Several Republicans are attacking Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) for failing to protect children from the left’s radical agenda.
On Friday, DeWine vetoed the Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which would have banned gender reassignment treatment for minors and barred transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
Following DeWine’s decision, many prominent state Republicans came out against the governor, accusing him of abandoning conservative values.
Ohio State Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) called for overriding DeWine’s veto, saying his rationale was nothing more than a radical left slogan.
This is a slogan, not a justification. There are many things that rightfully prohibit anyone, including parents, from doing to children.
This slogan also ignores the extraordinary pressure from interest groups and substantial pharma for a green airy, poorly understood, irreversible… https://t.co/p9leBQ2MH7
— JD Vance (@JDVance1) December 29, 2023
“It is very easy. We have an obligation to protect the safety and fair competition of female athletes and to protect children from undergoing permanent, life-changing medical procedures before the age of 18,” said Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose of Ohio. “The state legislature should do the right thing and override this veto!”
Republican Party presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also criticized the governor for stalling work on a bill that would protect children from leftist indoctrination efforts.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine just vetoed a simple law that would have prevented boys from competing in girls’ sports and subjected children to genital mutilation and chemical castration. Even Lieutenant Ohio @JonHusted voted in favor of adopting the act. Too bad for DeWine. https://t.co/5yHSSg7n3t
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRAmaswamy) December 29, 2023
Additionally, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he supports the bill because men should not compete in women’s sports and indefinite medical decisions about gender should not be made when you are a child.
Former Republican Jim Renacci (R-OH) accused DeWine of caving to the left’s agenda because he needs Democrats to vote for him in the next election cycle.
I hate to say it, but I told you all about DeWine… HB68 is the easiest bill for a Republican governor to sign.
DeWine is not a Republican.
But Ohio allows Democrats to vote in the Republican primary. This is how DeWine was nominated. Husted can’t hide from that either.
— Jim Renacci (@JimRenacci) December 29, 2023
Republicans hold a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly, giving them the advantage to override DeWine’s veto if all GOP lawmakers support the bill without any waivers. However, only 62 House Republicans voted for the bill. The votes of five Republicans were not recorded, making it unclear whether DeWine’s veto could be supported.
