GOP lawmakers give DeWine first override over health bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — GOP lawmakers on Wednesday 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 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.

“Governor DeWine, through his letter Monday and his veto message yesterday, made his serious concerns regarding Senate Bill 22 known to the members of the General Assembly and to the public," Dan Tierney, the governor's spokesperson said following the override.

The legislation simply gives lawmakers the power to review orders issued by the Ohio Department of Health, with more than 30 states having similar laws, said Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican.

Huffman disputed claims that the bill is a political rebuke of DeWine’s decisions over the pandemic.

“The people must never feel forgotten, especially during times of emergency, when unchecked power can be used to impact lives and livelihoods,” Huffman said.

Bill’s sponsor Sen. Rob McColley, a Napoleon Republican, argued in favor of the measure Wednesday before the vote.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for us to stand up for the legislative branch. It’s time for us to reassert ourselves as a separate and co-equal branch of government here in the state of Ohio,” McColley said. “We need to stand up and we need to finish this for all the Ohioans who have been asking us for a long time to be their voice.”

Sens. Stephanie Kunze and Matt Dolan and Rep. Andrea White were the only GOP...