Rep. Rogers Urges Transparency on Budget "Ohioans Deserve Better"

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Elgin Rogers (D-Toledo) did not vote in favor of passage of the compromised version of House Bill 33, Ohio’s biennial budget. The version of the budget that was passed creates a considerable tax cut for those making more than $115k while leaving everyday Ohioans to foot the bill. The tax cuts benefit the wealthy at the expense of all Ohioans. Ohio deserves better. We do not believe in penalizing success, but we do believe in utilizing public funds to better our education, health care, and workforce systems to improve the lives of all Ohioans by providing fervent opportunity for everyone to live up to their God – given abilities. 

This budget also includes expansion of universal EdChoice vouchers. The expansion of EdChoice vouchers not only fundamentally undermines our public education system, but also those children and students who utilize education to escape the trappings of poverty. In OHIO, we have to return to the principles of public funds for public schools. The more than $800 million dollar  expansion of EdChoice vouchers ensures that the wealth gap between the affluent and working class increases. Once upon a time in America, the affluent talked about others pulling themselves up by their own boot straps and refused to partake in programs that were designed to improve those climbing up the socioeconomic ladder. Today – we witnessed the increasing of the divide between those working to improve their lives and those looking to add further distance between everyday Ohioans and the affluent who are well off.

 The budget also transfers most of the powers of the Ohio State Board of Education to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, a move that takes power out of the hands of Ohio’s voters who elect over half of the State Board of Education.

“While I acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and hard work of both chambers along with staff, unfortunately, this budget intentionally misses the mark. The bad in this budget far outweighs the good. The budget pushed through by Republicans is bad for everyday Ohioans and shows a callous disregard for Ohioans with the most need who deserve our help. Instead of choosing to protect our state’s vulnerable populations, Republicans cut taxes for the wealthy and funded universal EdChoice vouchers. I am not here to be a rubber stamp and for these reasons, I was unable to support passage of the revised version of HB33,” said Rep. Rogers. 

The budget does include continued implementation of funding of the Fair School Funding Plan and a partial restoration of funding for the Ohio Maritime Assistance Program. However, the failure to have transparency of over 1 billion dollars of public funds as a result of the OPIOD settlement is dangerous. It allows very little oversight and places all Ohioans in a very comprised situation. Transparency in government is essential and necessary for us to believe in our system and for those stewards we elect to serve the public good.

In the words of James Madison, “All Men Having Power Ought to be mistrusted.” This budget willfully ignores the scrutiny that this legislature now faces because of a few bad actors – and a lack of transparency with the opioid settlement seems to create an atmosphere for other would be unscrupulous and/or bad actors.