Rep. White Supports Gas Tax Holiday, Calls for Action Beyond 90 Days and Beyond the Pump

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Erika White (D-Springfield Township) today voted in favor of a 90-day gas tax holiday to provide immediate relief to Ohio drivers facing high prices at the pump.

The legislation temporarily reduces Ohio’s motor fuel taxes while using state General Revenue Fund dollars to replace transportation revenue that would otherwise be collected during the tax holiday, protecting funding for road maintenance and construction.

“Working families deserve relief wherever we can responsibly provide it, and for someone stretching every dollar, saving money at the pump can mean real breathing room,” said Rep. White. “However, we should be clear about what this is: relief, not permanent affordability reform. Ohioans are being squeezed by housing, utilities, groceries, health care, property taxes and transportation costs. My vote today helps families keep a little more of their own money right now, while I continue fighting for the broader affordability solutions they need for the long haul.”

For Ohio families, the cost of living extends far beyond the gas pump. Housing, utility bills, health care, child care, groceries and property taxes all affect how much money families have left at the end of the month. For families choosing between filling up the tank and paying another bill, immediate relief matters!

This relief is especially important for Ohioans who depend on their vehicles to work, including delivery drivers, rideshare drivers, truckers, farmers, small-business owners and other workers whose livelihoods depend on transportation. For these Ohioans, fuel is not simply a household expense; it is also a direct cost of earning a living.

Ohio’s affordability challenges did not begin with the recent spike in gasoline prices. Families have struggled with rising housing, utility, grocery, health care and transportation costs for years. Higher fuel prices have added another burden, making immediate relief especially important for workers who drive to work, families transporting children and Ohioans who use their vehicles to earn income.

Ohio’s affordability crisis also 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 approach that would have provided gas tax relief while directing additional resources toward other household costs. The proposal called for using money previously allocated for professional sports stadium development, providing a $150 residential energy rebate and expanding homestead property tax relief. That proposal was not adopted.

Today’s vote is one part of a broader conversation about affordability. A 90-day gas tax holiday can provide meaningful temporary relief for motorists and workers who rely on their vehicles, but Ohio families will continue facing housing, grocery, health care, property tax and utility costs long after the holiday ends.

For Rep. White, the work continues beyond today’s vote: providing immediate relief when families need it while pursuing longer-term policies that make it more affordable to live, work, raise a family and retire in Ohio.