Treasurer Josh Mandel was clear in his short speech to the Ohio Oil and Natural Gas Association.

“I oppose increasing the severance tax here in the state of Ohio.” 

Mandel says special interest groups on the federal and state level see the boom in oil and gas drilling as a way to bring in money for more government spending – but he says he sees it as an opportunity for small businesses and landowners.

“It is wrong to increase taxes so the government can redistribute wealth. If the state of Ohio is interested in having government share in the wealth, rather than increasing taxes and regulatory burdens, lawmakers should look to lease as much state land as possible for oil and gas exploration.”

Gov. Kasich wants to use a hike in the oil and gas tax to cut income taxes statewide. 

Last month, Mandel asked lawmakers to block Gov. Kasich’s proposed Medicaid expansion, another key provision in his budget. But there’s no indication that Mandel will try to take on Kasich in a primary.