Rep. Hall Votes for Gas Tax Holiday, Says Ohioans Need More Than 90 Days of Relief

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Derrick Hall (D-Akron) today voted in favor of a 90-day gas tax holiday to provide immediate relief to Ohio families facing high prices at the pump.

The legislation temporarily reduces Ohio’s motor fuel tax and uses state General Revenue Fund (GRF) dollars to replace road maintenance and construction revenue that would otherwise be collected during the tax holiday. 

“I voted ‘yes’ on House Bill 519 because I know what it’s like to measure gas, not in gallons, but in trips to and from work and school. For some folks, 38 cents per gallon makes a significant difference. As someone who grew up in a family that was unable to afford a full tank of gas at times, I won’t use my authority as an elected official to vote against lower costs for my constituents. I am frustrated by the politicization of this very real crisis, and I believe we need to be more responsible in the future, with our authority, our taxpayers’ money, and our constituents' livelihoods,” said Rep. Hall.

For Ohio families, the cost of living does not begin and end at the gas pump. Housing, utility bills, health care, child care, groceries and property taxes all determine how much money families have left at the end of the month. For families who are choosing between filling up the tank and paying another bill, immediate relief matters. But the high cost of living stretches far beyond the gas pump.

Ohio’s affordability crisis didn't start five weeks before an election. Ohioans have struggled with high gas prices, utility bills, housing costs and health care expenses for years. Gas prices peaked at an average of $4.83 in May, as the busy travel season began.  But Republicans ignored the struggle until it was politically expedient, that is, when they realized weeks before election day that their gubernatorial candidate was behind in the polls.

Ohio House Democrats offered an alternative plan that would have provided immediate gas tax relief while making the state's resources go further for Ohio families. That proposal would have used the $1 billion previously allocated for the owners of the Cleveland Browns stadium, and would have included a $150 residential energy rebate, strong enforcement to ensure gas tax savings reach consumers, and expanded homestead property tax relief. The plan was ignored by House Republicans.

Rep. Hall said today's vote is part of the broader fight for affordability that Ohio House Democrats have been pursuing throughout the last few years. The gas tax holiday provides needed temporary relief for motorists, but Ohio families continue to face higher costs for housing, groceries, health care, and utilities especially going into winter and the holiday season.