In this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss the ongoing Republican efforts to ban vaccine mandates in the state. Ohio Public Radio Statehouse Reporter Andy Chow joins the show.
Mandate Ban Fans
Republicans continue to try to ban or limit COVID-19 vaccine mandates at the statehouse.
First, Republicans who oppose vaccine mandates brought in medical experts who testified the COVID vaccine magnetizes the body and connects you to 5G wireless networks.
Then last week, they tried to speed a bill through that would have allowed mandates, but also allowed basically anyone to write themselves an exception. The exceptions included religious, medical, natural immunity and reasons of conscience. Business groups balked at that.
Now, they are trying again to pass a bill that would allow exemptions to COVID vaccine mandates for religious, medical and natural immunity. But people working in hospital intensive care units, children's hospitals or people hired after the bill becomes law would not be exempt.
Borderline
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine took his video production crew and his wife Fran on the road to the Mexican border.
The governor went to Mission, Texas where he joined other Republican governors who joined with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to denounced President Biden’s immigration policies. While Mission is 1,600 miles away from Columbus, DeWine says illegal crossings bring fentanyl to Ohio, which has led to thousands of opioid overdose deaths.
Send questions and comments to snollygoster@wosu.org.