Rep. Hicks-Hudson Says
Budget Fails to Invest in Working People, Families and the
Communities where They Live
Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson
(D-Toledo) issued the following statement on the House
passage of House Bill 110, the state's two-year budget.
House Democrats largely opposed the bill, saying it was a
missed opportunity to invest in everyday Ohioans still
struggling amid the health and economic crisis.
"This 2759-page document
reflects the limited vision as exhibited by the funding
decisions made. It is a shame that when given the
opportunity to fund bold policies that would help working
families, seniors and young children, this budget gives a
tax credit that benefits the wealthy and negatively impacts
local governments and public libraries," said Rep.
Hicks-Hudson.
Democrats also noted that the
Republican-backed $380 million tax giveaway that largely
benefits the wealthiest Ohioans could threaten hundreds of
millions of dollars in federal funding under the American
Rescue Plan.
Democrats offered a number of
amendments on the House floor Wednesday, including measures
that would:
* Put more money back in the
pockets of working people by making the earned income tax
credit partially refundable and investing in local
governments and public libraries;
* Increase access to publicly
funded childcare to allow more Ohioans to get back to work;
* Prioritize coronavirus
relief, including investments in public health, rental
assistance and waiving unemployment benefit overpayments
made to Ohioans during the pandemic.
* Restore Republican cuts to
H2Ohio funding to invest in clean water infrastructure.
* Raise wages for home health
care workers and allow them to collectively bargain for
better wages and benefits.
* Invest in programs to make
college more affordable to lower-income Ohioans.
* Invest in maternal health
and morbidity data reporting to improve health outcomes.
* Increase funding for AIDS
prevention services at Ohio Planned Parenthood and removes
funding from crisis pregnancy centers.
Republicans rejected each
amendment.
After passing the House, the
bill moves to the Senate for consideration.
|