Fourth Quarter Push Fails

Gov., DeWine unsuccessfully pushed for a last-minute compromise with fellow Republican lawmakers…over a bill, restricting the state’s ability to respond to public health emergencies, like the pandemic. Reporters say the governor was open to giving lawmakers some oversight over public health orders. At the same time, he wanted more involvement from them when it came to overturning such orders. The governor also proposed putting representatives of the governor’s office at the table with lawmakers as they reviewed those health orders. The bill would allow state lawmakers, by a simple majority, to rescind orders issued by the governor or the state Health Department, as soon as they take effect, as well as prevent the governor from reintroducing similar orders for at least 60 days. The bill would also limit state of emergency orders to a period of 90 days…but allow lawmakers to extend them in 60-day increments, indefinitely.