Latest news with #KentSmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Good deal' budget bill offers smart tax policy and relief for Ohio families
As the state's operating budget works its way through the General Assembly, I want to bring to your attention legislation that I've reintroduced with my colleague from Cleveland, Sen. Kent Smith. Senate Bill 190 is a mini-budget bill entitled "A Good Deal for Ohio." It's named in honor of two past presidents and the work they did while in office: Theodore Roosevelt and the "Square Deal"; and Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the "New Deal." This effort is bipartisan and reflects what we believe would be a great budget. The bill is roughly $2 billion in revenues and expenditures and is, of course, balanced. It raises revenue by revising our tax code to close some overly generous tax loopholes and align other taxes with those of similar states. For example, the business income deduction has been in place for well over a decade. The first $250,000 of business income is tax-free, and it is taxed at a flat 3% above that level. For reference, Ohio's top income tax rate is 3.5%. This tax policy costs the state about $1.2 billion every year. The change we've made is to simply say that to receive this benefit, you need to materially participate in the business and employ at least one non-owner employee. In other words, you have to create jobs and not be a passive investor. This saves the state hundreds of millions per year and is consistent with many Ohio tax incentives that have a job creation requirement. Alaska, North Dakota and Texas have either no income tax or a very low income tax. They also have some of the highest severance taxes in the country − a severance tax is a tax on oil and gas extraction. Ohio's severance tax is one of the lowest in the country, and we have a thriving oil and gas industry. These high taxes haven't hampered Alaska, North Dakota and Texas; they're all red states, and their tax regimes exist with at least the tacit approval of Republicans. Moreover, John Kasich tried to increase the severance tax to underwrite an income tax cut. To simply do what these three states are doing will not destroy the oil and gas industry, and it would raise $500 million per year. There are many other changes on the revenue side, but let's talk about the expenditure side. Consistent with what we've heard from the electorate, the bill would deliver $900 million per year in property tax relief. It would do this by paying for the entirety of bipartisan, property tax "circuit-breaker" legislation: SB 22. It is means-tested, and goes to renters and homeowners alike, irrespective of age. It holds local political subdivisions harmless and is the only property tax relief legislation to earn the support of OASBO, which represents school treasurers. You should make up your mind on the proposal, but briefly here are the other elements: a refundable earned income tax credit (EITC); universal school breakfast and lunch; a major boost to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund; increases to the local government and public library funds; and an increase to 200% of FPL for initial eligibility for publicly funded childcare. What has made America and Ohio truly exceptional, and what this legislation supports, is a large and vibrant middle class combined with world-class social mobility. Though the chances of this legislation passing in its entirety are slim, that's not the point. It is to demonstrate what you could have, and serve as a blueprint for the future. To show that this makes better economic sense, as it will drive demand from the poor and middle classes, which will in turn drive business activity to meet that demand, all while strengthening our social safety net. And, finally, to restore faith in our public institutions that, while imperfect, are often the only entities in our corner when we fall on tough times. Louis W. Blessing III, R-Colerain Township, is serving his second term in the Ohio Senate. He currently represents Ohio's 8th Senate District, which encompasses a portion of Hamilton County. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio's budget can be balanced and bold | Opinion
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Doctors at rural hospital say new payment model hurts inpatient care
Musquodoboit Harbour residents are raising concerns about inpatient care at Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital amid a pay dispute between the province and five doctors at the hospital. However both the province and the MLA for the area are seeking to reassure the community that hospital services will continue as usual. In a letter to the province dated May 9, the doctors said they would resign on June 14 in protest over a change to how they are paid for inpatient care. However the doctors rescinded their resignations on May 24 and will now stay on the job for at least another six months as they continue discussions with the province. "We rescinded our resignations despite the lack of flexibility from [the health department] basically to keep the hospital open," one of the doctors, Dr. David Brandon, told CBC News in an interview. The local MLA, Kent Smith, said he was contacted by several constituents about the status of inpatient care. "The doctors are in ongoing discussions with respect to their coverage of inpatients. I am cautiously optimistic for a favourable outcome," he wrote in a Facebook post on May 22. "The most important thing to understand is that this issue of inpatient coverage has absolutely no impact on any other services offered at Twin Oaks. We are all working hard to ensure continued excellent care for our community." The payment model the five doctors have criticized is part of the most recent contract between physicians and the provincial government. The previous payment model paid doctors for each service. Longitudinal Family Medicine (LFM) is a payment model that offers physicians higher compensation if they take on more responsibility, such as taking on more patients or providing additional services or working longer hours. The five doctors say the change will negatively impact how they are paid for inpatient care at Twin Oaks. They say the model doesn't fit the unique needs of small communities. The rural hospital has 15 inpatient beds in addition to an emergency department that is open 12 hours per day. Dr. Gehad Gobran is the president of Doctors Nova Scotia, which negotiated the contract on behalf of the province's 3,300 physicians. "We're educating physicians about the new model and trying to support any necessary solution-minded service delivery changes, within the existing remuneration structure, that will sustain services, while not disadvantaging the physicians financially or increasing practice burden," he said in a statement to CBC News. CBC News requested an interview with the Nova Scotia Health Authority but received a statement instead. The statement says steps are being taken to ensure patients continue to receive medical care and the emergency services will operate normally. "The emergency department will remain fully operational, with no changes to its services," it says. "Virtual urgent care, which is already available at the hospital and underutilized, will continue to support patient needs." Brandon says the hospital should have six physicians on staff, but they currently only have five. As part of a temporary agreement, the province has allowed them to hire an additional physician. "The one thing that [health department] has made possible is that they've allowed us to bring in another doctor if we can find one using locum funding until a new doctor can be hired." For now, Brandon says, the doctors remain, but they will submit their resignations again if the conflict persists and communication with the province does not improve. "The hospital is going to stay open. The hospital is not going to close. We are going to do our best to provide the best care that we can within the limitations of the system, which is what we always do."
