Ohio Medicaid Fraud, Tuition Promises & DeWine’s Data Center Pause — Crooked River Cast Show #63 🎙
Ohio politics, taxpayer dollars, education costs, and a few uniquely Ohio stories took center stage on this week’s Crooked River Cast. Robert and Tom dug into new developments surrounding Ohio Medicaid fraud investigations, Governor DeWine’s latest moves, questions about free college proposals, and a controversial school administrator resignation. As always, they wrapped things up with a couple of Good Things stories that remind us Ohio still knows how to surprise people.
🇺🇸 Tulsi Resigns
Robert and Tom opened the show discussing Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation from the Trump administration. Both felt the news was disappointing, noting that she had been one of the stronger performers within the administration. While they acknowledged that opinions on her work may vary, they agreed she appeared to be taking her responsibilities seriously and had earned respect from many supporters.
The guys talked about what her departure could mean moving forward and whether her resignation signals larger changes ahead within the administration.
💵 Trump on the $250 Bill
A new proposal involving a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump sparked plenty of discussion. Robert and Tom talked about the practicality of creating a new denomination, the political symbolism behind it, and whether Americans would ever actually see one in circulation. I want one!
Source:
🔗: Treasury Department confirms it has taken limited steps toward a $250 bill featuring Donald Trump
🏥 Ohio Medicaid Fraud Back in the Spotlight
One of the show’s biggest discussions centered on Ohio Medicaid fraud and a proposal from Vivek Ramaswamy that could dramatically change how much money Ohio keeps when fraud is uncovered.
Currently, Ohio recovers fraudulent Medicaid payments but only retains about 35 cents of every dollar recovered, with the remaining funds going back to the federal government. Ramaswamy argues that gives states little incentive to aggressively investigate abuse. His proposal would allow Ohio to keep as much as 67% of recovered funds, similar to Tennessee’s TennCare model.
Robert and Tom discussed how giving Ohio a larger share of recovered money could encourage more investigations and potentially return millions of dollars to state taxpayers. The proposal has already been discussed with CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and has become a major talking point in Ohio’s ongoing debate over Medicaid oversight and accountability.
The guys also highlighted investigative reporting that has kept attention focused on alleged fraud within the system and the challenges of ensuring taxpayer dollars are properly protected.
Sources:
🔗: Ohio governor race 2026: Ramaswamy wants states to keep Medicaid fraud savings
🎙 Dr. Oz Says DeWine Is a “Hell of a Guy”
Robert and Tom had a very different reaction to Dr. Oz’s praise of Governor Mike DeWine than the one expressed in the article. While Dr. Oz publicly stated that he trusts DeWine’s handling of Medicaid issues, the hosts questioned whether that confidence is warranted given the ongoing concerns surrounding fraud and oversight within Ohio’s Medicaid system.
The discussion also highlighted comments from Mehek Cooke, who claimed she contacted the Ohio Attorney General’s office in January regarding what she described as a $1.2 billion fraud scandal and was threatened with a subpoena. She also stated that she reached out to Governor DeWine’s office and never received a response.
Robert and Tom argued that stories like these reinforce concerns that Ohio leaders have not done enough to address fraud allegations. Both expressed frustration with DeWine’s leadership on the issue, saying they believe Ohio needs stronger accountability and oversight. While DeWine is nearing the end of his time as governor, they noted that decisions being made now could continue to impact Ohio taxpayers long after he leaves office.
Sources:
🔗: Dr. Oz trusts Gov. DeWine’s handling of Medicaid, as other Republicans express fraud concerns
🔗: Mehek Cooke🇺🇸 (@MehekCooke) on X
👶 Don’t Forget Ohio’s Daycare Fraud Problems
While Medicaid fraud often grabs headlines, the guys reminded listeners that Ohio has also faced significant issues involving daycare assistance programs. They discussed recent enforcement actions and the importance of ensuring taxpayer-funded programs are protected from abuse. Does anyone care about this fraud that is going on?
Source:
🔗: Ohio cracks down on Columbus daycare providers
🎓 How Much Does “Free” College Cost?
The guys had plenty to say about a new proposal from Ohio lawmakers that would provide tuition-free college for students attending Ohio’s public colleges and universities. House Bill 854 would fund the program through new taxes on high-income earners and a new fee on residential property sales exceeding $2 million.
Supporters say similar programs in states like New York, New Mexico, and Florida have helped boost college enrollment. Robert and Tom, however, were skeptical of both the proposal and the way it is being marketed. Their argument was straightforward: college is never truly free. Someone always pays the bill, and in this case, the cost would be shifted through new taxes and fees.
The hosts also questioned why lawmakers are looking to create new taxes before examining the massive endowments held by many colleges and universities. If the goal is making higher education more affordable, they suggested policymakers might want to start by looking at the institutions themselves rather than asking taxpayers to pick up the tab.
Source:
🔗: Free college for all Ohio students, paid for by proposed new tax on the wealthy
🏭 DeWine Halts Data Center Tax Breaks
Governor DeWine’s decision to pause new sales-tax incentives for data centers generated plenty of discussion. The hosts talked about the balance between attracting major technology investments and ensuring Ohio taxpayers receive adequate returns from incentive programs.
They noted that data centers bring jobs and investment but also raise concerns about infrastructure demands and long-term costs. This pause is acutally a good thing.
Source:
🔗: DeWine halts new sales-tax breaks for data centers
🎓 Greenbriar Middle School Principal Resigns
Robert and Tom discussed the resignation of a Greenbriar Middle School principal following a controversial video that circulated online. While they agreed administrators should be held accountable for their actions, they also felt the public was only seeing part of the story.
The guys noted that dealing with unruly students has become increasingly difficult for teachers and administrators and questioned how much context was missing before the recording began. They also wondered why the parent chose to record the incident rather than step in at the time. Their takeaway was simple: there’s usually more to the story than what appears in a short video clip.
Source:
🌟Good Things
🍔 Ohio’s Favorite Sports Bar Scores Again
Ohio picked up some national bragging rights after a familiar restaurant chain earned top honors in a USA Today poll. The Winking Lizard claimed the title of best sports bar in the nation, giving Buckeye State sports fans another reason to celebrate. Don’t forget the great beer selection.
Source:
🔗: USA TODAY poll names best sports bar in nation, and Ohio chain is No. 1
🚁 The Aerial Saw Is Back
If you’ve spotted helicopters carrying giant saws over Ohio lately, you’re not imagining things. FirstEnergy’s aerial saw program has returned to trim tree branches near power lines before they become a problem.
It’s certainly one of the more unusual sights Ohioans may encounter, but the work helps reduce outages and improve reliability across the region. Robert and Tom thought this was one of those stories that’s equal parts cool and terrifying. If you happen to spot one of these flying saws and can safely take a photo, send it to crookedrivercast@gmail.com. Even if you don’t get a picture, drop the guys a note and let them know whether you think it’s as cool—or as scary—as it looks.
Source:
🔗: FirstEnergy explains why you may see saws hanging from helicopters along the Ohio Turnpike
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