During the primary campaign, Kevin Coughlin — now the Republican nominee for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District — committed to pursuing entitlement reform if he’s elected.
“And I know the Democrats are cheering right now that they’re hearing me say that,” Coughlin said. He argued “anyone with eyes and an honest heart” can understand the simple math problem — money is going out the door faster than it’s getting replaced.
He specifically referenced Social Security and Medicaid, which provides health care for people with lower incomes. But Medicare, which provides health care for seniors and some people with disabilities, is typically included in debates about entitlement reform.
Recent projections from the U.S. Treasury indicate the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will become insolvent in 2034 and 2031 respectively.
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“(They’re) going to go broke very, very quickly, which isn’t going to mean that (programs are) going to go away, but it’s going to mean that the benefits that people get are going to be cut,” Coughlin argued.
“You have to start thinking about the sustainability of those programs for people who really need them,” he went on. “And so there’s got to be real adult conversations about these things, and proposals put forward with binding votes for Congress to vote on.”
Coughlin’s argument is right in line with decades of Republican doctrine, but maybe not the party’s current standard bearer.
“I made a promise that I will always keep Social Security, Medicare—we always will keep it, we won’t be cutting it,” former President Donald Trump told Dayton rallygoers last March.
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Despite insisting from his earliest days as a presidential candidate that he would “save” the big three entitlement programs “without cuts,” last month in a CNBC interview Trump said “there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” He hinted at cuts in 2020 as well.
Where Republicans stand
Although Trump has waffled on the issue, Coughlin comes by his position honestly. Back in 2011, when he was flirting with a U.S. Senate run, he made a similar case. Coughlin voiced support for a handful of ideas backed by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, who had been tapped as Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick and would go on to become House Speaker during the Trump administration.
Those changes include converting Medicare into a voucher program for anyone under 55 at the time. The proposal would also steadily raise the eligibility age to 67 — a position which Coughlin now opposes. Coughlin also pledged support for a balanced budget proposal that would cap spending in such a way that cuts to Medicare and Social Security would likely be unavoidable.
In a written statement for this story, Coughlin blamed the programs’ balance sheets on Democrats, and expressed concerns that “they’ll resort to benefit cuts” to address shortfalls.
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“These important programs are going broke because Democrats used them as their personal piggy bank and raided them for wasteful spending and pet projects,” he wrote. “We have to shore up these programs by cutting waste fraud and abuse, not cutting benefits, raising taxes or the retirement age.”
Trump has also used waste fraud and abuse as a fig leaf after backlash to his public comments. But while independent experts contend waste and fraud are significant problems in Medicaid and Medicare, they question whether there’s enough to balance the books. For Social Security, they insist eliminating waste and fraud would do little to close the gap. In a different version of that math problem, they note there are simply too many retirees and not enough workers.
And Couhglin is not alone in raising the idea of entitlement reform.
Early in this year’s U.S. Senate race, all three of Ohio’s Republican candidates floated changes to entitlements.
State Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, was the most explicit. “To have a discussion about spending,” he said, “yes, we’re going to have to recognize we have to reform these entitlements.” Dolan insisted none of the attendees should “sweat” over losing benefits. “But look at the front table here,” he added, “see these young people? I want to make sure that they’re not afraid.”
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Sec. of State Frank LaRose said Social Security and Medicaid are “worth looking at,” but warned changes must ensure people within a few decades of becoming beneficiaries aren’t affected. Bernie Moreno, who wound up winning the nomination, insisted Social Security isn’t an entitlement because workers pay into the program, but he criticized the expansion of Medicaid.
In a written statement, Moreno’s campaign reiterated his commitment to opposing cuts to Medicare or Social Security. “Important programs that Americans have spent their lives paying into like Social Security and Medicare should never be put in jeopardy,” he argued. Moreno added that he doesn’t support cutting Medicaid for Americans who are “truly in need,” but he criticized states like California that have extended benefits to undocumented immigrants.
“Which is something that we need to put a stop to immediately,” he said, “The American taxpayer eventually foots the bill.”
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Entitlement reform plans in black and white
While Coughlin emphasizes waste fraud and abuse, incumbent lawmakers have floated plans to roll back entitlements more broadly in recent years. They’ve just failed to gain traction.
Recall President Joe Biden needling Republicans during the 2023 State of the Union over plans to make Medicare and Social Security sunset. Despite some Republicans’ jeers, that idea came from a platform advanced by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL. He’s since revised the proposal to exempt the programs.
More recently, the Republican Study Committee unveiled it’s 2024 budget plan which proposes raising the eligibility age for Social Security without specifying what age is appropriate, and converting Medicare to a voucher system. Eight members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation are part of the committee.
