Biden to meet with DeWine during Ohio visit Tuesday

COLUMBUS — Gov. Mike DeWine will greet President Joe Biden at the airport in Columbus Tuesday when the President makes a stop in Ohio on his “Help Is Here Tour.”

>>Miami Valley vaccines: All Ohioans age 16+ eligible for vaccines if counties can’t fill appointments, DeWine says

It will be Biden’s first trip to Ohio after taking office. He is scheduled to tour the James Cancer Treatment and Research at Ohio State University.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday the event is to “highlight how the American rescue Plan will help lower health care costs.”

It comes on the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act by President Obama. Psaki said the President played a major role in the formation of the ACA and while in Columbus will encourage people who need coverage to sign up at HealthCare.gov.

DeWine, at his regular briefing on the state response to the coronavirus Monday, said he will not only greet the President at the airport but will also meet with him privately to talk about the pandemic response.

When asked if he will request anything from the President, DeWine said “nothing huge.” Instead, DeWine said, “I’ll spend the time talking about what we’re seeing in Ohio and how things are working.”

The Cleveland mass vaccination site will likely be a point of discussion for DeWine and President Biden. So far, after less than a week in operation, the site at Cleveland State University has delivered 31,000 doses of the vaccine to people there.

“The one federal FEMA vaccination site and partnership with the state is working exceedingly well,” DeWine said.

DeWine, a Republican, said earlier his relationship with the Biden administration is good. When he made that statement, DeWine quickly added that his relationship with the Trump administration was also good.

Cox Media Group