Rep. Thomas Votes No on Gas Tax Holiday, Not the Best Use of $725 Million for Ohioans

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) refused to support a 90-day gas tax holiday, saying Ohioans need relief at the pump, but the Republican proposal is not the best use of $725 million in state funds while families continue to struggle with the cost of health care, child care, groceries, housing, utilities and other basic expenses.

“I know families are feeling the cost of higher gas prices. Ohioans deserve relief, and that is exactly why I took today’s vote so seriously.

When the State of Ohio commits hundreds of millions of public dollars, we have a responsibility to make sure the policy works. We should know that the intended savings will reach the people who need them. And we should be confident that we are making the most responsible use of taxpayer resources.

My vote was not against lowering costs for Ohioans. It reflected my concerns with this particular bill and its temporary, 90-day approach.

Keep in mind, 30% of the people who get gas in Ohio aren’t from Ohio. So, we have roughly $217 million of the $725 million in gas tax relief that will benefit people who don’t live here.

The question is not whether Ohioans deserve relief at the pump. They do. The question is whether dedicating $750 million in state resources to a temporary reduction in the gas tax is the most effective way to address the broader cost-of-living challenges facing Ohio families.

We should be honest with Ohioans about what this proposal can and cannot accomplish. A temporary gas tax reduction may provide short-term savings, but it does not address the underlying factors driving fluctuations in fuel prices. If those broader pressures continue, gas prices can rise again, leaving Ohioans facing the same challenges once the temporary relief expires.

Ohioans deserve meaningful, sustainable relief, not a short-term solution that leaves the larger affordability challenges untouched.”