This article first appeared on Rachel Coyle's Substack.
A budget is a moral document. It shows us your priorities.
For example, Ohio’s budget can fund programs that support children and families — or it can fund tax cuts for billionaires. It just depends on who our state considers important.
Right now, Ohio’s priorities should sicken us all.
I’ve never seen a state budget that so brazenly guts critical programs and services to fund handouts for Republican political donors. And we only have a few days left to shame some conscience into our Statehouse supermajority.
OHIO BUDGET BASICS:
Ohio’s budget process happens every two years. Legislators spend a few months deciding how your tax dollars will be spent for the NEXT two years.
We have reached the final days of Ohio’s 2025 budget process, but there’s still time to make an impact.
Ohio’s operating budget bill has already passed the state House AND Senate, but the two chambers didn’t agree on each other changes. That means the budget bill has gone to a “conference committee.”
Six legislators (three from the House and three from the Senate) work through any budget item where there are differences between the two chambers.
Anything can be added or removed during conference committee
After conference committee, the budget will go to Governor DeWine. The governor has a lot of power here. He can remove (veto) ANY item from the 5,600-page budget bill. He just can’t ADD anything.
WHAT’S IN OHIO’S BUDGET BILL:
I’ll repeat — this is the cruelest state budget I’ve ever seen. Here are just a few of the most devastating items that we need REMOVED from Ohio’s budget bill. Many of these items alone would lead to revolution in a functioning political system:
A massive tax cut for the rich — phasing down state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75%
$600+ million for the Haslams to build a new Cleveland Browns stadium
Trigger language that will likely end Medicaid expansion in Ohio
Property tax changes that will devastate local communities, first responders, and public schools (TAXCD104 in this document)
Language removing all state dollars from the Legal Aid Fund (Legal Aid helps Ohioans access a lawyer when they can’t afford one)
Language forcing libraries to find space to hide books from kids — will likely lead to library branch closures
Language legalizing HB 6 corruption — will significantly weaken Ohio’s ban on corporate political spending
Language making all state board of education AND local school board races partisan
WHAT’S NOT IN OHIO’S BUDGET BILL:
Here are some items that Republicans have refused to add to our state budget bill, despite thousands of requests from advocacy organizations and engaged citizens. We must demand that these items be added into the budget during conference committee:
The bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan, which took years to develop
Stable funding for libraries — The budget fails to include a set percentage of funding for Ohio’s public libraries. This means they will have no way to plan for the future and could be defunded at any time.
Real property tax relief that won’t devastate our schools and communities, like the property tax circuit breaker described here and here
A refundable income tax credit for parents with children up to age 6 (proposed by Governor DeWine)
Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) funding — The budget currently guts CHA funding by about 1/3
More funding for food banks— The budget currently funds food banks at 2019 levels(!)
The LeadSafe Home Fund Program — The budget fully defunds lead poisoning prevention efforts. Children’s Defense Fund warns this could cause “devastating, irreversible harm to children”
ANGRY? CHANNEL IT INTO ACTION:
Rachel’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber:
1.) Check out this longer list of state budget items and actions to take: bit.ly/OhioBudget2025
2.) Contact the Republican legislators listed below. Each of them has the power to make changes to the budget bill right now. And each of them must be held accountable if they refuse.
Sample Script:
Hello. My name is [NAME], and I am an Ohio voter.
If the state budget bill passes in its current form, [LEGISLATOR]’s [reputation/image/legacy/etc] will never recover.
[LEGISLATOR] has the power to improve some of the most [cruel/harmful/damaging/expensive/etc] pieces of the state budget bill.
I am especially worried about [PICK A BUDGET ISSUE].
This item must be [ADDED/REMOVED] from the bill.
I am also extremely worried about [PICK A BUDGET ISSUE].
This item must be [ADDED/REMOVED] from the bill.
Will [LEGISLATOR] help make this happen before passing the budget out of conference committee?
I will be sharing your response with my networks and urging more people to contact you.
Senate Finance Chair — Jerry Cirino:
614-644-7718
Email: Cirino@OhioSenate.gov
Twitter: https://x.com/SenatorCirino
Facebook: ttps://www.facebook.com/ElectCirino
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man and chair of the Senate Finance Committee
Senate Finance Vice Chair — Brian Chavez:
(614) 466-6508
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenBrianChavez
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorchavez
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man
House Finance Chair — Brian Stewart:
Phone: (614) 466-1464
Email: rep12@OhioHouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-3961
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianStewartOH
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianStewartOhio
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man and Chair of the House Finance Committee
House Finance Vice Chair — Mike Dovilla:
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Email: rep17@ohiohouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-6957
Twitter: https://x.com/mikedovilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovillaforohio
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man
Senate President — Rob McColley:
(614) 466-8150
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rob_McColley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McColley4Ohio/
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man running his own chamber.
DON’T LET HIM (or his staff) claim he can’t help you because he isn’t on the budget “conference committee” — Remind him that he’s the Senate President
House Speaker — Matt Huffman:
Phone: (614) 466-6344
Email: rep78@ohiohouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-3977
Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthuffman1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattHuffmanOH/
DON’T LET HIM (or his staff) claim he can’t help you because he isn’t on the budget “conference committee” — Remind him that he’s the House Speaker
If this budget bill doesn’t radically change during conference committee, every politician who helps pass it should be publicly berated to the point they’re forced to move out of state.
Let’s hope they’re all visited by three ghosts over the next few days.