Taxes鈥攚ho should pay and how much? It鈥檚 a very old question that lacks a clear answer.
Taxes have come to dominate the political debate in Washington, and they loom as a growing concern at the Ohio Statehouse.
The U.S. House narrowly approved extending the Trump tax cuts passed a few years ago.
The package also eliminates taxes on tips and overtime. The bill cuts taxes for families with children, and it reduces income taxes for people who pay high property taxes.
To pay for the tax cuts鈥攐r partially pay for them鈥攍awmakers will reduce Medicaid spending by requiring recipients to work and by tightening eligibility. The bill also cuts federal food assistance funding.
While there is no big, beautiful bill at the Ohio Statehouse, lawmakers are looking for ways to help homeowners deal with higher property taxes. And there is a constant push to lower鈥攐r even eliminate鈥攖he state鈥檚 income tax.
To discuss the thorny issue of how to pay for the government services we all want, we turn to this week鈥檚 panel of experts: reporter Jo Ingles from the Ohio Public Statehouse News Bureau, Joseph Mas, a Democrat and member of the Ohio Hispanic Coalition, and Republican strategist Bob Clegg.
Snollygoster of the week
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat Fischer doesn鈥檛 have to run again until 2028鈥攂ut he has decided to run next year for a different Supreme Court seat, one currently held by Jennifer Brunner. He said he plans to defeat the sole remaining statewide Democrat on election day.
That alone is pretty shrewd for a judge.
But there鈥檚 more Snollygostering. You see, he can鈥檛 run in 2028 because he鈥檇 be 71, and Ohio鈥檚 constitution says state Supreme Court justices cannot be elected after the age of 70. However, they can serve if elected before reaching that age. Winning Brunner鈥檚 seat would allow Fischer to serve another four years on the state Supreme Court.
And if Fischer loses to Brunner, he still gets to stay on the Supreme Court.
If you have a suggestion for our "Snollygoster of the Week" award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.