Weinstein Votes Against Republican State Budget

Today, state Senator Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to accept conference committee changes to House Bill 96, the state operating budget.

“We had a choice in this budget: support our schools, support our food banks, invest in research that could save children's lives, or subsidize billionaires. Unfortunately, this budget chooses the latter," said Weinstein. "This budget cuts pediatric cancer research in half while finding $600 million for a professional football stadium. When children are fighting for their lives, our priorities should be crystal clear.”

The budget slashes the Governor's proposed pediatric cancer research funding by half. This state investment fills critical gaps left by federal research funding, supporting innovative treatments and diagnostic tools specifically for childhood cancers, which differ significantly from adult cancers and require specialized research approaches. Ohio's investment has been instrumental in advancing clinical trials and research programs that federal funding alone cannot support. By cutting this funding, we're potentially delaying breakthrough treatments that could save young lives across our state and beyond.
 
This budget represents a fundamental misalignment of Ohio's values. While cutting research that could save children's lives, it provides substantial tax breaks for the wealthiest Ohioans and diverts $600 million in unclaimed funds, money that belongs to Ohioans, to subsidize a professional sports stadium. Meanwhile, our public schools face a multi-billion dollar funding shortfall, working families receive no meaningful property tax relief, and nearly 800,000 Ohioans risk losing Medicaid coverage.
 
The budget also cuts funding for programs that protect our communities: public health initiatives, lead abatement programs that keep children safe, clean water projects, public libraries that serve as community anchors, and food banks that feed our neighbors in need.
 
For the first time since 2001, not a single Democrat voted in support of the state operating budget. Ohioans deserve leaders who prioritize children's health over corporate welfare, who invest in education over entertainment venues, and who support working families over Ohio’s wealthiest.
 
House Bill 96 now heads to Governor DeWine for his signature. He may still line-item veto provisions of the budget.