Ohio lawyer-legislators could see tax benefit

COLUMBUS (AP) — Many of Ohio’s nearly three dozen lawyer-legislators — including leaders in both parties — could benefit personally from a small-business tax break that’s been restored to the state budget.

Most law firms are set up as so-called pass-through entities, which pass the tax burden, or benefit, of the organization through to individual owners or partners.

The Republican-led Ohio Senate restored the proposed tax break targeted at small businesses to the two-year spending plan last week. The Ohio House had stripped the measure out in favor of a statewide 7 percent reduction in Ohio’s personal income tax.

Neither chamber supported Republican Gov. John Kasich’s idea of extending the state sales tax to a laundry list of new professional services, including those provided by legal, accounting and lobbying firms.

Records show 32 of Ohio’s state lawmakers — 21 representatives and 11 senators — are lawyers, including heads of three of four legislative caucuses.