The Constitution, Federal Legislation, and Ohio
By Matt Mayer, posted October 12, 2009
"First do no harm" should hang above the halls of Congress. Unfortunately, those four simple words aren't a consideration in our nation's capital. How else could you explain the budget-busting global warming and national health care bills currently dominating the public debate? Separately,...
Estate Tax Devastating to Small Business
By Marc Kilmer and Dick Patten, posted September 28, 2009
The owners of Ohio's tens of thousands of family businesses and farms know all too well the sacrifices required to build a successful enterprise that can reinvest in new jobs and expanded opportunities in the community.These business owners also know that their hard work, in the end, might be for...
By Marc Kilmer, posted September 14, 2009
In 2010, Ohioans may have a chance to vote for a proposal that has the potential to do more for the state's economy than anything dreamed up by the Ohio Department of Development. The question will be whether to eliminate the state's estate tax (or death tax, as some call it). Of course, if this...
What Will Health Care Reform Cost Ohio?
By Marc Kilmer, posted August 31, 2009
There has been a lot of focus on the cost of the Congressional health care bills to federal taxpayers. Considering that if enacted, legislation could cost $1.3 trillion (or more) over the next ten years (and much more after that), we should be focusing on that. Lost in the discussion, though,...
Grassroots Economic Development
By Marc Kilmer, posted August 24, 2009
It's probably not news to you that Ohio is not the easiest state in which to operate a business. This isn't just a hunch business owners have, though. There is empirical evidence to support it. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, rates Ohio's business tax climate worse than...
By Marc Kilmer, posted August 17, 2009
The first time the federal government spent $1.8 trillion in a year was 2001. This year, the federal deficit -- merely the gap between spending and revenue -- is $1.8 trillion. What is Congress doing about this unprecedented federal spending spree? They are considering passing health care...
Playing Politics with Your Health
By Marc Kilmer, posted July 27, 2009
One of the biggest misconceptions in the current debate over health care reform is that somehow our nation has a free market health care system. In fact, government already pays for around half of the health care spending in our country. At both the federal and state level, government...
You Can't Change the Game by Changing the Players
By Marc Kilmer, posted July 13, 2009
During the Bush Administration, Democrats routinely castigated the President and Republicans in Congress for using their power to reward friends in the business world. Some of this criticism veered into conspiracy theory territory, but much of it was valid. President Barack Obama was elected...
Ten Ways to Reform the State Budget
By Marc Kilmer, posted July 6, 2009
The state's budget is in fiscal crisis with legislators and the governor attempting to cover a $3 billion shortfall between revenue and spending. That's a significant amount of money, but it's not an insurmountable problem. Here are ten things for policymakers to consider to help cover the...
By Randal O'Toole, posted June 29, 2009
On June 17, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) asked states for proposals for spending the $8 billion of stimulus money that Congress allocated to high-speed rail. Which raises a question: Would you pay $1,000 so that someone - probably not you - can ride high-speed trains less than 60...
Make Ohio an Attractive Place for Graduates
By Marc Kilmer, posted June 22, 2009
School is out and Ohio's recent batch of college graduates is looking for jobs. A new study released last week says many of them will likely settle somewhere other than Ohio. This finding, of course, was met by dismay from state officials. If state policymakers want to make Ohio an attractive...
By Marc Kilmer, posted June 17, 2009
Green collar jobs, high-speed passenger rail, weatherizing houses -- there are a lot of ideas being funded by your tax dollars to, in the words of President Obama, "put America to work." It's unclear if these projects will deliver on the President's promise, but it is certain they will cost you...
A Hundred Billion Here, a Trillion There
By David Hansen, posted May 11, 2009
Mark Twain is supposed to have said that no one's property is safe when Congress is in session. This is certainly true of Congress but, given the spending spree disguised as a state budget recently approved by the Ohio House of Representatives, it applies equally as well to the Ohio General...
By Marc Kilmer, posted March 30, 2009
With much fanfare last week, Governor Ted Strickland announced a slew of projects being funded with federal stimulus money. Claiming thousands of new jobs would be created, the governor's thoughts surely turned to the ramifications in November 2010. Since there is no evidence that massive...
