Columbus, OH – Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, reacted to Governor Mike DeWine’s 2026 State of the State speech.

“In his last State of the State, Governor DeWine highlighted several initiatives that will define his legacy, including the importance of childhood education and the science of reading. 

“But there is more that Governor DeWine and the General Assembly have accomplished over the past seven years, including the enactment of universal school choice, landmark energy reform, and a low flat income tax rate—second lowest in the nation. Unfortunately, these wins for Ohioans were missing from the governor’s speech, as was a call for further action to lower property taxes and reform local government, which are critical to help Ohioans still struggling with high tax bills.”

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