Powell Issues Statement on DeWine's New Vaccine Lottery
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) today issued the following statement regarding Governor DeWine’s newly announced vaccine lottery for Ohioans ages 12-25:
“The Governor’s first vaccine lottery, the Vax-a-Million, failed Ohioans. It was a frivolous waste of taxpayer dollars, and studies from around the country have proved what we claimed all along – the lottery did not result in a significant or substantial increase in Ohio’s vaccination rate.
“If we had passed the Taxpayer Protection Against the Frivolous Vaccine Lottery Act (HB 329) when I introduced the bill in May, we would not be in this position again where the Governor is wasting Ohioans’ hard-earned dollars to try to incentivize children to take the vaccine.
“Lotteries do not work. I again urge my colleagues to move forward and pass the Taxpayer Protection Against the Frivolous Vaccine Lottery Act, and to re-direct these funds to small-business COVID-19 relief grants and early childhood mental health.
“Clearly, Ohio has additional money to spare. I look forward to Governor DeWine working with the legislature to figure out how we can cut the tax burden on Ohioans.”