COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, often the target of critics within his own political party for his handling of the coronavirus, is now being hit like no other Ohio chief executive in modern times.
>> Bid to impeach DeWine ‘imprudent attempt to escalate ... policy disagreements,’ Speaker says
A trio of ultra-conservative members of the Ohio House of Representatives have filed Articles of Impeachment against DeWine, claiming he violated the state constitution by issuing health orders that infringe on people’s rights. The drive for impeachment is led by Rep. John Becker, R-Clermont County.
In video statement posted on YouTube Becker said “It is long past time to put an end to government gone wild.”
Becker pointed to DeWine’s decision to require everyone to wear a mask in public and for school children to wear them while in the classroom. He also referred to the April elimination of in-person voting during the Primary Election as a violation of the state constitution.
Becker also focused on the economic impact of DeWine orders. “Living in fear, many have turned to drugs and yes, even suicide to end or tolerate the unbearable pain inflicted by the governor upon their livelihood,” Becker said.
Initially, Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, was listed as a co-sponsor, but later in the day her name was no longer on the list of impeachment supporters on the site www.impeachdewine.webs.com. Rep. Nino Vitale, R-Urbana remains a co-sponsor, along with Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, R- Mason. Vitale posted a graphic on his Facebook page that showed DeWine with a mask on with multiple vertical lines over the photo to make it appear he is in jail.
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Other Republican members from the Miami Valley have not joined the impeachment effort. Rep. J. Todd Smith, R- Farmersville, said he does not agree with how DeWine has handled many of the decisions on the state’s response to the coronavirus. Still, Smith declined to join the impeachment campaign. “With all that is wrong in the world and in our state, I think it is the wrong time to pursue the wrong cure in the wrong way.,” Smith said.
One other Republican, speaking off the record, called it “a stunt.”
In a written statement, Rep. Rick Perales said, in part, “Although I concur with my colleagues in regards to executive overreach by Governor Mike DeWine, the threshold to consider impeachment in quite high. I believe that Governor DeWine’s actions do not warrant such drastic intervention, but instead hope to restore constitutional balance through working with the Governor and giving our constituents a voice,” Perales said.
Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes, the Minority Leader in the House, called it a new low. “Ohioans deserve better leadership and I hope Republicans re-focus their attention towards the struggling Ohioans who need them to serve instead of enriching and promoting themselves,” Sykes said.
Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken said in a written statement released Monday, “It is despicable that anyone who considers themselves to be conservative would make an attempt to impeach Governor DeWine.”
What is the likelihood that DeWine could be impeached?
Not much. Rep. Smith said it should not happen. “I understand there is a lot of hurt right now and anger and frustration among people But our job as leaders is to make sure that our solution does not add to the problem,” Smith said.
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House Speaker Bob Cupp waited until 5pm Monday to respond in a way that likely means the Articles of Impeachment are dead on arrival. “Having now had time to read and consider the draft resolution to impeach the Governor announced by a couple of members, it is clear to me that it is an imprudent attempt to escalate important policy disagreements with the Governor into a state constitutional crisis. Even serious policy disagreements do not rise to the level of impeachment under our constitution.”
Cupp went on to say that rather focus on their differences with the DeWine administration, the General Assembly should instead be working on improving the state’s economy, health care and education.