Ruling on unemployment benefits a setback to Ohio economy
Thousands now won’t have support they badly need Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael J. Holbrook ruled late Thursday against three unemployed Ohioans and refused to reinstate the $300 in federal weekly supplemental unemployment benefits that Gov. Mike DeWine ended on June 26. He declined to issue a preliminary injunction that would have brought […]
Two state policy fellows join Policy Matters
Organization announces other staff changes Today, Policy Matters Ohio announced the addition of two state policy fellows through the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities State Policy Priorities (SPP) network, Tanisha Pruitt, Ph.D. and Guillermo Bervejillo, Ph.D. During the fellowship, Pruitt and Bervejillo will spend two years with Policy Matters producing research on tax and […]
Policy Matters reports point the way for Cleveland officials to reimagine public safety
Two reports released today by Policy Matters Ohio examine the city of Cleveland’s police budget and explore proven alternatives for responding to certain emergencies and building safe communities. Senior Project Director Wendy Patton shows that 56% of the city’s $665 million General Revenue Fund (GRF) — which is funded by local taxes — goes toward […]
New report shows concrete steps to respect and protect Ohioans in essential jobs
Three out of every 10 working Ohioans perform essential jobs that keep our communities safe and functioning. Still, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio and Essential Ohio, essential workers’ median pay is 12.9% less than that of workers in nonessential jobs. Meanwhile, essential workers’ risk of contracting COVID-19 and bringing it home […]
Four ways the American Rescue Plan can support working people
Local governments can drive equitable recovery The American Rescue Plan (ARP) signed by President Biden in March allocates $33 billion to states and cities across the country to rebuild after the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. A new report from Policy Matters Ohio provides Ohio’s local governments with guidance about how they should […]
DeWine misses chance to sign a true “People’s Budget”
Today, Gov. Mike DeWine signed the $74 billion 2022-23 state budget. Policy Matters Executive Director Hannah Halbert released the following statement: “People from across Ohio called, wrote, and showed up to ask their elected representatives to pass a ‘People’s Budget’ that would put Ohio on a path toward an inclusive and vibrant recovery. We made […]
Ohio income-tax cuts would reward the wealthiest
General Assembly lards budget bill with tax breaks, while eliminating review Income-tax cuts approved by the General Assembly in the budget bill would favor the very wealthiest Ohioans, while providing only modest benefits for moderate-income Ohioans and nothing at all to the state’s poorest. Benefiting especially from the elimination of the top bracket of the […]
Gov. DeWine should restore unemployment benefit
End of $300 a week is blow to families, Ohio economy This Saturday, June 26, an extra $300 a week in federal unemployment compensation (UC) will end for close to 300,000 Ohioans. Governor Mike DeWine ordered the end of the benefits, which otherwise would continue through Sept. 4. Policy Matters Ohio Research Director Zach Schiller […]
Broad coalition calls on state leaders to pass a budget that cares for all Ohioans
Early this morning, a broad coalition of 97 organizations sent key state officials a letter calling for a 2022-23 state budget that cares for all Ohioans, regardless of where they live, what they look like, or how much money they have. The organizations represent hundreds of thousands of Ohioans including children, families, direct service providers, […]
All In For Ohio Kids tell lawmakers to pass the Fair School Funding Plan
Today the All In For Ohio Kids coalition gathered in the Statehouse and called on lawmakers to give all Ohio children, no matter where they live or what they look like, the opportunity to follow their dreams and live up to their abilities. The coalition — made up of teachers, school administrators, policy experts, parents […]
Senate budget bill targets aid programs
New measures would make recovery harder for struggling Ohioans Today the Ohio Senate Finance Committee unveiled its 2022-23 budget with amendments. Senators are expected to vote on the budget bill on Thursday, June 10. Policy Matters Ohio Senior Project Director Wendy Patton released the following statement: “We look to government to provide us with a […]
Proposed Senate tax cuts would go mostly to the affluent
Analysis finds they would do little for most Ohioans The Ohio Senate proposal to cut income-tax rates by 5% would favor the richest Ohioans without doing anything to help Ohioans making less than $22,000 a year, according to a study Policy Matters Ohio released today. In that, the measure is similar to the 2% reduction […]