By Marc Kilmer, posted March 16, 2009
The 2009 Ohio Piglet book has many examples of wasteful government spending in Ohio. While it is hard to choose among so much pork, there are some especially egregious projects your tax money is funding. So here, among so much wasteful spending in Ohio, are the 2009 Ten Little Piggies:
The Long Abandoned Road of Industrial Policy
By William S. Peirce, posted February 23, 2009
Last year's House and Senate hearings on the subsidy for the big three auto makers evoked memories of other failed forays into industrial policy, namely that of the computer manufacturing industry in the 1960's.The world seemed to realize that computers were going to be increasingly important...
State was Right to Dismiss Lead Paint Lawsuit
By David J. Owsiany, posted February 12, 2009
Last week, newly elected Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced that his office was dismissing the public nuisance lawsuit the state had filed against lead paint manufacturers. Cordray's decision makes good sense and shows that, as he put it, "not every problem can be solved by a...
By Marc Kilmer, posted February 2, 2009
Trying to drum up support for the massive spending package being labeled a "stimulus" bill, a liberal advocacy group is urging a break with the "failed policies of the past." Presumably this is a reference to the policies under George W. Bush. It is strange to describe this bill as a break...
By Marc Kilmer, posted January 19, 2009
When he takes the oath of office, President Barack Obama will be faced with a variety of tough problems. Looking for an easy victory, it's likely one of the first bills he will sign into law is one that expands government-run health care. It will be touted as being "for the kids" but in reality...
Is Medicaid Expansion Really Necessary?
By Marc Kilmer, posted January 5, 2009
If you've turned on your TV lately, you've probably seen Governor Ted Strickland talking about why the federal government should be giving Ohio and other states a cash infusion. Much like the auto company executives who trekked to Capitol Hill late last year, Governor Strickland is going hat...
By Marc Kilmer, posted December 8, 2008
With people putting what seems like the details of their entire lives on Facebook or Twitter, the issue of online privacy may seem a bit trivial. But what governments and businesses do with our online information is of vital concern to most Internet users. Given that Google is our nation's largest...
Ohio's Taxing and Spending Nothing to Be Proud Of
By J. H. Huebert, posted November 24, 2008
Ohio Takes the Lead on Asbestos Reform
By David J. Owsiany, posted November 24, 2008
The American civil justice system is premised on the ability of injured plaintiffs to recover from the parties whose actions caused their injuries. In the context of asbestos liability, this enduring concept is being undermined. Today, courts are clogged with asbestos-related suits, companies...
By Marc Kilmer, posted November 3, 2008
The Department of Justice is expected to issue a ruling soon on the antitrust aspects of a proposed deal between Google and Yahoo!. Supporters of the free market are generally skeptical of government antitrust action, but considering the history of Google using the government to harass...
The Issues Surrounding Issue 5
By Dr. Tom Lehman and Marc Kilmer, posted October 27, 2008
Issue 5 has provoked a lot of attention this election season. Approval of it by Ohio's voters would end the practice of payday lending in the state. Although Issue 5's passage has ramifications on the jobs of thousands and the financial decisions of many more, the debate has centered more on...
By Jeff Hooke, posted October 23, 2008
State Issue 6 permits a new casino in Clinton County, which is easily accessible to the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton metro centers. Throughout the rhetorical back-and-forth on the issue, voters are being subjected to a variety of competing claims. Strip away the layers of double-talk, and you will see that it is a gigantic taxpayer rip-off.
Casinos no panacea for Ohio's economic malaise
By Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D., posted October 20, 2008
They say desperate times call for desperate measures, and economic times seem truly bleak in Wilmington, Ohio. More than 7,000 jobs may soon disappear as the global freight giant DHL shifts its air cargo contract from ABX to UPS in Louisville.The surprise announcement, understandably, sent the...
By Marc Kilmer, posted October 6, 2008
In Ohio's debate over payday lending, those seeking to ban the practice often throw around the word "usury." This term, dating from the Old Testament, is one of condemnation and those who use it seek to cast payday lenders as breaking Biblical commandments. But what is usury and is it...
By Clint Bolick, posted October 2, 2008
Exhibit A in Sen. Barack Obama's case that he is the women's candidate, despite Sen. John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, is that "she's opposed, like John McCain is, to equal pay for equal work."Did I miss something? Did Sarah Palin, suffused with subliminal notions...
