Portman Sees Federal Opioid Funding Helping Save Lives in Columbus

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1 Subject: Date: From: To: Chairman's Update 3/31/2019 7:31:42 PM Eastern Standard Time Good Evening, This week was a historic time for America. For the last two years, Democrats have been preaching that there was collusion between President Trump and his campaign with Russia during the 2016 election. The Mueller report concluded what we knew to always be true - that there was no collusion. We are glad that this liberal witch-hunt is over with. This will go down as one of the costliest investigations in our history. The investigation went on for 675 days. The total reported cost of the Mueller investigation through September 2018 was over $25 million. The cost per day was $50, the second most expensive in history. There were 19 attorneys on Robert Mueller's staff- 12 more than the Starr investigation. Approximately 500 individuals testified or interviewed with the Special Counsel's team. We are glad that President Trump can go back to doing what he does best - improving our economy and fighting for everyday Americans. ICYMI: Sherrod Brown voted "Present" this week when the resolution vote on the Green New Deal went to the floor in the senate. We are disheartened that he won't tell Ohioans how he really feels on this disastrous proposal that would dramatically alter our economy. Even the AFL-CIO say the Green New Deal will cause "immediate harm to millions of workers." Have a great week, Jane M. Timken Chairman, Ohio Republican Party Portman Sees Federal Opioid Funding Helping Save Lives in Columbus

2 On Friday, Senator Rob Portman toured Southeast Healthcare Services in downtown Columbus, where he met with recovering addicts and held a roundtable with stakeholders working to combat addiction in the Columbus area. Southeast has received $1.6 million from Portman's Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) that they are using to expand medication assisted treatment (MAT) to help Ohioans on their journey to recovery. Portman also heard firsthand how entities in the Columbus area are working together through the Rapid Response Emergency Addiction and Crisis Team (RREACT) program, where first responders, law enforcement, and social workers visit the houses of individuals following an overdose to urge them to get help for their addiction and enter a recovery program. Governor Mike DeWine Visits the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky to Honor Ohio's Vietnam Veterans On Friday, Governor DeWine visited the Ohio Veterans Home in SanduskY. to participate in a special ceremony commemorating Ohio's Vietnam veterans in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky is a 427-bed nursing home facility that provides standard care for veterans and special care for veterans with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia.

3 Husted Attends White House Meeting, Highlights Ohio's Workforce Development Efforts This week, Lt. Governor Jon Husted attended events with his colleagues from other states at the National Lt. Governors Association Meeting in Washington D.C. Husted attended a meeting at the White House to discuss U.S. trade policy and was a featured speaker on a workforce development panel. During his remarks, the Lt. Governor touted work being done at the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation and the new initiatives being proposed for the budget to close Ohio's skills gap and give more people the opportunity to break into new careers. AG Dave Yost: Addiction Treatment Center Owner Indicted on Drug Trafficking, Medicaid Fraud Attorney General Dave Yost announced last week that the owner of three addiction treatment centers in southern Ohio was indicted on 34 felonv. counts of Medicaid fraud and drug trafficking. Investigators say Paul Vernier, the owner of the now-shuttered treatment centers, illegally dispensed the addiction treatment drug Suboxone without authorization from a physician, and overbilled Medicaid. "The evidence will show that this guy abused the trust of hurting people who were looking for help and that he played the rest of us-who pay the bills-for fools," Yost said. "Time for some accountability."

4 The Attorney General's office is prosecuting the case. Auditor Faber Gives Budget Testimony Auditor of State Keith Faber was in the statehouse this week to ask the state legislature to approve his budget request. He spoke about his efforts to increase government efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency within the Auditor's office as well as within governments across the state. LaRose Launches Contest to Design Ohio's "I Voted Sticker", Election Professionals Mentorship Program This week, Secretary LaRose announced a statewide contest for students from 6th to 12th grade to design Ohio's new "I Voted Today" sticker. "Ohioans wear this sticker proudly... " said LaRose. "We want students to have fun, be creative, and when the time comes to select a winner- we want them to vote!" This contest adds to ongoing efforts Secretary LaRose is putting into young engagement in the democratic process. LaRose also launched the Ohio Election Professionals Mentorship program pairing veteran elections officials with newer board members. "Nothing tops the shared experience of a peer mentor, which is why I'm happy that so many veteran board members are stepping up to share their vast knowledge with new board members," said LaRose.

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