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Ohio Senate votes against amendment seeking to limit state health director's authority

Amy Acton
Posted at 5:24 PM, May 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-20 17:28:00-04

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate unanimously rejected an amendment to Senate Bill 1, which seeks to limit Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton’s authority.

The amendment, if passed, would have limited orders passed by Acton to two weeks.

Gov. Mike DeWine has said that he would veto an order that seeks to limit the health director’s authority if it reached his desk.

The Senate voted Wednesday 32-0 to reject it.

Next, the bill will go to a bipartisan committee comprised of state reps and state senators that are tasked with making changes to the bill.

Democrats previously said the legislation undermined public health policy and the state’s responsibility to protect people during a crisis. House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes also said Acton made an easy scapegoat as an unelected official.

RELATED: Gov. DeWine's office says he would veto bills limiting Dr. Acton's power to issue health orders

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