Ohio lost another opportunity to show its true strength last Thursday as state government failed again to balance its budget with Ohio resources. Beth Lear, candidate for the 2nd House District, decried the lack of moral courage by state leaders who raised the income tax, took a handout from Uncle Sam, and failed to reform education during the late night budget vote.
“Once again Ohio’s elected leaders failed the people. They knew what the right thing was,” Lear said Thursday. “Instead of hearing the wake-up call to focus our energy and assets on the basics of limited, constitutional government, they raised our taxes to balance their bloated budget on the backs of the people.”
Lear said the $894 million tax increase is unacceptable – especially because it is retroactive to the beginning of 2009. A retroactive tax destroys the tax planning of Ohio’s small business owners, many of whom are based in Delaware County.
“I’m especially disappointed with the Republicans who supported this tax-and-spend policy,” Lear continued. “After the last presidential election, Chairman DeWine was correct in saying the GOP is paying because it has left our conservative roots of fiscal responsibility and limited government. I will bring those values back to the state house next year.”
Implemented in 1972, the Ohio income tax has been a disaster, Lear said. Its very existence has damaged individual liberty, while facilitating the rapid growth of the public sector at all levels.
“Few people realize that spending is not free,” said Lear. “Study after study has shown that public sector spending kills jobs and creates economic woe for Ohioans. The unemployment rate rose in November to 10.6 percent. Perhaps the Democrats who supported this retroactive tax increase are trying to help Michigan inch ahead of Ohio in economic performance – that would make us 50th instead of 49th.”
Lear was raised in Delaware County, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is a former policy analyst with the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy and a long-time legislative aide. Her campaign website is www.BethLear.com.