The Battle to Bring an End to Gov. Gilligan’s Income Tax Has Begun
Published June 25th, 2008 @ 9:07 am. Tags: income tax, john adamsFor 36 years, Ohioans have been sending a portion of their paychecks to the state — an act that cost the median filer $619 in 2005.
Some Ohio lawmakers say it’s time to let Ohioans keep that money.
“To me, it just seems pretty logical,” said Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney. His House Bill 534 calls for phasing out the state income tax over 10 years. “I’m going to keep pushing it because I don’t foresee the economy getting better in Ohio. I only foresee it getting worse.”
While some see little logic in trying to wipe out state government’s largest source of revenue — about 43 percent of it — Adams’ effort isn’t just some wild adventure by a freshman lawmaker and a band of conservative ideologues.
The bill’s 18 Republican co-sponsors include Rep. Matthew J. Dolan of Novelty, the front-runner for speaker next year if the GOP keeps control of the House; Rep. William G. Batchelder of Medina, the Statehouse’s most experienced lawmaker and Dolan’s leadership rival; and Rep. Jay Hottinger of Newark, chairman of the powerful House Finance Committee.
The theme among supporters: Ohio’s income tax puts it at a competitive disadvantage to some adjacent states and is a disincentive for small businesses to grow.
“It’s important that we get ourselves in line with the states we’re competing with,” Hottinger said.
Finally, Republicans in Ohio are sounding like Republicans again and are waking up to how Ohio’s heavy tax burden makes our state uncompetitive. Adam’s bill has 19 co-sponsors, and it’s a perfect chance to not only help Ohioans keep more of their money but to also force the Democrats into defending Ohio’s high levels of taxation.
You left off the bottom of the story -hmmmm.
Ohio will be a great place when we shut down the prison system and shut down the public university system.
Instead of useful proposals for tax reform and economic development we get moonbat nonsense. Being an Ohio Republican is a little embarassing.
Maybe we can make it up on oil royalties and sales taxes on tourists, like Florida and Texas. [chuckle]
Whether you agree or not this is just a bone that the State legislature is throwing us to try to save their control of it. They are so addicted to money down there they are going to have to raise something in order to make up the shortfall. Gas? License fees? how about adding a tax on food to make the shortfall? There are too many people who are recieving monies in the system that has been created with its auto increases what is going to happen? Let me guess a state sales tax increase?
Ending auto-increases would also be a good goal… Starting every year with a 0 budget and having departments and agencies request their budget each year.
But this income tax elimination plan is over 10 years… and with the increase and economic activity and population increase such an an elimination would cause would make up for a good portion of the lost revenue… But there is no doubt that cuts would have to be made. And this is a perfect chance for Republicans in Ohio to finally draw a clear distinction between them and the Democrats.