By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
| Matt Huffman takes an ‘L’ |
| Ohio’s political leadership has promised “property tax relief.” But so far, all we’ve gotten is two study committees of the issue and the likely passage of a relatively minor bill ending “replacement” property tax levies. The tax relief issue exposed a rare political weakness by Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, who some see as the big man on the Statehouse campus. The House passed four measures billed as property tax relief in this year’s budget, but Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed them. In an attempt to override three of the four DeWine vetoes in a rare summer session, Huffman summoned lawmakers last week, including two members who canceled or delayed vacations to Italy and Thailand, respectively. But in the end, Huffman could only muster the 60 votes needed to override the veto of budget language that would end replacement levies. After the vote, Huffman offered barbed remarks about DeWine and predicted more veto overrides would succeed when lawmakers return this fall. Jake Zuckerman said it was the angriest he has seen the usually disciplined and monotone Huffman since the failure of 2023’s Issue 1, which would have made it much harder for citizens to amend Ohio’s constitution. Readers ask us all the time whether certain bills will pass when they’re up for a final vote. The default answer: Leaders don’t schedule votes unless they’re darn sure they have the numbers. Maybe we’ll rethink that one. |
Editorial Comments by Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?…NASB Matthew 7:16
Categories: Community Activism, Property Tax Petition, Real Estate Taxes, Uncategorized