unseat
00:04:17	incumbent Democrat
00:04:19	Sherrod Brown
00:04:19	and join Vance in the U.S.
00:04:21	Senate, said in a statement
00:04:21	that Vance was a, quote,
00:04:24	brilliant selection
00:04:24	and that, again, quoting J.D.
00:04:27	is a dynamic, visionary leader
00:04:27	who is the perfect messenger
00:04:30	for the America First agenda
00:04:30	alongside President Trump.
00:04:34	He will fight with President
00:04:34	Trump for our middle
00:04:35	class, secure our border,
00:04:35	and unleash American energy.
00:04:39	I am proud to call
00:04:39	JD a friend,
00:04:41	and I look forward
00:04:41	to working with him to fire
00:04:43	Joe Biden, Kamala
00:04:43	Harris and Sherrod Brown.
00:04:46	Ohio Chamber of Commerce
00:04:46	President Steve Stivers, a
00:04:48	Republican former congressman,
00:04:48	said Vance is a rising star.
00:04:52	Well, we're very excited
00:04:52	that there is an Ohioan
00:04:56	in the conversation.
00:04:58	You know,
00:04:58	the road to the white House
00:04:58	has gone through Ohio for,
00:05:03	you know, about 100 years.
00:05:05	And it looks like
00:05:05	it's going through
00:05:07	Ohio again this year,
00:05:07	which is, really exciting.
00:05:12	Vance becoming Trump's
00:05:13	running mate would have seemed
00:05:13	incredible in 2016,
00:05:16	when Vance called himself
00:05:16	a Never Trumper, said
00:05:19	he thought Trump was noxious
00:05:19	and worried in a text message
00:05:23	to a friend that Trump would
00:05:23	be, quote, America's Hitler.
00:05:26	But by 2021, the former
00:05:27	marine and venture capitalist
00:05:27	had fully changed his mind.
00:05:31	Vance
00:05:31	scrubbed his social media
00:05:33	of Trump criticism
00:05:33	and apologized to him,
00:05:35	eventually earning Trump's
00:05:35	endorsement in the seven way
00:05:38	Republican primary for U.S.
00:05:39	Senate in 2022.
00:05:41	And Vance has championed
00:05:42	the Trump stance on a variety
00:05:42	of issues, including the lie.
00:05:45	The 2020 election was stolen
00:05:45	from Trump.
00:06:00	They have supports Trump's
00:06:00	plan to impose tariffs on U.S.
00:06:03	trading partners,
00:06:03	including a dramatic increase
00:06:05	in tariffs
00:06:05	on Chinese products.
00:06:07	He wants a tax cut,
00:06:07	but it's also call
00:06:09	for increased taxes
00:06:09	on corporations.
00:06:11	Vance supports
00:06:11	Israel and Gaza and is opposed
00:06:14	aid to Ukraine.
00:06:16	Vance wants a finished
00:06:16	southern border wall and backs
00:06:19	mass deportations
00:06:19	of undocumented immigrants.
00:06:22	He opposes gun restrictions
00:06:23	and has supported
00:06:23	a national abortion ban,
00:06:26	as he did in a debate
00:06:26	in October 2022.
00:06:29	I think
00:06:29	it's totally reasonable to say
00:06:29	you cannot afford a baby,
00:06:33	especially
00:06:33	for elective reasons
00:06:35	after 15 weeks of gestation.
00:06:37	if Trump is elected
00:06:38	president, Vance will be 40
00:06:38	next month, will be the third
00:06:41	youngest vice
00:06:41	president in U.S.
00:06:43	history,
00:06:43	and DeWine
00:06:43	would appoint the person
00:06:45	who would serve out the rest
00:06:45	of his term until 2026,
00:06:49	two days before the Vance
00:06:49	pick was announced
00:06:52	and a few hours
00:06:52	before the assassination
00:06:54	attempt at the Trump
00:06:54	rally in Pennsylvania.
00:06:57	Ohio Democrats got together
00:06:58	for an executive committee
00:06:58	meeting, a state convention,
00:07:01	and then what was called
00:07:01	a family reunion.
