Shining a light: News from Policy Matters
Posted June 03, 2017 in eNews
Following the money: Our research shows a tax break for “pass-through” corporations costs Ohio $1 billion a year. Meanwhile, state policymakers keep warning us that revenues are below projections and the 2018-2019 budget will be tight. Think of all the health care, transit, education and drug treatment $1 billion a year could fund…
Exposing the risky business of for-profit colleges: For-profit colleges cost students more and leave them earning less, our report shows. Despite their poor performance, Ohio spent more than $7.3 million on financial aid for students at for-profit schools last year. Our report calls out the bad actors in Ohio, and calls on state lawmakers to tighten the reins on the industry.
Fighting for food: President Trump’s budget includes a 25 percent cut of $193 billion to food aid over the next 10 years. That will cost Ohio – a state where more than 16 percent of households live with food insecurity – $4.7 billion. We detail the many ways the SNAP program helps our state and how Trump’s budget will hurt it.
Tracking transit funding: State funding for transit is abysmal in Ohio. We don’t invest enough in public transportation and now we need to fix a looming revenue shortfall for transit agencies due to a narrowing of the state sales tax base. Our new handbook goes over the funding streams for Ohio’s transit network and makes practical recommendations on how to meet our growing needs for public transportation.
Keeping Ohio’s economy healthy: The growing health care industry helped soften the blow of Ohio’s declining manufacturing sector. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives threatens to cripple one of the most robust engines in our economy. Our report shows which Ohio counties have the most to lose under the AHCA.
Talking budget with Bob Greenstein: Few people know the federal budget like Bob Greenstein. The President of our national partner Center on Budget and Policy Priorities will give us the lowdown on Trump’s plan at the City Club on June 16. Get your tickets now! Use the code PMOHIO17 for 20 percent off non-member tickets.
In the community: We spread our message about policies that make Ohio prosperous, healthy and equitable far and wide in the last two weeks. State Policy Fellow Victoria Jackson and Research Director Zach Schiller spoke about transit and tax policy at the Senate Democrats’ Caucus Budget Forum. Senior Project Manager Wendy Patton made the rounds on healthcare: she spoke at Rep. Joyce Beatty’s tele-town hall on the AHCA; joined allies from the health care industry for a tele-press conference on how the bill could cost Ohio jobs; and discussed the AHCA on WOSU’s “All Sides with Ann Fisher” and “This Week with Dan Hurley” on Cincinnati’s WKRC’s TV. Mike Shields answered questions on health care policy from the Brecksville/Broadview Heights Democratic Club.