Weatherize, Educate, Nominate, Vote: News from Policy Matters Ohio
Posted November 03, 2014 in eNews
In this e-news: Home weatherization funding urgently needed; new research shows Medicaid expansion is working; job growth in Ohio continues to trail the nation; and a new report shows income taxes don't drive income out of state.
Weatherize that home! - Ohio’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program is among the best in the nation, but a state freeze on clean energy standards hampers efforts to lower family energy bills. Restoring the standards and increasing federal funding will reduce pollution, create jobs and cut energy costs.
Dramatic increase - Early outcomes of Ohio’s Medicaid program, expanded under the Affordable Care Act, show a dramatic increase in enrollment, improved health outcomes and lower costs.
Money stays put - Gov. John Kasich and other proponents of state income tax cuts claim the tax rate pushes people and income out. False! A new report shows that taxes do little to drive migration, people leave and come to Ohio from both lower and higher-tax states, and when earners do leave, their income source usually stays in state.
Tepid job growth - September’s job report provides some modest positive news. Ohio added 6,000 jobs. But the state’s 12-month job growth rate was just 0.6 percent and Ohio continued to trail the nation
Path to opportunity - Residents of Central Cleveland’s Promise Neighborhood face a difficult climb to higher education. Expanding the Ohio College Opportunity Grant to community colleges would help Promise Neighborhood residents and students across Ohio. If you know students who need help affording higher ed, send this extremely useful resource guide their way.
In the news - Zach Schiller’s op-ed on Cleveland.com says eliminating the state income tax would be disastrous….Workforce researcher Hannah Halbert spoke with Plunderbund about Ohio’s lackluster job growth….The Portsmouth Daily Times reports on research by Wendy Patton on the benefits of Medicaid expansion. … and the Dayton Daily News highlighted the gains from home weatherization assistance found in Amanda Woodrum’s report.
Nominate - TED talks are coming to Cleveland, and this November you can nominate our very own Amy Hanauer! Boost the conversation on restoring vibrancy and fairness to Ohio’s economy. Here’s how.
Welcome aboard - Policy Matters is thrilled to welcome award-winning media veteran Harlan Spector as our new communications director.
Vote! - Every month, Policy Matters Ohio reports on how policy decisions impact your life and recommends smart choices that can get Ohio’s economy working again, for us all. Whichever party, candidates or issues you support, don’t miss your chance to weigh in tomorrow at the polls.