COLUMBUS, Ohio — An email from the state House Majority Whip’s office appeared to threaten library funding for those “pushing specific ideologies” — but the GOP leader claims it was sent by an unapproved staffer and does not represent his views.
“The information contained is not my opinion and should not have been sent out,” said state Representative Riordan McClain, a Republican from Wyandot County.
The letter stated: “The representative supports strong education and reading access for all Ohioans.” However, public libraries have recently begun to include materials that are inappropriate to be paid for with public funds, such as those that promote specific ideologies that have no educational value…
The broader issue of ensuring that public funds are not used to support a specific ideology must be addressed before statewide action on increasing funding can be taken.
Libraries have been targeted by conservatives for hosting “drag story hours,” in which drag performers read to children. McClain has supported legislation to prevent them, but he says that is separate from his views on library funding.
McClain described the letter as “unfortunate.”
A part-time aide, a college student, wrote the letter in February, but it was posted to a Reddit thread in early April, after House Republicans proposed significant changes to library funding.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine proposed increasing the amount libraries receive from the Public Library Fund.
However, the House GOP budget would end the long-standing practice of giving libraries a percentage of total state tax revenue and replace it with a set amount. It would also slightly reduce that amount below what libraries are expected to receive this fiscal year.
These figures could change on Tuesday, when the House formally amends its budget.
“Ohio funds its library system among the highest rate per capita in the nation and will continue to support our library system,” according to McClain.
Libraries have warned of program cuts if the House budget proposal becomes law.
When asked about the letter, House Finance Chair Brian Stewart told Cleveland.com that changes to library funding would not be based on ideology.
“Obviously individual members have a wide array of views on why they vote for things, but the goal here is to get back to actual, real dollar budgeting as much as possible,” Stewart, who is from Circleville, said. “We should be determining funding every two years based on actual dollars, not a percentage of the pie.”
During the previous General Assembly, House Republicans attempted to prohibit drag queen story times in public libraries and other drag events by reclassifying them as “adult cabaret performances.”
House Bill 245 would have classified drag queens as strippers and topless dancers, making their performances illegal anywhere other than adults-only establishments. Violators could have received felony charges.
The bill never received a vote, but McClain was one of 43 Republican cosponsors. Stewart wasn’t.
