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 2025 State of the State speech.

“Kudos to Governor DeWine for reducing red tape on Ohio businesses, which The Buckeye Institute has long advocated for and makes Ohio attractive to companies worldwide. The governor is rightfully proud of keeping electricity prices competitive to power Ohio’s thriving advanced manufacturing and new tech industries. And the governor’s call to base higher education funding on outcomes will reward schools for low debt-to-income ratios, high job placement, and low loan default rates.
 
“Governor DeWine’s focus on improving the Buckeye State’s multifaceted workforce through educational training and restoring the formerly incarcerated into the workforce where they can better themselves and their communities is laudable.

“The Buckeye Institute is disappointed that the governor did not discuss the challenge of rapidly increasing Medicaid spending; if Medicaid is not reformed imminently, Ohio will be unable to invest sufficiently in K-12 schools or higher education to build out our multifaceted workforce nor able to retain the tax reforms of the last 20 years.
 
“Highlighting the science of reading is important progress, but Governor DeWine missed a crucial opportunity to underscore how Ohio’s new school choice program has given lower- and middle-class families the chance to improve their children’s education and future.”

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