Rep. Jarrells: Republican Budget Prioritizes Wealthy Tax Cuts, Stadium Subsidies Over Ohio Families

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dontavious L. Jarrells (D-Columbus) today criticized the Republican state operating budget, signed by Governor Mike DeWine, that prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy and corporate giveaways over funding for schools, affordable communities, and essential healthcare services. Despite a few helpful line-item vetoes, the budget still overwhelmingly reflects out-of-touch priorities that leave everyday Ohioans behind.

“Budgets are moral documents, and this one shows exactly where Republican priorities lie,” said Rep. Jarrells. “While families across Ohio are working harder than ever to make ends meet, this budget hands out tax breaks to millionaires and subsidizes stadiums instead of investing in our kids, our classrooms, and our communities. Ohio deserves better. Governor DeWine did all he could to satisfy both sides of the aisle, but we would like to express our dismay and thereafter commitment to go against the grain and fight for families, education, and equity for all of the hardworking residents of the state of Ohio.”

House Democrats emphasize that this budget does not meet the moment for Ohio’s families, students, or seniors. Instead, it is loaded with tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Ohioans while cutting or underfunding the programs that people rely on every day.

House Democrats fought hard throughout the process to strip out some of the most harmful provisions, and they are grateful to the citizens and advocacy groups who raised their voices. Thanks to their efforts, Governor DeWine exercised his veto power more than he ever has in his time in office, and more than a dozen especially dangerous provisions were successfully removed through line-item vetoes, including:

• Funding penalties for colleges that failed to comply with anti-DEI Senate Bill 1.
• Cuts to H2Ohio environmental funding.
• Restrictions targeting public libraries and LGBTQ+ materials.
• Medicaid cuts for children aged 0-3.

Still, these small wins cannot mask the larger truth: this budget is fundamentally skewed toward the wealthy and special interests, and Ohio families will pay the price.