00:07:03	But that event was marked
00:07:03	by the crisis of concerns
00:07:06	about what's happening
00:07:06	with the head of the family,
00:07:09	Several hundred attendees
00:07:09	in the concert venue
00:07:12	in downtown Columbus
00:07:12	heard from new Jersey
00:07:14	Senator Cory Booker,
00:07:15	Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
00:07:17	and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
00:07:19	locked in
00:07:19	what he's called his toughest
00:07:19	reelection campaign ever.
00:07:23	It was like a pep rally,
00:07:23	though.
00:07:24	A group of protesters
00:07:24	greeted party
00:07:26	faithful
00:07:26	as they were arriving.
00:07:28	Well, Petric is on the party's
00:07:28	state central committee
00:07:31	and says this group shows
00:07:31	people who want President
00:07:34	Biden to leave the race,
00:07:34	that they aren't alone.
00:07:37	there are so many Democrats
00:07:37	who can, you know,
00:07:43	tell a compelling message
00:07:43	about the future
00:07:45	of our country
00:07:46	and what we're fighting for
00:07:46	and what we want, but also,
00:07:49	tell a compelling message
00:07:49	about the choice.
00:07:52	Right?
00:07:52	But the the alternative, like
00:07:52	in that debate, president,
00:07:57	but President Biden
00:07:57	never mentioned project 2025.
00:08:01	you know, there wasn't like,
00:08:01	a clear narrative about what
00:08:06	a Maga future could look like
00:08:06	for our freedoms,
00:08:10	for our democracy,
00:08:13	for just people's lives.
00:08:16	And While most of those at
00:08:16	the event
00:08:17	were decked out
00:08:17	in Biden-Harris gear.
00:08:19	There were subtle references
00:08:21	to the uncertainty
00:08:21	about the top of the ticket.
00:08:23	we have a choice
00:08:23	in this moment.
00:08:26	We can worry
00:08:26	and we can wring our hands,
00:08:30	or we can have some real talk
00:08:30	as a family
00:08:32	and then get to work to defeat
00:08:32	a 34 time convicted felon
00:08:37	so we can.
00:08:45	We will be an abortion.
00:08:47	Trade unions destroy public
00:08:47	education as we know it.
00:08:50	And who will protect
00:08:50	billionaires
00:08:52	and his fellow criminals
00:08:53	at all costs while leaving
00:08:53	working people behind?
00:08:56	But Brown has been cagey
00:08:56	about Biden when questioned
00:08:59	by reporters,
00:08:59	including at this event.
00:09:02	In the back of the
00:09:03	very noisy room,
00:09:05	he was asked
00:09:05	if he planned to campaign
00:09:05	with Biden
00:09:07	and whether
00:09:07	the presidential race
00:09:09	has him concerned
00:09:09	about his own close contest
00:09:09	with Republican Bernie Marino.
00:09:13	I don't really think about
00:09:13	that.
00:09:14	I'm I'm focused on my focus
00:09:14	on doing my job
00:09:17	and focused on my race.
00:09:19	I know you're doing your job
00:09:19	right.
00:09:22	I do my job.
00:09:24	He's not a senator right now.
00:09:25	Farmer Chris Gibbs
00:09:25	is the former chair
00:09:27	of the Shelby County
00:09:27	Republican Party
00:09:29	and now heads
00:09:29	the Democratic Party. There.
00:09:31	This is what
00:09:31	the Democratic Party does,
00:09:34	as opposed to the Republicans
00:09:34	where there's only one voice,
00:09:37	okay, you're there in line
00:09:38	or you're out of the party,
00:09:38	you're vaporized.
00:09:41	But in the report, you're
00:09:41	in the Democratic Party.
00:09:43	It's like a tapestry.
00:09:44	It makes people stronger
00:09:44	that everybody gets a voice.
00:09:47	Not everybody gets their way,
00:09:47	but everybody gets a voice.
00:09:51	Ohio is no longer
00:09:51	considered a swing state
00:09:53	or a bellwether
00:09:53	in presidential races.
00:09:56	Ohio Democratic Party Chair
00:09:56	Liz Walters acknowledges
00:09:59	the party is focused on state
00:09:59	based candidates.
