The Secular Humanists of Western Lake Erie has subÂmitÂted writÂten tesÂtiÂmoÂny to the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee conÂcernÂing two bills before the comÂmitÂtee. One would allow the legÂisÂlaÂture to overÂride execÂuÂtive orders issued by the Governor and the secÂond would add more regÂuÂlaÂtions to peoÂple needÂing pubÂlic assisÂtance. SHoWLE opposÂes both bills.
Senate Bill 17
Makes sevÂerÂal changes to the SNAP (aka Food Stamps) and Medicaid proÂgrams. It proÂhibits the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services from adaptÂing SNAP eliÂgiÂbilÂiÂty rules for sitÂuÂaÂtions like havÂing a panÂdemÂic. It also changes SNAP to a reportÂing sysÂtem where the perÂson getÂting the benifit would have to report ANY change in their income. For examÂple, most peoÂple on SNAP work. They would have to report any extra shifts they pick up even if the income overÂall wouldÂn’t put them over a threshÂold.
Another bad change is requirÂing able body peoÂple on Medicaid to work at least 20 hours a week. A good numÂber of peoÂple on Medicaid work so this change would hurt those, while not disÂabled, still shouldÂn’t be workÂing. There is also a quesÂtion about if a work requireÂment is allowed since the Biden Administration just recentÂly rescindÂed all waivers for the requireÂment.
Click HERE if the embeÂdÂed letÂter can’t be seen above
Senate Bill 22
This bill would allow the General Assembly to rescind any execÂuÂtive order made by the Governor or any emerÂgency order by any state agency such as pubÂlic health orders dealÂing with a panÂdemÂic that come from the Ohio Department of Health.
Even if there wasÂn’t a conÂstiÂtuÂtionÂal quesÂtion about this proÂposed law, SHoWLE believes that allowÂing the legÂisÂlaÂture to ignore sciÂence and medÂical experts to end pubÂlic health orders is a danÂger to all Ohioans. The legÂisÂlaÂture has underÂmined the response to the COVID-19 panÂdemÂic that has killed at least 12,000 peoÂple in the state and almost half a milÂlion in the US. It is simÂply wrong to politiÂcize the lives and safeÂty of the citÂiÂzens of Ohio.
SHoWLE believes Ohio would be in a much betÂter posiÂtion had the state conÂtinÂued to do the right thing in addressÂing the panÂdemÂic rather than givÂing in to the selfÂish and sciÂence denyÂing memÂbers of the legÂisÂlaÂture. SB 22 will make things much worse now and in the future.
Click HERE if the embeÂdÂed letÂter can’t be seen above
SHoWLE will conÂtinÂue to keep track of and respond to pubÂlic laws and poliÂcies that are of interÂest to the group or fits our misÂsion stateÂment and purÂpose. Laws and poliÂcies that not only effect church and state issues but also social jusÂtice issues will be respondÂed to as well.
If you feel as we do about these two bills, we ask that you conÂtact your state Senator and let them know how you feel about SB 17 and SB 22.
*Update* SB 22 passed the comÂmitÂtee and the Senate on 2/17. The bill now moves on to the House.
House Bill 90
A comÂpanÂion to SB 22 was introÂduced in the Ohio House and is now in the State and Local Government Committee.
Here is the letÂter I sent to the comÂmitÂtee opposÂing HB 90:
Click HERE if the embeÂdÂed letÂter can’t be seen above