Continued Debate On Budget Brings Same Agruments

Democrats in the Ohio House of Representatives are ripping the massive tax cut and tax shift proposal from Republican Governor John Kasich. Monday was the first day of legislative hearings on the proposed $63 billion budget for the two-year period beginning July 1. The budget contains a 20 percent cut to the state income tax, while increasing sales tax revenue by applying the tax to several new sectors and services such as haircuts and legal fees. Gov. Kasich calls it a $1.3 billion overall tax cut, while a liberal think tank has said the shift would increase the overall tax burden of many Ohioans, including the poor. "Everywhere I go, I can't get away from these taxes. I can't leave the state because if I try to, (the state) will tax the travel agent who gets me out of here and the agent that gets me a ticket back," said Dem. State Rep. Dan Ramos. The plan has the backing of most Republicans and small businesses, which would benefit from a lower income tax. Small business lobbyist Roger Geiger. "The more money you put in the pockets of small business owners and entrepreneurs, the more they're willing to expand their business," said small business lobbyist Roger Geiger. But Geiger says his industry would object to the state requiring new jobs at businesses receiving tax cuts. Click the play button above to hear more from Monday's first day of legislative discussion on the proposed budget.