Cupp opposes impeaching Dewine
Some of Ohio's most conservative lawmakers want to impeach Gov. Mike Dewine over how he's handled the coronavirus.
But new Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, Rlima, said impeachment isn't the right path forward. Cupp said the impeachment effort was an "imprudent attempt" to escalate disagreement with the governor to "a state constitutional crisis."
"Even serious policy disagreements do not rise to the level of impeachment under our constitution," Cupp said in a statement Monday evening.
Discontent has been brewing since
Dewine ordered the polls closed in March came to a head Monday morning. That led to several GOP lawmakers drafting articles of impeachment against Dewine, who is also a Republican.
But even Rep. John Becker, R-union Township in Clermont County, who is championing the effort to oust Dewine, said the governor's detractors don't have enough votes to remove him right now.
According to the Ohio Constitution, the Ohio House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment. A majority of lawmakers there would need to support the effort for Dewine to be impeached.
Then, lawmakers in the Ohio Senate would preside over a trial. Two-thirds of the Senate would have to vote to convict the governor.
"The governor is focused on saving lives during a pandemic. He’s focused on helping our economy during this pandemic," Dewine spokesman Dan Tierney said. "That’s what he’s focused on. Not this."
Ohio Republican Party leader Jane Timken came to Dewine's defense, saying "it is despicable that anyone who considers themself to be conservative would make an attempt to impeach Governor Dewine."
Republicans should be united in a time of "harsh political division," Timken said. "The attack by John Becker and his allies is a baseless, feeble attempt at creating attention for themselves, and it shifts the focus away from what should be the top priority for real Republicans: reelecting President (Donald) Trump."
A spokeswoman for Cupp initially wouldn't say whether the new leader supported or opposed impeachment. Later Monday, Cupp said in a statement that "informed dialogue and the lawmaking process" were better approaches than impeachment.
Senate President Larry Obhof, R-medina, said impeachment is an issue for the Ohio House. His chamber wouldn't spend time and energy on it unless the House had the votes to impeach.
Top House Democrat Emilia Sykes, D-akron, said Republicans were focusing on the wrong things.
“Instead of working to rebuild the public’s trust or calling the House back from summer recess to address the very real public health and economic crises Ohio currently faces by focusing on protecting small businesses and slowing the spread of COVID-19, Republicans continue to fight one another over political power," Sykes said.