Column From Representative Cliff Hite
Job
Creation Efforts Stall in Ohio House
As state
representative of the 76th Ohio House District, I have
received countless phone calls, emails and letters from our
friends and neighbors expressing concern over Ohio’s
struggling economy. With jobs and businesses hemorrhaging
from our borders, many within our community are wondering
what efforts the legislature has taken to improve the
business climate and get people back to work. I assure you
that as your voice in Columbus, I am working to alleviate
your concerns and bring jobs back to our community.
This General
Assembly, House Democrats relied on temporary fixes to
deepening problems, including the use of stimulus money and
tax increases to plump the budget, which has created an $8
billion deficit. Under their watch, Ohioans have now
suffered an entire year of double-digit unemployment. With
11 percent of our neighbors unemployed and nearly 200,000
Ohio jobs lost in the past 12 months alone, our unemployment
is consistently higher than the national average. As
lawmakers, we cannot afford to sit idly by while more and
more businesses relocate to better business environments,
taking their jobs and investments with them.
A vital part
of repairing Ohio’s economy is encouraging the expansion
of small businesses, which according to the Small Business
Administration create as much as 80 percent of new jobs
annually. For this reason, I cosponsored an initiative to
make it easier to do business in Ohio. House Bill 311
proposes a package of small business regulatory reforms to
help businesses cut through bureaucratic red tape and
provide accountability and transparency in crafting agency
regulations. Specifically, this legislation will require a
rule-making agency to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and
regulatory flexibility analysis on how proposed rules might
affect small businesses. It would also create the Ohio Small
Business Ombudsperson to help small business owners with
compliance issues.
Additionally,
I cosponsored House Bill 346 to require the Ohio Department
of Job and Family Services to annually submit a report to
the legislature regarding the state’s success in placing
Ohioans in gainful employment. It would ensure that Ohioans
are matched with the right employer in positions that last
longer than six months, which would help lawmakers
understand which job-placement strategies are working and
which are not, so we can build a superior workforce
effectively and efficiently.
House Bills
311 and 346 are both pieces of the “Future of Ohio” jobs
package, a collection of 10 bills that, if enacted, would
improve Ohio’s business climate and help create jobs.
Unfortunately, none of our job-creation bills have received
a vote in committee or on the House floor and instead have
stalled when families need them the most.
The
statistics about job loss and business relocation show that
the few ideas that the House majority have brought to the
table haven’t worked, and I encourage them to take a
closer look at our ideas to help restore our economy. As
your state representative, I will continue to fight for
sensible, long-term solutions to fix our wounded economy and
bring jobs back to the Buckeye state.
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
Health
Care Bill Raises Taxes,
Increases Federal Control
With
the passage of the $940 billion federal health care bill,
families in Ohio and across the nation will soon experience
higher taxes, costlier premiums and diminished care
services. The Heritage Foundation reported that the health
care bill will result in $234 billion in additional health
care spending, increase insurance premiums by 10 to 16
percent and put one-fifth of health care providers at risk
of bankruptcy. With our nation in the midst of the worst
economy in decades, increasing taxes and expanding
government control will damage the quality of life in
America and especially in Ohio.
An
overwhelming 56 percent of Ohioans oppose the federal health
care reforms, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. With a
clear majority of Ohioans opposing this bill, it is shocking
that many of Ohio’s representatives on Capitol Hill voted
in support of the legislation, rather than voting with the
wishes of those they were elected to represent.
It’s
true that the American health care system must be improved
to better serve the most vulnerable in our communities, but
this legislation will raise costs on families and small
businesses when they can least afford it. With an $8 billion
deficit in the next budget, the last thing Ohio’s families
want is higher taxes and mandates from Washington. This
collaboration of special interests and sweetheart deals is
neither the hope nor the change that Ohioans bargained for.
Among
many provisions that are difficult to swallow, the most
troubling part of Washington’s health care bill is a
requirement that each individual must purchase health
insurance or be penalized if they opt out. This mandate will
not only skyrocket taxes, but also give the federal
government unprecedented control over every citizen’s
medical options.
