Craig Votes Against Republican State Budget

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to accept conference committee changes to House Bill 96, the state operating budget.

“Today, food pantries across the state now shoulder the immense responsibility of feeding 1.4 million Ohioans, not over the course of a year, but every three months," said Craig. “As both a citizen and a senator, I am deeply troubled by this decision to prioritize the wealthy over the well-being of everyday Ohioans. We have a duty to invest in programs that protect and uplift all Ohioans; this is the work myself and the other members of my caucus strongly fight for."

This budget cuts taxes for the wealthiest residents of our state, gives away $600 million in Ohioans’ unclaimed funds to the Cleveland Browns, underfunds our public schools by billions, provides no meaningful property tax relief, and threatens Medicaid coverage for nearly 800,000 Ohioans. It also slashes critical funding across the state for public health, lead abatement programs, clean water, public libraries, and food banks.

For the first time since 2001, not a single Democrat voted in support of the state operating budget. Ohioans deserve better.

House Bill 96 now heads to Governor DeWine for his signature. He may still line-item veto provisions of the budget.