WASHINGTON (TNND) — Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is running to defend his Senate seat against Sherrod Brown, a former U.S. senator who is attempting a congressional comeback. With data center construction on the rise, the cost of living and affordability are top concerns for voters.
In an interview with The National News Desk, Husted called for an end to the Iran war “on America’s terms” and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. (TNND)
In an interview with The National News Desk, Husted called for an end to the Iran war “on America’s terms” and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He listed three ways he has worked on affordability.
One, you give people good jobs, and we’ve done that in Ohio. We have the lowest unemployment rate and the most jobs in our state’s history. Two, you let people keep more of what you earn. That’s what the working family tax cut plan was about. Cutting taxes on tips over time and Social Security. And then three, we lower the prices of the things that people need to live and thrive,” Husted said.
On the data center issue, Husted said local entities should decide whether to build. He referenced a bill that would require data centers to pay for their own power and infrastructure. The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, but the Senate rejected it.
“I’m sick and tired of Democrats saying they care about affordability- because they’re the ones that shut down refineries,” Husted said.
Specifically, the bill required states to consider a standard to force data centers to cover utility costs. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the regulations a “toothless standard.”
“Senate Republicans would do nothing to require data center companies to pay for their rising costs to the surrounding communities,” Schumer said in a speech. “Senate Democrats want to make it mandatory for data centers to cover their own costs by law—not by suggestion, or hope or whim.”
Husted expressed further frustration with legislation Democrats blocked, including permitting reform.
The politics that Chuck Schumer and people like Chuck Schumer, and Sherrod Brown, the Democrats, they block it. They block everything that we try to do,” Husted said.
Besides the race between Husted and Brown, all eyes are on Ohio’s governor’s race. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy ran a controversial ad featuring his opponent’s estranged mother. Court records obtained by our station WSYX back up much of what Amy Acton has said about her childhood, including abuse she said she suffered from her stepfather.
Husted reacted to the controversy, but wants to keep the focus on his race.
“Well, I would not have run that ad, but I’m running it against Sherrod Brown,” Husted said.