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New research: Broadband policy is jobs policy
It’s no secret that Ohio’s Appalachian counties have the most sluggish labor markets of the counties across the state. According to last month’s Ranking of Ohio County Unemployment Rates from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, eight of the ten highest-unemployment counties this month are in Appalachian Ohio. Meanwhile, Appalachian Ohio also suffers […]
Education reforms in state budget could narrow achievement gap
Last Monday, members of the Ohio House and Senate finally reconciled their respective versions of the state budget, passing it with bipartisan support in both chambers. While a $1.6 billion tax cut and funding for broadband and brownfield development will make headlines, the most historic provision of this budget is likely its change to the […]
How can we do higher quality early childhood programs in Ohio?
One provision in the Ohio Senate’s new $75 million budget passed last week that has garnered plenty of attention has to do with Step Up to Quality, the state’s system for promoting quality in early childhood programs in Ohio. The Senate budget removes the Step Up to Quality child care standards mandate, allowing child care […]
Bail reform could reduce disparities and save money
Last month, state Sens. Rob McColley and Steve Huffman introduced a bill to reform the bail system in Ohio. Ohio has already had some counties dip their toe in the bail reform water. Toledo’s Lucas County released twice as many defendants in 2015 in its first year using a new bail-setting system based on risk […]
Vax-a-Million: Is it worth it?
Last weekend, the Ohio Capital Journal reported that a state representative is considering introducing legislation to halt the “Vax-a-Million” campaign, a public outreach campaign that is famously giving $1 million to five Ohioans who have been vaccinated and registered for the program. The Journal has also covered the consternation with the program among legislators, with […]
The vaccination conversation changes
The vaccine conversation is changing, and it’s changing fast. Just a month ago, people across the state were tapping “refresh” on their browsers, hoping to book their spot at a local pharmacy for an assurance against infection delivered by Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson. Just two weeks ago, I biked down to Grove City […]
All tax cuts are not created equal
At the federal and state level, in governments run by both Republicans and Democrats, policymakers are cutting taxes. The federal American Rescue Plan, passed with no Republican votes, featured one of the largest one-year tax cuts in modern U.S. history. The Ohio House’s Republican-backed state budget bill features a 2% income tax cut across the […]
The ‘other epidemic’ of opioids rages on
Last week, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services announced $13 million in new grants awarded to community organizations trying to reduce opioid overdoses in the state. That’s right, another epidemic is still raging while we tap the “refresh” buttons on our browsers hoping for our COVID-19 vaccination appointments. According to the most […]
Recreational cannabis could raise hundreds of millions in new revenue
In November of last year, Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota all legalized recreational use of cannabis. While reasoning for legalization of recreational cannabis range from racial justice to economic growth, one benefit that has many state legislators interested is tax revenue. Last year, each state that had legalized recreational cannabis raised at least […]
Ohio’s children will carry the scars of 2020 for decades to come
The conversation about in-person schooling has shifted substantially in the past few months. While experts have been emphasizing the importance of in-person learning for young children for nearly a year now, public worries about COVID-19 have kept many children out of the classroom. Only now, with vaccination becoming available for teachers, are many school districts […]
Salary history bans can impact wage gap
Last week, Canal Winchester State Senator Tina Maharath introduced a bill to the Ohio State Senate to prohibit employers from asking about applicants’ salary histories. Applicant salary history has become a flashpoint in conversations about what can be done to close the gender pay gap. The argument is that past salary history can be a […]
When will Ohio spend its “Rainy Day” savings?
In May of 2020, when Ohio had been plunged into recession by the COVID-19 pandemic, state budget analysts were wringing their hands trying to make ends meet in the wake of the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Recession. Gov. Mike DeWine released a budget plan that month that cut state spending by $775 million […]