00:10:02	With Brown's reelection
00:10:02	as the top priority.
00:10:05	Hunger in Ohio has been
00:10:05	above the national average
00:10:08	for much of this year,
00:10:08	according to the U.S.
00:10:10	Census Bureau's Household
00:10:10	Pulse Survey on food Scarcity.
00:10:14	A year
00:10:14	after the end of Emergency
00:10:16	Supplemental Nutrition
00:10:16	Assistance Program,
00:10:18	or Snap benefits, some food
00:10:18	banks in Ohio are overwhelmed.
00:10:22	And with food prices
00:10:23	still high and gas
00:10:23	averaging over $3 a gallon.
00:10:26	Traffic at food banks
00:10:26	is steady and increasing.
00:10:29	This week
00:10:30	I talk about that
00:10:30	with the executive director
00:10:31	of the Ohio
00:10:31	Association of Food Banks.
00:10:34	So let's start with demand.
00:10:35	We have emergency snap
00:10:35	benefits ended in March.
00:10:38	Inflation is slowing.
00:10:38	Prices are still pretty high.
00:10:40	down. Unemployment is down.
00:10:40	They haven't been going
00:10:42	But a living wage in Ohio is
00:10:42	not what the minimum wage is.
00:10:48	And that minimum wage proposal
00:10:48	to raise
00:10:50	it won't be on this fall's
00:10:50	ballot.
00:10:51	Housing costs are up.
00:10:53	So what's been demand
00:10:54	like that
00:10:54	you've seen in the food banks?
00:10:56	You're absolutely right.
00:10:56	Pressure is mounting.
00:10:58	And those Snap emergency
00:10:59	allotments
00:10:59	ended March of 2023.
00:11:02	So we've had a little
00:11:02	over a year
00:11:04	without those snap emergency
00:11:04	allotments that were helping
00:11:06	put a really significant
00:11:06	and helpful Band-Aid
00:11:09	on what is now our
00:11:10	everyday experience
00:11:10	in our food pantry lines.
00:11:13	Before Covid 19 happened,
00:11:15	we were serving about
00:11:15	2 million food pantry visitors
00:11:18	a quarter,
00:11:19	and that was after
00:11:19	a very prolonged recovery
00:11:21	coming
00:11:21	out of the Great Recession.
00:11:23	So we had finally gotten
00:11:23	to a sort of new normal.
00:11:25	And now we're serving
00:11:25	3.6 to 3.8 million food
00:11:29	pantry visitors every quarter
00:11:29	we had before, a year ago
00:11:32	never hit more than 3
00:11:34	million food
00:11:34	pantry visits in a quarter.
00:11:36	And now we're approaching
00:11:36	4 million in a quarter.
00:11:39	And there are some food banks
00:11:40	and food pantries
00:11:40	that are having to expand
00:11:43	and get bigger
00:11:43	to reach all the demand.
00:11:46	Right? That's right.
00:11:47	We've really become a safety
00:11:47	net to the safety net.
00:11:50	The benefits
00:11:50	that are available
00:11:51	to families
00:11:51	with low and moderate incomes
00:11:53	aren't keeping up
00:11:53	with the cost of basic needs.
00:11:56	As you said,
00:11:57	household expenses
00:11:57	like housing, rent
00:11:59	and mortgage,
00:12:00	utilities, child care,
00:12:00	of course,
00:12:02	as we all know, is a crisis
00:12:02	facing many families.
00:12:04	Ohio is also an aging state,
00:12:06	so we have a lot of older
00:12:06	adults who were already going
00:12:08	to find themselves
00:12:08	with inadequate retirement
00:12:11	incomes
00:12:11	to support their basic needs,
00:12:13	and now, with the pressure
00:12:14	they're facing
00:12:14	on their expenses,
00:12:16	where else did
00:12:16	they have to turn?
00:12:17	So they're coming to us
00:12:17	really much more frequently.
00:12:20	That brings me to a question
00:12:20	about people in need
00:12:23	who would be accessing
00:12:23	food banks.
00:12:25	Can they access them?
00:12:27	I mean, our food banks
00:12:27	in the areas
00:12:28	where they need to be so
00:12:28	people can get to them easy.
