Associated Press
A state Senate panel is slated to hear public testimony on its proposed changes to Ohio’s two-year budget that includes a 40-cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes and tax relief for small businesses.
Majority Republicans highlighted the policy revisions in their $71.3 billion spending blueprint on Monday. Their plan is set to come before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday morning.
GOP leaders say the proposal would eliminate all income taxes for a portion of small business income and restore Medicaid health coverage for certain pregnant women and women with breast and cervical cancer. The measure also would increase higher-education funding by $240 million and maintain a 6.3 percent cut to the state income tax that the House passed in April.
The legislation faces a June 30 deadline.