How did we get here? Only when we answer that question can we try to prevent it from happening again.When your house is on fire, all you care about is putting out the fire. You call the fire department, get the kids out of the house, and do whatever you can to stop the blaze. After that, you ask...
By Marc Kilmer, posted September 29, 2008
With the news about Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Lehman Brothers, we saw some good examples of financial irresponsibility. But we do not need to look far for such an example. Here in Ohio, Governor Ted Strickland and the General Assembly have produced a budget mess that...
By , posted September 22, 2008
The Dow dropped 504 points as major American corporations nosedived, some of which are being saved with your tax money. It is way past the time to give corporate executives additional incentives to avoid asking for a congressional bailout. Instead they must run their companies responsibly.It...
By Marc Kilmer, posted September 22, 2008
As a kid my grandfather would often say as I headed to bed, "don't let the bedbugs bite." I was always confused by that, never having experienced a bedbug. I always assumed that, much like my grandfather's reference to "iceboxes," bedbugs were a thing that belonged to the past. But...
Eliminate Income Tax and See Ohio Thrive
By Marc Kilmer, posted September 15, 2008
What should the state do to stimulate Ohio's economy? That's the question many Ohio residents and politicians are asking as the state continues to stagnate. Unfortunately, some seem to ignore the main problem facing the state - its oppressive tax climate. Without fundamental tax reform Ohio...
More Regulation Won't Help Health Care
By Marc Kilmer, posted September 2, 2008
The rising cost of health care and health insurance is of concern to many across the state. How should we try and achieve affordable coverage? A task force created by Governor Strickland just released recommendations that claim the way to lower health care costs is through...
By Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D., posted July 7, 2008
Few events show the poverty of Ohio's approach to economic development policy than the state's official response to DHL's decision to phase out its airborne freight operations in Ohio. The short term stakes are big - 6,000 jobs in the central Ohio town of Wilmington alone. The long term stakes,...
By Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., posted June 16, 2008
In the modern world of consumer choice divorced from any moral grounding, family policy can seem hopelessly divisive. Some argue that "alternative family forms" are simply private lifestyle choices, comparable to our choices of curtains, cuisine or music.The choice to have children inside or...
Change the Climate Change Debate
By Marc Kilmer, posted June 13, 2008
With gas prices rising and alarm over global warming on the lips of everyone from John McCain to Sheryl Crow, it's trendier than ever to support policies to reduce gasoline usage or somehow combat climate change. In response, politicians are rushing to "do something." Congress is debating a...
At this week's G8 Summit, the cost of gasoline is one of the main topics of discussion. With the price of crude oil hovering around $136 a barrel, the industrialized world is looking for answers.
By Marc Kilmer, posted June 2, 2008
In Biblical times, the people of Israel symbolically placed their sins on a goat and sent it into the wilderness. The modern idea of a scapegoat - an innocent person who takes the blame for the sins of others - comes from this historic practice. This notion is appropriate in light of the recent...
Shifting the Cost of Government
By Marc Kilmer, posted May 12, 2008
You have to keep your eyes on politicians. They are always looking for new ways to tax you. Their latest scheme is called the "earned income tax," and its design is almost ingenious in its trickiness. Knowing that most people enjoy government benefits better if they do not have to pay for them,...
Reduce Government to Improve Health Care
By Marc Kilmer, posted April 28, 2008
Much like the drunk who wakes up with a hangover and thinks more alcohol will cure him of his ills, many of those who decry our nation’s health care problems think we need more government involvement. Government is already by far the biggest player in our nation’s health care, though, and many of...
Ohio's Payday Solution a Bigger Problem
By David Hansen and Tom Schatz, posted April 21, 2008
There appears to be an orchestrated effort across the country to essentially shutdown the payday loan industry. Legislation offered in various states, including H.B. 333, currently under consideration in the Ohio General Assembly, all feature a similar set of regulatory changes, like a cap on...
Ohio Needs More, Not Fewer Companies Like Skybus
By Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D., posted April 14, 2008
Let the hand wringing begin. How could a promising company like Columbus-based start up Skybus go bust so quickly? Could we have done anything to prevent its demise?The answer is no. It's a sobering answer for Ohio-based entrepreneurs, state policymakers, and the future of the state economy.But the...
