Policy Matters statement on the 2018 elections
Posted November 06, 2018 in Press Releases
Policy Matters has a vision for an economy that works for all Ohioans in our small towns, our suburbs and our big cities. With a new slate of elected leaders in Ohio, we will work across party lines to protect Ohio’s people, promote a fair economy, and invest in the future.
Today, Attorney General Mike DeWine won the race for governor of Ohio. Policy Matters is eager to work with Governor-elect DeWine to protect those with pre-existing conditions, to grow unions in Ohio so that workers continue to thrive, and to expand early childhood education, all of which he pledged to do in his hard-fought campaign. If Governor-elect DeWine pursues other policies, like creating new barriers to health care or making college less affordable, Policy Matters will be there to hold him accountable.
Ohio voters chose to continue putting high numbers of Ohioans in prison, even when their worst offense is mere drug possession. Issue 1 would have redirected $136 million from the prison system towards treatment, rehabilitation and victims’ services, according to our analysis. Thousands of Ohioans could have lost the stigma of a felony conviction that keeps them from getting good jobs and being productive members of society. Many observers claimed that they supported the goals behind Issue 1 but not the mechanism. Policy Matters will work with those Ohioans, across party lines, to accomplish sentencing reform through legislative means.
Policy Matters Ohio, will fight for an inclusive agenda that protects the elderly, children, people with disabilities and Ohio’s working people. Years of tax cuts and the proliferation of tax breaks have constrained what Ohio has to spend on crucial services from schools to local government to drug treatment. We will continue to work with new leaders to overhaul Ohio’s upside-down tax code and put an end to unproductive tax breaks like the LLC loophole that costs us $1 billion a year.
Ohio has a world-class system of public universities, but due to years of underfunding, too many people can’t afford them. That means too many Ohioans are unprepared to meet the challenges of the changing economy. Our Ohio Promise plan for equitable, free college would make sure every student can afford higher education.
Ohio became a great state because people could come here, get a job and make enough to raise a family. Today, too many of our fastest growing jobs don’t pay enough to get by. Working people deserve a safe workplace, fair pay and the ability to make their voices heard. We have a plan to create good jobs that pay enough to cover the basics.
Senator Sherrod Brown will continue to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate. Policy Matters will work with Senator Brown on his priorities, like preserving health care, fighting for fair federal taxes, and ensuring worker pensions. .
Soon the dust will settle and lawmakers will return to the day-to-day business of governing. At Policy Matters we will keep fighting for policies that improve the quality of life for all Ohioans, whether they are black, white or brown. We look forward to working with our new elected officials to create an Ohio that works for all of us.