To
protect your right to make your own health care decisions,
my House Republican colleagues and I introduced several
measures to ensure that Washington will not be able to usurp
your individual liberties or make medical decisions for your
family. House Joint Resolution 3 and House Bill 489, when
enacted, will maintain the freedom of Ohioans to make their
own health care decisions by preventing our citizens from
being forced to buy into a government-mandated health care
plan. These proposals would protect your right as a free
citizen to choose the medical alternatives that best suit
your needs without fear of penalty.
With
government power growing at an astounding rate, it is
crucial that Ohio lawmakers emphasize that it is the policy
of the state that our citizens have a right to opt out of
private, state or federal insurance without punishment. I
encourage the House majority to move quickly on our
proposals to protect Ohio’s families and small businesses.
We have an obligation to uphold the will of the people by
repairing weaknesses within the medical industry while
keeping it strong, affordable and competitive.
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For
Immediate Release
March 10, 2010
Ohio
House Passes
Bi-Partisan Solution for Livestock Care
COLUMBUS—State
Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) today announced that
the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed House
Bill 414, a bipartisan piece of legislation that improves
the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.
“Today,
my colleagues and I in the Ohio House showed our
commitment to our agricultural industry in passing this
legislation,” Rep. Hite said. “Ohio’s farmers
have always practiced the best care for livestock and
produced the highest quality products. This
livestock board will further help keep Ohio’s core
industry strong.”
House
Bill 414 implements the language that voters overwhelmingly
supported in November through Issue 2. When enacted,
this legislation will establish requirements and
responsibilities of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board
and the Director of Agriculture in administering and
enforcing the rules that govern the care and well-being of
livestock in this state.
The
measure will now move to the Ohio Senate for further
consideration.
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For
Immediate Release
February 24,
2010
Lawmaker
Honored as
"Watchdog of the Treasury"
COLUMBUS—State
Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) was today awarded
Watchdog of the Treasury Award for the 127th
General Assembly. The award recognizes key legislators
or policymakers every year who work tirelessly to restore
responsible limited government, lower taxes, encourage free
enterprise and regulatory relief, and promote personal
freedom.
“I
am very pleased and humbled to be recognized as a fiscally
responsible representative,” Hite said. “I
promise to continue to work towards our mutual goals of
slimming down the government and reducing governmental
waste.
“What
the people of Ohio want is a government that stays true to
its intended purpose, and that is to protect the lives and
liberties of its citizens. We are to here protect
individual rights, not to take them away. We should
be encouraging economic success, not punishing it.”
The
award was presented at a breakfast ceremony in Columbus,
held by the United Conservatives of Ohio. The United
Conservatives of Ohio supports the responsible spending of
taxpayers’ dollars, the elimination of government waste,
and the free-market system of competition among private
sector firms.
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For
Immediate Release
February
22, 2010
Representative
Cliff Hite Named to
New Legislative Committee
COLUMBUS—State
Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) recently was appointed
to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for
the remainder of the 128th General Assembly.
“I
am very excited about my appointment to the House
Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee,” Hite said.
“Having previously served on this committee during the
127th General Assembly I will now have a great
opportunity to continue to be an advocate for Ohio’s
number one industry, which is agriculture. I have
extensive experience and knowledge on agriculture issues,
having served on both the Ohio Agriculture to Chemicals,
Polymers, and Advanced Materials Task Force and the Ohio
State Parks and Recreational Area Study Committee.
“I
have continued to fight for issues that I believe will
help save Ohio’s agriculture industry. This past
fall, I helped lead the fight for Issue 2 to be placed on
the statewide ballot, and to this day I have fought
tirelessly for soil and water conservation funding.”
In
addition to his service on the Agriculture and Natural
Resources Committee, Hite currently serves on the Education,
State Government, Consumer Affairs and Economic Protection
and Faith-Based Initiatives committees.
Hite
is currently serving his second term with the Ohio House of
Representatives.
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For
Immediate Release
February
12, 2010
GOP
Lawmaker Returns to the Campaign Trail
Rep. Hite Continues the Fight
for Jobs and Economic Growth
FINDLAY—This
is 2010, and Ohio's new job-rich economy is on the horizon!
State Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) recently
announced his candidacy to return to the 76th
Ohio House District seat in 2011.
