Tag: ohio

Articles of impeachment drawn up against Gov. Mike DeWine over coronavirus orders

Three Ohio House Republicans have drafted articles of impeachment against Gov. Mike DeWine, claiming many of his administration’s coronavirus orders are unconstitutional and violate Ohioans’ civil liberties.

While the chances of DeWine, a Greene County Republican, being removed from office are very slim, the articles of impeachment reflect ongoing dissatisfaction from many conservative lawmakers about the governor’s coronavirus response.

A resolution introduced by state Rep. John Becker, a Clermont County Republican, includes 10 articles of impeachment against DeWine which claim he:

  • Violated the separation of powers by having the Ohio Department of Health issue orders outside the scope of its authority that are “tantamount to creating new laws”
  • “Conspired” with Secretary of State Frank LaRose to cancel the March 17 primary election, citing a health emergency, then tried to reschedule it for June 2 without legislative approval (the legislature subsequently passed a law setting an all-mail primary on April 28)
  • Unconstitutionally ordered the closure of businesses because of coronavirus fears, which “resulted in record-high unemployment, causing not only increased poverty, increased depression, increased despair, and increased suicides, but also the necessity for state budget cuts impacting schools and social programs when they are needed most”
  • “Failed to anticipate or plan for more than a million newly unemployed Ohioans who suffered the additional indignity of being unable to communicate with an overwhelmed Department of Job and Family Services to file claims,” and “demonstrated grotesque discrimination against the medical health and welfare of the general population by denying nonemergency healthcare”
  • Ordered the shutdown of schools, “a power that belongs exclusively to the State Board of Education.” After schools reopened, DeWine “ordered that all students wear face coverings, which violates students’ civil liberties”
  • “Has repeatedly proven his incompetence by providing wildly inaccurate forecasts and repeatedly misleading COVID-19 data; and committed misfeasance and malfeasance with his policy prescriptions, which have proven to be far worse than the virus itself.”
  • Had his administration issue a “stay-at-home” order for Ohioans, which violated citizens’ due-process rights and civil liberties.
  • Required Ohioans to wear face masks in houses of worship, in violation of the First Amendment
  • Issued face-mask rule that “promotes fear, turns neighbors against neighbors, and contracts the economy by making people fearful to leave their homes.” The resolution also states that “for the general population wearing face coverings, people are more likely to infect themselves with COVID-19” (Health officials generally agree that wearing a face covering provides more protection than not wearing a mask)
  • Temporarily banned liquor sales to non-Ohio residents in six counties near the Pennsylvania border, in violation of the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Besides Becker, the other two co-sponsors of the impeachment resolution include Republican state Reps. Nino Vitale of Champaign County and Paul Zeltwanger of Warren County, according to a website set up to promote the measure.

For DeWine to be removed from office, a majority of the House would need to approve the resolution, and two-thirds of the Ohio Senate would then have to vote to convict him.

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Ohio Dept of Health BANS hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID19

The Ohio Department of Health has reportedly banned the use of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19. The rule goes into effect Thursday.

Ohio Department of Health spokesperson Melanie Amato made the announcement, saying the drug touted by President Donald Trump is “not an effective treatment.”

According to WHIO, the rule “prohibits selling or dispensing hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.”

This comes after a group of Doctors held “America’s Frontline Doctors Summit” in Washington, D.C., in which the medical experts praised the use of hydroxychloroquine and some said there was no need for a mask mandate or economic shutdown.

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Ohio County Implements Hotline to Report People Not Wearing Masks

Cuyahoga County — which houses Cleveland, Ohio — has created a hotline so that people can tattle on their neighbors for not wearing masks. Ironically, the county executive claims that they “want people to [wear masks] voluntarily.”

Cuyahoga County has taken Ohio governor Mike DeWine’s mask order to the next level by establishing a hotline that allows people to report others for not wearing what is now considered proper attire in the new era of the Chinese coronavirus, according to a report by Cleveland.com.

The report added that the governor’s mask order will largely rely upon complaints filed by the public, rather than proactive policing.

“This is not intended to be going out and finding people not wearing masks,” insisted Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish in an announcement on Friday. “We want people to wear their masks — we want people to do it voluntarily.”

“There’s not enough people in law enforcement throughout the county to track down people, chase them around and figure out who we can go after for not wearing a mask,” added Budish.

After a complaint is filed, county workers will then contact the person or business to inform them that they have been reported. Complaints will also be forwarded to the Board of Health, as well as the relevant city or village.

The Sheriff’s Department could reportedly investigate or potentially file charges if the violator of the mask order is the subject of repeated complaints.

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