Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the state budget of nearly $200 billion, but issued more than forty vetoes on issues ranging from health care management to higher education policy.

Both the House and Senate budgets are primarily focused on education. The Senate’s plan was more conservative while the House’s plan was bipartisan. A two-year budget of $191 billion was agreed upon after a week-and-ahalf of negotiations. Budgets are projected to be $86 billion in fiscal year 2020 and $105 billion in fiscal year 2025.

The Governor kept most of his provisions, including the funding for education and the majority of tax cuts.

Jay Edwards, the House Finance Chair (R-Nelsonville), said: “I believe this budget is all about putting more money in the economy.” It’s about giving Ohioans the ability to keep their money while maintaining a safety net for those in need within our most vulnerable populations. I think we are in a good place.”

Edwards explained that, in order to reach a compromise between the conservative budget of the Senate and the bipartisan budget of the House, he sent a budget that was Republican-focused while still giving some Democratic victories to DeWine.

Edwards, smiling on Friday, said: “Let’s just hope he won’t veto any of it.”

The governor vetoed 44 bills on Tuesday, which helped both sides of the political spectrum.

He vetoed for Democrats a provision which would have prohibited cities from creating their tobacco laws. It’s not the first time that he has vetoed a bill.

DeWine vetoed in January a bill which prohibited municipalities from regulating flavor tobacco.

DeWine stated at a news conference that “we’re now dealing with the lives of young people.” We should applaud local communities that decide to ban certain flavors in order to protect children.

He voted against the Medicaid coverage for doulas.

DeWine wrote: “The DeWine-Husted Administration fully supports the legislative intent behind this item, and intends on regulating the practice of doulas as well as requiring Medicaid coverage for these services.” “Several provisions in the language are unnecessary, and would hinder ODM’s capability to provide these services quickly to pregnant and new mothers,” DeWine wrote.

He added that the sponsor also requested the veto.

Senate Minority leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, said that Medicaid funding has already been unfairly reduced in the budget.

She said, “It appears that Medicaid is being cut by at least $1 billion at a moment when we… have a surplus of $6 billion.” “Why would we ever cut funds from a program which helps people rise up?

Tax vetoes

Changes to the holiday for sales tax are also a major veto. The original plan was to extend the holiday by two weeks, and increase the number of products covered. The governor supported the bill but vetoed the measure because he wanted the tax commissioners to decide the length.

A provision in the Income Tax Rate Reduction was also vetoed by the governor. According to the code, it was the responsibility of the tax commissioners to determine the rates and brackets for personal income taxes. DeWine argued that this was unconstitutional.

The Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), also required a special callout. “This veto closes a potential loophole that could be exploited through tax planning.”

News 5 contacted the Governor’s Team, and the spokesperson clarified the fact that the governors’ tax vetoes will not kill the policies in their entirety, as the tax reductions are still possible.

Education vetoes

DeWine vetoed a number of provisions relating to higher education. First, OSU student trustees would lose their voting rights. The Republican legislators did this because they claim the university is too conservative.

Dewine stated that the OSU board would decide who has voting rights. Antonio points out that the State Board of Education still has voting rights.

She added, “Their members in the entire state will be left with almost no responsibility.” “I hope people are outraged at the fact that their voices have been ignored and taken from them.”

A student’s right not to accept vaccinations that are required for enrollment in or residence at a university, whether public or private, was also controversial. DeWine said that this provision “may compromise overall health and safety for students, residents and staff at the institution.”