“I
am seeking your support as I make rounds in the district I
grew up in,” Hite said. “I love Northwest Ohio
and everything it has to offer, and I would be honored to
serve as your voice in the Legislature once again.
“I
will continue to bring responsible leadership to the Ohio
House and be a voice of fiscal responsibility.
Ohio's leaders cannot continue business as usual by
raising taxes without cutting waste. We need to do
what is right for our future by lowering taxes to a
business-friendly level while maintaining the services
families rely on.”
Since
the beginning of the 128th General Assembly, Rep.
Hite has fought to create jobs and boost Ohio's economy
through viable, sustainable changes to the way government
does business. He voted against all tax increases
while supporting cost-saving efficiency measures, with the
goal of making state government work better for the people
it is intended to serve. For his efforts, Rep. Hite
was recognized by Ohio Business Votes a 100 percent
lifetime pro-business voting record.
Rep.
Hite has and continues to fight to increase interoperability
among emergency responders throughout the entire State of
Ohio. He hopes to continue to procure capital for
flood mitigation in conjunction with the Flood Mitigation
Partnership. Also, he is pushing forward wind and
solar projects in the district.
“2011
will be the dawning of a new era for Ohio,” Hite said.
“In the past three years, nearly 350,000 Ohio jobs have
been lost to more competitive states, and now is the time
to get our economy moving again. We need to focus
our sights on national competitiveness by attracting
businesses, jobs, families and entrepreneurs. I am
eager to help Ohio realize its potential in the next
several years.”
Rep.
Hite's campaign team includes Walt Lowe from Columbus.
Walt is an Iraq war veteran and currently serves as an
Infantryman in the Ohio Army National Guard. He holds
a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The Ohio State
University and has been working with the Ohio Republican
Party since 2004.
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
High-Tech
Investments Will Revive The Economy
The
global economy is becoming increasingly competitive, and for
that reason it is important that Ohio keeps up in the race
for businesses and technological innovation.
The House Republican Caucus spent 2009 working to
retain college graduates, create jobs and to encourage
business growth.
I
recently supported legislation to renew the Ohio Third
Frontier Program, which is a valuable contributor to our
state economy. Governor
Taft originally established this bipartisan program in 2002
to expand Ohio’s research capabilities and create secure
jobs for future generations.
As one of the state’s largest technological
investments, this $1.6 billion initiative aims to widen
Ohio’s high-tech industries while promoting specialized
economic growth within the state.
Specifically, it builds research programs in key
areas, including alternative energy and biomedicine.
By
making Ohio an attractive site for tech-based companies and
business growth, Third Frontier has created $6.6 billion in
economic impact and more than 41,000 jobs in just seven
years. In fact, in
2006, 2007 and 2008, Site Selection magazine awarded
Ohio the Governor’s Cup award for the most facility
locations and expansions, with 503 new projects in 2008
alone.
Third
Frontier was an unprecedented bipartisan agreement that had
not been previously seen in the Statehouse during this
General Assembly. I’m
pleased that Governor Strickland renewed this
Republican-championed initiative even during this
challenging economy. Although
the Legislature needs to remain cautious of spending
projects when faced with significant budget deficits, it is
also important to strike a balance by encouraging high-tech
businesses while being mindful of how these investments will
affect the taxpayers.
As
the Ohio Legislature works to maintain our historically
successful industries in manufacturing and agriculture, we
will continue to work to attract research opportunities and
jumpstart our economic recovery by giving Ohio a competitive
advantage. Creating
jobs and promoting business expansion is my top priority in
Columbus, and I will continue to fight to improve our state
competitiveness and get Ohioans back to work.
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For
Immediate Release
January
27, 2010
Rep.
Cliff Hite: Statement on Governor Strickland's State of the
State Address
COLUMBUS—Following
Governor Strickland’s State of the State address,
Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) delivered the following
remarks:
“Under
Governor Strickland’s leadership, Ohio has lost more than
330,000 jobs, 260,000 of which were lost this past year.
Ohio has had the displeasure of seeing its unemployment rate
reach record heights and its credit rating reach record lows.
