Politics

A contender for Ohio Republican Party chairman says his disagreement with the government over what taxes he owed led him to rack up years of back debt, not a lack of money.

GOP Executive Director Matthew Borges told The Associated Press Thursday he withheld years of tax payments to prevent the money from going toward a 2007 tax lien related to a home sale that he was disputing.

Borges says once that disagreement was resolved he was able to pay more than $24,300 in state taxes from personal funds. He says he paid $124,200 in federal tax liens Thursday.

Nan Whaley is a Dayton City Commissioner and endorsed by the Democratic Party, who says the economy will be her focus if she's elected mayor. Whaley says she has plans to bring jobs through leveraging the city's assets and will restore blighted neighborhoods by tearing down unlivable properties. Whaley also says a welcoming, vibrant community will attract people here. Whaley sat down in an interview with Emily McCord April 18, 2013 ahead of the Mayoral Primary May 7th, where she faces incumbent Gary Leitzell and Democrat A.J. Wagner.

Gov. John Kasich's plan to expand health care coverage for low-income Ohioans has been dealt another blow.

A top Republican in the Ohio Legislature says the Senate's version of the state budget won't include the governor's proposed Medicaid expansion.

Senate President Keith Faber said Wednesday that he's pushing for changes to the Medicaid program instead of the wide-ranging expansion plan.

Lawmakers in the Ohio House already had stripped the Medicaid proposal that's a key element of President Barack Obama's signature health care law.

A.J. Wagner is a former Montgomery County court judge and county auditor. He says his experience is what distinguishes him as a candidate for Dayton mayor and hopes to win the primary in May, as he challenges incumbent Gary Leitzell and Democrat Nan Whaley. WYSO's Emily McCord is interviewing all the candidates to learn more about them and their positions.