Ohio Senate Cancels Voting Session After House Unable To Meet

The Ohio Senate cancelled a voting session for Thursday after the House scrapped its Wednesday session.

But the Republican House Speaker is refusing to say the current COVID-19 outbreak among House members came from committee meetings. 

Two House Republicans and two House Democrats have announced they tested positive for COVID-19 this week, forcing them, some staff and others into quarantine.

Republican leadership said the cancelation of session was due to more work needing to be done in committees and not because of the coronavirus.

The virus transmission didn’t necessarily happen in committee hearings, House Speaker Bob Cupp said, suggesting the lawmakers could have been exposed elsewhere.

Even with floor sessions canceled at the Statehouse, committee hearings are ongoing — meaning people are gathering in rooms with several lawmakers, many who refuse to wear masks.