By Joseph Zoric, posted March 31, 2008
Since passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1993 politicians and other political pundits have stated that NAFTA has done harm to the economy. Starting with Ross Perrot's famous "giant sucking sound" to the recent primary election speeches of Senators Clinton and Obama who crisscrossed the state claiming that NAFTA has cost the state tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, politicians of both political persuasions have railed against the agreement as a bad deal for Ohio.
Batchelder, Hagan Wrong About Payday Loans
By Marc Kilmer, posted March 20, 2008
Ohioans did not send legislators to Columbus to make their personal financial decisions for them. Considering the poor state of Ohio’s budget, it seems ironic that some in Columbus think their time is best spent focusing on the financial choices of others. Unfortunately, a few legislators want to spend the General Assembly's time targeting payday lending instead of fixing the serious tax and budget problems which plague the state.
More Medicaid Problems in Ohio
By Marc Kilmer, posted February 25, 2008
In tight economic times, when expenses are rising and your paycheck may even be shrinking, most families decide to cut back on expensive items. It makes little sense to buy a pricey high-definition TV when your electricity bill has doubled and your job is reducing overtime, right? This kind of...
Governor's New Deal is a Raw Deal
By Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D., posted February 18, 2008
Ohio's economy is languishing. We lagged behind the rest of the nation's growth in every year over the last decade except one. Job growth averages half the national rate since 1990, and our unemployment has exceeded the national average every year since 2003. Recently, Gov. Ted Strickland offered up a $1.7 billion bond sale as an antidote. This self-described "stimulus package" would supposedly prime the state's economy by adding to our debt.
No Need to Raise Tobacco Taxes
By Marc Kilmer, posted February 8, 2008
Whenever there is a need to increase government revenue, one group can always be counted on as an easy target – tobacco users. While it is stressed that we need to be tolerant of every other lifestyle, it is somehow OK to demonize people who use tobacco products.
Conservatives in the Payday Lending Debate
By Marc Kilmer, posted January 28, 2008
What would happen if a member of the General Assembly ever proposed a bill banning consumers from carrying balances on their credit cards? You would expect the legislature’s conservative members (and probably most liberals) would rise up against this intrusion into personal finances. While recognizing that this practice may have financial risks, conservatives would rightly point out that government should not be involved in such decisions.
The Sound and Fury over Payday Lending
By Marc Kilmer, posted January 7, 2008
There has been a lot of discussion about the practice of payday lending recently. Many self-appointed "consumer" advocates deplore the fact that people choose to borrow money from these lenders and are upset that these institutions have proliferated over the past decade. However, the loans are...
Ozone Regulations Target Ohio Economy
By Marc Kilmer, posted November 30, 2007
Who can be opposed to clean air? No one disagrees on the goal, but there are a variety of ways to get there.Unfortunately, those who favor heavy-handed government regulations to achieve higher air quality have controlled the debate. It does not matter if these regulations will...
Washington and Columbus Heading Wrong Way on Energy
By Margo Thorning and Marc Kilmer, posted November 13, 2007
In view of the energy legislation being considered in Columbus and Washington, D.C., it seems that most of our elected officials must have failed basic high school economics. Instead of giving more freedom to consumers and producers, they are proposing new taxes, regulations, and subsidies that...
Give Individuals Control of Their Healthcare
By Marc Kilmer, posted October 29, 2007
Healthcare is shaping up to be the main focus of attention on both the state and federal level next year. Candidates running for president have put forth ideas on how to reform the system. Governor Ted Strickland and members of the General Assembly are floating proposals on how to tinker with...
By Marc Kilmer, posted October 19, 2007
College football season is important for people throughout Ohio. It is especially important for the football powerhouse of Ohio State University and its fans. It is problematic, then, that this taxpayer-subsidized university is trying to use its clout to extract millions of dollars from cable...
Increasing Oil Company Taxes Hurts Consumers
By Marc Kilmer, posted August 27, 2007
At a time when almost every Presidential candidate is talking about "energy independence," it seems strange that Congress is moving in the opposite direction with the energy bill being considered by the Senate. Sure, those supporting it claim that it will help our nation wean itself from foreign...
A general good rule of thumb is to expect that someone will be soaked whenever Congress starts talking about making the tax code fairer. Another good rule is if you want less of something, tax it. Such is the case with a proposed adjustment to an established tax rule with far reaching implications for the American economy.
