Ohio Senate begins work on new tax cut

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Senate began work this week on a new tax cut, prompted by expected state savings from a Medicaid expansion backed by federal funds.

Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, one of two Republican lawmakers on the state Controlling Board who signed off on spending authority to accommodate the move, offered testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on legislation that would cut income-tax rates by another 4 percent across the board.

But one Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee voiced reservations of the proposal, questioning whether funds should instead be directed into other services.

Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, asked Widener during his sponsor testimony, "If you're going to invest $404 million somewhere, shouldn't it be invested in something that you can see results with - early childhood education or back into the public schools so that we can give every student the opportunity to grow rather than just to give a little bit to everybody?"

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com