As we continue the fight to save our country, we must not lose sight of the problems plaguing our state of Ohio. AS we all know, and as numerous reports, studies, and polls show, due to archaic tax laws and business killing policies - Ohio is dying a slow death.
As witnessed with our blown state budget, which is now akin to a Grand Canyon size gap, we must also concentrate our efforts here at home.
It is time for us to "Take Ohio Back for Ohio"
There is currently a package of 10 "job creating, tax-lowering, student & economic development -friendly" proposals in the Ohio House Economic Development Committee that are not only receiving no attention -- but they are being ignored. We cannot allow this to happen!
The Tea Party Patriots and all our fellow conservative groups in OH must save our state from hemorrhaging more jobs and further plunging into an economic abyss - we must Take Ohio Back for Ohio!
Our first step is to get educated on the "Future of Ohio" package languishing in the OH House. We have contacted the office of State Rep. Nan Baker (R-Westlake), the ranking minority leader on the OH House Economic Development Committee, & State Rep. Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown) for more information on these proposals....
"Future of Ohio"
- Employer tax credit to hire unemployed Ohioans: H.B. 277 (Todd Snitchler) would authorize a nonrefundable tax credit for hiring and employing previously unemployed individuals. Ohio businesses that hire previously unemployed individuals will receive a $2,400 tax credit for each such employee that they employ. Each credit will be claimable for up to two years so long as the employee was unemployed for four consecutive weeks immediately preceding their hiring date; the employee is lawfully employable in the United States; and the employee is continuously employed by the employer claiming the credit for a period of two years.
- Small business capital loans: This bill would authorize the creation of a low to zero interest loan program for small businesses through the local business linked deposit program.
- Tax credits for Ohio graduates: H.B. 144 (Cheryl Grossman) would grant an income tax credit eliminating tax liability for five years for individuals who obtain a baccalaureate degree and who reside in Ohio. Eliminating the state income tax liability for graduates will allow them to use the extra money to help pay back their student loans and other debts incurred during college, as well as attract college students from other states.
- Tax credits for specialized crafts: This bill would apply the income tax provisions of H.B. 144 to any person in a trade who has reached the journeyman status or its equivalent.
- Estate tax relief: This bill would reduce the estate tax, authorize townships and municipal corporations to exempt from the estate tax by initiative any estate property located in the township or municipal corporation, and distribute all estate tax revenue originating in a township or municipal corporation that does not exempt property from the tax to the township or municipal corporation of origin.
- Small business regulatory reforms – S.B. Companion 3 (Keith Faber): S.B. 3, a package of small business reforms, is currently under consideration in the House State Government Committee and has been under debate since mid-March. In order to expedite passage of S.B. 3’s key provisions, we drafted companion legislation covering three key proposals to help businesses cut through bureaucratic red tape and provide accountability in crafting agency regulations.
- Small business resource portal: This bill would direct ODOD to create an online small business resource center (expanding upon the existing Ohio Business Gateway) on its internet website, to serve as a clearinghouse of information relevant to Ohio businesses.
- Private Sector compensatory time – S.B. 17 Companion (Kevin Coughlin): This proposal would provide more flexibility, allowing an employer to instead provide compensatory time, or paid time off of work. The intent of this legislation is to enable employers to provide a more family friendly work environment by providing flexibility for their employees. S.B. 17
- Tracking job placement success: This bill would require the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to submit annually to the leaders of the General Assembly a copy of the report submitted to the United States Department of Labor pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act and to make a copy of the report available on the department's website.
- Analyzing company exodus: This bill would require the Ohio Department of Development to produce a report of companies that have relocated out of Ohio, develop a standard questionnaire to elicit the reasons why those companies have chosen to leave Ohio, and share its findings with the legislature.
Now -- to get this going, with the same energy we've already shown in our battle against a country-killing Cap & Trade bill and government run health care, we are asking phone calls, emails and letters be sent to Gov. Strickland, OH House Speaker Rep. Armond Budish, Democrat members on the OH House Economic Development Committee & your local OH State Rep's and urge them to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to saving jobs and saving our state!
Governor Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
Phone: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
Email: Click Here
Speaker of the House
Armond D. Budish (D-Beachwood)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5441
Fax: (614) 719-0008
Email: district08@ohr.state.oh.us
Economic Development Committee
Chairwoman
State Representative Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-1414
Fax: (614) 719-0011
Email: district11@ohr.state.oh.us
Vice-Chair
Representative Denise Driehaus (D-31st District)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5786
Fax: (614) 719-3585
Email: district31@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Michael DeBose (D-Cleveland)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-1408
Fax: (614) 719-3912
Email: district12@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Timothy J. DeGeeter (D-Parma)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-3485
Fax: (614) 719-3911
Email: district15@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-5802
Fax: (614) 719-3973
Email: district73@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-26)
Address: 77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-8010
Fax: (614) 719-3580
Email: district26@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Matt Lundy (D-57th District)
Address: 77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-5076
Fax: (614) 719-3957
Email: district57@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Dennis Murray (D-Sandusky)
Address: 77 S. High St
13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6011
Fax: (614) 719-6980
Email: district80@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Debbie Phillips (D-Athens)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-2158
Fax: (614) 719-6992
Email: district92@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Raymond Pryor (D-Chillicothe)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-7928
Fax: (614) 719-6985
Email: district85@ohr.state.oh.us
State Representative Peter S. Ujvagi (D-Toledo)
Address: 77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6017
Fax: (614) 719-6947
Email: district47@ohr.state.oh.us
Click here for all Economic Development Committee members. Click here to find your OH House Representative.
