Recently Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) appeared in Alliance before a group of citizens. In an exchange with a constituent who wanted the Congressman to explain why Ohio, and by implication the 16th Congressional District, could not stop the loss of manufacturing jobs and, in fact, attract new jobs.In the video below, see Boccieri blame the loss of manufacturing jobs on "unfair" trade policies.
Is Boccieri correct in his analysis?
Look at the charts above showing Ohio 47th out of the 50 states in achieving a "business-friendly" tax policy. Note how Ohio is a disadvantage to all of its neighbors except perennially high-tax New York.
Also noteworthy (not shown on chart) shortly after the Ohio Republican controlled legislator (in concert with Republican governor Bob Taft) passed tax reform to make Ohio more "business-friendly," Ohio was ranked 47th.
Governor Strickland took a wait and see posture on the "tax reform" when he took office in January, 2007.
Well, has Congressman Boccieri's close friend Ted Strickland seen enough? Did the tax reform effort change anything?
Maybe, just maybe John Boccieri is on the wrong track on blaming trade policy.
All 50 states have the same problem when it comes to trade policy.
But, on a relative basis, isn't the main problem with Ohio attracting and keeping jobs (obviously, including manufacturing jobs) due to Ohio's tax policy?
For all the hoopla that the Republicans made back in 2005 on trimming Ohio's business tax, to what effect? Forty-seventh then, 47th now. And Boccieri was part of the Ohio Legislature that supposedly made Ohio more business friendly.
Here's the video of Boccieri at Alliance.
