Buckeye Institute
Ohio state Sen. Fedor offers bill extending unemployment to lower wage workers
State Sen. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo, has introduced legislation to lower the income thresholds for claiming unemployment. The shift would make it easier for part-time and underemployed workers to receive benefits if they lose their jobs. Under current law, workers must make almost $6,000 and be employed for at least 20 weeks out of the year […]
House committee approves ‘public safety’ measures that could expand cash bail in Ohio
The House criminal justice committee passed two measures Wednesday that could lead to a greater reliance on cash bail. Meanwhile, lawmakers amended a different bail reform measure to set explicit limits on the calculation of cash bail. Although the proposals appear to be at cross-purposes, advocates are hoping the two could work together. The proposals […]
GOP lawmakers seek to repeal tax on Ohio businesses
Some Republican lawmakers want to do away with an Ohio business tax that helps to fund state services. A new bill proposes to repeal Ohio’s “commercial activity tax” (CAT for short) by phasing it out over the next five years. This tax is levied on businesses with over $150,000 in yearly taxable gross receipts — […]
Ohio unemployment dipped in June; remains three times higher than last summer
Ohio’s unemployment rate dipped significantly last month — hitting its lowest percentage since the coronavirus pandemic stunted the state’s labor force in March — but unemployment numbers remain nearly three times that of last summer. According to a monthly report by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.9% in June […]
Criminal justice reform group releases video with wide spectrum of supporters
The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) on Wednesday released a new video of key Ohio stakeholders from the state legislature, law enforcement, and advocacy and policy organizations urging support for criminal justice reform via Senate Bill 3. The video features Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, Senate Bill 3 sponsor state Sen. John Eklund, Ohio […]