Posted on 11/27/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Basic Needs + Unemployment Insurance
On Thanksgiving, Americans everywhere gather with friends and family to eat great food, engage in awkward political debate, watch football and express gratitude. Some may be thankful for their families, some for their good health and some for their jobs. The truth is, public policies are behind many things we’re grateful for. Here are some of our favorites: [image:1] 1. Sentencing reform could rebuild families and communities: More Ohio families could spend Thanksgivings together if state lawmakers pass Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 1. SB 3 would reclassify certain low-level drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, which would send fewer people to... read more
Posted on 11/11/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Corrections
I live in the tiny, picturesque village of Bratenahl. Besides Lake Erie to its north, Bratenahl is completely surrounded by the city of Cleveland. The community is perhaps best known for its sprawling lakefront estates... read more
Posted on 10/31/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Democracy & Government
It’s Halloween, the spookiest day of the year. At Policy Matters, we’re less afraid of things that go bump in the night than we are about some of the policies our state lawmakers want to... read more
Posted on 04/01/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Revenue & Budget
Here at Policy Matters, we’ve fought back against - and defeated - a lot of foolish policy ideas. Unfortunately, sometimes they go on to become law in Ohio. Even the most jaded wonks like us... read more
Posted on 01/21/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Corrections
In the United States, questions of race and racism are almost always simmering just below the surface in every institution. The tension often boils over most dramatically in our criminal justice system, whether in black... read more
Posted on 01/09/19 by Caitlin Johnson in Basic Needs + Unemployment Insurance
President Trump’s shutdown has thrown millions of lives into chaos and uncertainty. He told the nation the shutdown could last months or even years. Right now, the media is mainly focused on the 800,000 federal... read more
Posted on 04/24/18 by Caitlin Johnson in Work & Wages
If my due date holds, my husband, step kids and I will welcome a baby boy in June. This is my first pregnancy and I’m still coming to grips with the changes to my body,... read more
Posted on 04/14/17 by Caitlin Johnson in Revenue & Budget
Good schools, responsive public safety, reliable public transit, quality healthcare – these are the building blocks of thriving communities and strong economies. Ohio’s tax policies starve these essential programs while giving the wealthy big breaks—and... read more
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