What changes would mean in Ohio
“Well, the real question is are we our brothers’ keepers or not,” Jack Frech, the retired director of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, said.
After more than three decades there, he served as an executive in residence focused on poverty issue at the Voinovich School at Ohio University.
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“And you know it’s interesting that we take a very selective view of math,” Frech said of arguments about entitlement programs’ solvency. “We could also look at the fact that over the same time frame the richest people in this country have gotten ridiculously richer.”
“You know, that’s math, too,” he said.
And while he acknowledged Republicans have put a lot of effort into cutting entitlement programs, Democrats are far from blameless.
“Let’s remember on issues like cash assistance and some of these other programs, it was Bill Clinton and the Democrats whose reform measures ended up resulting in drastic, drastic reductions in assistance through those programs,” he said.
“It’s not as though anybody’s out there who deserves a gold star for the great job they’ve done helping poor people,” Frech said.
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He explained programs like Social Security and Medicare provide a lifeline to Ohioans, but they don’t provide a comfortable living. The average monthly Social Security check is about $1,900. The poverty line for an individual breaks down to $1,255 a month.
But the impact doesn’t stop with individuals, he said. “There are communities in southeast Ohio that I’ve looked into that have as much as 70-80% of the medical income they have is coming from those programs.” Similarly, he noted transfer payments make up as much as a quarter of local income in some southeast Ohio counties.
“These are real people who are already struggling,” Frech said, “and you’re basically saying we’re going to solve our financial problem by taking services away from them.”
Luke Goode stroked a 3-pointer with more than a minute left in overtime to give Indiana the lead and Anthony Leal blocked John Mobley Jr.’s jumper with a second left to allow Indiana to escape Ohio State with a 77-76 Big Ten Conference win Friday night.
Indiana (14-5, 5-3) now has won five of the last six meetings with the Buckeyes, including both games a year ago. Ohio State (10-8, 2-5) lost its third straight conference game, all by two points or less.
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Mobley hit a 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 71-71. Indiana held the ball before Luke Goode drove for a layup that missed, Oumar Ballo got the offensive rebound but missed the put-back, rebounded again and missed a jumper. Ohio State rebounded but was unable to get off a shot as the clock ran out.
Ohio State took the lead, 76-74, on Bruce Thornton’s three-point play with 1:26 left in overtime. Indiana’s Myles Rice drove to the basket but missed a layup to tie the game, but Oumar Ballo came down with the offensive rebound and kicked the ball to a wide-open Goode on the wing for the game-winner. Mobley missed a 3-point attempt for Ohio State and Kanaan Carlyle drove the baseline and misfired on a short jumper with :14 left.
Goode finished with a career-high 23 points and Ballo scored a double-double with 21 points and 15 rebounds with four assists and two blocks for the Hoosiers. Carlyle added 13 points.
Mobley finished with 22 points to lead the Buckeyes. Micah Parrish added 19 and Thornton added 18.
Indiana plays at Northwestern Wednesday. Ohio State plays at No. 17 Purdue Thursday.
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Indiana Hoosiers vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Highlights | FOX College Hoops
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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Ohio State coach Jake Diebler previews Texas A&M, talks 2025 class
Ohio State coach Jake Diebler previews Texas A&M and talks 2025 class in this Nov. 14, 2024 interview.
Ohio State has made the list of three finalists to sign five-star 2025 basketball prospect Caleb Wilson.
A 6-foot-9, 205-pound power forward from Atlanta Holy Innocents Episcopal School, Wilson will pick from North Carolina, Kentucky and the Buckeyes. According to a report from On3.com, he will announce his choice Jan. 23.
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Wilson is the No. 8 national prospect in the 2025 class according to 247Sports.com and the No. 5 player in the 247Sports composite.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio State impresses five-star power forward Caleb Wilson on official visit
During the fall, Wilson took visits to Tennessee, UCF, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, USC, Stanford, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio State. At the end of July, Caleb Wilson announced a list of his top 12 schools: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, UCF, and USC.
That list was cut to five schools on Nov. 18: the three current finalists, Tennessee and Central Florida.
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The Buckeyes have two signees for 2025: Dorian Jones and Amare Bynum, both four-star prospects. Jones is a guard from Richmond Heights, Ohio, and Bynum a power forward from Branson (Missouri) Link Academy. Their class is ranked No. 44 nationally at 247Sports, with Jones at No. 68 in the class and Bynum at 100 but poised to rise when the rankings refresh after a strong start to his season.
A rare powder day at Boston Mills. Laura Johnston, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Some Clevelanders hate winter. Once Christmas is over and the new year dawns, they grit their teeth and gripe about the cold and snow until March – or beyond.
But why not embrace what feels like a real January, where snow has transformed the tired brown landscape to a whimsical world of white?
