Legislators need to plug hole in tax system
Ohio should decouple from U.S. tax breaks for affluent business owners If Ohio legislators don’t act soon, federal tax breaks for wealthy investors will ripple through the state’s personal income tax and cause tens of millions of dollars in losses for the state’s already wobbly budget. That’s the conclusion of a report Policy Matters Ohio […]
Advocates call on Speaker Cupp, Ohio House to support college students during pandemic and beyond
Today, College Now Greater Cleveland, the Ohio Student Association and Policy Matters Ohio sent a letter to Ohio Speaker of the House Robert R. Cupp, urging him to support college students harmed by punitive debt-collection and transcript-withholding policies. The group called on Speaker Cupp to hold hearings on legislation introduced this year that will help […]
Ohio needs Appalachian infrastructure plan
In the wake of the announcement of final results in the 2020 presidential race, Amanda Woodrum, senior researcher at Policy Matters Ohio and Stephen Herzenberg, executive director of Keystone Research Center, co-directors of the ReImagine Appalachia (RA) campaign, made the following statement on behalf of the RA campaign: “Like most of us, the people living […]
Municipal income tax shift bill would harm Ohio communities
New analysis shows that proposed legislation to change where workers pay municipal income tax could harm communities with significant employment bases like New Albany and Solon. A Policy Matters Ohio issue brief details new estimates from the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) about the effects of Senate Bill 352 and House Bill 754. However, even […]
Ohioans still need federal aid
More than 700,000 workers applied for unemployment compensation last week, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. In Ohio, some 17,531 applied for regular unemployment benefits last week, more than double the number a year earlier. In addition, another 39,502 Ohioans filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, a CARES Act program […]
ReImagine Appalachia Coalition details regional infrastructure and investment priorities
White papers detail Appalachian climate investment strategy for lawmakers post-election In a virtual press conference today, the ReImagine Appalachia Coalition released a trio of white papers detailing a plan for infrastructure investments in broadband, modernizing the region’s manufacturing sector, reviving the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and promoting regenerative agriculture. View the press conference here. Read […]
Amy Coney Barrett puts Ohio’s health at risk
Today, the U.S. Senate is set to confirm President Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Sen. Sherrod Brown opposed the confirmation, Sen. Rob Portman has said he will vote in favor of Coney Barrett. Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert issued the following statement: “Today, more Ohioans can see a […]
Ohioans deserve to know where candidates stand
COVID relief, jobs, climate change and health care are key issues Tonight, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will meet in another debate. With Ohio looking increasingly competitive, Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert issued the following statement about key issues for Ohio voters: “No matter what we look like or […]
Congress must extend unemployment compensation
Benefits support families and bolster the economy Earlier this year, Congress made historic improvements to the unemployment compensation (UC) program, providing crucial aid to families and the economy. However, the $600 weekly UC supplement already has expired and other provisions are set to do so at the end of the year. Policy Matters Ohio Research […]
ReImagine Appalachia coalition unveils path to nearly half million new jobs
Ohio could gain 235,000 Jobs The ReImagine Appalachia Coalition in partnership with Policy Matters Ohio and the Keystone Research Center today released a report highlighting a path for Ohio and Pennsylvania to gain nearly half a million new jobs. The virtual press conference released findings from the Political Economy Research Institute’s (PERI) economic and job […]
Policy Matters’ revenue proposal would rebuild Ohio’s schools, public health and more
In a virtual press conference today, Policy Matters Ohio unveiled a proposal to clean up and rebalance Ohio’s upside-down tax code. By adopting the plan, Ohio lawmakers could direct $1.94 billion in public resources to shore up the state budget weakened by the pandemic recession, and ensure all communities have the resources they need to […]
Ohioans can’t wait for more COVID aid
Yesterday, the federal government’s negotiations over a new, broad COVID-19 relief package collapsed. Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert released the following statement about what a lack of federal aid means for Ohioans: “Most Ohioans have been doing everything we can to keep ourselves, our families, and neighbors safe: We’ve stayed home, worn masks […]