COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine broke with fellow Republicans on Friday, calling a proposed 90-day suspension of Ohio’s gas tax “just not a good idea” ahead of a planned legislative vote next week.
Republican legislative leaders are rallying behind a plan championed by GOP governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to pause the gas tax for 90 days, using the state’s reserve funds to backfill the road and bridge maintenance budget the taxes support. House Speaker Matt Huffman and Senate President Rob McColley plan to hold a vote on Sept. 30.
DeWine, speaking to reporters in Cleveland, said the proposal would undermine Ohio’s road building and repair efforts and questioned who would cover roughly $750 million in lost revenue.
“We don’t really know where this money will come from,” DeWine said. “What sometimes we forget is that a significant portion of this $750 million would come from villages, cities, townships and counties all over the state of Ohio.”
A gallon of unleaded gasoline costs about $4.42 in Ohio, according to AAA — a 50% increase from a year ago that economists attribute to the U.S. war with Iran. For the pause to take effect immediately, two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers would have to approve it, meaning House Republicans need at least some Democratic support.
House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn said Democrats would only support gas relief if it redirected the $600 million in unclaimed funds Republican lawmakers already set aside for a new Cleveland Browns stadium — an idea Huffman laughed off. Ramaswamy, who has no current power to summon lawmakers or propose legislation, said Saturday he is pushing the legislature to enact the suspension immediately rather than wait.
The Sept. 30 vote would land about a month before the November election, in what remains a tight governor’s race shaped by voter frustration over rising prices.