Rep. Russo calls GOP veto override vote dangerous for Ohioans

Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) joined House Democrats today to vote opposition to a motion to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill (SB) 22, controversial Republican legislation that would threaten the health and safety of Ohioans by curbing authority from the governor and health director during public health crises.

“Senate Bill 22 is a reckless, dangerous piece of legislation, and I think Governor DeWine was right to veto it,” said Rep. Russo.  “It would also jeopardize Ohio’s ability to call upon federal and regional assistance during an emergency.  This bill puts politics before the health of Ohioans, and I think this poorly-thought-out and extremist legislation belongs in the trash bin.” 

Democrats voted in unison against SB 22 earlier this month and sent the governor a letter urging his veto. A number of Democratic lawmakers issued statements Tuesday applauding the governor’s veto. 

Proponents of SB 22 made a number of false, inaccurate and misleading claims about the virus and the state’s response. Similarly, YouTube pulled down a recording of testimony from a Feb. 17 House committee hearing on House Bill (HB) 90, legislation that mirrors many of the same provisions of SB 22, for violating the site’s terms of service for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

Opponents of both SB 22 and HB 90 include top state public health officials, who said the effort to roll back health orders would slow the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Statehouse researchers also called into question the constitutionality of the effort to strip executive authority from the governor.