Businesses Must Keep the Right to Decide | News, Sports, Jobs

Ohio House Republicans bound and determined to ensure the state government controls private business decision-making took a dirty turn last week with a fast-track bill that would limit employers’ ability to demand the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.

These so-called conservatives worked so hard to get their way before anyone realized what they were doing that the bill was approved by the Republican-controlled House Health Committee the same day it was present. Meanwhile, major Ohio business groups, universities, professional physician and nurse organizations, healthcare associations and hospitals have ALL said they are opposed to the bill. It’s bad for Ohio employers and workers.

By the middle of last week, members of the state Senate were worried enough to announce that if the bill got through to them, they would brake.

“I think the Senate will give him a little more due process than he has received in the House,” said Senate Health Chairman Steve Huffman of R-Tripp City. “When he does arrive, we’ll take our time in whatever committee he goes to and take a deep look at it.”

His cousin, State Senate Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, agrees, but also understands the dangers the state seeks to have more power to tell private companies what to do.

“I don’t think our caucus wants to mandate somewhere in the private sector, or get involved to prevent them from mandating,” he said, earlier in September.

It is absurd to have to remind those who call themselves Republicans the importance of letting employers decide what is best for their workers and their businesses.

“The protection of an employer’s rights to make decisions in the best interests of its employees and those we serve cannot be overstated” read a letter from the business, healthcare and hospital coalition.

Indeed. It’s good to know that at least those in the Ohio State Senate understand this.