CV NEWS FEED // The Ohio House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted to override Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s controversial veto of HB 68, which protects minors from being subjected to so-called “gender-affirming care.”
In a 65-28 party-line vote, the chamber overrode DeWine’s veto – a tally well above the 60% threshold needed to kill the veto. In a major rebuke to their fellow party member, all voting Republicans were in favor.
The Daily Caller reported that the bill now heads “to the state Senate for a final vote.” If 60% of senators vote to override DeWine’s veto, HB 68 will become law. That outcome is all but certain given that Republicans currently enjoy a 26-7 majority in Ohio’s upper chamber – amounting to just under 80% of its seats.
“CatholicVote is overjoyed to see the Ohio House of Representatives override Governor Dewine’s veto of HB 68,” said CatholicVote Political Director Logan Church, an Ohio resident. “DeWine has turned his back on the values of Ohio families, but we are grateful to have safeguards such as this to protect the future of Ohio’s children.”
In addition to prohibiting the administration of all types of so-called “gender-affirming” procedures, drugs, and hormones to minors, HB 68 also prevents men from competing in women’s sports leagues or competitions.
Shortly after his December 29 veto of HB 68, DeWine attempted to defend the move by claiming it was “about protecting human life.”
“Many parents have told me that their child would be dead today if they had not received the treatment they received from an Ohio children’s hospital,” he said, repeating a common talking point used by LGBTQ activists.
“I have also been told, by those that are now grown adults, that but for this care, they would have taken their lives when they were teenagers,” the Republican and self-professed Catholic said.
Over a week later, DeWine signed an executive order that only banned “gender-affirming” surgeries on minors and did not address puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or protecting women’s sports.
The governor’s critics dismissed the order as a weak attempt on DeWine’s part to save face after scuttling the more robust bill.
At the time, DeWine indicated that he stood by his original decision: “A week has gone by, and I still feel just as firmly as I did that day.”
“I do believe the parents, not the government, should be making these crucial decisions,” he added.