As expected Governor Mike DeWine this week vetoed a bill aimed at checking the governor's power to issue health orders. DeWine argued the bill was unconstitutional and would hinder the ability to respond to a crisis. The day after the veto, both chambers of the General Assembly as expected, voted to override the governor's veto. That means the bill--Senate Bill 22--will go into effect in 90 days unless it is challenged in court.
Ohio's progress toward the benchmark needed to drop all health pandemic health orders stalled this week. The governor says the case rate in Ohio is currently just under 147 cases per 100,000. Last week that number was 144 cases. The governor has said Ohio needs to get down to 50 cases per 100,000 for two weeks for the orders to be dropped. He says next week more than 570,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Ohio--the largest amount to date. Those increased doses arrive as Ohio opens the door to eligibility for everyone over the age of 16.
The state's new two-year transportation budget proposal is on its way to Governor DeWine.
The Senate approved the bill unanimously this week and the House signed off on a few minor tweaks yesterday. The budget total more than $8 billion and restores funding to public transit that had been cut in the original proposal.
A federal judged tossed a lawsuit filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost over the United States Census Bureau's delay in delivering data to states. The Census normally delivers those numbers by March 31 but the agency says due to the pandemic and other delays, the data will not be ready until September. Yost says Ohio needs the numbers to be able to draw new congressional district maps. The redrawing of the maps is the first to take place since voters approved reforms to the process.
The National Football League Draft will set up in Cleveland about a month from now and we are starting to get our first details about the event. The Draft will be held April 29 to May 1 in downtown Cleveland.
The league says the main stage will be located on Lake Erie and ESPN plans broadcast the Draft live.
Anna Huntsman, Health Reporter, Ideastream
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV
Kabir Bhatia, Reporter, WKSU
