Shawnee vs. Catholic Central
Edgewood vs. Miamisburg
Alter vs. Centerville
Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > June > 23 > Entry
Four House Dems want tax hikes “on the table”
Four House Democrats broke ranks with the Statehouse’s “no tax hike” mantra on Tuesday, June 23.
The four, including Rep. Mike Foley of Cleveland, a Dayton-area native, said tax increases must be considered as part of the solution to the $3.2 billion shortfall in the proposed state budget.
The other three were: Reps. Ted Celeste of Grandview Heights; Dan Stewart of Columbus and Robert Hagan of Youngstown.
Their possible solutions included rolling back some of the personal income tax rate reductions - particularly for the wealthiest Ohioans - that were part of the 2005 overhaul of the tax code.
“We all agree that there should be a sharing of the pain,” said Celeste.
They all said that the $2.4 billion in cuts proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland would inflict too much pain on those least able to bear it. Strickland also wants to raise revenue by putting video slot machines at racetracks.
House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, leader of the four, remains opposed to tax hikes, said Keary McCarthy, his spokesman.
“The Speaker doesn’t think tax increases on Ohioans is the best approach during an economic downturn,” said McCarthy. “He appreciates his colleagues’ willingness to present solutions during a difficult budget.”
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Leslie
June 24, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this
“personal income tax rate reductions”. I’d like to know what those are. I can’t even write off my business loss, they only care if I make money so they can take it.By Leslie
June 24, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this
I would also like to point out that the Muslims were enslaving Europeans and Africans way before your African ancestors sold your ancestors to the southern democrats. I’m sure you were not educated on that.By Leslie
June 24, 2009 4:09 PM | Link to this
ccv you need an education. Ohio was not a slave state. This country was built by the immigrants that came here, we worked the land day in day out to survive. If you want to feel that slavery built the south fine - but us up here did not have slaves and worked just as hard as slaves. We even fought for the freedom of slaves and gave slaves sanctuary in our states. I also would like to point out that it was the democratic party we fought. The democratic party were the slave owners - you know - like Obama’s great grandpa. The republicans freed the slaves. Our civil war had a lot to do with slavery. The north did not approve of slavery. This country stands for freedom for all! Many of our ancestors (yes white) died for your ancestors freedoms. You want to be mad at somebody, be mad at Obama and the democrats they are the ones that are once again going to enslave you. And if you don’t see that, you are just ignorant and obviously got a democratic public education - therefore, you have no clue about history.By Anon
June 24, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
SteveZ, I don’t think we had any business bailing out the bankers, auto manufacturers, or any other business; the first priority of government is national security. Besides, the State of Ohio didn’t have anything to do with this issue; you’re comparing apples and oranges. As I recall, recent news reports indicated that 1% of all City of New York residents (approximately 40,000 people) paid 50% of the city income tax. As I recall, Ohio has about 10 million residents, which means our top 1% of taxpayers are probably no more than 50,000 people. What happens to the state when those one-percenters decide they don’t want to pay that tax, and move to Florida, Texas, or some other state that doesn’t have state income taxes? They save huge dollars, and remove huge chunks of money from the budget—it doesn’t take too many of them to leave to make a big dent in the tax base. Getting to specifics, an individual with a net income of $890,000 pays about $321,100 in federal income tax, and an additional $53,665 in Ohio taxes. If they live in Dayton, they pay an addtional $20,025 in city taxes. This represents over 44% of their income being taken in taxes by the government. Now, you suggest it’s a good idea to increase their Ohio tax by an additional $10,273, bringing their total tax to $405,063, or 45.5% of their income being taken in taxes. Now, chances are that anyone with that annual income level is a business OWNER, and if he decides that he would like to move to a more tax friendly state and eliminate $64,000 in taxes, he can do that. And when he does, he’s taking his business with him, his employees lose their job (hello, NCR!), and the state loses their income in taxes too, plus are on the hook for paying additional benefits in unemployment, Medicare, etc. I note that if half of the one-percenters decided to leave Ohio for more tax friendly states, we’d lose $1.6 billion in tax dollars before we get to the other losses—where are we going to get that money from? Do we plan to double the tax on the remaining one-percenters? How long do you think they will stick around and take it? For ccv: We can’t