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Ohio immigration legislation
Legislation recently introduced in the Ohio House is aimed at ensuring employment, legal benefits and state services will only be available to tax-paying, law-abiding citizens legally residing in Ohio. Provisions of the bill are similar to initiatives that have been passed or proposed in more than 30 states.

State Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, is a sponsor of H.B. 654, known as the Workforce Protection & Illegal Alien Enforcement Act.

Seitz testified before the House Judiciary Committee that "we (lawmakers) have made it a priority to protect Ohio and its lawfully resident citizens from the problems posed by illegal aliens who have circumvented existing federal law by cutting to the front of the line." He added that state and local officials should partner up with federal authorities to provide additional help in stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

John Wargowsky, OFBF's director of labor services and policy, said changing state laws would not solve the immigration issue.

"Immigration is a federal issue that demands a federal solution. Ohio Farm Bureau continues to support comprehensive immigration reform that secures our nation's borders while allowing legal pathways for foreign workers to staff some of the positions on farms," he said.

Wargowsky said Ohio's family farms need to hire additional help beyond the family and have found that immigrants and temporary guest workers are an important component of that work force.

House changes tax reductions, capital gains cut
Average Ohio taxpayers could save some tax money if state legislators move ahead with a plan to speed up a tax cut that’s currently being phased in.

The House Ways and Means Committee recently voted to accelerate a scheduled reduction in state income tax rates, scrapping an initial plan to reduce the capital gains tax rate.

"This is a good thing for Ohio farmers and agribusiness. It means a $190 million cut in income taxes statewide this year and ushers in the 21 percent total cut one year ahead of schedule," said Rocky Black, OFBF’s senior director of policy implementation.

The legislation is known as HB 626, lops a year off a five-year tax cut blueprint so the cuts are fully phased in by 2008 instead of 2009.

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, blasted Republicans, saying it was a "desperate" attempt to divert voter attention away from key issues facing the state.

Neither the House nor the Senate plans to vote on the issue before the November elections.