Author: Policy Matters Staff

1.4 million: The proposal to raise Ohio’s minimum wage to $13 by 2025 would make sure 1.4 million Ohioans are paid more fairly for the work they do, according to a new report from Researcher Michael Shields. It would also benefit more than half a million children and take important

268: Ohio Senate Bill 3 would open up opportunities for people who have struggled with addiction. Michael Shields found the bill would remove 268 legal barriers to jobs and professional licensing that hold people back even after they’ve paid their debt to society. However, the bill only applies to future

1,200: EdChoice vouchers suck money from public schools and give it to private schools. Next year, 1,200 public schools will lose revenue due to this policy, up from 238 schools last year. Lawmakers said they’ll find ways to rein in the program by February 1st. Piet van Lier offers seven

20: That’s how many years Amy Hanauer has spent running Policy Matters Ohio after she helped found the organization in 2000. You can hear her reflect on her tenure on WCPN’s “The Sound of Ideas.” In January, she will begin her new role as Executive Director of Washington D.C.-based Institute

1: We are losing one great executive director. Amy Hanauer will leave Policy Matters in January to take the helm of Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. If you’re interested helping us make Ohio work for everyone, apply here. 1,000: Ohio employers cut 1,000 jobs last month, according to Hannah

7: From Medicaid work requirements to Stand Your Ground, Caitlin Johnson highlighted seven of the super scary policies some Ohio lawmakers actually want to pass. All of these ideas should be buried in the grave. 2nd: Indiana became the second state in recent weeks – after Arizona – to stop

1: We have one awesome new colleague at Policy Matters! This week we welcomed Jasmine Ayres as our new policy liaison. Born and raised in Columbus, Jasmine has a bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

42: Ohioans in 42 counties will have more access to affordable food thanks to action taken by Governor DeWine. The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services asked the federal government to waive time limits on people receiving food aid in communities with high unemployment. As a result, Ohioans will

10,700: Ohio had 10,700 fewer jobs in August than it did in January, according to Hannah Halbert’s latest JobWatch. That’s despite the fact that, as Hannah puts it, “These should be the good years.” She says legislators should be making tax and budget changes now, to prepare for any not-so-good

$9.8 billion: That’s how much potential tax revenue Ohio gives up due to tax breaks lawmakers give out. Wendy Patton and Zach Schiller took a deep dive into Ohio’s biggest and fastest growing tax breaks so you don’t have to. Read their paper for the scoop on how your money

100+ people gathered in Cleveland for our “Which Side Are You On: Cleveland Work and Wages Conference” yesterday. All work has dignity and all working people deserve to be paid fully and fairly for the hours they put in. It was great to be in a room with so many