COLUMBUS, Ohio—(AVC News)—Ohio’s legislators are expected back in Columbus on Wednesday, over a month earlier than scheduled to consider a proposed suspension of Ohio’s gasoline tax.
Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley committed to calling their members back to the Statehouse to vote on the legislation. They’re planning to have both chambers in session Wednesday, Sept. 30, weeks ahead of their scheduled return after the November election.
The proposal up for consideration is to suspend Ohio’s tax on gasoline and diesel fuel, which began in May in the form of House Bill 850. The proposal then became a political topic when it was picked up by gubernatorial Democratic candidate Dr Amy Acton, then by Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy, who’s running mate is Ohio Senate President Rob McColley. Both are backing the 90-day gas tax holiday proposal, although they differ on implementation.
Drivers currently pay 38.5 cents per gallon on gas and 47 cents per gallon for diesel in Ohio Tax. In the past several years, gas taxes have generated about $2.6 billion annually.
Gas taxes fund work on roads and bridges around Ohio.
Those In favor of the plan claim the revenue reduction could be managed through existing state budget surpluses, cash reserves, and the rainy day fund.
Approval of such a measure, if passed as an emergency, will take bipartisan support from Ohio legislators, and even if approved, Governor Mike DeWine stands in the way.
Reports out of Columbus say DeWine is pushing back on the plan which would pull roughly $750 million from Ohio’s road funds, calling it “devastating.” However, some reports say the governor has taken a “wait and see” stance on the matter.
According to the Statehouse News Bureau if Ohio suspends its fuel tax, drivers would save 38.5 cents per gallon on gasoline and 47 cents per gallon on diesel.