I hope that the governor makes more attempts to reach across
the aisle in 2010. Republicans have offered innovative
solutions to help turn around Ohio and it is time that
Governor Strickland listens. Ohioans are tired of
waiting on a big government fueled by high taxes. The
governor knows what the stakes are in 2010, and hopefully this
year will be a break from the past for Governor Strickland.”
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For
Immediate Release
January 13, 2010
Rep.
Hite: Third Frontier Boosts Economy ~
An Initiative Republicans and Democrats
Can Agree On
COLUMBUS—State
Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) today supported
legislation to place the renewal of the Third Frontier
initiative on the May ballot. This investment will spur
the growth of high-tech business clusters throughout Ohio.
“My
number one priority is putting Ohioans back to work. The
Third Frontier initiative has a proven track record of
creating more than 41,000 jobs. This initiative along
with the “Future of Ohio” jobs package that was rolled out
by my Republican caucus in September 2009 is critical to
getting Ohio back to work.”
Third
Frontier allows for investment in research and development to
create well-paying jobs and industry in all regions of Ohio.
This investment serves to prime the pump for out-of-state
capital that will nourish high-tech industries in Ohio,
creating jobs and spurring new economic development.
Considering
the partisan political climate of the 128th General
Assembly, the Third Frontier initiative is an unprecedented
bipartisan commitment to create new technology-based products,
companies, industries and jobs that will make Ohio
economically competitive.
“Third
Frontier has already created more-than 500 companies and
attracted $3.5 billion in private investment to Ohio.
This initiative benefits all Ohioans through research for
alternative fuels, medical research, and biotech research.
The Third Frontier initiative encourages partnerships between
our state’s research universities and the private sector to
create new products and jobs,” Hite said.
Lawmakers
remain committed to this proposal as originally introduced in
2002. Since that time, Ohio has seen an impressive
return on investment of 41,300 jobs created and $6.6
billion in economic activity generated. The measure
passed the full House 85-13.
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For
Immediate Release
December 17, 2009
Representative
Hite Decries House Bill 318
Columbus—
State Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) today
decried the passage of Governor Strickland and House
Democrat's proposal to raise taxes on families and small
businesses. House Bill 318 will eliminate the final
installment of the income tax reductions set forth in 2005,
which will force taxpayers to relinquish an additional $851
million in new taxes.
Governor
Strickland and House Democrats supported the 4.2 percent tax
increase while ignoring House Republican calls for waste
reduction and government accountability. With a heavier
burden being forced upon the shoulders of entrepreneurs, House
Republicans fear the effect this tax increase will have on
Ohio's long-term job potential.
“House
Bill 318 will discourage investment by raising taxes on the
people who create jobs,” Hite said. “When taxes are
raised, money is stolen from job-creating equipment and
positions.”
Small
businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the
past 15 years, according to the Small Business Association.
They also employ approximately half of all workers in the U.S.
and pay 44 percent of total private payroll.
House
Republicans believe that raising taxes in this economy will
ruin Ohio's competitiveness in creating jobs and attracting
new business opportunities. With one of the top ten
highest state income tax rates in the country, further raising
Ohio's income taxes will compel families and businesses
relocate elsewhere.
“House
Bill 318 is a tax increase on all levels, affecting the rich,
poor, middle class and small businesses,” Hite said.
“Ohio's leaders need to make a choice whether they would
rather create jobs or continue to feed our hungry government
with more tax dollars.”
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
Where
Have All The Jobs Gone?
In
today’s highly mobile economy, states fiercely compete with
each other for businesses, jobs and people. With 231,000
taxpayers fleeing Ohio during the past 15 years, it’s clear
that the Buckeye State is failing in this interstate
competition.
Economically,
it is no surprise that companies are fleeing high-tax states
like Ohio and relocating to business-friendly, low-tax states
like Texas. After all, when people want to keep more of
their own hard-earned money, they end up speaking with their
feet and taking their capital and opportunities elsewhere.
Native Ohioans are forsaking the state in which they grew up,
and out-of-state people and businesses overlook Ohio when
considering relocation.
Despite
a slew of evidence from renowned economists, it amazes me how
many people still refuse to recognize that in the race for
economic opportunities, state tax codes really do matter.
