Gov. DeWine can improve the budget with line-item vetoes

Extremist budget passed by legislators takes from Ohio families to enrich the well-connected and well-off

Today lawmakers on the Conference Committee released their final 2024-2025 budget, House Bill 33. It was passed by the House and Senate and now awaits action from the governor. Policy Matters released the following statement and brief calling on Governor DeWine to use his veto power to mitigate the harm this budget will cause to Ohio families, workers, and public institutions that we all share.

“Governor DeWine proposed a budget that prioritized Ohio’s kids and families. The legislative process has transformed that into a budget that will harm those very same Ohioans,” said Hannah Halbert, Policy Matters Ohio’s executive director. “The legislators supporting this bill put the needs of the wealthiest and well-connected over the long-term economic security of the state and the majority of its people.”

“From extensive giveaways to the wealthy in the form of tax cuts, corporate tax breaks, and private school vouchers to radical, ideological intrusions into the education systems meant for all Ohioans, this budget poses a threat to the state and DeWine must act to mitigate the harm.”

Policy Matters Project Director Will Petrik added, “Every Ohioan should be able to live a happy, healthy life, no matter their race, gender, or ZIP code. That’s why people across the state took action to call on state lawmakers to pass a state budget that provides a foundation of health and economic security for all Ohioans. Governor DeWine should use his veto power to eliminate every provision that does not move us closer to being the best state to live, work, go to school and raise a family.”

A PDF of Policy Matters Ohio’s veto recommendations is here.