Rep. Abdullahi Votes No on 90-Day Gas Tax Suspension, Demands Ohioans Come Before Billionaires

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) voted against the proposed 90-day gas-tax suspension, calling the $726 million spending plan an election-year political stunt that falls more than short of providing substantial relief for Ohioans.

“Ohio does not need bills masquerading as tax relief when families are currently struggling to access health care, groceries, housing, utilities, and other basic expenses that Republicans have had ample time to address,” said Rep. Abdullahi.

Legislation aimed at reducing the gas tax was proposed in May, but majority Republicans sat on the proposal. Yet, with less than five weeks until the election, the General Assembly has been called back for an unplanned session following a press conference featuring candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican leadership from both chambers to discuss suspending the gas tax for 30 days.

Ohio House Democrats offered an alternative plan that would have provided immediate gas tax relief while making the state's resources go further for Ohio families. That proposal would have used the $1 billion previously allocated for the Cleveland Browns stadium, and would have included a $150 residential energy rebate, stronger enforcement to make sure gas tax savings reach consumers, and expanded homestead property tax relief.

“We currently have a $1 billion dollars that remains tied up in our state accounts because Ohioans have taken legal action to prevent their tax dollars from funding billionaires. If we had the ability to amend this bill, we could redirect these funds away from billionaire corporations that Ohioans do not support and offer immediate relief in the form of a $150 consumer energy relief credit.” said Rep. Abdullahi.

The question is not whether Ohioans deserve gas tax relief. They do. The question is whether $750 million in state resources should be spent on a temporary benefit that addresses only one part of the cost-of-living crisis. Gas is a volatile commodity subject to many factors that can cause its price to fluctuate widely. The state fuel tax is a small component of that. The main culprit for today’s high prices is the continuation of the failed war in the middle east. Gas prices will be back up again if that war doesn’t conclude soon, and there won’t be anything else state lawmakers can do about it.