change history. Yes, white people did bad things to black people and Indians in this country. And you’ll even get me to agree that some ignorant INDIVIDUALS still do that today. But it’s not 1869 anymore; it’s time for us to accept our past and work for a better future. That means people need to take responsibility for themselves, get an education, and get to work. Your success, or lack thereof, is limited only by the amount of effort you’re willing to put into it. As long as you believe that people like me are your enemy, the racist person holding you down is the one you look at in the mirror every morning. However, if you are unable to accept that you can overcome the obstacles you face (which you obviously believe, since you feel every white person is a racist), you have the freedom to go somewhere else where you won’t be held down by the white people in America, and I invite you to exercise your freedom for your own peace of mind.By dave
June 24, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this
Y’all need to talk with the library folks. Tax cuts for the rich…Ya, that’s the ticket!By Steve-Z
June 24, 2009 6:46 AM | Link to this
I’m only defining the ‘overtaxed’ rich in comparison with how the rest of the income levels in the state are taxed. As a percent of their income the rich in this state are vastly undertaxed when looking at the rest of the state population. Accusing those that tax advantage of these essential services provided by the state as being irresponsible gives you some moral clarity in cutting these services, but I just don’t think it holds water. (especially considering how irresponsible national bankers, CEOS, and financial investors were gambling with peoples livelihoods. The same people who are now forced, not by choice, to take advantage of these services that are facing massive cuts unless we do something)By adf
June 24, 2009 1:53 AM | Link to this
start nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; hmm…By adf
June 24, 2009 1:51 AM | Link to this
w sBy newlines
June 24, 2009 1:43 AM | Link to this
white spaceBy newlines
June 24, 2009 1:42 AM | Link to this
newlines newlinesBy ccv
June 24, 2009 1:17 AM | Link to this
equal opportunity = 100% Estate TaxBy ccv
June 24, 2009 1:04 AM | Link to this
anon, keep waving your flag and walking into rooms (I’m the best mfr in this room!). I’m talking about America’s problem, not the world’s problems. We are currently witnessing class warfare. The top dogs have cashed out in the face of accountability to sit around comfortably for the next decade or so while the rest of us get to figure out ways to convince ourselves that “equal opportunity” is not a lie, that the holocaust didn’t happen, and that “by-your-bootstraps” includes having unpaid negroes working the land you were granted because you were white.By Travis Aker
June 24, 2009 12:57 AM | Link to this
That would be so stupid to put more taxes on us. That would even drive more business out of the state of Ohio.By Anon
June 24, 2009 12:43 AM | Link to this
Ok SteveZ, I’ll bite. (And I’m nowhere close to the top percentile.) First, how much is enough? You obviously define overtaxed differently from me; we’ll agree to disagree here. Second, and more importantly, we have to establish a clear line between those that can but won’t, and those that can’t. For those that can, but won’t, why should the responsible be required to pay to allow the irresponsible to continue to be irresponsible? I’m more than happy to pay my fair share to support those that are truly in need, but I’ve had enough of subsidizing those that would rather hang out on street corners instead of getting an education (which my tax dollars paid for) and a job (so they can share the tax load). “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” It’s time to quit giving away the fish, and time for those that can learn how to fish to take responsibility for themselves and do their own fishing.By Steve-Z
June 24, 2009 12:18 AM | Link to this
@anon I would tend to agree with, but for one fatal flaw in your argument…. the wealthy in this state are in no way OVERTAXED(as you so emphatically put it)… The gains from the 2005 cuts are skewed toward the wealthy. The top one percent of Ohio families, who have average incomes of $890,000 per year, will save an average of $10,273 per year from the fully-phased in rate cuts. Families in the middle income quintile, who have average incomes of $38,000, will save an average of $187 per year. The top 20 percent of Ohio families by income will receive $1.56 billion, or 70 percent, of the aggregate $2.22 billion annual reduction. I urge you to read the policy matters ohio report from Spring 2008 for a clear understanding of just what these tax changes did to our tax base.By Anon
June 24, 2009 12:07 AM | Link to this
For Steve Z: So, when all the rich people move away to avoid being OVERTAXED, then who’s going to pay for all the social services? “You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people’s initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.” Abraham Lincoln For ccv: You’re welcome to move to someplace greater anytime the mood suits you. Sooner is preferable, and take all the people that blame America for all the world’s problems with you please.By ccv
