The James: Interview With Senator Rob Portman

The Government Affairs team recently interviewed U.S. Senator Rob Portman who began his first six-year term in the United States Senate in January 2011.  He is one of two U.S. Senators representing the State of Ohio. 

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rob Portman has had a very impactful public service career.  He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years and has held the prestigious positions of U.S. Trade Representative and Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.  He continues to reside in Cincinnati with his wife and three children.

Portman listed his top concerns for this legislative session as jobs and the economy, with his top priority being to create an environment in Ohio conducive to job growth.  Senator Portman discussed three important actions that need to be taken in order to achieve this goal.  First, he said that we need to discontinue policies that inhibit job creation and opportunity.  He mentioned, “On February 2, the Senate took an encouraging step when we voted to repeal the 1099 provision of the health care law.”  This provision required small businesses to fill an IRS 1099 form for all purchases over $600.

Next, Senator Portman expressed the need to address the record debt and deficit and added his belief that the budget proposed by President Obama does not rise to the challenge.  According to Senator Portman, “Not only will our debt and deficit have a long-term impact on our children and grandchildren, who will have to foot the bill for today’s spending, but we’re beginning to see an immediate impact on our economic stability and job growth as the cost of our debt begins to crowd out private sector investment.  We must move quickly to substantially reduce the debt and deficit to strengthen our fiscal house and foster job creation in Ohio and the rest of the country.”

Finally, Senator Portman expressed the need to put in place new, pro-jobs policies.  For example, he noted, “We need tax reform that makes it easier to create jobs here. The United States holds the dubious distinction of having the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. This drives jobs overseas when we need to be doing everything we can to encourage hiring and expansion in Ohio.”

Regarding health care reform, Senator Portman said that cost containment was supposed to be the goal.  Instead, he believes the health care reform legislation that was enacted amplifies the role of government in health care without addressing the major flaws in the underlying system: cost and access.  He said, “With the start of a new legislative year, we have the opportunity to improve the health care law to implement market-based reforms that will expand access and lower costs:

• Place more emphasis on disease management in the interests of patients and costs.  
• Prohibit insurers from excluding coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions.
• Provide financial assistance to caregivers who provide in-home care for a loved one.
• Implement comprehensive medical liability reform that will reduce costly, unnecessary defensive medicine and malpractice premium costs that are passed along to all of us.
• Eliminate the barriers to allow small businesses, associations, and other organizations to band together and offer health insurance at lower costs.
• Create incentives to encourage individuals to save now for future and long-term health care needs by providing a tax benefit to offset the cost of long-term care premiums.
• More insurance competition to lower costs – allow health care insurance to be sold across the state lines.”

When asked what The James means to him, Senator Portman responded, “To me, The James means important world class cancer research and patient care conducted by some of the best and brightest in the medical profession.”  He added that, like every Ohio family, his had been affected by cancer.  In 1994, Senator Portman lost his mother to multiple myeloma, after a four-year fight.  His family also lost his mother-in-law to breast cancer, and his father is a colon cancer survivor.  He said, “Although no one in my family has received treatment at The James, I have a sense of the kind of extraordinary care patients receive from my participation in the Pelotonia 100 mile bicycle ride and fundraiser.  In 2009, during the Senate campaign, I organized a team to ride in support of The James and was struck by the devotion of patients and families, some of whom participated in the ride, and many of whom were lining the roads and highways from Columbus to Athens with signs supporting The James and the cancer survivors in their family who had been patients.  It was truly moving.”

Senator Portman described OSUCCC-James as “a shining example of the best Ohio has to offer the rest of the state, country and world.”  He added that ProjectONE will have a “dramatic impact on the region and will have a positive impact on Ohioans for generations to come."