Winter can feel magical, if you take it seriously — unlike my middle schoolers, whom I have to nag to wear a coat to school.
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You can’t love winter if your only interaction takes place in frigorific parking lots, dashing between your car and your destination, without boots, gloves or tuque (a Canadian word for winter hat I wish we would all adopt).
Yes, it’s cold. Yes, I prefer 75 degrees and sunshine.
But we are Clevelanders. Like the classic graphic tee, which I own in pink: “You gotta be tough.”
And you gotta deal with a 10-day streak of temperatures that didn’t break 32 degrees, whether you like it or not. The good news is our daily allotment of snow stayed on the ground.
Unlike cold rain, you can play in the snow. You can ski or snowboard, snowshoe or cross-country ski. You can sled or make snow angels, and if its warm enough make snowpeople or have a snowball fight. Snow days are the most beloved of all school holidays because of their inherent surprise.
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If you get a bluebird day with snow, even better. The sunshine bouncing off the ground can lift your spirit in bounds.
And even if you don’t, extra daylight increases serotonin levels in your brain, helping you regulate mood, sleep and appetite.
Go ice skating at an outdoor rink, like in downtown Akron or Cleveland, or in a flooded pocket park in Shaker Heights.
Hike through the woods in the Metroparks, or a just take walk around the block in the dark. (And while you’re out there, why not be a good neighbor and shovel the sidewalk. if you’re able?)
The snow softens everything; the quiet it creates feels like meditation.
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When you return home, stomp your boots, shake off the flakes and get cozy under a blanket on your couch. If you have a fireplace, take advantage. Make hot chocolate or tea and curl up with a good book. This is gezellig, a Dutch word that captures a cozy feeling of warmth, light and comfort, shared with loved ones.
I made my 11-year-old daughter sled with me a few weekends ago. Because it’s weird if a grown-up sledded by themselves. But I will ski solo any time, doing laps of moguls on North Bowl at Boston Mills.
Want to enjoy winter in Cleveland? Get out and play in it.Laura Johnston, cleveland.com
I’ve been skiing with my family at the Boston Township enclave (“resort” is way too fancy a word for the cluster of runs) since I joined ski club in third grade. I took my kids when they were still bundled in sleepers in their car seat carrier, plunking them on a table for my dad to watch while my mom and I skied. When they were 2, my mom started teaching them.
It’s an investment to teach your kids to ski. You spend years on the bunny hill, calming tantrums and yelling “Turn! Turn!” and occasionally bribing with hot pretzels, while wishing you were swishing down black diamonds. But like so much of the hard work of parenting, the effort is so, so worth it.
Sharing my hobby with my kids means I get to keep doing it. Because now on winter weekends, we meet up with my mom and my sister’s family for fresh air and daylight and exercise. It’s a sport I hope will improve their winters for the rest of their lives.
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This year, we skiers have lucked out with snow, both natural and manmade. While last year, it was Jan. 17 before Boston Mills opened any of its advanced terrain, this year North Bowl was open before Christmas. And we’ve had real powder to play on.
With climate change, we’re seeing warmer winters and less snow. A 2023 study by the National Ski Areas Association predicts that if climate change is left unchecked, ski resorts in several states, including Ohio, could lose between 61% to 81% of their operational days by mid-century. A group called Save Our Snow (helpfully nicknamed SOS) compiles information on what the ski industry is doing to combat climate change.
Across the globe, 2024 was the hottest year ever, beating the record set the year before and breaching the international goal set in 2021 that aimed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.
That may be good news to Clevelanders who don’t want to don a parka to walk their dog. But how cute are dogs in the snow, whether they’re romping like my golden retriever or wearing a coat and booties?
With our 64 inches annually, we don’t even rank in the top 10 cities for average seasonal snow totals. We’re bested by:
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Syracuse, New York, 128 inches a year
Erie, Pennsylvania, 104 inches
Rochester, New York, 102 inches
Buffalo, New York, 96 inches
Boulder, Colorado, 93 inches
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Duluth, Minnesota, 90 inches
Flagstaff, Arizona, 90 inches
Anchorage, Alaska, 78 inches
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 78 inches
Worcester, Massachusetts, 73 inches
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Now that Lake Erie has begun to freeze, we’ll have less lake effect snow.
But the next time we get a pile of it, pull on your snowpants, go out and play. Because loathing winter won’t make it pass any quicker.
Ice is starting to form along the Lake Erie shoreline on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, after weeks of below freezing temperatures. The wind blowing across the lake has also led to some spectacular frozen ice features.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Cleveland.com content director Laura Johnston writes weekly about life in her 40s in the column, Our Best Life. Subscribe to the newsletter to get the column delivered to your inbox Friday mornings. Find her on Instagram @ourbestlifecle.
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