With
Ohio’s economy in shambles, state leaders need to make a
choice between creating jobs or blindly taxing our citizens to
feed an out-of-control, hungry government. We are
wasting too many tax dollars by not operating a cost-efficient
government, and in turn we are losing the corporate staples of
our economy.
Just
this past year, National Cash Register (NCR) abandoned its
Dayton headquarters of 125 years in favor of Georgia, a
tax-friendly state with an ALEC-Laffer economic outlook
ranking of eighth in the nation. Timken closed its
Canton manufacturing plant due to overregulation, a move that
displaced 1,300 workers. And the most recent blow to
Ohio’s economy comes from Cleveland, where American
Greetings announced plans to study relocation from its Ohio
headquarters because the state and local taxes are simply too
steep.
What
we should learn from these corporate relocations is that even
though the Legislature may attempt to regulate and raise taxes
on businesses, it doesn’t mean that businesses will stick
around to suffer the consequences.
As
businesses and families continue to leave Ohio, state leaders
need to focus on creating and retaining jobs to get Ohioans
back to work. In 2009 alone, more than 200,000 Ohio jobs
were lost and, on top of that, families have been slapped with
a 4.2 percent tax increase. This is no time for a tax
increase that will hinder spending and investments by those
who remain in Ohio.
As
the Legislature takes its first steps into 2010, I will
continue to fight for responsible spending and
business-friendly taxes for Ohio. This is the only
answer to the ongoing question of how to stop the slow
hemorrhage of families, businesses and jobs from our borders.
As your state representative, I will advocate for economically
sound policies that will create jobs and put Ohio back on the
road to recovery.
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
2009
In Review
This
year has been one of the most difficult years for Ohio’s
legislators and families. 2009 was characterized by an
extremely difficult budget and record job loss, and now more
than ever families are looking to their state leaders to do
what is right for Ohio's future.
Unfortunately,
despite the loss of state revenues this year, our state budget
increased spending by $1 billion annually when it should have
been trimmed. As a result of irresponsible budgeting,
our state now faces an $851 million budget deficit that must
be filled. Due to this budget's failure to provide
sustainable funding for vital programs and public services,
the next budget will likely be very difficult to balance and
may necessitate heavy tax increases on Ohio's families.
To
help repair our budget in advance, I cosponsored an initiative
to streamline state spending, reduce waste and make government
more effective. House Bill 25 would make state agencies
work better for the citizens who rely on the services they
provide. If enacted, House Bill 25 could save Ohio's
taxpayers $1 billion each year by ensuring that each tax
dollar spent has a dollar's return. I believe that this
bill is a necessary action while Ohio strives for economic
growth.
I
also cosponsored House Bill 66 to trim wasteful government
pork projects by establishing the State Government Efficiency
Commission. This commission would be charged with
examining state agencies, identifying those that are
uneconomical, and submitting recommendations for cost-saving
measures.
Ohio
instituted a task force to study government waste back in
1983, but none of the commission's recommendations were put
into action. If they had, Ohio could have saved the
taxpayers billions of dollars during the past 26 years.
With state revenues plummeting and more jobs being lost, now
is the time to finally put into practice the cost-saving
proposals our state truly needs.
These
necessary bills have been silenced in committee, and neither
has seen a vote in committee or on the House floor. The
effectiveness of our state government has not been examined in
more than half a century; state spending has become wasteful
and bloated. Instead of continuing to blindly feed more tax
dollars into spending projects, we need to reduce wasteful
expenditures and bring our state government back to fiscal
responsibility.
I
continue to hope that 2010 will bring bipartisan conversations
about Ohio's future and what needs to be done to preserve it.
With everything at stake, this is not the time for inaction.
I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle to ensure Ohio’s future as the second half of the
General Assembly commences.
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
Budget
Crisis Requires Sustainable Solutions
In
October, a bill passed the Ohio House of Representatives that
would suspend the final installment of the income tax
reductions of 2005. House Bill 318 retroactively
increases the tax burden on Ohioans for this tax year, at a
time when families are already struggling with unemployment
and wage cuts. As your voice in Columbus, I believe that
raising taxes during Ohio's worst economy in more than two
decades is irresponsible and shortsighted.