Funding Health Care with Tobacco Tax Won't Work
By Marc Kilmer, posted June 22, 2007
While the popularity of Congress may be at record lows, you have to give our elected officials credit for being clever. The idea being proposed by some Senators to tax an unpopular group -- tobacco users -- to pay for a popular concept -- government health insurance for...
It's Time For Both Parties to Put End to Earmark Spending
Last year, incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed Democrats would "bring transparency and openness to the budget process and to the use of earmarks."Now, it seems congressional Democrats' professed commitment to fiscal responsibility had the life expectancy of a firefly.Democrats and Republicans...
Eliminating Unionization Vote Unfair to Workers and Employers
By David J. Owsiany, posted May 18, 2007
The Employee Free Choice Act prevents employers from sharing their side of the story on the impact of unionization. It also hurts employees by depriving them of a private ballot in which to express their support or opposition to unionization.
Some Taxes in Ohio Are Just Dumb
By Marc Kilmer, posted April 27, 2007
Ohio should pursue a tax code that is broad-based, has low rates, and does not single out certain activities unless those activities impose some burden on the state. Taxes on tobacco, the estate tax, the horse racing tax, and, the dealers in intangibles tax all violate one or more of these principles and should reformed.
Thoughts on Ohio's Climb to the Top
By David Hansen, posted April 16, 2007
Once a low tax state, Ohio now has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Unfortunately, the view from the top leaves much to be desired. Ohio lawmakers should follow the positive example of other states and eliminate state and local income taxes.
Strickland Heads Wrong Way on Medicaid
By Marc Kilmer, posted March 26, 2007
Governor Strickland should take the lead in pushing for a complete overhaul of Medicaid in Ohio. The State should give up its role as provider of Medicaid, and move toward being merely the financer of medical services. Such a program would help control costs and improve quality for recipients.
Don't Let the Government "Negotiate" Drug Prices
By Michael T. Bond, Ph.D., posted March 20, 2007
New Congressional legislation would give the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the power to directly negotiate prices for drugs sold to Medicare Part D. The single payer regime, put forth in the legislation, is based upon false assumptions of how the drug market works, and would interrupt the success of market forces currently at work in the program.
Midwest doesn't need to be railroaded
By Ken Blackwell and Brad Smith, posted February 28, 2007
Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman once said, "The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit."Government, however, is different. Exchanges often seem to take place in which one private party benefits, and the...
Lead Paint Lawsuit is a Bad Idea
By David J. Owsiany, posted January 3, 2007
The City of Columbus recently filed a public nuisance lawsuit against lead paint manufacturers to force these companies to remove or clean up lead paint on buildings. This is a misuse of public nuisance law. Instead of litigation, Columbus should engage in public education campaigns regarding lead paint and encourage landlords to properly maintain their buildings.
Issue 3: The Price Isn't Right
By Jeff Hooke, Tom Firey and David Hansen, posted October 26, 2006
Our analysis of Issue 3, the so-called "Learn and Earn" amendment, is that the measure would be a bad deal for Ohio. Slot licenses are government allowances to operate highly desirable entertainment that the government usually prohibits. If Ohio expands slots, it should do so in a way that directs most of the economic gain to taxpayers, not a handful of gambling interests.
By Marc Kilmer, posted October 24, 2006
With Governor Taft's unpopularity dragging down the GOP, Democrat Ted Strickland is poised to win the governorship this year. Instead of charting a new course, however, Strickland's proposals are simply expansions of current Taft policies.
Privatization of Drake Hospital: A Victory for Hamilton County Taxpayers
By Marc Kilmer, posted October 13, 2006
The historical financial profligacy of the publicly financed Drake Hospital in Hamilton County again underscores why taxpayers should not subsidize areas of the economy best left to private management. The recent decision by the County Commissioners of Hamilton County to allow Drake to be run by a private entity was a small, but welcome victory for taxpayers.
The Road to Hell is Paved With High-Minded Regulations
By Paul Burks, posted September 29, 2006
The Founders would have been very disappointed by the growth in government regulation over the years. A recent study showed that in 2005, the Federal Register was 23,041 pages long and counting. Unfortunately, this regulations often benefit companies with powerful lobbyists at the expense of those without well placed political connections.
Privatizing Ohio government marketing...Just Do It!
