OHGov

Columbus, Ohio- Last week, an unearthed video showed Vivek Ramaswamy calling Medicaid and Medicare a “mistake.” Here’s what Ramaswamy’s comments really mean for Ohioans.

• More than three million Ohioans rely on Medicaid to afford healthcare, and nearly 20% of Ohioans use Medicare. Without it, working families will see their healthcare costs skyrocket and be forced to choose between putting money in their pockets and getting the healthcare they need.

• 11 rural Ohio hospitals already rely on Medicaid to keep their doors open. Without them, families would be forced to drive greater distances for preventative care appointments and lifesaving emergency care.

• 38% of Ohio children rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. Families will be forced to choose between skipping critical appointments and putting food on the table. 

• Medicaid helps 63% of Ohio nursing home residents to afford the care they need. Without it, seniors and their families will be forced to pay higher out of pocket costs or sacrifice their health and safety to stay at home. 

“Vivek Ramaswamy has called Ohioans lazy, moved his business from Ohio to Texas, and says cornerstone healthcare programs that lower costs for millions of Ohioans were a mistake. Ohioans can’t trust him to fight for working families or keep them safe and healthy,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cleveland.com recently reported that Vivek Ramaswamy’s family bodyguard was arrested on federal drug-trafficking charges, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additional reporting found that two other personal bodyguards used by Ramaswamy were not registered with the state. 

Vivek Ramaswamy’s decision to hire a security firm that broke state law and only firing the firm after his bodyguard’s arrest was publicly reported raises key questions that he must answer:

1. You severed ties with ARK protection only after Cleveland.com’s most recent reporting. Why did you wait more than a week after one of their bodyguards was charged with fentanyl trafficking? 

2. How can Ohioans trust that you will tackle Ohio’s opioid crisis when your own bodyguard is facing federal charges for dealing fentanyl and methamphetamine? 

3. You called Medicaid a “mistake” but it funds as much as 60% of substance use disorder treatments in Ohio. What’s your message to Ohioans dealing with substance use disorders who would see their treatment costs rise under your agenda?

4. How will you make up the funding for local public safety and addiction services that will be decimated by your plan to end property taxes entirely? 

5. Why do you think you and your staff are above the law? 

Read more about Vivek Ramaswamy’s bodyguard being arrested for drug trafficking and violating Ohio’s security registration laws: 

• Cleveland.com: Bodyguards for GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy didn’t have required Ohio licenses
• Columbus Dispatch: Vivek Ramaswamy fires security firm after ex-bodyguard arrested
• Fox 8: Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to get new security after drug trafficking allegations
• Associated Press: Vivek Ramaswamy’s family bodyguard arrested on drug trafficking charges
• The Daily Beast: MAGA Star’s Bodyguard Busted by Feds With Alleged Fentanyl Stockpile
• New York Post: Vivek Ramaswamy’s bodyguard hit with federal drug trafficking charges over fentanyl and meth dealing allegations

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Columbus, Ohio – Vivek Ramaswamy has had a bad few months.

First, he’s continuing to take heat from Ohioans who won’t forget he called them “lazy” and “mediocre” in a bizarre rant. 

Following pressure from Ohioans of all political stripes, he withdrew at the last minute from a scheduled speech at a conference that advocated for the outsourcing of American jobs, and has avoided questions about why he accepted the invitation in the first place.

Then after claiming “you’re not fit to lead” if you can’t handle the comments on social media, he penned a pathetic op-ed in the WSJ claiming he was giving up Twitter and Instagram. 

Even something as simple as a policy proposal has been embarrassing for Ramaswamy, like when he released a proposal so bad his own supporters desperately hoped it was AI. He even took home an award for Worst Use of Social Media for his video that turned out to be 100% real.

“Vivek Ramaswamy’s decision to pick an LG who is one of the faces of corruption in Columbus will do nothing to rehab his flailing campaign and is evidence that he will continue the same failed policies that have made life unaffordable for so many Ohioans,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer.

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Columbus, Ohio- Following Vivek Ramaswamy’s announcement that Ohio Senate President Rob McColley will join him on his ticket, here’s what Ohioans need to know.

Ramaswamy showed Ohioans what he really thinks of them when he called them “lazy” and “mediocre,” chose to speak at a conference sponsored by a company that advocates for outsourcing American jobs, and moved his own business to Texas.

During McColley’s decade in state politics, Ohioans have seen costs go up while the Republicans in charge do nothing to help working families. During his time in the Ohio Senate, McColley worked to pass a budget that gave wealthy Ohioans a tax break, gutted funding for public schools, and failed to address the cost of childcare while jumping through hoops to give handouts to billionaires. 

“Vivek Ramaswamy called Ohio workers lazy and mediocre, agreed to speak at a conference sponsored by a company that advocates for outsourcing American jobs, and wants to continue the same failed policies that have made life unaffordable for so many Ohioans,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde. “Voters are ready for change, and Ramaswamy’s decision to pick a running mate who has done the dirty work for special interests and billionaires in the statehouse is further evidence that we can’t trust him to fight for Ohio’s working families.”

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Columbus, Ohio- This holiday season, working families in Ohio are struggling with rising costs of everything from groceries to gifts but Vivek Ramaswamy is wealthier than ever. Forbes reported his net worth has increased by 80% in the nine months since he announced his campaign for governor to $1.8 billion dollars.  

Ohioans already pay more for groceries, healthcare, and countless essentials. Now as the holidays approach, Ohioans are paying 26% more than last year for some of the most popular holiday gifts. Electronics are 34% more expensive, clothing and accessories have jumped up to 20% and toys and games are 17% more expensive compared to last year.

“This holiday season, Ohioans aren’t wishing for an out-of-touch billionaire who clearly doesn’t understand what working families in Ohio are going through,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “As governor, Vivek Ramaswamy would only work to make billionaires like himself richer.” 

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