Ohio lawmakers will look over yet another measure to pull back on Governor Mike DeWine’s power to issue health orders. A new bill proposed by one of his fellow Republicans would take away penalties slapped on business owners cited for violating coronavirus orders. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.
Representative Derek Merrin says laws have been passed to erase criminal records for certain offenders. He thinks the same should happen for businesses that have been cited for breakingCOVID-19 regulations.
“These are business owners that have supposedly violated an order. They haven’t the opportunity before a real judge. So if we are going to expunge records for criminals, we can certainly do it for business owners under these dire circumstances.”
Merrin says the bill would take away fines levied against the business owners. He says he has support from majority Republicans and says he thinks he’ll even get support from DeWine. But last year DeWine vetoed a bill that would have lowered penalties for violating health orders.
