The Ohio House passed its version of a two-year operating budget on Wednesday despite objections from Republican lawmakers that no amendments were allowed to be made. The state operating budget includes a $1 billion tax cut, higher income limits for school vouchers, and a ban on TikTok from government devices.
House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) advanced the budget to a vote without allowing for any debate or amendments. There were 24 amendment proposals to the budget that Republicans said should have been debated before the vote.
Half a dozen Republicans jumped up, yelling, “Motion to amend!” but Stephens did not recognize them.
Some of the amendments included providing funding for the “Backpack Bill,” a universal voucher program that aims to give nearly all Ohioans public vouchers to send their kids to private schools, increasing funding for local governments, and providing more tax benefits to Ohioans.
Despite the outrage that Stephens did not allow for debate or amendments, the Ohio House passed the budget 77 to 19 with support from most Republicans and all but two Democrats.
Following the House session, Stephens briefly spoke to reporters, saying that the budget that passed pleased him and he believes it will benefit all Ohioans.
“Today is a big day for Ohio we passed a balanced budget that is focused on everyday Ohioans we focused on tax cuts for middle-income Ohioans we’ve improved education funding on all fronts for Ohioans we are investing in our future on all fronts and it is a really good day for Ohio and I was really pleased with the support throughout the house,” Stephens said.
When asked why he didn’t allow for lawmakers to debate the amendments, Stephens swiftly walked away.
State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) questioned Stephens’s decision to block the addition of amendments to the budget.
Lawmakers controversially elected Stephens as speaker earlier this year to succeed State Representative Bob Cupp (R-Lima). The choice came despite the Republican Caucus’s previous selection of Merrin as the new speaker in November. Although the GOP caucus voted for Merrin as Speaker of the House in December, Stephen fought in collaboration with the Democrats to collect votes and garner a win.
According to Merrin, Stephens did not allow amendments because he wanted to block Merrin’s amendment to increase funding to local governments.
“Why were House Republicans and a few Democrats blocked from offering floor amendments to the budget? Stephens wanted to block my amendment to increase funding to local governments through LGF (Local Government Fund), which would have had a least 75 votes,” Merrin said.
According to Republican State Central Committeeman Josh Brown, Democrat-elected Stephens’ decision to block amendments to the budget denies the people representation.
“Something is seriously wrong. Speaker Jason Stephens refuses to allow Republicans to make amendments on the floor, then the Democrats (who elected him) literally “celebrate” the budget. Republicans earned a 2/3rds majority, yet somehow, Democrats run the House,” Brown said.
State Representative Gary Click (R-Vickery) said that although “I voted yes there should have been more debate.”
This is not the first time that Stephens has controversially denied debate or amendments. In January he advanced the GOP leadership and House Rules also without allowing debate or amendments a move that Republicans called “shameful and weak.”
According to Stephens, however, the rules say that “the speaker is entitled to choose when the House is ready to vote.”
The Ohio Senate will now take the budget into their consideration. A budget approved by both chambers must be reconciled before being sent to Governor Mike DeWine for approval before the fiscal year’s end on June 30th.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Rep Jason Stephens” by Ohio House of Representatives.
