Schmidt Calls on DeWine to End Orders and Mandates

COLUMBUS – State Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Miami Twp.) today issued the following statement calling on Governor Mike DeWine to lift Ohio’s mask mandate:

“Today marks the one-year anniversary of Governor Mike DeWine declaring Ohio to be in a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has also been one year since the first coronavirus cases reached Ohio. Over the past year, Ohioans have bonded together to beat the virus and we have found ways to live out our lives despite the overbearing health orders placed upon us by unelected bureaucrats. Since March 2020, Ohio has made extensive progress.

Despite this, I am still hearing the cries from my constituents who are angry with the health orders and directives placed upon us that limit our ability to live our best lives. Ohioans are angry, and rightfully so. I have co-sponsored House Bill 90, legislation that would limit the governor’s health orders and I support pending legislation that would end the mask mandate. 

I will continue to fight for more legislative oversight of the Governor, but today, on the one-year anniversary of his declaration of a public health emergency, I am calling upon him to take immediate steps to lift these mandates and orders.  As more Ohioans receive the vaccine, I believe we should end these measures as soon as possible.   

We must continue to be smart about this, but I whole-heartedly believe in my constituents. I have faith that Ohioans are responsible enough to carry on with our daily lives while also protecting our most vulnerable. I would like to thank Ohio’s dedicated health professional for their extraordinary work over the past year. Because of their tireless efforts, I believe that we are now in a place to lift Ohio’s mask mandate, end burdensome orders and allow Ohio’s businesses to open up safely.”