Leader Sykes says budget discussions threaten to derail Ohio's recovery

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement Wednesday concerning the ongoing budget deliberations, urging the governor to be ready to step in to veto a number of anticipated provisions when the budget reaches his desk in the coming days.

“Democrats had serious concerns about this budget when it left the House, and the Senate version went from bad to worse. Now we have every indication that the budget set to hit the governor’s desk will double down on the same kind of trickle-down fantasies and broken promises that have failed our state for decades. 

“Another tax giveaway to millionaires and billionaires won’t bring people back to Ohio; pulling the rug out from under people still struggling by cutting back SNAP and Medicaid access won’t hasten our recovery; gutting funding to expand broadband coverage won’t strengthen our economy; and continuing to support a broken school funding formula that funnels millions of taxpayer dollars to unaccountable and failing charter schools won’t improve our children’s education. 

“We also have serious concerns about the broad policy implications of this budget, from attacks on healthcare access for LGBTQ Ohioans and the impartiality of judicial races to undermining quality childcare and the redistricting reforms Ohio voters passed not once, but twice. 

“While Democrats will continue to fight for a budget that invests in working people, families and the communities they live in, I fear the direction Statehouse Republicans are moving in threatens to derail our economic recovery as we finally begin to emerge from this pandemic. 

“I urge the governor to get his pens inked and ready—there’s a lot to veto in this budget.”