USA Today
14-05-2025
- USA Today
Man accused of burning 100 library books on Jewish, African American, LGBTQ+ topics
Man accused of burning 100 library books on Jewish, African American, LGBTQ+ topics An Ohio man has drawn widespread backlash after he reportedly checked out and then burned 100 books on Jewish history, African American history and LGBTQ+ education. The man took the books from the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) in early April, only to later post a video of himself burning the books on social media, according to a May 2 police report viewed by USA TODAY. Democratic state Senator Kent Smith confirmed the subject matter of the books in a May 9 press release, saying, "I condemn this act, not only because it is a crime against our institutions and community, but also because it is fundamentally un-American." Local news sources, WKYC, Fox8 and 19 News, reported that the man had obtained a library card from the Beachwood Library on April 2 and promptly withdrew 50 books on Jewish, African American and LGBTQ+ topics. He returned on April 10 to check out 50 more, telling a librarian that his son was a member of the LGBTQ+ community and that he was looking to learn more, per local reports. Though the librarian reportedly found his behavior odd, he was not overly threatening, she told police in a report reviewed by local news outlets. The Princeton University Bridging Divides Initiative, a non-partisan research group that tracks political violence and hate crimes in the U.S., contacted the library about videos it had spotted online that appeared to have CPPL stickers. One video, made on April 3, reportedly showed the trunk of a car filled with books, accompanied by a caption about "cleansing" the libraries. Another video after the April 10 visit showed the books being burned, per local reports. The library made a report with Beachwood police and said it would send a bill for the $1,700 the books were worth once they became overdue. The Beachwood Police Department is actively investigating the incident, according to local reports. "Our department stands against antisemitism and all acts of bias-motivated crimes,' Beachwood Police Chief Dan Grispino said in a statement shared with several news stations and papers. "We are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting any hate-motivated incidents within the City of Beachwood. Our priority is to maintain a community that can thrive without the fear of threats of intimidation or violence." The Cuyahoga County Public Library, Princeton University Bridging Divides Initiative and Beachwood Police Department did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Local faith group plans to donate 1,000 books Local faith leaders and members of the Interfaith Group Against Hate held a press conference on May 12, where they announced plans to collect and donate 1,000 books back to the library, or 10 books per book burned. "Our goal is to collect a thousand new books that lift up Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ voices and experiences, and to share those books in libraries and community organizations and congregations all over our county," Rev. Ryan Wallace of Fairmount Presbyterian Church told reporters at the conference, reported WKYC.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Nova Scotia lifts seafood buyer, processor ban to boost industry
Kent Smith (left), the minister of fisheries and aquaculture in Nova Scotia at a press conference on May 13, 2025. (CTV Atlantic/ Jesse Thomas)
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Nova Scotia to lift licensing moratorium for buyers and processors in seafood sector
Nova Scotia is lifting two long-standing moratoriums on new seafood buyer and processor licences starting Aug. 1. Fisheries Minister Kent Smith says the province is ending the moratorium on groundfish that was imposed in 1994, and the moratorium from 2018 on licences for all other seafood. Smith says opening the seafood sector to new entrants will help drive the province's economy as processors look to diversify their markets. The province will begin accepting applications for buyer and processor licences for most species on Aug. 1, and for buyer licences for lobster and snow crab starting Jan. 2, 2026. The province currently has a total of 329 buyer and processor licence holders for all species of seafood. Fish and seafood products were Nova Scotia's largest export commodity in 2024, accounting for 36 per cent of exports.
