COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio House Speaker Robert Cupp, R-Lima, said Wednesday the House was moving on to different topics after House Republican leadership’s House Bill 435 failed to receive a full vote for the second time in as many weeks. Turns out, he was quite serious.
On Thursday night, Cupp sent a letter to House Health Committee Chair Scott Lipps, R-Franklin, with forceful instructions about how to run his committee.
“You are hereby directed to immediately cancel the Health Committee currently scheduled for October 19, 2021. Upon receipt of this letter, please notify the members of the committee of the cancellation,” Cupp wrote to Lipps.
BREAKING: .@SpeakerCupp sends @LippsforOhio directing him to “immediately cancel the Health Committee currently scheduled for October 19, 2021.” This was when @jenniferforrep’s HB248 was scheduled to have its 7th hearing. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/S664Sruaay
— Josh Rultenberg (@JoshRultNews) October 14, 2021
As of Friday morning, the committee hearing has been canceled.
Lipps could not be reached for comment.
Earlier Thursday, Lipps had announced his committee would be holding a seventh hearing on House Bill 248, also known as the “Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act.” The bill, which was paused by Cupp after the business and medical communities overwhelmingly opposed it, bans employers, like hospitals, from requiring any vaccine —not just COVID-19. It also does not allow “discriminatory treatment” when it comes to vaccination status and forces schools to tell parents their kids don’t have to get any shots.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jennifer Gross, R-West Chester, sent around a discharge petiton after it was shelved. As of Thursday, 13 Republicans have signed it. A total of 50 signatures would be needed to prompt Cupp to hold a floor vote on the bill.
Gross had no idea about Cupp’s letter prior to receiving a text message from Spectrum News Statehouse Reporter Josh Rultenberg.
“I knew nothing of this. Until you sent it,” she said. “Since I wasn’t included in the planning I’m shocked at the change. I’m hoping more members will choose to sign the discharge petition.”
Gross had tweeted in celebration hours earlier Thursday with a message that said, “Never let anyone take away your freedom because of the greater good. Freedom *is* the greater good.”
Just a couple hours ago, @jenniferforrep was celebrating the hearing announcement. @SpectrumNews1OH pic.twitter.com/D7ROHd6doI
— Josh Rultenberg (@JoshRultNews) October 14, 2021
Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore, Timothy Ginter, R-Salem, had no idea Lipps planned to hold another hearing prior to the schedule being released. Ginter had said he would not support House Bill 248 if it were voted out of committee.
“I believe the bill is too wide, too broad, too comprehensive. I believe there’s some inherent flaws in it. And I believe (House Bill) 435 was something I could’ve supported, would have supported and I felt it hit much closer to the mark of where we need to hit.”
House Bill 435 or the “Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Fairness Act,” as it was originally written, said no business or school could force its employees or students to get a COVID-19 vaccine that had not been fully approved by the FDA. However, hospitals could have required its staff to be vaccinated.
The GOP has been split between giving Ohioans medical freedom versus allowing businesses to run free of government interference.
Republican leadership had tried to make changes to the bill.
“There are some that would like to go further than what was proposed in terms of restriction of prohibition. There are some who think that it already goes too far. And as a result, there’s simply not a consensus on it,” said Cupp.
Ohio House Democrats, who have been vehemently against the idea of the bill and how Republicans tried to get it through the chamber, called it a waste of time.
“It’s a bill that they took (House Bill) 248 and they tried to fix it into a bill that they thought would be more palatable to more people. The end result is a bill that no one likes. So they created a monster and it’s not going to be birthed today, that’s for sure,” said Ohio House Assistant Minority Whip Richard Brown, D-Canal Winchester.
The business and medical communities did not support the bill.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce says it “remains concerned that HB 435, and other similar bills, infringe on employers’ rights. Furthermore, legislative action on vaccine mandates is unnecessary.”
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says “Passage of this type of legislation would put the health of those who have battled cancer and the over 73,000 Ohioans who will be diagnosed this year at greater risk.”
Cupp said Wednesday the House would turn its attention to sports betting and he will focus on the Ohio Redistricting Commission approving new congressional district maps.
Oct. 15 Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the Health Committee hearing slated for Oct. 19 has been canceled.
