obhof

Inside Ohio Republicans’ 10-month war on the state health department over COVID-19

BY: - March 8, 2021

Ohioans were living with the coronavirus for about two months before GOP lawmakers initiated what would be a nearly yearlong effort to squash the state health department’s ability to issue public health orders. The earliest version of the idea was to limit any order issued by the Ohio Department of Health to a two-week window. […]

Bill attacking health department’s COVID-19 power dies

BY: - December 23, 2020

A legislative attempt to cripple the Ohio Department of Health’s legal authority to respond to pandemics died a quiet death Tuesday evening after the Senate President opted against attempting to override a gubernatorial veto. This puts a lid — for 2020, at least — on a months-long effort from Republicans to wrest “ultimate authority” in […]

COVID-19 protesters gather outside Ohio GOP Senate leader’s home, seeking veto override  

BY: - December 22, 2020

Protesters gathered outside GOP Senate President Larry Obhof’s personal home Sunday seeking to pressure him to override a gubernatorial veto of legislation to weaken the health department. Although Senate Bill 311 passed with a veto-proof majority, the activists accused Obhof of stalling an effort to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the bill. The legislation […]