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Powell Introduces Bill to Block Vax-A-Million Lottery

May 25, 2021
Jena Powell News

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) today announced she has introduced House Bill 329, legislation that redirects the funds in Governor DeWine’s “Vax-a-Million” lottery.

“This lottery is a waste of taxpayer dollars, and we know the money could be better spent in a multitude of areas,” said Powell. “For Governor DeWine to say that any vaccinated Ohioan can potentially receive $1 million through a lottery is an insult to our hard-working constituents.”

The legislation re-appropriates the funding in the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) vaccine awareness fund currently marked for the lottery. Instead, the Taxpayer Protection Against the Frivolous Vaccine Lottery Act will split those funds between small business COVID relief grants and early childhood mental health. The measure also prohibits ODH or the governor from creating any future lotteries of a similar nature, and will enact an emergency clause.

“This incident is opening up the eyes of Ohioans to what many have known for years – the State of Ohio spends Ohio taxpayer dollars frivolously on needless pet projects every single year in the state budgets,” added Powell. 

The bill currently has 29 cosponsors and awaits referral to a House committee.