REPRESENTATIVE UPCHURCH'S STATEMENT ON SENATE BILL 475

COLUMBUS – State Representative Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today refused to support a 90-day gas tax holiday that would have cost $725 million in state funds. While Ohioans are struggling with the cost of health care, childcare, groceries, housing, utilities and other basic expenses, Representative Upchurch chose to prioritize the needs of families and ensure that we use state resources responsibly to create permanent relief.  

Families are feeling the cost of higher gas prices across the state. Ohioans deserve relief, and this proposal required serious consideration of the merits and drawbacks of a gas tax suspension.

Ohioans absolutely need relief from high gas prices, but a temporary gas tax holiday does not address the broader affordability crisis facing Ohio families. For a family already struggling to pay for health care, childcare, groceries, housing and utility bills, $750 million could provide more targeted assistance that reaches Ohioans across their household budgets. Affordability issues do not stop at the gas pump. 

Also, Ohio’s affordability crisis did not begin five weeks before an election. Ohioans have been dealing with high costs for years. Gas prices reached an average of $4.83 per gallon in May, yet Republicans did not move forward with a gas tax holiday until the final weeks before the election. 

“We have been asking the Republican majority to work with us to deliver economic relief for Ohio’s families for a long time, but now they have chosen to act at the last minute, and their proposal will create a budget shortfall that will have a negative impact on Ohioans. We need to be conscientious and intentional about how we provide relief, and this proposal is not a solution that considers the well-being of families in the long run.” said Rep. Upchurch.

Ohio House Democrats offered an alternative plan that would have provided immediate gas tax relief while making the state's resources go further for Ohio families. That proposal would have used the $1 billion previously allocated for the Cleveland Browns stadium, and would have included a $150 residential energy rebate, stronger enforcement to make sure gas tax savings reach consumers, and expanded homestead property tax relief.

Ohio House Democrats have introduced legislation addressing health care, child care, housing, utilities, property taxes and other costs that are squeezing Ohio families throughout the General Assembly. Democrats remain willing to work with anyone to deliver meaningful relief, but Ohioans deserve a plan that does more than provide temporary relief of one factor impacting a household budget.