Rep. Robinson responds to transportation budget passage in House

State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) today issued the following statement on the House’s passage of House Bill 62, the two-year state transportation budget:

“Though I was happy to see the substantial investment in public transportation and a small redirection of funds to local communities, it did not outweigh my concern for the strain a higher gas tax would have on families and small businesses in my district. With so many hardworking Ohioans already concerned with paying their bills, buying groceries, and saving for retirement and their children’s college education; how can we justify adding this additional expense through such a regressive tax increase?

Repairing our roads and bridges is essential, which is why we must work toward permanent solutions for permanent problems. Ohioans cannot afford a quick-fix put on their backs that only temporarily covers up the failures of the $1 billion budget shortfall of the previous administrations. I remain committed to working together in a bipartisan way with my fellow legislators to ensure the long term sustainability of our state’s infrastructure and how we fund it through new and responsible means.”