Ohio legislators have taken Medicaid expansion out of the budget, but keep talking about it. That’s good, because expanding Medicaid would be good for Ohio and good for Ohioans. In this issue brief, we look at studies of Medicaid quality.
Ohio policymakers should not simply extend the enterprise zone program. If it is to be continued, it needs a serious overhaul.
Legislators should accept federal dollars to pay for comprehensive health care coverage for Ohio’s low-income workers. Approving a budget that expands Medicaid to 153,000 low-income working women, and others, will help mothers and babies get healthier in Ohio. As a result, families, communities, and our economy will grow stronger.
Fully 70 percent of districts responding to the survey said they had made cuts to balance the budget for 2012-13, up from about two-thirds that reported cuts for the previous school year. More than 90 percent of respondents said they anticipated having to make cuts next year unless they get
Long-term investment in education is the best way to build opportunity for Ohioans. Instead, Ohio’s cuts to school funding have forced schools to get rid of staff, reduce pay, cut materials and increase class sizes.
Automatic cuts in federal funding are already being reported across the state, hitting everything from NASA to Head Start. As the General Assembly considers the state budget, ways in which the state can help stem the growing damage from federal budget cuts should be included in the debate.
The windfall from Medicaid expansion, the slightly improved economy, and the state’s continued use of funds historically shared with local governments and schools all help fund a modest restoration under this proposal. But too much of the new money is being directed to income tax cuts that go primarily to
The sequester will now cost Ohio about $187 million in federal funds this year.
Despite new revenues from casino gambling and an expanded sales tax, the administration’s budget proposal leaves local governments in the lurch. As the economy improves, we must restore the fiscal partnership between state and community.
Policy Matters issued this initial statement today on key elements of Gov. Kasich’s budget proposal. We will continue to monitor the budget process, praising the smart solutions and suggesting other ways that the state budget can ensure that Ohio is creating an economy that works for everyone.
Policy Matters will be watching closely, analyzing, praising the smart solutions and suggesting other ways that the state budget can ensure that Ohio is creating a society that works for everyone.
Communities struggling due to state cuts
Slashing taxes is not an effective way to promote job growth Columbus is taking half of the funds historically shared with local governments, schools and libraries, and using it to pay for state programs and cut taxes for the wealthiest. This means layoffs in Butler and Warren counties, slashed services