Toledo Reporter

State Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson from Toledo expressed her opposition to the Ohio Senate's approval of changes to House Bill 96, the state operating budget. In a statement released today, she criticized the budget as being more beneficial for affluent individuals and corporations than for working families in Ohio.

“A budget is a blueprint for how the state should run. This blueprint does nothing to build and promote the working families in Ohio. This is a blueprint for the boardrooms and the billionaires," said Hicks-Hudson. "Unfortunately, this enacted legislation makes winners and losers of our constituents. There have been hopeful promises and broken promises made to the residents of Ohio.”

Hicks-Hudson highlighted several concerns with the budget, including tax cuts for wealthy residents, allocation of $600 million in unclaimed funds to the Cleveland Browns, underfunding of public schools by billions, lack of significant property tax relief, and potential threats to Medicaid coverage for nearly 800,000 Ohioans. Additionally, she pointed out reductions in funding for public health initiatives, lead abatement programs, clean water projects, public libraries, and food banks.

For the first time since 2001, no Democrats supported the state operating budget. The bill will now proceed to Governor DeWine's desk for his signature. He retains the option to veto specific provisions within it.