Smith Statement on Gas Tax Holiday Legislation

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) 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 temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax on gasoline and diesel.

Everybody knows the pain at the pump is not a result of Ohio’s gas tax; it’s because of Trump’s unnecessary war in Iran, said Smith. Every Ohio household has paid above $500 extra in fuel costs since the Iran War began, which is why I voted for a 90-day gas tax holiday in Ohio. To ignore the cost of the war, to not do at least something to help – I can’t do that. I am here to fight for the people who sent me here. I want to be fixing problems, not creating them. However, Ohioans will not receive real financial relief until President Trump ends his reckless war with Iran.

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.