00:12:32	there's a stigma surrounding
00:12:35	food bank usage in some areas,
00:12:35	I imagine.
00:12:37	Are food banks
00:12:38	really reaching the people
00:12:38	who really need them?
00:12:41	Oh, it's a big good, meaty
00:12:41	question
00:12:45	that I love to talk about
00:12:45	because,
00:12:47	you know, really,
00:12:47	before the pandemic struck,
00:12:49	we were on the cusp of coming
00:12:49	out of recovery,
00:12:52	where we were getting to think
00:12:53	big about how we could
00:12:53	not only prevent hunger today,
00:12:56	but prevent it upstream.
00:12:58	Right address, really root
00:12:58	causes of hunger and poverty
00:13:01	and income
00:13:01	and economic insecurity
00:13:04	and then here
00:13:04	we were with a major crisis.
00:13:06	And so we're trying
00:13:06	to keep our eyes on both
00:13:08	feeding the need today
00:13:08	and thinking about the future.
00:13:11	How do we stay resilient
00:13:11	as an accessible?
00:13:14	I think
00:13:14	one of the really positive
00:13:15	things that did come out of
00:13:15	the pandemic
00:13:17	is that people became much
00:13:17	more aware of our services,
00:13:21	and it did release
00:13:21	some of that stigma
00:13:24	that might have previously
00:13:24	existed for a lot of families.
00:13:26	I mean, we're still serving
00:13:28	many new families
00:13:28	that have not
00:13:29	had to come for us before
00:13:29	or have not in many years.
00:13:32	And, just to give you a sense
00:13:32	of the scope of our network,
00:13:36	we've got 12 regional
00:13:36	food banks that are large
00:13:38	multi-county warehouses
00:13:38	that not only provide access
00:13:42	to millions
00:13:42	of pounds of food every year,
00:13:43	but also an extensive array
00:13:43	of other services.
00:13:46	And they're doing so
00:13:46	in partnership with about 3600
00:13:50	different local hunger
00:13:50	relief agencies
00:13:52	across all 88 counties.
00:13:54	So, of course,
00:13:54	we're not perfect.
00:13:55	We would always like
00:13:55	to be there for every person.
00:13:58	but we're really committed
00:13:59	to trying
00:13:59	to drive equitable access
00:14:01	to food across
00:14:01	our communities,
00:14:03	and it's going to get tougher
00:14:03	and tougher here
00:14:05	because we've had a lot of
00:14:05	one time
00:14:07	help, both with our partners
00:14:08	at the state of Ohio,
00:14:09	as well as from our partners
00:14:09	at the USDA.
00:14:12	And right now,
00:14:12	without some urgent,
00:14:14	you know, some urgent change
00:14:15	and some urgent
00:14:15	policy decisions,
00:14:17	especially
00:14:17	with our federal partners
00:14:19	right now as they continue
00:14:19	to debate a farm bill.
00:14:22	we're
00:14:22	left without enough food.
00:14:25	And you've made
00:14:25	some changes to food banks
00:14:28	and food pantries,
00:14:28	for instance,
00:14:29	a lot of or some food pantries
00:14:29	look more like markets
00:14:33	where people can walk through
00:14:33	and select what they want.
00:14:36	You've also,
00:14:37	enabled the use of online
00:14:37	ordering and curbside pickup
00:14:41	for some families.
00:14:42	have you gotten
00:14:43	any while that's tried
00:14:43	to bring in people
00:14:45	who may not be able to access
00:14:45	food banks otherwise?
00:14:48	Has that also brought
00:14:48	in criticism
00:14:50	from people saying, hey, what?
00:14:51	Why, why are they allowed
00:14:51	to do this?
00:14:53	Why is this happening?
00:14:55	you know, I think that
00:14:55	everyone recognize that
00:14:58	largely we are all a paycheck
00:14:58	or two away from being
00:15:01	in the same position.
00:15:02	And I think that still,
00:15:04	in our very recent memory
00:15:04	coming out of the pandemic
00:15:07	that impacted so many of us
00:15:07	and our loved ones and,
00:15:10	that's, that's true
00:15:10	for every one of us.
