COLUMBUS (AP) — GOP lawmakers have made good on their promise to check the authority of fellow Republican Gov. Mike DeWine by issuing the first override of his term after a yearlong battle over how the state should respond during a health emergency.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate voted Wednesday after short debates in each chamber to reject DeWine’s veto of legislation restricting the state including local health departments’ ability to respond to emergencies such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, is Senate president. He says the legislation simply gives lawmakers the power to review orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health.
DeWine vetoed the bill that would limit Ohio governors’ ability to issue orders during a public health emergency.
The move will likely result in a showdown with members of his party who have vowed to override him.
DeWine made good Tuesday on his earlier promise to veto the latest iteration of the proposal.
This marks the second time in four months that the longtime officeholder has shut down attempts by his fellow Republican colleagues to limit his powers during the pandemic.
The governor said he sent a House and Senate leadership a compromise, but his attempts did not appear to sway lawmakers.