Shaping Ohio’s future
Posted on 11/08/18 by Ben Stein (he/him) in Democracy & Government
Come January, Governor-elect Mike DeWine will begin to shape the future of Ohio’s public policy, workforce and economy. Policy Matters is here to help, with research-backed policy recommendations for an Ohio that works for everyone. In the past year, we’ve released plans for supporting working families, revamping Ohio’s tax code and making college affordable. And there’s more where that came from.
The future we’ll build together starts with good jobs for Ohio. We applaud Governor-elect DeWine’s vow to veto a so-called “right to work” bill that made it harder for unions to have resources. We also have ideas to support working people, improve training, and protect employees from unsafe working conditions, wage theft, and exploitation. When we put working people first, we lay the groundwork for shared prosperity across the state.
The governor-elect said he wants to increase state funding to help lower-income Ohioans obtain college degrees. Our plan for equitable, free college will be a great place for Governor-elect DeWine to start.
The DeWine campaign promised to revamp Ohio’s school funding system. For too long, our kids have been short-changed. We’re committed to finding the best ways to equitably distribute funds so every kid gets the support they need to thrive in school.
Our assessment of Ohio’s child care system made the case for increased access to high-quality early-childhood education. When kids get a strong start, their educational, economic and health outcomes improve well into the future. That’s why we’re eager to help with Governor-elect DeWine’s plan to expand access to at least 20,000 more children, and his promise to make sure every early-education center in Ohio is high quality.
We were encouraged to hear Governor-elect DeWine wants to protect Medicaid expansion, especially coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. However, imposing work requirements – which DeWine supports – will jeopardize access to care. We’ve done a lot of research on the many benefits of Medicaid expansion, and hope the new governor will consider our findings.
We agree with the governor-elect on the importance of expanding broadband infrastructure across the state. We believe the public sector has an important role to play in helping every Ohio household and business access high-speed Internet they need to keep up with today’s digital economy.
Governor-elect DeWine has embraced the use of Opportunity Zones to spur private investments in economically-distressed neighborhoods. Without careful implementation, Opportunity Zones could increase inequality. Our research describes how to use the program to drive resources to the people and places it’s designed to benefit.
Building a better Ohio is a big, ambitious project. We all need to pitch in where we can. Though we differ with the incoming administration on many issues—first and foremost the need for a big change to Ohio’s tax code—Policy Matters is committed above all to building an Ohio that works for everyone. When our research supports the DeWine agenda, we’ll push as hard as ever. When it doesn’t, we’ll push back just as hard.
Since long before Election Day, there have been loud voices trying to influence the Governor-elect. Policy Matters is here to make sure there’s someone at the table speaking up for the middle class, working families, and people who’ve been pushed to the margins. We’ve got a lot to say, and a lot to do. The fight for Ohio’s future starts today.