Saturday Stats: Numeric news from Policy Matters
Posted November 19, 2021 in eNews
$1.2 billion: That’s how much money we’d have in state coffers if lawmakers passed a fair severance tax on fracking instead of toeing the oil and gas lobby line. When our new State Policy Fellow Guille (gee-sh-eh) Bervejillo did a back-of-the-envelope calculation about the potential revenue loss, he had to learn more. So check out his inaugural Policy Matters blog — the first of many more to come!
20,100: Data released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show that Ohio employers added 20,100 jobs over September, according to Michael Shield’s JobWatch report. That is a positive sign for the post-COVID recovery. As Vice President Kamala Harris visited Ohio yesterday to celebrate the passage of the infrastructure bill, new jobs numbers indicate the bill will help build on momentum in the labor market.
$2 billion: In the 2022-23 state budget, most Ohio lawmakers voted to give away $2 billion of our shared public resources, mostly to the wealthy via tax cuts. That’s just one of the datapoints you’ll find in our searchable and sortable 2022-23 budget index. We released our new budget tool this week along with a detailed review of the state budget. We hope both inform Ohioans about what’s in the state budget, and how we can all work together to make sure the next one better cares for all of us, no exceptions.
$170 million: Last week Wendy Patton testified against Senate Bill 225 before the Senate Finance Committee because it will give $170 million in public funds away to special interests over the next two budget years. Among other things, the bill expands the Opportunity Zone tax credit, which already enriches wealthy developers at the public’s expense.
$500/year: Our partners at ReImagine Appalachia urged Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act, which contains provisions that would save families an average of $500 a year in energy costs while cutting national greenhouse gas emissions by 45-51%. Their blog explains the slew of provisions that would increase opportunity and shared prosperity throughout the region.
87%: The congressional district map approved by the General Assembly will make it very likely that Republicans hold 87% of Ohio’s congressional seats, even though they win only 55% of the votes. Our friends with the Equal Districts Coalition say a fair congressional map should reflect Ohio’s partisan balance, keep communities together and ensure Black and brown Ohioans are fully represented. Now it’s in Gov. DeWine’s hands. Ask him to veto it.
$1 billion: When state lawmakers got rid of the corporate profits tax in favor of the commercial activity tax 15 years ago, they essentially gave corporations a $1 billion tax cut, Zach Schiller told Karen Kasler on the State of Ohio last weekend. Watch him square off against Greg Lawson of the rightwing Buckeye Institute.
Coming up: ReImagine Appalachia is hosting a session to help you talk to people in your life about addressing the climate crisis. Join their webinar on Thursday Dec. 9, 1-2:30 p.m. for Building Bridges: Engaging your Community in Climate Conversations.