By Geoffrey Segal and Jack Furney, posted September 15, 2006
Marketing is a powerful tool used to promote a product, and in most instances proper marketing defines a products' success or failure. We've all heard the slogans, and when done effectively, consumers directly relate those marketing slogans to a particular product. When you hear, "Just...
July Porker of the Month: Kent State University Trustees
By David Hansen, posted July 16, 2006
The Kent State University Board of Trustees has decided to keep not quite former President Carol Cartwright on the payroll. They will pay her at least $270,000 of taxpayer money as a "president emeritus" that admittedly has "no formal job description." For that, they receive the July Porker of the Month award.
Viewpoint: Raising the Minimum Wage Will Lower the Number of Jobs in Ohio
The proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution mandating that the state’s minimum wage be increased from $5.15 to $6.85 an hour, with an annual increase tied to the rate of inflation, would be disastrous for the very people it is designed to help. Put simply, laws designed to increase the minimum wage are perhaps the worst, the most perniciously anti-poor laws conceivable.
Viewpoint: Making Government Compete to Improve Services and Save Money
By Geoffrey F. Segal and Jack Furney, posted June 29, 2006
Competition is a powerful tool for policy makers to find the most effective and efficient means of delivering services to taxpayers. Ohio's governments need to embrace and implement managed competition in order to improve fiscal discipline, accountability and transparency in their budgeting and decision making processes.
Viewpoint: Hamilton County Jail Needs to Escape Prevailing Wage
By David Hansen, posted June 28, 2006
Ohio’s prevailing wage law could add between $10.9 million and $21.8 million to the cost of a new Hamilton County jail if the law is still in effect when bids are taken on the project.
Viewpoint: Why Zero-based budgeting had Zero effect in Oklahoma
By Steven J. Anderson, CPA, posted June 1, 2006
The Ohio General Assembly recently passed a 'zero-based budgeting' process for future state budgets, a practice found today primarily in Oklahoma. The Sooner State's experiences with zero-based budgeting suggest that Ohioans should not expect much improvement in the cost or value of their government due to this measure.
Setting the Record Straight on Colorado's Spending Limits
By Gov. Bill Owens, posted May 10, 2006
In light of the controversy surrounding Ohio’s pro-posed TEL, Colorado Governor Bill Owens dispels the myth that his state’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) hurt the Colorado economy. In fact, the TABOR has helped to restrain government spending and spur economic growth that easily outpaces that of Ohio.
How Should Ohio Spend its Welfare Surplus?
By Marc Kilmer, posted May 9, 2006
Ohio is looking for ways to spend $700 million in surplus welfare money and is being bombarded with ideas about how to do this. In evaluating these ideas, the state should make sure the funds go to programs and services that provide a direct connection between the money being spent and moving a person off welfare.
Congress's Answer to High Gas Prices: Raise Taxes!
By David Hansen, posted April 21, 2006
Congress is considering re-imposing the windfall profit tax on oil companies. When initially tried by President Carter, this tax led to higher gasoline prices, reduced domestic oil exploration, and increased dependence on foreign oil.
Buckeye Institute Announces Inaugural Porker of the Month
By David Hansen, posted April 10, 2006
Ohio Lt. Governor Bruce Johnson and the Ohio Department of Development are offering tax dollars targeted for creating research and development jobs to a pizza company that can't compete domestically or internationally, but knows how to hire a good lobbyist. For that, they receive the first Porker of the Month Award.
Viewpoint: Don't Taxpayers Deserve a Bill of Rights?
By John Andrews, posted March 14, 2006
In Colorado, the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights has paid dividends for job creation, family finances, leaner government, and lower taxes. Ohioans need, and deserve, the same kind of fiscal responsibility in our state.
Viewpoint: Paving the Way to Prosperity, or a Slush Fund?
By Geoffrey F. Segal, posted February 28, 2006
More and more states are looking to innovative partnerships with the private sector to improve and expand their transportation networks. Ken Blackwell's new transportation proposal, however, may squander some of the more important benefits of using the private sector.
