Buckeye Reporter

Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Renacci is promoting what he describes as DeWine’s failures as new research shows that Ohio is third in the nation for most-regulated states.

Renacci, who is running against DeWine in the 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary election on May 3 for the Republican Party nomination for governor, cited his “Scoreboard” of things in which Ohio leads the nation.

“Ohio ranks #3 in most-regulated states. A recent report from the Mercatus Center found Ohio is the THIRD most regulated state in the country, by number of restrictions, behind New York and California,” Renacci’s “DeWine’s Post-Superbowl Scoreboard” said.

Ohio is the third most-regulated state in terms of having 274,470 restrictions, “A Policymaker’s Guide to State RegData 2.0” said. California is the most regulated with 395,608 restrictions, followed by New York at 296,296. Ohio has the most regulatory restrictions for insurance carriers and related activities with 31,063 restrictions.

Researchers at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University developed the dataset known as “State RegData 2.0” that “includes the cumulative volume of regulations found in the administrative codes of 44 states and the District of Columbia,” according to “A Policymaker’s Guide to State RegData 2.0.” Administrative codes are rules written by administrative agencies under the direction of the governor, and RegData 2.0 lists the five most-regulated states and the five least-regulated states (Idaho is the least-regulated state with 38,961 restrictions).

“Mike DeWine has had nearly four years to lead Ohio on the right path. Instead, Mike DeWine Ohio has led Ohio to out-of-control Medicaid spending, burdensome regulations, skyrocketing drug overdoses, and blue state-level tax burdens,” Renacci’s “Scoreboard” said.

DeWine’s campaign says that Ohio is ranked No. 1 for new business projects per capita.

“Together with Jon Husted we're fighting and winning for all Ohioans. Excited to build on our momentum,” DeWine’s Facebook page said. “Largest economic development in OH history, record-setting job creation, 2.2-plus billion tax cuts, record-breaking fundraising- GOP support from all 88 Counties.”