business
Ohio education restructuring garners business support
Public education officials might be largely opposed to an Ohio Senate measure looking to restructure the Ohio Department of Education, but business leaders are on board. Among the proponents of Senate Bill 1 is the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, which sees the restructure as a way to meet goals in its own “blueprint for Ohio’s […]
U.S. House panel weighs labor law amendment to protect workers from wage theft
WASHINGTON — U.S. House lawmakers questioned several labor experts Wednesday before a House Education and Labor panel about how a new bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 would protect workers from wage theft. House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro introduced the bill, H.R. 3712, known as the “Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act […]
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 Democrats promote ‘Equal Pay Act’ to close state’s wage gap
Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation seeking to close the wage gap in Ohio and ensure that women earn as much as men in the workforce. State Reps. Stephanie Howse of Cleveland and Jessica Miranda of Forest Park recently sponsored the “Ohio Equal Pay Act,” which sets new requirements for public employers as well as business […]
Cleveland debate: Fact checking claims from Trump, Biden
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden squared off in their first General Election debate in Cleveland on Tuesday night. There were plenty of fireworks throughout the night, most coming from the debate stage and not from Progressive Field three miles away. (Sorry, Indians fans.) Here is a look at several claims with […]
DeWine wants to help minorities and the poor, but he hasn’t always acted
As he deals with the twin challenges of civil unrest and a global pandemic, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spoke passionately Tuesday about the need to address racial, economic and health disparities in Ohio. But while he listed a number of initiatives aimed at alleviating endemic problems in the black neighborhoods of Ohio cities and along […]
Bill allowing ‘affirmative defense’ for employers in harassment cases moves on for full House vote
A bill that would give businesses an “affirmative defense” in sexual harassment cases has passed through committee, headed for a full vote by the Ohio House. House Bill 352 was introduced in October. Its sponsors, state Rep. Jon Cross, R-Kenton, and state Rep. George F. Lang, R-West Chester, said the bill would allow “timely, fair, […]
Big testing questions remain as Ohio allows businesses to reopen
Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday began “reopening” the economy, or relaxing coronavirus restrictions. But he said Ohioans would have to wait until today, Monday, to hear how the state planned to expand testing to determine whether or how the disease might spread in response to the reopening measures. May 1 marked the reopening of general […]
‘Voltage Valley’ senators want Ohio tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases
With investments being made into the electric vehicle industry in Northeast Ohio, two area legislators want the state to enact tax incentives for people wanting to buy those vehicles. This is part of a plan to make Ohio a “world capital of electric vehicles,” according to a pair of Mahoning Valley state senators: Michael Rulli, […]
Bill looks to give employers ‘affirmative defense’ in sex harassment cases
A bill that would provide an “affirmative defense” for employers in sexual harassment cases is continuing through the Ohio Legislature. House Bill 352, also called the “Employment Law Uniformity Act,” has been touted by its sponsors as a new way to allow “timely, fair, and efficient resolution of claims for both employers and employees,” according […]