Lawmakers seek lower Ohio gas tax, to DeWine's chagrin

What's happening: State Sen. Stephen Huffman and 15 other Republicans are proposing to lower it for the next five years to 28 cents per gallon for both gasoline and diesel.

Additionally, lawmakers want to take away vehicle registration and renewal fees (again for five years) imposed on owners of electric vehicles and hybrids that are meant to offset the amount saved by avoiding gas taxes.

Yes, but: Gov. Mike DeWine is trying to convince his fellow Republicans not to alter the state gas tax, which pays for transportation needs across Ohio.

State of play: When DeWine took office in 2019, he urged lawmakers to increase the gas tax to help maintain the state's roads and bridges.

• Legislators did so, and now Ohioans pay a tax of 38.5 cents per gallon (47 cents for diesel).

What they're saying: DeWine views these potential changes as a mistake, the Associated Press reports.

• "Infrastructure is vitally important to the economic development of the state and the creation of jobs,” the governor told Gongwer News Service.