House Dems call on governor to veto several budget provisions that will hurt Ohioans

In a memo* Tuesday, House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and Finance Committee Ranking Member Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) called on Gov. DeWine to veto several state budget provisions they say fail to meet the expectations of Ohioans as the state begins to emerge and build back from the pandemic. 

“This biennial state budget is an opportunity for Ohio to invest in working people, families and the communities they live in to ensure a recovery that benefits all of us,” wrote the Democratic lawmakers. “Our duty is to pass a fiscally responsible vision for Ohio’s future, and a number of these provisions fail to meet that standard and should be vetoed.”

They urged vetoes of the following key provisions:

• The $1.8 billion tax giveaway benefitting the wealthiest Ohioans at the expense of needed investments to benefit working families, unemployed Ohioans and small businesses still struggling as we begin to emerge from the pandemic.
• Language that allows the House Speaker and Senate President to intervene in congressional redistricting lawsuits.
• Prohibition on the secretary of state and local elections boards from working with individuals and organizations on GOTV and voter education programs.
• Provision allowing health care providers to decline to perform services that violates personal beliefs, which will harm LGBTQ Ohioans and minorities.
• Attacks on surgical abortion facilities and funding for anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers.
• Imposes deadline to disenroll some 3 million Ohioans from Medicaid rolls after the expiration of the federal coronavirus emergency is lifted.
• Facilitates oil and gas drilling in state parks.
• Expansion of EdChoice vouchers that hurt Ohio’s public schools.

*Click here to view copy of the complete list of requested vetoes.