DeMora Condemns State Budget

Today, state Senator Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to accept conference committee changes to House Bill 33, the state operating budget, which passed along party lines.

“This budget will create two Ohios, one for the rich and one for everyone else,” said DeMora. “The rich will enjoy cuts to income and commercial activity taxes and free private schools for their children. Meanwhile, everyone else gets a higher tax burden, empty food bank shelves, cuts in Medicaid and a lower quality of public education for their children.”

House Bill 33 creates universal school vouchers, slashes nearly $1 billion from Medicaid, and cuts taxes for the benefit of Ohio’s wealthiest residents. Additionally, it contains a number of controversial policy provisions, including Senate Bill 1 to transfer almost all the powers of the state Board of Education, which is comprised primarily of elected members, to a new executive agency, as well as Senate Bill 117 to create new centers for “intellectual diversity” at five state universities.

House Bill 33 now heads to Governor DeWine for his signature. He may still line-item veto provisions of the budget.