Bipartisan bill to unrig Ohio’s tax code should be top priority for next General Assembly
At the close of the 135th Ohio General Assembly, Senators Louis Blessing and Kent Smith introduced legislation that should be taken up immediately at the start of the 136th. The bill from the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Ways and Means Committee would put public resources directly into Ohio communities by fixing and […]
A novel resource for childcare improvements: federal climate funding
Low wages, insufficient public investment, and rising operational costs forced nearly 1,000 childcare programs in Ohio to close between 2019 and 2023. This has left families struggling to find and afford care. Policy Matters’ latest report, authored by Molly Bryden and Ali Smith, offers fresh insights into how environmental and economic conditions intersect to impact the […]
US contract with Intel rolls back promises made to Ohioans
On November 26, The U.S. Department of Commerce released highlights of the final contract between the federal government and Intel Corporation, outlining requirements for the $7.865 billion in funds the company will get under the CHIPS and Science Act, including $1.5 billion for its New Albany facility. The community impact report outlined workforce goals, safety objectives, and […]
Immigrants bolster Ohio economy
New data suggest mass deportations could harm working Ohioans of all backgrounds Immigrant workers and business owners in Ohio generate about $53 billion of Ohio’s economic output, according to the Immigration Research Initiative (IRI), Economic Policy Institute, and Policy Matters Ohio. The finding is among data provided in a new resource highlighting immigrants’ roles in Ohio’s economy. […]
Big raises for Ohio CEOs, small losses for typical employees
Median pay ratio up again in 2023 Fifty of Ohio’s largest employers paid their CEOs a median of 308 times as much as their typical employees last year, according to Policy Matters Ohio’s analysis of filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the median these CEOs — heads of publicly traded corporations with large numbers […]
Despite uncertainty, BIL & IRA still helping Ohio communities
Federal funding remains available for a clean energy future Since 2021, the federal government has announced more than $16.5 billion in funding to Ohio through legislation whose future is now uncertain, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio. The report describes how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) advance environmental […]
State funding could make public transit a better option for Ohioans
In a new report released today, Policy Matters explains state funding for Ohio’s 27 urban and 38 rural public transit systems. The report compares funding streams for Ohio’s public transportation systems to that of four similar states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois), all of which invest significantly more state resources in their systems, with significant benefits for […]
Targeting air pollution could help reduce childhood asthma
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. In his last State of the State address, Gov. Mike DeWine promised to address the root causes of childhood asthma. Supporting Ohio’s childcare programs — where children play, grow and learn — and targeting air pollution in their communities would be a great place […]
Decades of tax breaks for the wealthiest, poor outcomes for Ohioans
New data show continuing trend Major tax policy changes enacted by Ohio lawmakers since 2005 require families with the lowest incomes to pay more, the wealthy to pay less, and the state to forgo the resources it needs to ensure the prosperity of its residents. Those are among the findings of a new report from Policy […]
Ohio’s Black women face barriers to good health
New survey examines individuals’ experiences A recent survey of Black women in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus — conducted by the CEO Project — provides insight into their individual experiences with the health care system in Ohio. Policy Matters Ohio’s new report combines survey findings with analysis of other public health research to illustrate how systemic problems impact individuals, families, […]
New analysis of childcare funding in Ohio
Policy Matters releases the first of two reports Policy Matters Ohio has released the first in a two-part analysis of state and federal funding streams for Ohio’s childcare system. The brief, titled “How Ohio (under)funds childcare” examines funding for the Department of Children and Youth (DCY), created in 2024 through the state budget bill, HB 33. […]
Key findings from State of Working Ohio 2024
Work in progress Policy Matters’ annual State of Working Ohio report finds that federal spending helped Ohio recover jobs more rapidly than after previous recessions, and that the state now has more jobs than ever before, breaking a record that has existed for nearly a quarter century. This rebound positioned many workers to demand wage increases that […]