Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Renacci Calls DeWine ‘Democrat-Like,’ Questions Governor’s Connection to Bribery Scandal

Mike DeWine and Jim Renacci

Former U.S. Representative and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci claimed that Ohio’s current governor, Mike DeWine, leads similar to Democratic officials and urged DeWine to explain his connections to the recent bribery scandal that has embroiled numerous leaders in the state.

During the announcement that FirstEnergy, the energy company at the center of a public corruption investigation, was charged federally and agreed to pay a $230 million monetary penalty, DOJ officials explained bribes that were paid to former Speaker Larry Householder and the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — a DeWine appointee.

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Study: Ohio COVID-19 Vaccine Lottery Failed to Increase Rates

Giving away millions of federal tax dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships did nothing to improve Ohio’s COVID-19 vaccination rate, a recent study concluded.

Those results have Democratic leaders saying the state needs to do more to address vaccine hesitancy and deal with what they call root causes of Ohio’s stagnant vaccination rate.

The study, conducted by the Boston University School of Medicine using information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concluded reports that the state’s Vax-a-Million lottery program increased rates failed to factor in vaccinations expanded to ages 12-15.

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Ohio to Draw Vaccine Lottery Winner as Legislature Fights Program

Jena Powell

As Ohio readies itself to choose the first winners in its “Vax-a-Million” lottery Monday, one Republican state lawmaker is drafting a bill in opposition to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan. 

State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) is writing legislation that would ban the vaccination lottery, according to multiple reports. She does not think Ohioans should be bribed with taxpayer money. 

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Gov DeWine COVID Vaccination Enticements on Ohio Attorney General’s Radar

Governor Mike DeWine unveiled a program to entice Ohio adults and children alike to get the COVID vaccine on Wednesday – the State of Ohio will give away $5MM and five college scholarships.  Winners will be drawn weekly over five weeks from a pool of vaccinated Ohioans.

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