Saturday Stats

$910M: Estimated annual reduction in state revenue that would occur if legislators pass the Thriving Families Tax Credit in House Bill 290.

$1B: Estimated annual increase in state revenue that would occur if legislators close the expensive, ineffective, and poorly targeted deduction known as the LLC loophole. Researcher Bailey Williams explains why legislators should do both, and more, in his recent blog post, "The moral case for progressive tax policy."

56%: Share of Cuyahoga County childcare programs that are located in communities with elevated pollution exposure linked to childhood asthma risks, along with undue energy cost burdens that strain providers' budgets. In a recent op-ed for Cleveland.com, researcher Molly Bryden explains how policies to reduce air pollution and energy costs could also help childcare providers and counteract some of the persistent consequences of historic redlining. (This is a preview of a report we'll release this month. If you'd like to be notified as soon as it's out, email communications director Ben Stein to get on the list!)

32: Number of days until the start of Ohio's Lame Duck session - the last few weeks before a new general assembly is sworn in. Legislators sometimes try to ram through their most divisive and destructive ideas during Lame Duck, but it can also be an opportunity for Ohioans to advocate for the policies that matter to us. Either way, it pays to know how best to make your voice heard. That's why Honesty for Ohio Education and URGE Ohio are holding a training session for anyone interested in testifying before the legislature. See Action Items below for registration and details…

Watchlist

Our running list of legislation to watch is on our website. New or moving items are below. Unless otherwise noted, the best action you can take is to call or email your state legislators and tell them to support, oppose, or amend these bills.

UPDATE: SB 37 / HB 29: These companion bills would change some of the rules about how the state uses driver's license suspension as a punishment for certain offenses. Both were discussed at the Drive to Justice Summit. The discussion of SB 37 begins here, and the discussion of HB 29 begins here. Neither bill goes far enough: SB 37 is better than HB 29; HB 29 is better than nothing. Contact your legislators and tell them to add "failure-to-appear" and insurance-related suspensions to the types that are eliminated in SB 37, and pass it during Lame Duck.

HB 290: This bill would create a refundable Thriving Families Tax Credit. Eligible Ohioans could receive a refundable income tax credit of $1,000/year for each child ages 0-5, and $500/year for each child ages 6-17. Families making up to $65,000 would receive the full value, with phase-out beginning at $65,000 until it reaches zero at $85,000. This is an example of how the tax code can be used to help everyday Ohioans, not just the wealthy and well-connected. We strongly support it. Learn more in Bailey's blog, mentioned above.

Action items

Register for "Community Response in Albuquerque and Durham," a webinar presented by Policy Matters, OFUPAC and the Columbus Safety Collective. Learn how Albuquerque and Durham are keeping their communities safer by sending trained peers, clinicians, and other unarmed responders on crisis calls at noon on November 19.

Contact your legislators and tell them to add "failure-to-appear" and insurance-related suspensions to the types that are eliminated in SB 37, and pass it during Lame Duck.

Register for Lame Duck Testimony Training. Monday, October 28, 7-8:30 PM.