Many
proponents of House Bill 318 have claimed that it is not a tax
increase and it merely maintains the tax rates of 2008.
But for most families who have been promised a particular tax
rate and planned their budgets accordingly, House Bill 318
cannot be seen as anything but a tax increase. We
can bicker about vernacular details or what a “tax
increase” really is, but the bottom line is that for 2009,
your family's tax rates will increase beyond what you had
expected in January.
It
is disappointing that many of Ohio’s leaders have again
turned to the taxpayers to pay for our bloated state
government. How can they, in good conscience, raise
taxes on families without considering alternative solutions,
like tightening state spending or other cost-saving measures?
There
is no doubt that there needs to be immediate action to address
the budget deficit, but a tax increase is not the answer.
The problem is that Ohio has for too long been a high-tax
state, which has led to our recent population exodus and
industry decline. If we hope to create jobs, we need to
consider alternative solutions to bring new, innovative
opportunities. Tax increases will only counteract our
hopes for economic recovery and job creation.
Unless
we examine Ohio's fundamental budget problem in a critical,
objective way, we will continue to face budget crises and job
loss year after year. These difficult economic times and
our state's over-reliance on the taxpayers call for
fundamental structural changes. Instead of looking only
at the short-term, we must start considering our state's
long-term prosperity by finding solutions that will continue
to benefit us for decades.
As
a long-term solution to Ohio's financial crisis, I
co-sponsored House Bill 25 back in January to bring about
sustainable, cost-saving alternatives to tax increases.
House Bill 25 will significantly reduce state spending by
consolidating duplicitous state agencies and services.
Making state government operate more efficiently will allow us
to deliver vital services to Ohioans without the bureaucratic
red tape while reducing our reliance on tax dollars. By
essentially lowering the burden on taxpayers, this bill will
have a multiplier effect on the state economy by bringing jobs
to Ohio, retaining our educated workforce and facilitating
small business growth.
Unlike
a tax increase, House Bill 25 will provide the answers Ohioans
demand from their elected officials. We have an
opportunity to ensure that state government is operating as
efficiently and effectively as possible, while saving tax
dollars and helping Ohioans who rely upon those services.
This bill recently received its first House committee hearing
since January, and I am eager to get this measure moving for
the benefit of Ohio's future.
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For
Immediate Release
October
21, 2009
Rep.
Cliff Hite Announces
Passage of State Income Tax Increase
COLUMBUS—
State Representative Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) today
opposed the Ohio House of Representatives’ passage of House
Bill 318, which would suspend the last installment of the
income tax reductions set forth in 2005.
Under
current law, state income tax rates are to be reduced by a
total of 21 percent over a five-year period, according to
House Bill 66 of the 126th General Assembly.
Governor Strickland and House Democrats have supported a
freeze of the tax reforms, which would retroactively increase
the tax burden on Ohio’s families by 4.2 percent in 2009.
“This
is a quick fix scheme that does not offer permanent cost
containment solutions for the future,” Hite said.
“With a potential multi-billion dollar deficit looming in
the next budget cycle, a more conscientious solution should
have been offered. House Republicans have initiated many
budget-saving alternatives that to date have not received a
hearing.”
In
addition, House Bill 318 would reduce the salaries of state
legislators by 5 percent, a proposal initially championed by
Representatives Seth Morgan (R-Huber Heights) and Terry Boose
(R-Norwalk) in June of this year. The salary reductions
would be effective starting in 2011, as permitted by the Ohio
Constitution.
Unlike
Morgan and Boose’s House Bill 210, the salary reduction
clause of House Bill 318 strips out key pieces of the
Republican proposal. It fails to apply to both the
executive and legislative branches, and it omits a sunset
provision that uses Ohio’s economy as the benchmark.
For those reasons, House Republicans were reluctant to support
House Bill 318 because it completely stripped the merit of
their original idea to an oversimplified adaptation.
“I
co-sponsored House Bill 210 in June that would have reduced
all elected officials’ pay by 5 percent, and not just
members of the House and Senate as suggested in House Bill
318,” Hite said.
