COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A new idea for tax cuts has been proposed at the Ohio Statehouse that would impact more than half a million Ohioans.
“These aren’t people getting rich. These aren’t millionaires. These are blue collar people that are trying to get by,” Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) said.
Edwards is sponsoring House Bill 643. Right now, when you open the bill, it only has one sentence that reads, “The General Assembly declares its intent to exempt tips and gratuities from income tax.”
“We’re still working on the legislation now,” Edwards said. “So, you know, once we get this bill on the committee, we’ll substitute it right away and have the actual language.”
The actual language likely will not be added until at least November, when the legislature reconvenes after summer recess. But Edwards said the idea is simple: to help the working class by letting tipped workers keep their gratuities in full.
“They’ve got children. They’re trying to pay rent. They’re trying to pay off their vehicle. They got insurance on their on their vehicle. They’re struggling to get by,” Edwards said. “So, this is a way for us to be able to help them and try to do that.”