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State Representative Jim Buchy
The House
Budget is Taking Shape
Now that April has come, we are starting to get a good look at what
Ohioans can expect from the House budget. We have passed several pieces
so far, including the Transportation and Public Safety, Bureau of
Workers’ Compensation and Industrial Commission budgets. At the end of
the month, we will be voting the full budget out of the House and
sending it to the Senate for further evaluation.
The governor’s original proposed budget will likely see some
significant changes made to it. While the specifics are yet to be
determined, there are a few things we can expect.
The House budget should show a tax cut for Ohioans. As we have worked
through this process, I have determined that we could fund a
significant tax reduction for Ohioans without raising any taxes if we
do not increase our spending.
Medicaid is the state’s largest program, and the fastest-growing
portion of our budget. As state legislators, I believe we should
determine ways to stop the growth of this program and instead focus on
a holistic approach that focuses getting Ohioans on Medicaid back to
work. Providing poor quality care is a theft of taxpayer money.
When we do not take the time to inspire and help people obtain
employment, you begin a cycle of poverty that encourages people to live
below the line of keeping government services. New proposals that we
can insert into the budget can focus on reducing long-term poverty.
I voted against the first budget that included the Medicaid
program. At that time Medicaid represented around 3% of the
state’s spending. Today, Medicaid makes up approximately 50 percent of
total state spending. A change should be a priority to this General
Assembly.
Once the budget goes through the House at the end of this month, it
will begin a similar process in the Ohio Senate. When they put their
vision in place, both chambers will work together to determine the
final version that will be sent to the governor’s desk. I look forward
to this process, as I always do in these budget years, and will work
hard to ensure that Ohioans’ best interests are being looked after.
Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this
month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchyapril2015
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