House
Bill 318 was initiated to fill an $851 million budget deficit
caused by the failure of the video lottery terminals (VLT)
provision included in July’s biennial budget. House
Republicans have expressed concern that the bill imposes a
higher tax burden and continues the expansion of government
without providing for any cost-efficiency measures.
In
an effort to provide sustainable changes to fill the budget
deficit, House Republicans proposed amendments to House Bill
318 on the House floor that would streamline government
agencies and consolidate spending; minimize waste, fraud and
abuse in the Medicaid system; allow local school boards to
decide whether to accept unfunded state mandates; and create a
committee to maximize hospital employment and sustainability.
These suggestions were rejected by House Democrats.
“The
tax increase dilemma presented is disconcerting,” Hite said.
“Better programs can be implemented and should be
implemented. I am confident that no one on either side
of this issue is truly willing to reduce funding for schools.
A vote in support of House Bill 318 simply encourages a
‘Band-Aid’ solution to a large, ever-worsening economic
wound in the state of Ohio. As more than 10 percent of
Ohioans remain unemployed, I welcome an open bipartisan
solution to heal our great state.”
House
Bill 318 passed from the House by a 55-44 vote. The bill
now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
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For
Immediate Release
September
30, 2009
Hite
Statement on Strickland Tax Increase
COLUMBUS—
State Representative Cliff Hite (R- Findlay) issued the
following statement on the governor’s proposal to increase
the Ohio income tax:
“I
believe the governor has a responsibility to put forth his
ideas and solutions. I am grateful that he has at least
put something on the table to start the debate. However,
Governor Strickland has consistently maintained that raising
taxes in a poor economy is a bad idea that will likely delay
the economic recovery of Ohio. Now he has changed his
mind. I think he was right the first time. Certainly a
tax increase will hurt our economic competitiveness and
Ohioans are already struggling with meeting their day to day
needs. The tax cuts that were passed in 2005 were
enacted across the board equally for all Ohioans and this
proposal will likewise subject all Ohioans to an income tax
increase. Ohio House Republicans have been offering
alternatives to the existing budget for some time now.
Because of the situation and the governor’s invitation to
debate alternatives, it is time we work hard to find the
proper solutions to this budget dilemma.”
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Column From Representative Cliff Hite
Growing
Government Presents
Long-Term Concerns
The
late Ronald Reagan once said, “We don’t have a
trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough.
We have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much.”
As the federal government continues to spend money to
“jump-start” the economy, here in Ohio our state spending
has actually increased when it should have been reduced.
As both a legislator and concerned citizen, I can’t help but
wonder why many of my colleagues have supported government
growth and increased spending while families struggle to make
ends meet. After all, irresponsible spending contributed
to the decline of the economy in the first place.
Government
has grown too large to be managed efficiently and families are
paying the price for increased government expenses. Our
focus as legislators should be implementing responsible,
cost-effective spending to attract businesses to our state and
incite population influx within our borders. As families
tighten their budgets, government should reduce spending as
well by eliminating unnecessary waste where need be.
But
instead of reducing wasteful expenditures, our state budget
increases spending by more than $1 billion compared to last
fiscal year, and the $7 billion in one-time funding provides
only temporary support for the creation of new programs.
Now more than ever, Ohioans need long-term solutions to the
very real problems we are facing, but unfortunately this
budget does not provide those answers. To generate
lasting economic improvement, my fellow legislators and I
should direct our efforts toward reducing wasteful spending
and implementing a tax code that encourages business expansion
and job creation.
The
role of government is to work for all of its citizens,
including the middle class families and small business owners.
We are not submissive to government and should not be
obligated to feed its hunger, but unfortunately with the
direction in which our government is headed, the middle class
and small businesses will be hit hardest.
President
Reagan said it best: “The nine most terrifying words in the
English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m
here to help.’ ” It is not the government’s duty
to overtax and control the economy. It is not the
government’s duty to ensure your happiness or redistribute
personal capital. The government’s premier task is to
protect all Americans from corruption and threats, while
guaranteeing that both the wealthiest and poorest of our
society have equal opportunities to succeed. As your
state representative I will continue to advocate for a
government that serves “we the people,” not the other way
around.
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