Ohio lawmaker who questions black hygiene is selected to lead health panel

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State Senator Stephen Huffman was named this month by Senate Speaker Matt Huffman, his cousin, as a member of the committee examining health care and social services legislation despite a racist exchange with a black health expert in June.

“I understand that African Americans have a higher incidence of chronic disease and this makes them more vulnerable to death from Covid. But why don’t they make them more likely to simply contract Covid? Huffman had asked during the testimony.

“Could it just be that African Americans or people of color don’t wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or don’t distance themselves socially? Could that explain why the impact higher?”

Witness at the hearing where Huffman asked the question, Angela Dawson, who serves as the executive director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, quickly dismissed his claim, stating categorically, “This is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country. “

After a firestorm around his comments, Huffman apologized.

News of Huffman’s appointment to the Ohio Senate health panel drew swift scolding from state lawmakers.

State Representative Catherine Ingram, a Democrat, said Huffman’s “racist and problematic remarks” show he is unfit to chair a committee that affects black residents and called for his appointment to be immediately quashed.

“Senator Huffman has shown that he is unable to view the health problems of black people in Ohio in an unbiased and factual manner, thus leaving him incompetent to sit as chairman of the committee,” Ingram wrote in a statement. last week. “Serving as chairman would give the senator the ability to decide which bills will be introduced and potentially codify racial bias into law.”

Tony Bishop, executive director of the Ohio Black Legislative Caucus, said Thursday the group is demanding a committee leader who “understands and can help adopt a health policy that addresses inequalities in our state without political influence.” And if the Senate leadership will not replace Huffman as president, they expect him to “use his position to improve the health of the African American population in Ohio” by working with the caucus to adopt legislation that addresses health disparities in the state.

“While the senator’s comments were deeply offensive, we hope he has learned from his mistake and will remedy the systemic wrongs being perpetrated in the state of Ohio,” Bishop told the Columbus Dispatch .

“As one of the few doctors in the legislature, I am proud to be named chairman of the Ohio Senate Health Committee,” Huffman said in a statement to CNN, when asked about the calls for the rescission of his nomination and his message to black voters who are concerned about his nomination in light of his past remarks.

“I’m also proud of my decades of working to treat people in communities of color. In our state’s efforts to help understand why Covid-19 disproportionately affects African Americans, over seven months ago, I asked a poorly worded question that sadly hurt many people, ”said Huffman. “I immediately apologized and worked to heal any harm caused. Over the past few months, I have attended courses on diversity and inclusion and discussed this issue with my African colleagues. Americans to the Legislature as well as with African American Health Care leaders in my district to identify ways in which the medical community can best help underserved populations.

“Covid-19 is killing people in Ohio and I will focus the efforts of the Senate Health Committee on how to protect everyone, of all races, from the deadly effects of this pandemic.”

John Fortney, press secretary and senior communications adviser for the Ohio Senate Majority Caucus, told CNN in a statement Monday that Huffman is “a physician and highly qualified” to chair the committee.

“He has a long history of providing health care to minority neighborhoods and has participated in several mission trips at his own expense to care for those in underprivileged countries,” said Fortney. “He apologized months ago for asking a clumsy and awkwardly worded question. A sincere apology deserves sincere forgiveness, not the politically armed perpetual judgment of the cancellation culture.”

TeamHealth, a hospital management company that employed Huffman as a part-time doctor, confirmed in June that Huffman had been fired from that position.

“Dr. Huffman’s comments are completely at odds with our values ​​and our commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace,” a spokesperson for TeamHealth said in a statement.

This story has been updated to include a statement from Huffman.

CNN’s Devan Cole contributed to this report.

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