For Ohio Senate Republicans, Wealthy and Well-Connected Win While Working Ohioans Get Left Behind
June 9, 2021
DeWine Under Pressure as Republicans Reject His Agenda & He’s Too Weak to Do Anything About It
Columbus, OH — Today, the Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement on provisions inserted into the Ohio Senate budget by GOP politicians that cut key funding for Ohio priorities like broadband internet, healthcare and public schools all to pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Ohioans. The budget passed today along a party line vote.
Senate Republicans also inserted a strictly political provision into the budget that would list party affiliation on ballots for the Supreme Court and state appeals court, a push that gained steam in the GOP-controlled legislature after recent success by Democrats in Supreme Court races. The provision has been panned by members of both parties, including Republican Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor.
Senate Republicans are once again putting Mike DeWine in an increasingly tough spot: sensing DeWine’s weakness, GOP legislators continue to cut his budget priorities but DeWine doesn’t have the Republican support or the moral courage to do anything about it.
“Budgets reflect priorities, and the Senate GOP’s priorities are wrong for working Ohioans. Rather than investing in critical needs like broadband, healthcare or public education, Senate Republicans would rather give yet another tax break to their wealthy friends and donors. Mike DeWine will soon face a choice: will he reject these radical provisions and risk more Republican attacks or will he cave to the extreme members of his party once again,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.