A Republican state Senator and a doctor who questioned whether members of “the colored population” were disproportionately contracting COVID-19 because of their hygiene is drawing new criticism after his appointment to lead the Senate Health Committee. The controversy is over comments made in June by state Senator Stephen Huffman. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus has demanded a health committee leader who understands and can respond to the inequities of healthcare in Ohio “without political influence." A spokesperson for Huffman says he is qualified to chair the committee and has a long record of working to provide health care to minority communities. Last year Huffman lost his job as an emergency room doctor after asking the racially insensitive question at a hearing on a resolution to declare racism a public health crisis.
