Search Articles

Find Attorneys

A Chat With the Elder Law Attorney Who Is Ohio's New House Speaker

Ohio ElderLawAnswers member attorney Armond Budish was named in 2007 as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, one of the most powerful elected positions in state government. Budish, 55, who was first elected to the Ohio House in 2006, became the first Democratic Ohio House speaker since 1994 and the first Jewish speaker in state history.

Aided by President-elect Barack Obama's coattails and a woeful economy, Ohio Democrats wrested control of the House from Republicans in the 2008 election, picking up seven seats to give them a 53-46 advantage. Budish, who represents eastern Cuyahoga County, including parts of Cleveland, won by a landslide in his own bid for reelection, garnering nearly 88 percent of the vote. Afterward, his Democratic colleagues tapped him to be their leader, in part because of his dogged fundraising efforts on their behalf. Budish raised an unheard-of $1.2 million this election cycle.

Local Elder Law Attorneys in Your City

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State

Elder Law Attorney

Firm Name
City, State

Although Budish has a low-key style that one political consultant describes as "professorial," his meteoric rise to one of the top spots in the state surprised only those who don't know him well. "He seems to achieve everything he tries to achieve. He just works harder than most people," said Michael Solomon, Budish's law partner for 15 years.

In a recent chat with ElderLawAnswers, Budish talked about the difficult times facing his state, what he hopes to achieve for Ohio's elderly and disabled, the qualities an elder law attorney brings to politics, and why he believes public service is so important.

ELA: How did you manage to become speaker after only one term?

Budish: A number of factors. I worked very hard. I worked for a number of the Democratic candidates, raised money and helped in a variety of ways. My colleagues felt that I would be best suited to be the leader on the Democratic side.

ELA: Did the Democrats in the state benefit from Obama's race?

Budish: Absolutely. The Obama phenomenon in Ohio helped us win seats as well. Their ground game was unprecedented. The Obama campaign's ability to identify Democratic voters and then help get them out to polling places was a huge advantage in this election. It really was astonishing, something we've never seen in Ohio before.

ELA: What do you hope to accomplish in this session?

Budish: We're facing terribly difficult times, and Ohio has been extremely hard hit. Ohio has been dependant on manufacturing over the years and manufacturing is one segment of the economy that's suffered greatly. Ohio is in terrible financial condition.

The number one priority for the state must be economic development. We cannot do the things that I care so much about -- taking care of our older citizens and their families, providing health care for people, making health care more affordable, education -- [without expanding] the economic base.

ELA: Are there any opportunities for helping the elderly in Ohio?

Budish: One thing we must do is look at a unified long-term care budget. This is something being done in many states. It pools all the money for long-term care to provide assistance for people who qualify for Medicaid in a broader array of services and not oriented so completely to nursing homes. We made some strides in the last session and we need to do a lot more so that more of our older and disabled population can get care in the community or at home where that's appropriate. In Ohio, something like three-quarters of the long-term care dollars go to nursing homes. In other states that percentage is a lot less.

ELA: Would you recommend other elder law attorneys go into politics?

Budish: Yes, absolutely. I believe that all attorneys, in fact I believe everyone, should be doing what they can for others. Community service is something that I've always been committed to. I think government service is one way to do it, but certainly not the only way. Many of my friends who practice elder law are doing many things to help their community, whether it's serving the Alzheimer's Association or working in disability organizations. But I do think there's huge need right now and we need to do what we can in the ways that we're most comfortable doing it.

ELA: How did being an elder attorney prepare you for your current role?

Budish: Elder law attorneys by virtue of their practice help families and are very sensitive to the needs of the community. We know the pain that people are feeling and we see the suffering that goes on. It's the experience in elder law that has helped me be a better public official, because I do recognize the issues and problems that face families today.

Check out a 2008 article on Budish in the Ohio press.


Created date: 12/12/2008
Medicaid 101
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

READ MORE
What Medicaid Covers

In addition to nursing home care, Medicaid may cover home care and some care in an assisted living facility. Coverage in your state may depend on waivers of federal rules.

READ MORE
How to Qualify for Medicaid

To be eligible for Medicaid long-term care, recipients must have limited incomes and no more than $2,000 (in most states). Special rules apply for the home and other assets.

READ MORE
Medicaid’s Protections for Spouses

Spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents have special protections to keep them from becoming impoverished.

READ MORE
Medicaid Planning Strategies

Careful planning for potentially devastating long-term care costs can help protect your estate, whether for your spouse or for your children.

READ MORE
Estate Recovery: Can Medicaid Take My House After I’m Gone?

If steps aren't taken to protect the Medicaid recipient's house from the state’s attempts to recover benefits paid, the house may need to be sold.

READ MORE
Help Qualifying and Paying for Medicaid, Or Avoiding Nursing Home Care

There are ways to handle excess income or assets and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care, and programs that deliver care at home rather than in a nursing home.

READ MORE
Are Adult Children Responsible for Their Parents’ Care?

Most states have laws on the books making adult children responsible if their parents can't afford to take care of themselves.

READ MORE
Applying for Medicaid

Applying for Medicaid is a highly technical and complex process, and bad advice can actually make it more difficult to qualify for benefits.

READ MORE
Alternatives to Medicaid

Medicare's coverage of nursing home care is quite limited. For those who can afford it and who can qualify for coverage, long-term care insurance is the best alternative to Medicaid.

READ MORE
ElderLaw 101
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

READ MORE
Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

READ MORE
Estate Planning

Distinguish the key concepts in estate planning, including the will, the trust, probate, the power of attorney, and how to avoid estate taxes.

READ MORE
Grandchildren

Learn about grandparents’ visitation rights and how to avoid tax and public benefit issues when making gifts to grandchildren.

READ MORE
Guardianship/Conservatorship

Understand when and how a court appoints a guardian or conservator for an adult who becomes incapacitated, and how to avoid guardianship.

READ MORE
Health Care Decisions

We need to plan for the possibility that we will become unable to make our own medical decisions. This may take the form of a health care proxy, a medical directive, a living will, or a combination of these.

READ MORE
Long-Term Care Insurance

Understand the ins and outs of insurance to cover the high cost of nursing home care, including when to buy it, how much to buy, and which spouse should get the coverage.

READ MORE
Medicare

Learn who qualifies for Medicare, what the program covers, all about Medicare Advantage, and how to supplement Medicare’s coverage.

READ MORE
Retirement Planning

We explain the five phases of retirement planning, the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, types of investments, asset diversification, the required minimum distribution rules, and more.

READ MORE
Senior Living

Find out how to choose a nursing home or assisted living facility, when to fight a discharge, the rights of nursing home residents, all about reverse mortgages, and more.

READ MORE
Social Security

Get a solid grounding in Social Security, including who is eligible, how to apply, spousal benefits, the taxation of benefits, how work affects payments, and SSDI and SSI.

READ MORE
Special Needs Planning

Learn how a special needs trust can preserve assets for a person with disabilities without jeopardizing Medicaid and SSI, and how to plan for when caregivers are gone.

READ MORE
Veterans Benefits

Explore benefits for older veterans, including the VA’s disability pension benefit, aid and attendance, and long-term care coverage for veterans and surviving spouses.

READ MORE