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Ohio bill targeting health dept. authority may be unconstitutional, Statehouse researchers say
By Tyler Buchanan - Ohio Capital Journal
Some Ohio lawmakers believe the health orders issued over the past year are unconstitutional and reflect an executive branch of government overstepping its boundaries.
A proposed bill to solve that problem may itself be unconstitutional.
That’s the opinion of the Legislative Service Commission, a non-partisan group which provides legal and policy research to Ohio legislators.
Senate Bill 22 was introduced last month by state Sens. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, and Terry Johnson, R-McDermott. The bill would give the Ohio General Assembly authority to rescind any public health order from the Ohio Department of Health by passing a concurrent resolution. Lawmakers could similarly strike down any executive order or emergency declaration issued by the governor.
House Speaker’s office requests resolution be drafted to expel member
By Tyler Buchanan - Ohio Capital Journal
COLUMBUS The office of Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp has sought a resolution be drafted to expel a member of the state legislature.
Though the request does not identify the member in question, this may mark the first step taken to remove from office Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford, the former House speaker who was arrested last year on corruption charges for his alleged involvement in the nuclear bailout bill scandal.
Sheila Willamowski Boehner, the deputy chief of staff and executive counsel for Speaker Cupp, sent an internal request to the Legislative Service Commission asking for two resolutions to be drafted. The request, made Thursday and obtained by the OCJ, asks for a floor resolution to expel a member and a separate floor resolution to “create a committee to investigate.” Both are asked to be drafted within the next week.
Ohio legislature votes to rescind health order limiting county fairs
By Tyler Buchanan - Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio lawmakers did not take a vote Thursday to override a gubernatorial veto on a health department pandemic authority bill.
But they did vote to void one health order in particular one issued this past summer limiting county fairs held in the state.
Senate Bill 375 passed the Ohio House on a party line vote, with Republicans supporting the bill to rescind the county fair health order. It previously passed the Ohio Senate in November and now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk.