Education, health care access on Ohio House Dems' agenda

COLUMBUS (AP) — Democrats in the Ohio House are calling for a fair tax structure, investments in education, health care access and increased support for local governments.

Minority party members discussed their priorities for the upcoming state budget today at a Statehouse news conference, but they offered few specifics.

Rep. Denise Driehaus — the Democrats’ top member on the House finance committee — said her caucus would release more policy details after Republican Gov. John Kasich unveils his two-year budget proposal next week.

Kasich is expected to continue to focus on cutting the state’s income-tax rate.

Democratic Rep. Jack Cera called the governor’s previous tax changes “a shell game” that has left the middle class paying a higher percent of their income in taxes compared with wealthier Ohioans.