After passing an unbalanced and unsustainable budget last summer — that relied on one-time money and unstable revenue sources — they then scrambled to fill a nearly $1 billion deficit by passing a retroactive tax increase.
Ohio’s Democrats passed House Bill 318 to raise the 2009 tax burden by 4.2 percent 10 months into the tax year after ignoring alternative proposals to trim wasteful expenditures from the budget. It was a quick-and-easy solution to a much deeper problem, and with Tax Day fast approaching, taxpayers are being forced to surrender more in state income taxes than they were originally promised by the government.
I believe it is vital to maintain the services that many Ohioans rely on, but it is equally vital to eliminate waste and inefficiency to allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money. House Republicans have introduced numerous measures this General Assembly to stop Ohio’s government bloat and to make our state operations more effective and cost-efficient — including bills to conduct performance audits of state agencies; eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicaid system; and streamline state agencies, just to name a few.
Together, our proposals could have helped the taxpayers enjoy more than $1 billion in immediate and annual savings, while also making our state services more proficient. But instead of exploring these and other cost-saving options, the House majority chose to tack more onto Ohio’s already overtaxed citizens by failing to implement any long-term solutions — which has not only hurt families and businesses but has also created an $8 billion deficit in the next budget.
These are difficult times and Ohioans cannot afford the tax-and-spend policies of the current administration. They deserve leaders who will budget carefully and adjust spending, just as hardworking families do each and every day; leaders who will not drown taxpayers in taxes, fees and penalties.
As your voice in the Statehouse, I will continue to fight for fiscally responsible state policies that will ensure vital services without bleeding the taxpayers dry.
State Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, represents the Ohio House’s 54th District.