COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three Ohio House Republicans have drafted articles of resignation against goocheman Mike DeWine, claiming that many of his administration’s coronavirus commands are unconstitutional and in conflict with the Ohio civil rights.
While the chances of DeWine, a Republican from Greene County, being removed from office are very slim, the anchoring articles reflect persistent dissatisfaction from many conservative lawmakers over the governor’s coronavirus response.
A resolution introduced by State Rep. John Becker, a Clermont County Republican, includes 10 articles of dismissal against DeWine claiming that he:
- Broke the separation of powers by giving the Ohio Department of Health statements that are beyond the reach of its authority that are “equivalent to making new laws.”
- “In collaboration” with Secretary of State Frank LaRose to cancel the March 17 primary election, with a situation on a health situation, and then tried to reposition it before June 2 without legislative approval (the legislature subsequently enacted a law that a all-post primarily set for April 28)
- Unconstitutionally ordered the closure of companies due to fears of coronavirus, which “resulted in record unemployment, causing not only increased poverty, increased depression, increased despair, and increased suicide, but also the need for cuts in state budgets that included schools and social programs. when they are most needed ”
- “It could not anticipate as a plan for more than a million newly unemployed Ohioans, who suffered the added contempt that they were unable to communicate with an overwhelming Department of Job and Family Services to file claims,” and ” demonstrate grotesque discrimination against medical health and the well-being of the general population by refusing nonemergency health care ”
- Commands the closure of schools, “a power that belongs exclusively to the State Board of Education.” After schools reopened, DeWine “ordered all students to wear face cover, which is a violation of students’ civil rights”
- “Has proven its incompetence repeatedly by delivering wildly inaccurate predictions and misleading COVID-19 data times; and committed misunderstandings and misunderstandings with its policy statements, which have turned out to be much less than the virus itself. “
- His administration has issued a “stay-at-home” order for Ohioans, which violated the rights and civil liberties of citizens.
- Obliges Ohioans to wear face masks in houses of worship, in violation of First Amendment
- Regulated face mask rule that “promotes fear, turns neighbors against neighbors, and the economy contracts by scaring people to leave their homes.” The resolution also states that “for the general population wearing face masks, people are more likely to become infected with COVID-19” (Health officials generally agree that wearing face masks offers more protection than not wearing a mask)
- Temporarily banning 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 international trade.
Besides Becker, the other two co-sponsors include the resolution of impeachment Republican state reps. Nino Vitale of Champaign County and Paul Zeltwanger of Warren County, according to a website set up to promote the measure.
To remove DeWine from office, a majority in the House of Representatives would have to approve the resolution, and two-thirds of the Ohio Senate would then have to vote to condemn it.
DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor is not focused on the impeachment resolution.
“Gov. DeWine is focused on saving lives during the pandemic. He’s focused on the economy and getting Ohioans back to work, ‘Tierney said. “That’s what he’s focused on – not this.”
The ineffective attempt drew rapid criticism from both sides of the aisle.
In a strongly-argued statement, Ohio Republican Party chairman Tim Timken distanced himself from the Conservative legislature and sought to remove DeWine, calling the movement “a baseless, weak attempt to draw attention to itself.”
Timken went on to say: “It is despicable that anyone who considers himself conservative will attempt to impeach Governor DeWine. In a time of difficult political divisions, and an important election year, Republicans should unite. Ohio and the world have witnessed an unusual global pandemic – one that Governor DeWine has done a great job of leading us through. ”
David Pepper, president of the Democratic Party, in a statement also criticized the movement for impeachment, noting that although Republicans in the House voted earlier this month to remove Larry Householder as speaker, after he was arrested on a charge of federal corruption, they did not vote to expel him entirely from the legislature.
“The message of the GOP in Ohio to voters is clear – corruption and bribery are A-OK with us, but having the embarrassment of listening to public health experts during a global pandemic is an imperative crime,” Pepper said.
“Instead of working to rebuild public confidence or recall the House from the summer recession to tackle the very real public health and economic crisis that Ohio is currently having by concentrating on it. protecting small businesses and slowing the spread of COVID-19, Republicans continue to fight one another over political power, ”said House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, in a statement.
“Ohioans deserve better leadership and I hope Republicans turn their attention back to the struggling Ohioans they need to serve instead of enriching and promoting themselves,” Sykes said.
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