Tax Breaks For Rich

Under Ohio’s new Republican majority, the rich will get richer and the middle class will get the shaft.

This became clear when Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder, a Republican, said one of his caucus’ top priorities this year will be repeal of the state’s inheritance tax.

As if the state wasn’t in enough financial trouble, Batchelder and the Republicans want to hand the wealthy another $300 million a year in tax breaks. About 80 percent of the lost revenue would be taken from state aid to local governments, according to an article in today’s Columbus Dispatch.

The result: Increased taxes on the middle class at the local level or layoffs of police officers and firefighters. These dedicated public servants are the ones who help keep our neighborhoods safe, but under Republicans there probably will be fewer of them.

But not to worry. The sons and daughters of rich folks will be able to afford more country-club memberships, more luxury cars and more yachts.

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