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DeWine On School Vouchers Stalemate: 'We Can't Delay This Any Longer'

By Andy Chow

Published February 25, 2020 at 10:03 PM EST

The House and Senate are locked in a stalemate on how to change the state's private school voucher system.

One chamber wants to tweak the school building performance-based program known as EdChoice, while the other wants to phase it out. Gov. Mike DeWine is now planning what could be a high-stakes meeting with the House Speaker and Senate President.

In the course of a year, House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) have reached an impasse on several issues such as the gas tax, income tax breaks, nuclear energy bailouts, and now school vouchers.

DeWine was asked how he plans to address a meeting with two leaders who keep hitting a standoff.

Gov. Mike DeWine set to meet w/ House Speaker Householder and Sen Pres Obhof on EdChoice tomorrow. @andy_chow asks how he will address the stalemate between the two leaders. pic.twitter.com/gvbTp9e958
— "The State Of Ohio" (@stateofohioshow) February 25, 2020

"There's no doubt that Larry Obhof and Larry Householder are very principled people who really care about children so we all start with that in common, we all care about kids," DeWine said.

The House wants income-based vouchers. The Senate wants to keep some form of school performance-based vouchers along with income-based vouchers.

DeWine wants a resolution for parents and schools.

"We have to be able to tell parents and we have to be able to tell schools what the rules are. We can't delay this any longer," DeWine said Tuesday.