New 4th Congressional District
On Wednesday, September 19 at Tri-Rivers auditorium, Marion League of Women Voters will hold a “Got questions? Come get answers!” meeting for residents that will address two election year topics: State Issue 2, the Redistricting Reform Amendment and the Health Care Reform’s “Affordable Care Act” (ACA).
The open forum will begin at 6:00 p.m. with registration, seating, refreshments, reading material – and index cards upon which attendees may write questions to submit to the presenters. Issue 2 is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., followed by ACA at 7:30 p.m.
Jim Slagle, Manager of the Ohio Campaign for Accountable Redistricting, will explain how Issue 2 is designed to put an end to political Gerrymandering by taking congressional and legislative redistricting out of the hands of politicians, creating a citizen’s independent redistricting commission, and requiring the use of nonpartisan practices. He says he will show how politicians over the years have manipulated districts to limit voters’ choice of candidates and how Issue 2’s redistricting structure helps to ensure that voters’ voices are heard.
From the most recent state redistricting completed earlier this year, Slagle will show how Marion County is now part of a 13 county Duck-shaped voting district that stretches northward through Sandusky County near Lake Erie, southward through Champaign County and westward through a piece of Mercer County near the Indiana border – and still leaves Marion County split between 2 voting districts.
Slagle’s presentation will address questions like, “Why should I care? Who wrote this proposal? How are members of the nonpartisan commission chosen?” and he will also answer specific questions attendees have.
Cathy Levine, co-chair of a coalition of several Ohio nonpartisan health care organizations called Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, will discuss the moving forward efforts prompted by the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Health Care Reform Law last June, the ACA. The law’s extensive, comprehensive reach hopes to addresses a host of issues designed to extend health care coverage to more individuals, and yet also control rising costs. Levine says a few features of the law are:
- insurance companies are required to spend 80-85 percent of premium dollars on medical care and health care quality improvement, rather than (as much as 30%) on administrative costs, profits, executive salaries, bonuses and marketing;
- for more transparency and accountability, insurance companies must publicly report how they spend premium dollars;
- there must be creation of health insurance exchanges;
- no health insurers may deny coverage to people for any reason, including mental illness issues;
- health insurers must provide women with access to appropriate care at affordable coverage rates.
Levine will address questions like: “How will the ACA affect/help me and my family? My business? My community? What does the ACA mean for the state of Ohio?” and Levine will also address questions from attendees.
The League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, is a non-partisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Complementing it is the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund that provides nonpartisan information and educational services to citizens. Prior to each state and national election, the League of Women Voters of Ohio Education Fund provides nonpartisan information on candidates and issues to its local Leagues. This information is used in Voter Guides, which are distributed by local Leagues throughout the state.
For more information about League, the September 19 meeting, or membership, call 740-389-5795.
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