Wendy Patton, senior project director for Policy Matters Ohio, joined Progress Ohio and the Progressive Legislative Caucus at a Statehouse press conference on federal deficit reduction. Her remarks addressed the importance of revenues in the budget and deficit discussions pending in Congress.
The state is already improving services and controlling costs by reducing complexity, and creating a managed care pilot. But more can be done to help people in their homes, bring additional federal dollars to underwrite these services, and create jobs in the community. Press releaseDownload the full reportExecutive summary One
Cuts in state support to communities across Ohio have deepened, resulting in slashed services, closed facilities and layoffs. Our in-depth analysis provides county-level data on cuts as well as descriptions, from local sources, of the damage done.
Deregulation in other states has not made tuition more affordable, increased access for low-income students, or increased graduation rates. Public support for universities and funding for need-based aid, not management structure, are the key factors that lead to lower tuition and more access.
Expanding Medicaid to cover more uninsured Ohioans would use federal funds to support a healthier Ohio, bringing billions of dollars to the state and cutting health care costs. There is a lot to gain from saying yes, and much to lose from opting out.
A modern, fair state tax system is needed to generate revenue to support public education for Ohio’s families and children.
Gov. Kasich proposes to give the money raised from a higher severance tax mostly to upper-income Ohioans. Instead, we all must benefit from better education and public services that otherwise are being cut in the current state budget. For immediate releaseContact Wendy Patton, 614.221.4505Download statement Governor proposes doing the right
This report explores how revenue from a fracking tax could bolster vital public services if it is not used to finance income tax cuts that would mostly benefit wealthy Ohioans, as Gov. John Kasich has proposed. The Ohio General Assembly should consider an adequate tax on oil and gas extraction
Communities could gain with adequate tax rates, smaller tax breaks Revenue from a tax on fracking would help communities pay for the impact of this type of oil and natural gas drilling on their roads and services, turn streetlights back on, open senior centers and put supervisors back on playgrounds
Executivesummary The Kasich Administration has proposed strengthening the severance tax, but the General Assembly won’t have the debate. Job losses mount and local economies falter as the result of billions cut in the state budget. There is urgent need to raise revenues to restore jobs and services and help impacted
Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s proposal for a new Financial Institutions Tax, which receives its first hearing in the Ohio House of Representatives today, would deprive the state of much-needed revenue by lowering tax rates for the biggest banking institutions, according to testimony prepared by Wendy Patton, senior project director at
‘Stay the course’ is bad for the rest of us
Ohio has been on a self-imposed austerity plan for years. The state’s tax overhaul in 2005 cut taxes in a big way for business and top earners, but in a small way for the rest of us. As a result, the state has $5 billion less than it otherwise would