Buckeye Reporter

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci recently called the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for big companies a win for the state's workers and for freedom.

"I applaud today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down Joe Biden’s authoritarian federal government vaccine mandate as a victory for Ohio workers and for liberty,” Renacci said in a statement. “It's unfortunate that Ohioans had to wait for the Supreme Court to do what Mike DeWine was unwilling to do - protect our medical freedoms. This is a big victory, but more must be done to keep fighting vaccine mandates in Ohio, including passing HB 248 into law to ensure no business can discriminate against any Ohio worker or customer based on their personal health decisions.”

The U.S. Supreme Court stopped the Biden Administration’s mandate that employees of businesses with a minimum of 100 people would have to be vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19.

Renacci said that DeWine's statement advocating for further vaccine mandates was evidence he was out of step with citizens.

“Ohio will not be truly free until we retire Mike DeWine, who opposes our efforts and won't lift a finger to actually fight these mandates as long as he is governor,” Renacci said.

DeWine also released a statement in response to the ruling, stating that the government should not dictate to employers how to protect their workers,

“I am pleased by today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision," the statement read. "Government should neither prevent employers from enacting safety protocols, nor should it require employers to mandate vaccine decisions. Today’s decision is consistent with these principles.”

Renacci, 63, a former U.S. representative for the 16th congressional district will take on DeWine in the 2022 Republican May 3 gubernatorial primary.

The North Columbus News reported that DeWine, 74, had former Gov. John Kasich's backing to take over as governor in 2019 and his 41 years in public service is one of the longest tenures in Ohio’s history with turns in the Ohio State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate and as Ohio attorney general and Ohio lieutenant governor.