As we all noticed from the onslaught of ads and attention before the primary; this is a Presidential election year.  Ohio is proving to once again to be of national importance with all eyes on this great state.  With this importance comes lots of “noise” – phone calls, advertisements and campaigning all over the state.  With all this noise and attention, AFP Ohio is committed to ensuring that issues are the focus. 

AFP - Ohio has a policy agenda for 2008 which keeps your ideals and best interest in the limelight.

AFP - Ohio is urging the Legislature to revisit the Estate Tax.  We are advocating for amendments eliminating the state death tax, increasing the local estate tax credit and requiring the tax credit to adjust in proportion to the consumer price index.  On a local front, AFP – Ohio is also encouraging the legislature to give local governments the ability to further increase their exemption and to give citizens the ability to repeal their local government’s estate tax all together via the ballot.

AFP – Ohio is also taking on transparency of state government.  We are working with the General Assembly to pass legislation which requires that information on state awards and earmarks, state real property management, state agency management, and state program effectiveness be collected and made available on a single searchable web site on-line.  Modeled after federal legislation, this type of open good-government public policy will help citizens monitor state government.

On the defensive side, AFP – Ohio is keeping watch on two initiated petition signature drives.  The Constitutional amendment to address school funding, “Getting it Right for Ohio’s Future” and the initiated legislation named the “Healthy Families Act” are two possibilities for the November 2008 ballot.  Each of these proposals has the potential to cause serious damage to Ohio’s already week economy and if they reach the ballot is issues that APP – Ohio will vigorously oppose. 

AFP – Ohio is also looking for transparency out of our Attorney General.  AG’s around the country, including here in Ohio, have begun attacking businesses by suing them indiscriminately.  These lawsuits, often proposed by private litigators, have become a boon for state coffers and those lawyers.  At the same time these lawsuits are killing businesses and ruining the environment in which businesses can grow and produce jobs.