00:15:12	almost
00:15:13	a majority of Americans can't,
00:15:15	pull enough
00:15:15	out of their savings
00:15:17	to respond
00:15:17	to a $400 emergency.
00:15:19	so I think there's a lot of,
00:15:19	if by grace.
00:15:25	There you go.
00:15:25	I, attitude
00:15:26	amongst our consumers,
00:15:26	and our neighbors and, no,
00:15:30	I think that largely Ohioans
00:15:31	are really generous
00:15:31	and caring,
00:15:33	and they believe
00:15:33	that everyone deserves access
00:15:36	to food
00:15:36	to meet their basic needs.
00:15:37	We can't think
00:15:37	about the future
00:15:39	and how we thrive
00:15:39	as communities and as a state.
00:15:41	If we don't make sure that
00:15:41	people are nourished and fed.
00:15:44	Speaking of access
00:15:45	to food in the summertime,
00:15:45	which is when kids
00:15:48	who normally would have school
00:15:48	breakfast,
00:15:51	free school breakfast,
00:15:51	free school lunch,
00:15:53	or reduced price
00:15:53	don't get that option.
00:15:55	This the summer food program.
00:15:57	It's in operation now
00:15:58	and there's been
00:15:58	some changes to it.
00:16:01	Yeah, we're really excited.
00:16:02	Honestly, the state of Ohio
00:16:03	and some of our elected
00:16:03	officials
00:16:05	have really set the precedent
00:16:05	for this and been working
00:16:07	for some exciting federal
00:16:07	changes for a long time.
00:16:09	This goes back
00:16:09	a couple of farm bills ago.
00:16:12	There were marker bills,
00:16:13	that Senator Brown
00:16:13	and then Senator Portman
00:16:16	advanced in several farm bills
00:16:16	that would have encouraged
00:16:19	modernization
00:16:19	of our summer food
00:16:20	service programs
00:16:21	and the programs
00:16:21	that are designed to provide
00:16:23	out of school
00:16:23	time meals to kids in need.
00:16:26	So finally,
00:16:27	now we have new, federal
00:16:27	policy, permanent in statute.
00:16:31	And one of those
00:16:31	exciting changes
00:16:32	is a permanent summer program.
00:16:35	So you might be familiar
00:16:35	with the pandemic EBT program
00:16:37	that was in place
00:16:38	as kids were at home
00:16:38	and unable
00:16:40	to learn in traditional school
00:16:40	buildings.
00:16:42	So this mirrors
00:16:42	the success of that program.
00:16:44	It gives families
00:16:44	an extra $120 per child
00:16:48	for the summer to help them
00:16:48	go and buy more groceries
00:16:50	while their kids
00:16:50	are out of school.
00:16:52	And in addition to that,
00:16:52	there's also expanded
00:16:54	permanent access
00:16:54	to non congregate feeding.
00:16:57	So our issue
00:16:57	with the traditional summer
00:17:00	food service
00:17:00	program has always been that
00:17:01	it only reaches about 1
00:17:01	in 10 eligible children,
00:17:04	and often children
00:17:04	in rural communities
00:17:07	aren't, as easily able
00:17:07	to get access to those meals.
00:17:10	So this program is designed
00:17:10	to help rural providers
00:17:14	in those areas,
00:17:15	say, let families
00:17:15	come and pick up a week's
00:17:17	worth of meals or deliver
00:17:17	a week's worth of meals.
00:17:19	So they only have to make one
00:17:19	touch with that family
00:17:22	each week during the summer,
00:17:23	instead of that child needing
00:17:23	to somehow get 20 miles
00:17:26	each way in a really rural
00:17:26	area to get a meal.
00:17:30	You referenced this earlier,
00:17:30	the farm bill.
00:17:32	The 2024 Federal Farm
00:17:32	bill seems to be stalled
00:17:35	in Congress right now.
00:17:36	You have concerns about it,
00:17:37	both for families
00:17:37	and for the food banks
00:17:40	that you run.
00:17:41	Absolutely.
00:17:42	We need really strong
00:17:42	bipartisan farm
00:17:45	bill priorities
00:17:45	included in this legislation.
