Rep. Upchurch: Dem priorities shape state budget

State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) Thursday voted in favor of the state budget, House Bill 166, which includes a number of key Democratic priorities, including a significant tax cut for working people and families.

“Although we are not completely satisfied with HB 166, we were able to pass a fiscally responsible budget that will better serve our constituency,” said Rep. Upchurch. “This budget represents the beginning of restoring Ohio’s promise by including tax cuts to working people and families, increased funding to combat infant mortality, and moves to promote inclusive communities where together, people learn from diverse incomes, races and generations thrive, prosper, and choose to live, learn, work and invest.”

The budget includes historic tax cuts for working people and families, reducing the middle two income tax brackets and eliminating the bottom two altogether.

Long-held Democratic priorities of closing tax loopholes, like lowering the LLC loophole threshold from $250,000 to $100,000 and eliminating the corporate jet timeshare exemption, also made it into the budget. In addition, lawmakers included a provision to level the playing field for Ohio small businesses by administering online-sales tax collection for large corporations.

Democrats fought to remove a controversial, GOP-backed provision to limit healthcare access for low-income Ohioans that would have charged monthly premiums for Medicaid coverage, a practice that would have jeopardized care for thousands of Ohioans.

Additional key Democratic amendments added to the budget include making college more affordable for low-income students by increasing funding for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant.

The bill also includes provisions outlined in recently-passed HB 154, which would end controversial state takeovers and restore control to local school districts.

A $32 million increase in home visitation funding to combat infant mortality and a minimum wage increase for direct service employees were also included.

The bipartisan bill passed the House and now heads to the state Senate for further consideration.