Issue 1: The Two Billion Dollar Boondoggle
By Robert A. Lawson, Ph.D., posted October 27, 2005
Issue 1 has been portrayed as an economic catalyst that will create jobs and make Ohio competitive again. But the facts belie the rhetoric. In exchange for adding $2 billion of debt, Ohioans are unlikely to see more jobs or economic prosperity because Issue 1 is nothing more than industrial planning, corporate welfare and socialism dressed up as a jobs plan.
Viewpoint: What Sin Taxes Can Teach Us About Economics
By Matthew Carr, posted September 6, 2005
This summer Ohio more than doubled the cigarette tax under the aegis of reducing consumption and raising revenue to fill the budget gap. This decision raises a host of questions and provides a stark example of the disconnect between simple economics and public policy.
Viewpoint: Ohio needs a limit on state government growth
By Gary Wolfram, posted August 23, 2005
Voters will be deciding on a tax and expenditure limitation for Ohio next fall. Economists have repeatedly shown that limited government yields significant benefits for citizens.
Viewpoint: Ohio's Blue Ribbon Porker
By Matthew Carr, posted August 16, 2005
At this year's State Fair in Columbus the blue ribbon for the largest porker in Ohio has a clear front-runner: the Ohio government. In a new report being released today by the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions, the 2005 Ohio Piglet Book, we expose roughly $3.5 billion of waste,...
Ohio doesn't need any more Third Frontier debt
By Douglas L. Oliver, posted June 30, 2005
Ohio voters previously rejected funding for the Third Frontier and so far the effort has yielded few returns for the economy. Legislators should consider whether additional debt for this project is in the best interest of taxpayers.
Viewpoint: Energy Caps Would Also Cap Ohio's Economic Growth
By David Hansen, posted June 14, 2005
Returning Ohio to growth and prosperity will become even more difficult to accomplish if three US Senators were to have their way. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ.), Joe Lieberman (D-CT.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) are sponsoring an amendment to the energy bill under debate in the United States...
Viewpoint: Thoughts on Ohio's Climb to the Top
By David Hansen, posted May 11, 2005
Once a low tax state, Ohio now has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Unfortunately, the view from the top leaves much to be desired. It is just one reason for a TEL – a Tax and Expenditure Limitation amendment -- for Ohio.
Viewpoint: Government Greens in the Red
By David J. Owsiany, posted April 29, 2005
With state and local governments struggling to raise revenue and cut expenditures in order to keep out of the red, it is fiscally irresponsible for them to remain in the golf course business.
Viewpoint: It's Time to Constitutionally Limit Ohio Government Spending
By Robert A. Lawson and Russell S. Sobel, posted January 20, 2005
Given Ohio’s transition from a low tax, high growth state to a high tax, low growth state, taxpayers should consider forcing the state legislature restrict the growth of taxation and spending.
Outsourcing: Its Effects on Ohio
By Joseph Zoric, posted September 13, 2004
In the current political climate, the subject of "outsourcing" of American jobs overseas is a controversial issue. Indeed, there are currently anti-outsourcing bills being considered in 23 states, including Ohio, as well as measures proposed at the federal level. Concerned politicians...
Getting the Job Done with a TEL
Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell recently announced his support of a constitutional amendment to limit taxing and spending. The proposal, called a Tax and Expenditure Limitation, or TEL, involves reining in the state legislature that seems unwilling, or unable, to maintain a grip on the state budget. However, those unfamiliar with TELs may be uncomfortable voting to restrict legislative authority through a statewide ballot. A quick overview of this tool, though, reveals just how beneficial a TEL could prove for Ohioans.
Changing Views of the Estate Tax: Implications for Legislative Options
The Impact of Federal Spending on Ohio
Federal government spending comes with costs; it should not be accepted as the free-lunch it is frequently considered to be. Every dollar the government spends must first be removed from the pocket of the private sector - through higher taxes today, or higher borrowing today implying higher...
Statewide Economic Impacts of Repealing Ohio Personal Income Tax
By Samuel R. Staley, Ph.D., posted December 10, 2008
H.B. 534 is premised on a bold thesis: Repeal of Ohio's personal income tax will create a competitive economic environment that will foster economic growth, job creation, and even tax revenues. Income tax repeal may seem like a radical step. In fact, solid academic research supports considering it as a viable approach to tax reform, particularly for a state facing anemic economic growth.
How Fast Does Ohio's State Government Spend Your Money?
