Husted Blames Senate Democrats for Stalling Bill Aimed at Cutting Electricity Costs

In an interview, Republican Senator Jon Husted claimed Senate Democrats prevented the passage of the Ratepayer Protection Act, a bipartisan effort to lower local electricity rates by requiring data centers to pay for power generation and infrastructure. He said the bill, created while working with President Donald Trump, enjoyed broad House support, including votes from Hakeem Jeffries, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the Freedom Caucus.

Husted accused Senate Democrats of blocking the measure to deny Republicans a midterm victory on affordability. He tied the issue to his campaign against former Senator Sherrod Brown, highlighting recent rallies in Dayton and Youngstown and citing Trump’s visits. The senator also attacked Brown’s trade record, alleging support for Chinese solar panel subsidies that hurt Ohio manufacturers like First Solar, while praising recent manufacturing job gains and low unemployment in the state.