Josh Williams Supports Tax Breaks for the Wealthy, Faces Criticism

Ohio Representative Josh Williams Advocates for Tax Policy Favoring the Wealthy

Ohio’s Republican House candidate, Josh Williams, has openly acknowledged the new state budget’s favorable tax relief for wealthy individuals. Williams, currently an Ohio House of Representatives member, is campaigning for a Congressional seat in the state’s 9th District.

In a statement to the Statehouse News Bureau on September 12, Williams remarked, “We just provided tax relief to some of the richest Americans in Ohio in the last budget. I supported that.”

This comment comes amidst efforts by House Republicans to reassure voters of their commitment to working families, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). The legislation significantly reduces Medicaid funding to finance tax breaks for the affluent.

The Ohio budget, ratified by the Republican-majority legislature in June, implements a flat tax that benefits high-income earners while increasing the tax burden on many workers. Similar to the OBBB, it also reduces funding for environmental and healthcare initiatives to offset revenue losses.

Democratic state Rep. Karen Brownlee criticized the budget decisions, stating, “The Republican supermajority made a choice with this budget, and now billionaires are walking away with your taxpayer dollars in their pockets.”

Williams has expressed his support for OBBB and criticized Democratic incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur for her opposition to the act. He articulated his stance in a post on X, writing, “Democrats like Marcy Kaptur would rather raise taxes on the working class and keep illegals on Medicaid than just give President Trump a win on the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

However, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office offers a different perspective. Their report from August 11 indicates that the poorest 10% of Americans will face an annual loss of approximately $1,200, while the wealthiest 10% will benefit by about $13,600 per year.

Furthermore, an estimated 13.7 million Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage under the new law, with no impact on undocumented individuals.

DCCC spokesperson Katie Smith remarked, “Josh Williams admits that his priority is giving tax cuts to the richest Americans. Williams puts billionaires and special interests before middle-class Ohio families, which is why Ohioans can’t trust him to work for them.”

The 9th District of Ohio is anticipated to be a competitive battleground for both Democrats and Republicans as the 2026 elections approach.