Study Finds Ohio Fed-Up with High Taxes and Wasteful State Spending

For Immediate Release – March 4, 2009
Contact: Jack Boyle (440) 552-2017 or Mary Ellen Burke, (202) 349-5880

Study Finds Ohio Fed-Up with High Taxes and Wasteful State Spending

- Lower-Income Residents Oppose Tax Hikes, Even if They Don’t Pay -

COLUMBUS ─ A new survey by the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity finds that 60 percent of Ohio residents disapprove of the state legislature’s handling of budget and tax issues. In addition, 55 percent believe the state’s taxes are too high. When asked to identify the most important issue in state budgeting, 47 percent identified wasteful spending on programs that do not work.

“The governor’s so-called ‘No Tax’ budget actually includes an enormous number of new or increased fees. Ohioans aren’t stupid, they know that a hefty fee on everything from nursing home beds—more than doubled—to livestock renewal fees—increased 500 percent—is the same as a tax,” said Jack Boyle, state director of the Ohio chapter of Americans for Prosperity. “62 percent of our survey’s respondents said that they do not trust state officials to spend any new revenues wisely; this includes massive new fees proposed by Governor Strickland.”

The survey also finds that lower-income Ohioans oppose higher taxes, even if they are not forced to pay them. 55.6 percent of respondents earning under $30,000 rejected the idea of raising taxes on others.

Respondents also rejected the idea of taxes that are paid for by working poor and lower income groups, with a decisive 89 percent opposing the taxes.

The survey was conducted by Voter/Consumer Research, and is based on the responses of 601 registered voters across the state, conducted by telephone Jan. 22-27 of this year. The margin of error is +/- 4 percent.

The complete national and state-specific survey results can be viewed by clicking here.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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