Tim Burga, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed two new pieces of legislation designed to make railways safer, a newly proposed tax cut and a proposed amendment to the Ohio State Constitution to change the threshold to pass future amendments.
Ohio legslators have introduced the Transportation Safety Bill, which includes two common-sense measures to ensure safer railway operations. Meanwhile, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, which will create stricter safety standards for U.S. rail carriers. Both pieces of legislation may prevent any future incidents like the East Palestine derailment, Burga added.
Burga then discussed a plan to create a flat tax on state income tax and increase property taxes. He feels that if enacted, these new taxes would greatly impact lower-income households in Ohio and create a larger gap between middle-class and lower-income families.
Several months after a failed attempt to increase the required voting threshold to amend Ohio’s constitution, state Republicans are again seeking the increase the percentage of votes needed to change the state’s constitution. Currently, the voting threshold is 50 percent, plus one vote. If the proposed increase passes, it would require 60 percent of voters to approve a change. Burga noted most states have an amendment under 60 percent. In his opinion, this would make it more difficult to pass an amendment. He added that over 150 organizations marched on the State Capitol last year to share their displeasure with the measure.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.