In The Hill, Buckeye’s Greg Lawson outlines how education savings accounts—paid for with existing taxpayer dollars—would provide additional flexibility for families looking to navigate these turbulent waters with their K-12 children, writing, “COVID-19 has strained state resources across the board, and state and local education spending likely will remain under pressure for the foreseeable future. A federal ESA offers timely benefits that can build on a state’s successful school choice programs.”

Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute, issued a statement on the Ohio Supreme Court’s amendment to Criminal Rule 46 governing Ohio’s bail system, which takes effect today. Alt said in part, “Although this new rule is imperfect, the Ohio Supreme Court adopted a number of The Buckeye Institute’s recommendations to most effectively reform the defective cash bail system.”

Robert Alt, president and chief executive officer of The Buckeye Institute, issued a statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 3, which will make Ohio’s drug sentencing laws more effective, flexible, and just, saying in part, “Reclassifying low-level drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors ensures that judges have the flexibility to administer justice while steering those suffering from addiction into treatment instead of prison cells.”

On Buckeye’s blog, Rea Hederman urges Congress to stick to the July 15 tax-filing deadline, writing that delaying the filing deadline again would be a “well-intended mistake that could have several unintended and adverse consequences for states, school districts, and taxpayers.” Hederman calls on state and federal policymakers to “maintain the current July 15 deadline and offer taxpayers meaningful tax relief,” such as delaying federal tax payments without charging penalties or interest.

The Buckeye Institute submitted written testimony to the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee on the policies in House Bill 606, which would provide businesses and workers with immunity from COVID-19 related lawsuits. In his testimony, Buckeye’s Andrew J. Geisler urged policymakers to resolve the differences between Senate Bill 308 and House Bill 606 as soon as possible, writing, “Waiting several more months to reconcile the bills will keep Ohio businesses in a state of uncertainty as they try to reopen and recover.”

In The Columbus Dispatch, Buckeye’s Rea S. Hederman Jr. looks at a prescription for Ohio’s economic recovery, writing, “Ohio’s economic road to recovery will be a bumpy one. These unprecedented times require bold, swift leadership not only to prevent a medical crisis, but to stop a bad economic episode from becoming a permanent catastrophe. The governor showed courage and resolve at the beginning of the crisis. That same bold resolve will be needed now as Ohio looks to get back to work quickly and safely.”
 

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center at The Buckeye Institute and vice president of policy, commented on newly released employment data from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “May’s jobs report saw Ohio’s unemployment rate fall sharply from 17.6 to 13.7 percent, a sign that the state’s economy is beginning to recover from the mandated shutdowns due to the coronavirus.”

Buckeye’s Robert Alt talks to FoxNews.com about its cases to end forced union exclusive representation. The feature was part of FoxNews.com’s series, How Justice Happens, which “takes a look behind the scenes of Supreme Court litigation at the people involved in the cases, the work that goes into the arguments and the strategy of winning an audience before the highest court in the land.”

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center at The Buckeye Institute and vice president of policy, issued statements on the passage of House Bill 679, House Bill 669, and House Bill 673 by the Ohio House of Representatives. These Buckeye-championed policies will boost Ohio’s health care system and support Ohio’s workers, small businesses, and the economy. The bills now go to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

The Buckeye Institute submitted written testimony to the Ohio House Finance Committee on the policies in House Bill 13, which would expand access to broadband internet service to underserved areas of Ohio. The testimony pointed out that “although many communities and households have multiple broadband providers…there are still many across Ohio—particularly in rural areas—that do not,” and “[w]ithout plans to deliver broadband service throughout the state” many communities and families will be left behind.