Dem lawmakers look to axe the Pink Tax in Ohio
Bipartisan bill would remove $4 million in annual discriminatory economic barriers
In the midst of state operating budget discussions,
State Reps. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) and Brigid Kelly
(D-Cincinnati) announced they are introducing House
Bill 61, bipartisan legislation to eliminate the $4 million
yearly sales tax on feminine hygiene products,
such as tampons and pads.
Tampons and pads are medical necessities for
women not luxury items. In a state where
women are paid less for the same work as
men1, every cent counts for Ohio families. I
believe the Pink Tax unfairly takes money out
of the pockets of women and undermines the
economic stability of working families.
Ohio has historically waivered on sales and use taxes,
reducing it in previous years before steadily increasing
it under GOP control of the state since 20112. From
1971 to 1981, lawmakers even saw to it that
cigarettes went untaxed3.
The average woman has her period for multiple days a
Ohio EPA extends funding for water quality projects in 2017
$100 million available for fixing combined sewer overflows to reduce toxic runoff
The Ohio EPA has finalized the 2017 Program
Management Plan for the Water Pollution Control Loan
Fund. The fund provides financial and technical
assistance to projects that improve the
quality of Ohio's rivers, streams, lakes
and other water bodies.
Since 2011, Ohio has invested more than
$3.5 billion in addressing key
infrastructure issues that help improve
water quality statewide. These creative
programs tackle challenges like Harmful
Algal Blooms (HABS) that have affected
Lake Erie.
In Program Years (PY) 2015 and 2016,
Ohio EPA made $100 million available at
zero percent interest to projects that helped reduce
phosphorus and other nutrients being discharged into
Ohios water bodies in response to HABs and their
potential effect on drinking water systems.
The Ohio EPA is continuing to work aggressively to use
available funding to accelerate fixing combined sewer
month, every month, over the course of 30 to 40 years
and will spend over $11,000 on tampons during her
lifetime. According to a fiscal analysis from the
Legislative Service Commission, Ohio women give the
state nearly $4 million in annual taxes from
purchasing medically necessary feminine
hygiene products.
The medicine prescribed to treat vaginal
diseases and infections are tax exempt, but the
products to prevent these illness are not. I
believe that eliminating the Pink Tax on
tampons and pads will create a more level
economic playing for Ohio's women.
1
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2016/09/26/equal-pay-
equal-work-not-ohio/91120594/
2
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2015-09-13/governor-
kasich-s-standout-record-in-ohio
3
http://www.tax.ohio.gov/Portals/0/communications/publications/
annu-
al_reports/2015_annual_report/2015_AR_Section_2_Sales_and_Use
_Tax.pdf
overflows (CSOs) as part of the states three-year
comprehensive strategy to reduce excess nutrients in
Ohio watersheds particularly those that feed into
Lake Erie.
In PY2017, Ohio EPA announced it is
offering an additional $100 million at a
zero percent interest rate for these types
of projects. Furthermore, the agency is
proposing to commit an additional $300
million at zero percent interest over the
next three years for projects that address
CSOs.
Im pleased to see the states continued
investment to ensure our drinking water
is safe from toxins and our natural lakes
and rivers remain healthy and vibrant. I look forward
to the environmental improvements the EPAs
investment plan will bring to our great state.
1
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/News/OnlineNewsRoom/NewsReleases/
TabId/6596/ArticleId/1060/language/en-US/ohio-epa-finalizes-2017
-water-pollution-control-loan-fund-program-management-plan.aspx