(The Center Square) – Several Ohio lawmakers plan to once again introduce legislation to eliminate both the state’s income tax and the commercial activities tax.
The group plans conversations and town hall meetings throughout the state over the next several months to explain their plan for a six-year phase out of each.
“We’ve had years, decades even, of bringing Ohio’s income tax down from a record 9.5%,” Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, said at a Tuesday news conference. “This is a long process but now we have the end in sight. It’s time to have the bold but necessary steps.”
The group plans to introduce different plans in the House and Senate. The House plan moves the state to a flat tax in 2026, while the Senate plan goes to flat in 2026.
“We’re introducing the plan today in a similar way of JFK’s moonshot. Here’s is our goal. How do we get there?” Mathews said. “Whether that is going flat faster, going lower faster to deal with economic conditions, that’s fine as long as we get to the end point.”
Sen. George Lang, R-West Chester, said he wants to make Ohio the most economically friendly state and dominate the rest of the nation.
“One tax after another, one regulation after another and we started driving business away,” Lang said. “I believe this plan will pay for itself by reducing the costs and complexity of government and by increasing revenues.”
Lang said the objective is to grow the state’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030 and move the state’s congressional delegation from 15 to 16.
The group believes cutting the state’s income will increase sales taxes and other forms of revenues to allow for a constitutionally required balanced budget without cutting things like education and Medicaid spending.
“When you cut taxes you have an increase of economic activity,” said Sen. Stephen Huffman, R-Tipp City. “I think this is the opportunity we need to be like states like Florida and Texas.”
