Chairman’s Update 11/15/20

Chairman’s Update

Good Evening,

The fight for ballot integrity is not yet over as Republicans across the country pursue legal challenges to ensure November’s election was free and fair. As Americans, we are entitled to safe and secure election processes. For four years, President Trump has put Americans, and America, first. He has continually fought to keep the American Dream alive and to implement policies that made a real difference in the lives of many people living in this nation. With slim margins and many voting irregularities, we owe it to the president and voters to see this through to the end.

We are prepared to accept the outcome, whatever it may be, while knowing we have done our best to fight for election integrity. If you would like to contribute to the fight for fair elections, you can visit gop.com to donate. If you have witnessed any voting irregularities, click here to report fraud.

On Friday, I directed some of my staff to go down to Georgia to help hold the U.S. Senate. It is imperative that Republicans keep a hold on those seats, or we risk letting the liberal elites run our country.

We need people to volunteer their time to ensure that we win these run-offs. If you are interested in helping us win two of the most important Senate races in our nation’s history, click below and fill out the form.

Volunteer Here! 

Sincerely,
Jane M. Timken
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party

 

On Senate Floor, Portman Stresses Dire Need for Bipartisan Action to Address Surging COVID-19 Pandemic 

Last week, on the Senate floor, for the 18th time since March, U.S. Senator Rob Portman spoke on the urgency for Congress to act to pass bipartisan legislation to respond to the health care and economic crises caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Portman called on Congress to provide the relief Americans need and deserve. In particular, he believes funding for testing and contact tracing, funding for vaccine and therapy developments, and his Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit, which helps businesses reopen and stay open, are all common-sense proposals with bipartisan support upon which a new COVID-19 response package should be built. He urged his colleagues to put aside the partisanship that has stymied previous efforts to pass COVID-19 relief legislation and focus on solutions that help the American people.

The video of the floor speech can be found here.

 

DeWine Asks Ohioans to Mask Up to Keep Businesses Open

On Wednesday, Governor DeWine called on citizens to recommit to their individual efforts to prevent coronavirus spread as Ohio moves through its most intense, widespread, and dangerous surge of cases to date.

Ohio is currently facing a record number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and intensive care admissions, with nearly 3,000 people in the hospital, including more than 700 people in the ICU as of Wednesday. During the first week of November alone, 104 Ohioans infected with the coronavirus died.

“With this new wave of COVID-19, the onset of flu season, and an already-exhausted group of healthcare workers, there are serious concerns that there won’t be enough people to fully staff our healthcare facilities in the next few weeks,” said Governor DeWine. “If we don’t change this, Ohio won’t be able to provide appropriate care for COVID patients or for Ohioans who require other emergency care for things like accidents, strokes, and heart attacks. Hospitals will again be forced to postpone important, but less urgent, care.”

Although testing capacity in Ohio has nearly doubled, the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus has increased almost four times. At the end of September, Ohio averaged under 1,000 new cases per day; on Tuesday, Ohio hit a record high of more than 6,500 new cases reported in a single 24-hour period.

“As we wait for the vaccine, which could come as soon as December, we have so much to protect,” said Governor DeWine. “What each Ohioan does in his or her own life impacts every citizen and every place we desperately want and need to keep open– our schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and businesses.”

To reinforce the necessity of wearing masks and slowing virus spread, Governor DeWine announced two forthcoming orders:

REVISED MASK ORDER

Although most people and businesses have properly followed COVID-19 safety guidelines issued in Ohio’s July 23, 2020, mask order, others are not following the order.

To protect frontline workers and customers, the Ohio Department of Health will reissue Ohio’s mask order and add the following provisions:

  • Each store will be required to post a sign outlining face-covering requirements at all public entrances to the store;
  • Each store will be responsible for ensuring that customers and employees are wearing masks; and
  • A new Retail Compliance Unit, comprised of agents led by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, will inspect to ensure compliance. A first violation will result in a written warning and a second violation will result in closure of the store for up to 24 hours.

NEW SOCIAL GATHERING ORDER

Ohio’s April order that limits public events and private gatherings of more than 10 people is still in effect, however, there has been rampant spread of the virus as a result of banquets, wedding receptions, and social gatherings following funerals.

To address the tragedies that have resulted from such events, the Ohio Department of Health will issue an order that will place significant new restrictions on these social activities. Specifically, open congregate areas will no longer be permitted to open, and everyone will be required to be seated and masked unless they are actively consuming food or drinks.

Bars, restaurants, and fitness centers may remain open, but this will be reassessed one week from tomorrow for potential closure.

“If the current trend continues and cases keep increasing, we will be forced to make these closures,” said Governor DeWine. “I am very well aware of the burden this will place on employees and owners, but these are places where it is difficult or impossible to maintain mask-wearing, which we know now is the chief way of slowing this virus.”

For Governor DeWine’s entire address, visit ohiochannel.org or read his prepared remarks at coronavirus.ohio.gov.

 

Husted Reminds Businesses About Grant Opportunities

Lt. Governor Jon Husted this week reminded Ohio businesses that the application period for the Small Business Relief Grant and the Bar & Restaurant Assistance Fund remains open. Both opportunities are aimed at helping Ohio’s vital small business sector combat the impacts of COVID-19. 
 
The Small Business Relief Grant provides a $10,000 grant to small businesses with at least one but no more than 25 employees. This funding can help businesses pay for a variety of expenses, including mortgage or rent payments; utility payments; salaries, wages, or compensation for employees and contractors; business supplies or equipment; and other costs.

The Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund provides $2,500 for those permit holders who haven’t been able to fully use their liquor permit. Businesses with an on-premise consumption permit through the Ohio Department of Commerce will be eligible to receive $2,500 per unique business location. Businesses need to have an active on-premise permit as of close of business on October 23, 2020.

More information can be found at BusinessHelp.Ohio.gov.

 

Yost Files Amicus Brief in Pennsylvania GOP Lawsuit

Attorney General Dave Yost filed a brief last week asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that defied state law by extending the deadline for accepting absentee ballots in Pennsylvania. Yost argued the United State Constitution clearly says that each state legislature is responsible for setting election law, and not the courts. Under Pennsylvania law, absentee ballots must be received by Election Day to count. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, however, overstepped and extended the deadline by three days.

“This constitutional question will come up again in future elections,” Yost said. “It is in the best interest of all Ohioans – all of America – to gain a definitive answer, regardless of politics.”

You can read Yost’s full briefing here.

 

Ohio is a Model for How to Run an Election, Says LaRose

Ohio is receiving praise from around the nation for how smoothly the election was run. Secretary LaRose wrote a column for the Cincinnati Enquirer about how he, in partnership with bipartisan election officials from across the state, made it happen.

“In the days following Nov. 3, the eyes of the world focused on several states around this great nation as they worked to count every legally cast ballot…” said LaRose. “Not in Ohio.”

Click here to read Secretary LaRose’s recent column in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

 

Faber Honors Veterans in Delaware

This week, Auditor of State Keith Faber attended a Veterans Day Ceremony in Delaware, paying tribute to all the brave men and women that have fought to defend America.

Sprague Joins Local Officials and Business Leaders in Brown County

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague spent Tuesday traveling southwest Ohio. His day included a stop in Brown County to discuss current events and issues with local officials and business leaders. As part of the conversation, Sprague offered an update about his office and highlighted various Treasurer’s office programs that are currently helping communities and business owners across our state.