00:17:48	We've been waiting on a farm
00:17:49	bill for, well,
00:17:49	it feels like a few years now.
00:17:53	we have a continuing
00:17:53	resolution in place right now,
00:17:56	which is holding us
00:17:56	in a status quo position.
00:17:59	and, you know,
00:17:59	we really lack
00:17:59	a lot of certainty about what
00:18:01	we'll be able to do
00:18:01	to continue to respond.
00:18:03	I just want to reiterate that
00:18:05	this is this is going to be
00:18:05	a prolonged recovery.
00:18:08	We've only begun
00:18:09	and we know that,
00:18:09	from our experience
00:18:12	coming out
00:18:12	of the Great Recession,
00:18:13	I think that there's years
00:18:13	ahead of us
00:18:15	to make sure that people
00:18:16	have their basic needs met
00:18:16	and can think about
00:18:19	kids going to school
00:18:19	and actually focusing
00:18:21	and learning and achieving,
00:18:23	workers being productive out
00:18:23	in our local economies,
00:18:26	and older adults
00:18:26	being able to age in place.
00:18:28	So that means we need a strong
00:18:28	Snap program.
00:18:31	to respond to giant gaps
00:18:31	The food banks are not built
00:18:35	in our federal nutrition
00:18:35	safety net, and unfortunately,
00:18:37	those gaps
00:18:37	are growing rapidly.
00:18:40	So we need strong Snap
00:18:40	benefits.
00:18:42	We need people to be able
00:18:42	to spend those benefits
00:18:44	in their local grocery stores.
00:18:46	We would always prefer that
00:18:47	than them
00:18:47	needing to come to our lines,
00:18:48	because that means
00:18:48	that they're spending
00:18:51	in their local economies
00:18:51	and generating revenue,
00:18:55	creating jobs, maintaining
00:18:55	jobs, and,
00:18:57	you know, being part
00:18:57	of their communities,
00:18:59	food access system.
00:19:01	The bill that passed,
00:19:01	that is now currently stalled,
00:19:04	it passed,
00:19:04	I believe the House Committee,
00:19:06	did not did not include
00:19:06	funding for the local Food
00:19:09	Purchase assistance program,
00:19:09	which would directly affect
00:19:11	food banks ability to access
00:19:11	food to make available.
00:19:15	Yes, we have had many.
00:19:17	So there's a
00:19:18	couple of federal programs
00:19:18	that provide access to foods
00:19:21	for food banks
00:19:21	to help respond to need.
00:19:23	One is the Emergency Food
00:19:23	Assistance Program, or TIF app
00:19:26	that's essentially a market
00:19:26	clearing program.
00:19:29	So when we see products
00:19:29	that are, available beyond
00:19:32	what the traditional
00:19:32	market can consume,
00:19:36	then the USDA is able
00:19:37	to secure those products
00:19:38	so they don't go to waste and
00:19:38	direct them to the food banks
00:19:40	that can get them to people
00:19:40	in need.
00:19:42	And in addition
00:19:42	to that program,
00:19:44	which again, is funded,
00:19:44	either at current levels
00:19:47	or the current proposal
00:19:47	in the appropriations
00:19:49	debates would actually reduce
00:19:49	funding for the food bank.
00:19:53	storage and distribution,
00:19:55	the the funds that go into
00:19:55	putting fuel in the trucks,
00:19:58	making sure the coolers
00:19:58	stay on.
00:20:00	and so that's functionally
00:20:00	a cut for us
00:20:03	because all of the food costs
00:20:05	more right now,
00:20:05	all of the inputs,
00:20:07	all of the labor
00:20:07	costs, etc., cost more.
00:20:09	And yes, the local food
00:20:09	purchase assistance program,
00:20:12	we call it
00:20:12	Ohio can here in Ohio.
00:20:15	We couldn't tell you.
00:20:16	We couldn't begin to tell you
00:20:17	how proud we are
00:20:17	of this program.
00:20:19	the USDA launched the program
00:20:19	a couple of years ago,
00:20:22	and in just a couple of years,
00:20:23	we launched a network of over
00:20:23	170 local growers, farmers
00:20:27	and producers and suppliers
00:20:29	who have their new
00:20:29	and emerging.
