On Wednesday, May 12, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced an unusual incentive for people to get vaccinated: a lottery that will pay 5 adults $1 million, and 5 youths a free ride to any public university.

We can only assume that this will be funded via tax dollars.

Right now, Ohio is struggling to pay normal expenses. Many small businesses, in particular, have gone under or are barely staying afloat due to the state's policies over the last year (forced closures, capacity limits, etc.). We do not have the tax dollars to spend on this kind of incentive program.

Instead, tax dollars should be redirected towards the people who have been hurt by DeWine's policies -- helping families who were put out of work and small businesses that have struggled.

Further, it is unethical to coerce people to receive a vaccine that is only authorized on an emergency basis and which has no long-term safety testing with such a high-stakes prize.

We believe that Mike DeWine's lottery needs to be canceled immediately, with all the tax dollars reallocated to those who were hurt by his COVID-19 policies.