Court Decision Approaches

In June 2021, Gov. DeWine ended Ohio’s participation in a federal pandemic unemployment aid program ahead of a government deadline for stopping the payments. Attorneys for the Republican governor argue he had the legal authority to do so. People who lost out on additional benefits say DeWine didn’t, and should have continued them. The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments from both sides. A decision isn’t expected for weeks. At issue before the court is a weekly $300 federal payment for Ohioans to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The federal government ended that program Sept. 6, but DeWine stopped the payments June 26, 2021, saying the need for the payments was over.