Dave Thomas anecdote a favorite from 2011

Opponents of Ohio’s estate tax argued it hurt the state by driving away wealthy residents.

State Rep. Jay Hottinger, a leader of the drive to repeal the tax in the General Assembly, said a “shockingly high number” of Ohioans leave because of the tax. But, the Newark Republican also acknowledged he had no actual number to cite.

“When an individual decides to leave my home community in Licking County, believe it or not, they don’t take out a press release,” he said. “They don’t send it to the news media and say, ‘We’re leaving the state of Ohio because we want to preserve our assets for our heirs.”

He pointed to individuals instead, naming the founder of Wendy’s restaurants as one example.

“Dave Thomas left the state literally on his deathbed to avoid the estate tax,” Hottinger said.

We imagined a dramatic dash for the border in a souped-up medical van.

But when we checked into his claim, we found a less dramatic story. We rated his claim Pants on Fire, and made if one of our favorites for 2011.