Making Ohio Stronger
Posted September 13, 2013 in eNews
Cuts hurt communities – Wendy Patton’s testimony before an Ohio House tax reform committee outlined how cuts in state aid have hurt local government services and employment. Numbers from the Kasich administration show that state support for local governments – separate from school funding – fell by nearly $1 billion, or 10 percent, between fiscal years 2010-11 and the two years of the current budget. This decline is affecting the quality of life across Ohio, and must be stopped.
Tax cuts aren’t helping — Zach Schiller laid it out to that same committee: Taxes don’t determine state economic success. Exhibit # 1 is Ohio – after increasing taxes in the 1990s under Gov. George Voinovich, the state generated more than 100,000 jobs three years in a row. In contrast, since tax cuts began in 2005, Ohio has underperformed the nation, losing a greater share of jobs than all but three other states.
Making Ohio stronger — Ohio’s electric utilities produce nearly half of the state’s carbon emissions and are among the worst polluting power plants in the country, according to a new report by Environment Ohio. Energy efficiency will make Ohio stronger and limiting power-plant pollution is essential. Want to take action against global warming? Learn how you can get involved at Environment Ohio’s Akron meeting September 18.
The Big Give — For 24 hours only, next week, your contribution to Policy Matters will generate a bonus contribution from the Columbus Foundation’s online Big Give. From 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, to 11 a.m. on the 18th you can amplify your donation and fuel your favorite state policy think tank. We’ll remind you next week, so you can help us create an economy that works for everyone.