Rep. Gross Votes Against the House Budget Bill

State Representative Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) today voted in opposition to Am. Sub. House Bill 96 – the House’s version of the State Operating Budget.

Gross said, “I am extremely proud of Speaker Huffman and our leadership for the enhancement of school choice and Medicaid transparency. After Ohioans faced historic property tax increases, this budget had no guaranteed property tax reform, no income tax reduction, and, in an age of government accountability, increased government spending while giving a loan to a professional football stadium.  While the budget process was thorough and impactful, this budget did not go far enough to help Ohioans and reduce their tax burden. Therefore, I voted against it. I hope the Ohio Senate can offer an option that provides true relief to Ohio taxpayers.”

EMPOWERING SCHOOL CHOICE 

House Bill 96 continues the state’s commitment to school choice by increasing the maximum award for the Autism Scholarship and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship while also establishing an option for parents whose children attend a non-chartered non-public school to utilize an education savings account to help with the cost of their education.  

PROMOTING MEDICAID TRANSPARENCY

In an effort to promote transparency in the Medicaid program, the bill works to protect taxpayer dollars and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse through a number of provisions, creating a variety of new reporting requirements that the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) must provide to the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) for review. 

House Bill 96 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.