June 23, 2009 11:10 PM | Link to this
give what, this country became “the greatest country on earth” by embracing slavery for the first century of its existence, by conquest and expulsion of the original “owners” of the land, by plundering the natural resources of the land with no regard for the future, and by disregarding the rights of the people in the name of profit. Handouts:most land in Ohio was a handout to homesteaders. I agree, there shouldn’t be handouts, because it leads to the “greatness” you are touting.By Steve-Z
June 23, 2009 10:58 PM | Link to this
“Their possible solutions included rolling back some of the personal income tax rate reductions - particularly for the wealthiest Ohioans - that were part of the 2005 overhaul of the tax code.” These taxes would only be rolled back for those making over $200,000…. Those that need the social services that would be wiped out without them won’t be affected by a plan like this. Rich people live in our system, they’ve benefited from our system, they should be willing to give those less off the same opportunity they had. That is of course unless you trust fund babies have anything to do with it.By give what
June 23, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
This is why American’s voted for Obama..to give to those who have less??? Did this country become the greatest on the earth by giving a bunch of handouts? What started the first American revolution???…TAXES!!! What is going to start the second???…TAXES!!! If you want to give more, send the IRS the leftovers in your checking account each week. Spend all your money then borrow some more and give it away too. THAT’s WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING!!! Nobody should be given anything!! Everyone should have equal opportunity to EARN it. All of our problems will be fixed with lower unemployment…period!!! People working will fix the housing crisis. It will force employers to provide health benefits to attract good workers. Higher taxes do neither. They cause good employers to go to more tax friendly states or COUNTRIES! Cut spending first, get the budget under control.By truth
June 23, 2009 9:55 PM | Link to this
Bush looks good? Uhhhh… NO!!!By Barry
June 23, 2009 9:19 PM | Link to this
i really wish they would fix the spacing thing on this there should be four blank lines in this postBy Barry
June 23, 2009 9:16 PM | Link to this
we are in the top ten list of worst tax states in the union, but we aren’t number one yet, give it time kids I would rather they cut government spending the way Jason cuts up teenagers on friday the thirteenthBy Reader
June 23, 2009 9:06 PM | Link to this
A little tax hike certainly will hurt. I’ve already had my hours cut at work so I think I’m giving enough since I’m having to also cut back on groceries, utilities, etc. Can’t wait for 2010 to vote those tax hikers out of office!!By bobby
June 23, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this
The poor and the elderly are the state budget busters. Forty percent of the state budget goes to Medicaid. Please fix this website.By bobby
June 23, 2009 7:58 PM | Link to this
This will accelerate the exodus of wealthy Ohioians to states with no income taxes. The poor and the elderly will be the majority population.By Puddentame
June 23, 2009 7:46 PM | Link to this
A little more tax never hurt anyone. We all have to share in these dire economic times. That is why Americans voted for Obama - to give to those who have less.By jon
June 23, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this
Higher Sales Tax will just be another reason that will keep new business away and lose the ones we have.By Seriously?
June 23, 2009 7:24 PM | Link to this
If anyone is surprised when Dem’s increase taxes please call me. Bernie MadoffBy Shane
June 23, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this
raise taxes, seriously? People can’t afford to stay in their homes as it is. I’d rather keep my home than pay taxes for all this stuff that isn’t necessary. Let’s keep to the basics, keep the roofs over people’s head and food on the table.By Damnstraight
June 23, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
What did you people expect with the Dem’s in power…lower taxes? If so, please call. Bernie MadoffBy Damnstraight
June 23, 2009 7:21 PM | Link to this
What did you people expect with the Dem’s in power…lower taxes? If so, please call. Bernie MadoffBy James
June 23, 2009 7:12 PM | Link to this
Anyone who thought taxes wouldn’t go up were just fooling themselves, it was only a matter of time.By James
June 23, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this
Anyone who thought taxes wouldn’t go up were just fooling themselves, it was only a matter of time.By Painfulwhat?
June 23, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this
And former Gov. Bob Taft was what? George Bush Number 1 was what? fact is republicans raise taxes just like everyone else. Don’t like taxes say so, but be honest and not partisan about it.By painfultruth
June 23, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this
Democrats raising taxes? NO, only REPUBLICANS hurt the little people! You voted the socialist Democrats in - you got what you wished for in higher taxes. Bush looks pretty good now, doesn’t he?