COLUMBUS, Ohio—State lawmakers are preparing to dump Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed tax increases on cigarettes, marijuana, and sports gambling from the state’s budget bill in the next couple weeks, according to a key lawmaker.
In addition, the Ohio House Finance Committee will likely soon add language to the massive budget legislation to authorize $600 million in state-backed bonds to help pay for a new $2.4 billion Cleveland Browns stadium in suburban Brook Park, according to Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Republican.
Both moves would be major blows to DeWine’s budget plan, which sought to double the state’s 20% tax on sports-betting companies to help fund stadium projects for sports teams like the Browns…