By David Hansen, posted July 1, 2008
The Spend-O-Meter calculates the amount spent since the start of Ohio's 2009 fiscal year budget at 12:00 midnight on July 1, 2008. The Ohio Spend-O-Meter is based on the $58,999,770,294 authorized for appropriation in FY-2009, which runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
The Wall Street Journal: Texas v. Ohio
As Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton race around Ohio and Texas for tomorrow's primaries, they are telling a tale of economic woe. Yet the real story isn't how similar the two states are economically but how different. Texas has been prospering while Ohio lags, and the reasons are instructive about what works and what doesn't in economic policy.
This resource page provides a comprehensive summary of gambling economics research, including an article and slide show by the Buckeye Institute analyzing Issue 3, the "Learn and Earn" amendment. This page also features a 1996 study by William Thompson of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas that the Buckeye Institute has republished.
This resource page provides an extensive list of research that has been done on various proposals to raise the minimum wage, including one recent study done specifically on the current Ohio proposal. Voters should be clear on the potential impact that this proposal could have on Ohio. This resource page provides information to help inform their decision.
A Citizen's Perspective on the TEL
A schedule of speaking engagement by Buckeye President David Hansen on the Tax and Expenditure Limitations Amendment
Cleveland State University Symposium on TEL's
By David Hansen, posted April 13, 2006
TELS: Should Ohio Limit Tax Expenditures? Monday, April 17, 20064:00-6:00 p.m.Cleveland State University Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban AffairsGlickman-Miller Hall, Atrium1717 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 Join us for a discussion of the revenue/expenditure limitation...
Comparing Impact of CAP and TEL on Ohio Taxes and Spending
By David Hansen, posted November 14, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio. --- The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions has produced this analysis comparing the impact of the CAP proposal as described in the media last week and the TEL proposal on the ballot in November 2006. Between 1995 and 2005 the CAP proposal would have...
By David Hansen, posted October 27, 2005
Success in the new global economy demands that Ohioans perform in their jobs more efficiently and with greater flexibility. "With increased productivity," as the economists put it. It follows that Ohioans should expect the same from their public sector servants. As individuals and...
Text of Ohio's Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment
By David Hansen, posted July 26, 2005
Click below for the text of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment now in petition circulation through out Ohio.
Taxpayer Bill of Rights Resource Page
By David Hansen, posted July 20, 2005
How can Ohio's citizens control state spending that's run amok with pet projects, political pay-offs and misplaced priorities? How can our taxpayers escape the grips of a political system that values Ohio's workers and businesses only as the source of a stream of tax receipts feeding the government spending machine? The Buckeye Institute's proposal for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights is the ideal solution to Ohio's tax-and-spend problems. Learn more about about a Taxpayer Bill of Rights here at our resource page.
Why Economic Development Efforts Often Fail
By James Stotter, posted July 13, 2005
Although economic development is a natural by-product of profitable business, politicians use it as a platform for re-election. This short-term thinking produces politically-driven business incentives that appear helpful at a glance, when in fact such interference often stunts economic growth and development.
State government spending exceeds personal income growth
State government spending is increasing faster than Ohioans' income, according to data from Ohio's Office of Budget and Management. The State spend $15.8 billion for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 which ended June 30th. [1] This represents a 5.9 percent increase over last year's expenses of $15...
Budget surplus and rainy day fund exceed $1.6 billion
The State of Ohio ended its fiscal year with a larger than expected surplus in June. Overall, $781 million was left over in the State's General Revenue Fund, [1] the part of the budget lawmakers control. [2] This is in addition to the $828 million in the State's rainy day fund from...
By David Hansen, posted May 11, 2005
Follow the PDF link for the 2005 Ohio Tax Burden Ladder Chart
Testimony of Buckeye Institute President David Hansen on HB 1
By David Hansen, posted March 17, 2005
The House Ways and Means Committee was hearing the tax changes proposed by Governor Taft in his budget. The basic structure of the changes, including the creation of a new commercial activity tax to pay for the elimination of the tangible personal property and the corporate franchise taxes, was approved by the House. As of this posting, the proposal has been added to House Bill 66, the proposed biennial budget and awaits action by the state Senate. This is testimony by Buckeye Institute President David Hansen critiquing the plan. In particular, the Buckeye Institute regards the assumption that business tax refom must be 'revene neutral' as flawed.
