Weinstein Statement on Gas Tax Holiday Legislation

Today, state Senator Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 519, a bill that was amended at the last minute to include language from Senate Bill 475 to temporarily suspend the state’s gas tax on gasoline and diesel.

The Senate GOP majority operates like the Agents in the Matrix. They guard the doors and hold all the keys. In this case, they used that power to shut down critical amendments that would have drastically improved this bill, said Weinstein. I was happy to support relief for Ohioans facing rising Trump gas prices caused by his catastrophic war with Iran. But when it came time to decide how to pay for that relief, the GOP chose to protect the billionaires they already bailed out with Ohioans’ unclaimed funds rather than put those dollars toward relief at the pump. Ohioans deserve better than a legislature that makes everyday Ohioans pay while protecting billionaires.

Republicans blocked Democrats from speaking to the bill or allowing them to offer prepared amendments to address the affordability crisis and take meaningful action to help Ohioans, including providing mortgage and utility assistance; reducing fees for EV owners; urging Congress to end the war in Iran; appropriating funds for food banks; banning child marriage; providing free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students; expanding access to childcare voucher programs; and using the allocated Browns stadium funding to cover the cost of the gas tax holiday.

House Bill 519 subsequently passed out of the House and now heads to the governor for his signature.