06/23/2017

Ohio Labor, Business Groups Oppose Senate Raid of Budget Funds

Groups believe the action sets a dangerous precedent

A decision by Senate Republicans to use funds from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) and the Ohio Industrial Commission to help balance the new two-year state budget has drawn united opposition from the state’s major business associations, the Ohio AFL-CIO and trial attorneys.

“This language sets an extremely dangerous precedent of allowing the state to ‘raid’ the budgets of these exclusively employer-funded agencies,” said a letter addressed to legislative leaders signed by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, NFIB/Ohio, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association and the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.

The Senate-passed budget authorized the state budget director to transfer up to 2 percent from a variety of funds made up of fees and assessments paid by businesses for specific purposes. In addition to those at the Industrial Commission and Workers’ Compensation, they include funds at the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Insurance, Consumers’ Counsel and State Racing Commission.

Please click here to read the complete article from The Columbus Dispatch.