Ohio News

Coronavirus

As a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) swept through the world in 2020, preparedness plans, masking policies and more public policy changed just as quickly. WVXU has covered the pandemic's impact on the Tri-State from the very beginning, when on March 3, 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine barred spectators from attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus over concerns about the virus, even though Ohio had yet to confirm a single case of COVID-19.

Senate Rejects House Attempt To Scale Back Health Director Orders

The Statehouse News Bureau | By Andy Chow

Published May 20, 2020 at 6:38 PM EDT

Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) speaks to reporters via teleconference after Ohio Senate session on May 20.

The Ohio Senate unanimously rejected an Ohio House measure that would've scaled back the power of state public health orders. Senators blasted the House amendment, saying it undermined health experts and created too many unintended consequences.

Both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate criticized the House amendment, which would have made every public health order expire after 14 days then be subject to legislative review.

Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) says the amendment raised too many questions and wasn't well vetted.

"The House, very quickly with no process, took some amendments that really didn't work right, put them in a bill and dropped them in our lap," says Obhof.

House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) defended the amendment and says he'd like to negotiate it further in conference committee.