Blackshear Statement on Gas Tax Holiday Legislation

Today, state Senator Willis E. Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton) 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.

Let's call this bill what it actually is: a desperate attempt by the Republicans to bail out their candidates who are facing bad polling numbers. We are here voting because Vivek Ramaswamy is behind in his race – that's all, said Blackshear.

"This isn't actually about helping Ohioans struggling with the high costs that the Trump Administration's terrible policies have produced. It is about politics, pure and simple. If the Republican majority truly wanted to help Ohioans, they could have been doing so for years. Again and again, they have refused. Instead, they continue to only look out for the special interest supporters.

This was never about helping Ohioans, and the Republican leadership proved that by censoring debate, disallowing amendments, and ignoring the experts during this rushed and politicized process. I am sure they will attack me over this vote, but I am unwilling to play along with this disgraceful political theater that does not actually prioritize my constituents or any other Ohioans.

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 now heads to the Ohio House for concurrence.