00:20:31	They might be Bipoc,
00:20:31	women owned,
00:20:33	family farms, veteran owned,
00:20:33	and their excited
00:20:36	about being able
00:20:36	to stay in farming.
00:20:38	It's a really difficult
00:20:40	job to be in,
00:20:40	and we need our local farmers
00:20:42	to have resilient food
00:20:42	supply chains
00:20:44	so that we have a food
00:20:44	secure state and country.
00:20:47	And right now
00:20:47	it doesn't have permanent
00:20:49	funding,
00:20:49	funding authorization.
00:20:50	So we definitely
00:20:50	have our eyes on
00:20:52	we need a permanent solution,
00:20:52	a permanent fix,
00:20:55	or else will be coming up
00:20:55	on a growing season
00:20:57	just in six months or so.
00:20:58	And farmers
00:20:58	start planning for their crops
00:21:00	and what those, outlooks
00:21:00	look like in those forecasts.
00:21:03	They need certainty.
00:21:04	And that's a big priority
00:21:04	for us.
00:21:06	There is a September
00:21:06	30th deadline
00:21:07	for the farm bill to pass.
00:21:09	There are certain programs
00:21:09	that would end
00:21:11	and other things that go into
00:21:13	because the farm bill
00:21:13	is a huge, sweeping document.
00:21:16	What if there is no resolution
00:21:16	by September 30th?
00:21:18	It's an election year.
00:21:18	That's a possibility.
00:21:21	That's right.
00:21:21	Likely
00:21:21	what's most likely to happen
00:21:23	is that they'll come together
00:21:25	and pass a status quo
00:21:25	continuing resolution.
00:21:28	as we've seen in many of the
00:21:30	at the same time,
00:21:31	we'll have government
00:21:31	shutdown threats
00:21:33	that might be approaching
00:21:33	because we have appropriations
00:21:35	debates that had to kick off
00:21:37	for fiscal year 25.
00:21:37	As soon as we finally got
00:21:40	through
00:21:40	fiscal year 24 debates.
00:21:41	So there's going to be
00:21:41	a lot of tenuous,
00:21:43	discussions across the aisle
00:21:43	and across the chambers,
00:21:46	in Congress around
00:21:46	how to advance,
00:21:49	whatever, short
00:21:49	term temporary funding model
00:21:53	looks like for our,
00:21:54	our farm and nutrition
00:21:54	programs,
00:21:56	as well as our other federal
00:21:56	budget priorities.
00:21:58	I want to ask you about
00:21:58	a couple of other things,
00:22:00	because you're part of the,
00:22:01	Ohio
00:22:01	Benefits Bank
00:22:02	that helps people in
00:22:02	need access
00:22:04	all sorts
00:22:04	of different programs.
00:22:06	for instance, Medicaid.
00:22:07	the there was a new process.
00:22:10	People who were getting
00:22:10	Medicaid benefits
00:22:12	during the pandemic
00:22:12	had to requalify
00:22:14	for those benefits,
00:22:15	and that has resulted
00:22:15	in 459,000 fewer people
00:22:19	on the Medicaid rolls now
00:22:19	than compared to a year ago.
00:22:22	what's been the effect of that
00:22:22	on the populations
00:22:26	that you serve?
00:22:28	Great question.
00:22:28	Well,
00:22:28	we don't have, population
00:22:30	specific data yet
00:22:30	to really know with certainty
00:22:33	what's going on
00:22:33	in the Medicaid caseload.
00:22:35	I have to say that we are
00:22:37	encouraged in some ways,
00:22:37	because we know we've seen
00:22:39	that about 183,000
00:22:39	new Ohioans enrolled in,
00:22:44	affordable
00:22:44	health care plans through
00:22:46	the federal marketplace
00:22:46	in 2024 compared to 2023.
00:22:50	So that's encouraging.
00:22:51	It may be that that at least
00:22:51	that portion
00:22:53	of the Medicaid caseload
00:22:55	was, in fact, no longer
00:22:55	eligible for Medicaid
00:22:57	because they had attained,
00:22:57	increased
00:22:59	employment, increased wages,
00:22:59	and now they've been connected
00:23:02	with affordable coverage
00:23:02	from the federal marketplace.
