An income tax hike of 4.2% for all Ohioans.

HB 318 sticks Ohioans with a bill of nearly $900 million in unexpected taxes, while more than 10 percent of our population is unemployed.

This legislation will retroactively raise the income tax rates on Ohioans, eliminating a reduction they has been effective since January 1, 2009. This will not promote job creation, especially among small businesses.

HB 318 is a tax increase crafted to temporarily ease the ever-growing deficit caused by the Democrat spending problem while hemorrhaging jobs from Ohio.



House Republicans offered the following solutions to avoid an unnecessary and detrimental tax increase:

Income Tax Increase Removal
o This amendment, offered by Rep. Seth Morgan (R-Huber Heights) would remove the income tax increase from HB 318.
o This amendment will save Ohio citizens and business from a $900 million tax increase.

State Government Reorganization (HB 25)
o This amendment, offered by Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney), would consolidate the executive branch from 24 departments into 11 in order to reorganize and streamline operations as a cost savings measure.
o The proposed plan is a sound cost-saving option which does not raise taxes or incur more debt. The plan is estimated to save taxpayers approximately $1 billion annually.

Medicaid Reforms (HB 240)
o This amendment, offered by Rep. Dave Burke (R- Marysville), aims to fix inefficiencies in the Medicaid system to reduce costs. In 2006, the Auditor of State conducted a Medicaid performance audit and provided recommendations to improve Ohio’s Medicaid program and reduce costs without slashing critical services. The audit found more than $400 million could be saved annually; to date Governor Strickland has refused to act on more than $302 million in savings.

School District Mandate Relief
o This amendment, offered by Rep. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), would provide local control to school districts when faced with unfunded state mandates.
o This amendment would provide relief from mandates, at no cost to the state, by allowing school boards the ability to decide if they have the ability to meet the requirement, instead of ODE making the decision for them.

Hospital Employment and Sustainability Committee
o This amendment, offered by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville), would create the Joint Legislative Committee on Hospital Employment and Sustainability.
o The proposed amendment will study the impact of HB 1, and the more than $700 million in new hospital taxes it contained, on the ability of Ohio hospitals to survive and employ Ohioans.