 |
From newsnet5...
State budget clears
House, heads to governor
By Elizabeth Misson
6/29/11
See below for comments
from Sen. Keith Faber, Rep. Jim Buchy and Rep. Dick Adams
COLUMBUS, Ohio - On Wednesday, the Ohio House passed a nearly $56
billion two-year state budget bill that contains an overhaul of
Medicaid and a new merit-based pay system for teachers. The bill passed
by a vote of 59-40.
The bill had passed the GOP-controlled Senate on a 22-11 vote Tuesday,
with just one Republican voting against it.
Some of the more recent changes made to the budget along the way
include the elimination of the state’s estate tax by 2013 and rewards
for high-performing schools.
Lawmakers talked (and sometimes shouted) for just under three hours
during Wednesday’s session on the House floor. Several democrats argued
that they did not feel included during the budget committee hearings
and that the new bill made too many cuts to local government funding.
House Minority Leader Armond Budish went so far as to say that the
budget bill would cause much “pain and suffering.”
Republicans argued back that the two years ago when the last budget was
voted on, Republicans were handed a document—thousands of pages
long—and were given one hour to look at it before voting on it.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich released the following statement following
Wednesday’s vote:
“Together we’ve done something that people said couldn’t be done—we
closed the largest budget shortfall Ohio’s ever faced and we did it
without raising taxes. In fact, we cut taxes $300 million per year. We
did all of this while also solving tough problems that have long
haunted our state. It wasn’t easy and it took courage—it always takes
courage to do the right thing—and I’m proud to count myself in the camp
of the courageous today. Ohio’s becoming jobs-friendly again because we
refuse to kick problems down the road. We show compassion for the most
vulnerable, we demand good stewardship of the taxpayer’s money and
we’re tearing down barriers so Ohioans can achieve their God-given
potential. Together we’re getting it done.”
Democratic State Rep. Mike Foley of Cleveland disagrees.
“It’s time we tax fairly and cut wisely, not tax the middle class and
cut services to our children, seniors, and public safety. This vote is
a call to action. The Republicans in the House have moved so far
towards the interests of the rich and powerful, the people must
respond,” Foley said in a press release.
Read the rest of the story and see the video at newsnet5
Senator Faber’s Weekly Newsletter, posted Wednesday morning
Senator Faber’s Weekly
Newsletter
Special Budget Edition, Part 2
Yesterday I voted to approve the conference committee report of the new
biennial budget. This budget is a triumph for smarter, leaner
government. I am proud to say that my caucus rejected the calls
for increased taxes and made the necessary cuts to improve the business
climate of the state while protecting essential funding for education
and health and human services.
One of the hallmarks of this budget is an innovative program to
encourage investment and job growth. During the budget process I
worked with the Kasich Administration and private sector tax experts to
develop InvestOhio, a new program that allows people making an
investment in an Ohio small business to receive a tax credit of 10
percent if they keep the investment for at least two years... Read the rest of the newsletter here.
Rep. Jim Buchy Releases
Statement on Passage of Historic Budget
COLUMBUS—Today, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a historic
budget that successfully fills an $8 billion budget deficit without
raising taxes on Ohioans. In addition to improving government
efficiency and making Ohio more economically competitive, Substitute
House Bill 153 makes significant improvements to the programs and
services that matter most to Ohioans, while at the same time respecting
Ohio’s taxpayers.
In response to the passage of Sub. H.B. 153, State Representative Jim
Buchy (R-Greenville) has released the following statement:
“This state is facing unprecedented challenges. I continue to be
impressed by the work of the governor and my colleagues to put Ohioans
to work and streamline government. The use of one-time stimulus
dollars in the last budget left the state with an $8 billion budget
gap. Ohio residents asked leaders to balance the budget without raising
taxes. By streamlining operations, this budget has been balanced
without tax increases. Important services will still be available
for Ohio citizens, because agency heads have reorganized the way they
provide services, and they have minimized the costs of those services
to the taxpayers. This is the 10th budget I have been a part of,
and I have never seen a budget with such sound principles and
job-friendly policies.”
Rep. Richard Adams
Releases Statement on Passage of Historic Budget
COLUMBUS—Today, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a historic
budget that successfully fills an $8 billion budget deficit without
raising taxes on Ohioans. In addition to improving government
efficiency and making Ohio more economically competitive, Substitute
House Bill 153 makes significant improvements to the programs and
services that matter most to Ohioans, while at the same time respecting
Ohio’s taxpayers.
In response to the passage of Sub. H.B. 153, State Representative
Richard Adams (R-Troy) has released the following statement:
“The development of a two-year budget to spend taxpayer dollars was a
difficult task. Taxes were not increased for operating state
government. As a result, the Ohio economy will continue to improve, and
more jobs will be created in the private sector during the challenging,
national economic downturn.”
|