00:23:05	but with that said,
00:23:05	of course,
00:23:07	we're we're most concerned
00:23:07	about vulnerable people
00:23:09	with low incomes that,
00:23:09	maybe in a transient situation
00:23:13	may not have known how
00:23:13	to push the right paperwork
00:23:16	and might have fallen
00:23:16	through the cracks.
00:23:18	And really,
00:23:19	we never want to see anyone
00:23:19	go uninsured
00:23:21	because we all pay
00:23:21	the price of that.
00:23:23	whether you're insured
00:23:23	through employer
00:23:24	provided coverage,
00:23:24	marketplace coverage,
00:23:27	Medicaid coverage, Medicare,
00:23:27	you name it,
00:23:29	we're all ultimately paying
00:23:29	for the same costs together.
00:23:32	shopping for
00:23:32	and utilizing health care.
00:23:34	So we really need to make sure
00:23:34	that people
00:23:36	have access to coverage
00:23:36	so they can get their
00:23:38	health needs treated
00:23:38	when when they need them.
00:23:41	It's been acknowledged
00:23:41	by elected officials, business
00:23:43	leaders and advocates in Ohio
00:23:43	that there is a crisis
00:23:46	in both affordable childcare
00:23:46	and affordable housing.
00:23:50	Is there any hope that there's
00:23:50	going to be relief
00:23:53	in either of those areas
00:23:53	from the legislature,
00:23:55	from the federal government,
00:23:55	anywhere?
00:23:58	I can't
00:23:58	pretend to be an expert,
00:23:59	but we are in coalition
00:23:59	with a broad based
00:24:01	health and human services
00:24:01	coalition
00:24:03	called advocates
00:24:03	for Ohio's Future.
00:24:04	So I'm in regular conversation
00:24:06	with partners
00:24:06	working in those areas.
00:24:08	And of course, we know that
00:24:09	every Ohioan is a whole person
00:24:11	who cares about
00:24:11	putting food on the table,
00:24:13	but also about going to work
00:24:13	and having their child
00:24:15	cared for
00:24:15	in a safe environment,
00:24:17	about affording the roof
00:24:19	over their head
00:24:19	and the utility bills.
00:24:21	So we're always
00:24:21	in conversation
00:24:22	and every kind of policy
00:24:22	solution
00:24:24	that needs to be advanced
00:24:25	ultimately impacts
00:24:25	food security as well.
00:24:28	I'm encouraged, of course,
00:24:28	that there's a recognition
00:24:31	that this is a broad
00:24:31	and deeply embedded
00:24:33	issue that we need to address.
00:24:35	And I also think we have to
00:24:35	have our eyes open about
00:24:37	there's always going to be
00:24:37	unintended consequences
00:24:40	of any good or bad
00:24:40	policy decision.
00:24:42	You know,
00:24:42	when we talk about tax policy,
00:24:44	if we're going to cut
00:24:45	income taxes for some folks
00:24:45	and then local governments
00:24:48	need to fund those services
00:24:48	instead
00:24:50	with increased property taxes.
00:24:52	Now we're looking
00:24:53	at greater pressure
00:24:53	on older adults
00:24:54	that can't afford
00:24:54	those property taxes.
00:24:56	If we provide relief,
00:24:56	which they deserve,
00:24:58	then how do we fund
00:24:58	those local services
00:25:00	that people need access to?
00:25:02	So, you know,
00:25:02	I don't pretend that
00:25:03	it's not complex
00:25:03	and challenging.
00:25:05	I think if we, together,
00:25:05	along with partners
00:25:08	in the General
00:25:08	Assembly Center, people
00:25:08	and their needs
00:25:10	and their needs
00:25:11	to stay in their homes
00:25:11	and be able to thrive
00:25:13	in their communities,
00:25:13	that we can figure this out
00:25:16	And that is it for this week.
00:25:17	My colleagues
00:25:17	at the statehouse News
00:25:18	Bureau of Ohio Public
00:25:18	Radio and Television.
00:25:20	Thanks for watching.
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions