Republican-led House OKs limits on Ohio health director

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Republican lawmakers frustrated with Ohio’s aggressive stay-at-home orders voted Wednesday in the GOP-controlled House to limit the authority of the state’s health director. “Creating more uncertainty regarding public health and employee safety is the last thing we need as we work to restore consumer confidence in Ohio’s economy,” the governor said in a statement. Republican backers said the measure was an appropriate legislative check on the power of DeWine, and his health director, Dr. Amy Acton, who issued Ohio’s orders. A small group of protesters stood outside her house last weekend, leading DeWine to later condemn the demonstration, saying “come after me.” The partisan divide over Ohio’s reopening and its record unemployment emerged into full view at the Statehouse as House Republicans approved the limits on the health department along party lines. Earlier in the day, Senate President Larry Obhof said Ohio had had a “very positive” response compared to other states, and noted that DeWine “was very careful not to interfere with people’s constitutional rights.” ___ BUDGET CUTS A day after DeWine announced plans to cut $775 million from state spending over the next two months, his budget director outlined more details about those plans.