Many Democratic state lawmakers were upset Wednesday when they discovered an earlier seating plan that allowed social distancing in the Ohio House chamber had been scrapped in favor of one allowing all legislators inside the chamber. Now, one of those minority lawmakers has filed a complaint with the Franklin County Health Department.
Rep. Tavia Galonski says her colleagues didn’t know Republican House Speaker Larry Householder had abandoned the plan for safe distancing prior to the session earlier this week.
“We were basically outraged," Galonski says.
And she was also outraged that unlike the Democrats, most majority Republicans were not wearing masks either. Beyond the health department complaint, Galonski says legal action is possible too.
“If I need to take further action, I feel like I need to protect the employees, staff members, etc. but I believe the health department will do what is necessary and right," Galonski says.
.@HouseholderOH: We have done everything possible to make this as safe as an environment as we can while designing a way to get everyone into the chamber, and today “I think it was very safe here”. And masks “aren’t an order for us”, they’re a recommendation. pic.twitter.com/WdK9P40Y5H
— Karen Kasler (@karenkasler) May 13, 2020
Householder told reporters he is doing what is right by allowing all lawmakers into the chamber again. And he said masks were not an order for them – just a recommendation.
