Cleveland Heights State Representative Wants House In Session

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Cleveland Heights-based state Rep. Janine Boyd blasted Republicans for canceling an Ohio House session while COVID-19 and its economic consequences continues to ravage Ohioans.

“Right now, hundreds of thousands of Ohioans are struggling to pay rent, feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to play games that have real-life consequences that affect people’s lives and futures," Boyd said in a statement.

The Ohio House was scheduled to meet for an if-needed session this week, but that session was canceled by House Speaker Robert Cupp on Sept. 11. The move drew the ire of Boyd and her fellow House Democrats.

"My Democratic colleagues and I have introduced dozens of bills that would alleviate many of the burdens COVID-19 has caused. Instead, Republicans canceled session so they don’t have to face the public’s call and the House Democrats’ efforts to repeal House Bill 6,” Boyd said.

House Bill 6 — which provided a bailout for two Ohio nuclear plants — is at the heart of the state's largest public bribery accusation. Despite public outcry and Gov. Mike DeWine's public support of repealing the legislation, Republicans in the Ohio legislature have stymied attempts to reverse the bill.