Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has ignited a fierce intra-party dispute following his veto of the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, drawing criticism from conservatives who championed the bill through the GOP-controlled state legislature.
The legislation, designed to bar gender-reassignment treatments for minors and restrict transgender women and girls from engaging in female sports leagues in Ohio, faced strong opposition from Governor DeWine. His decision, as reported by Fox News on December 30, highlighted the paramount importance of parental rights in medical decisions concerning their children.
“Ohio would be saying that the State, that the government, knows what is best medically for a child rather than the two people who love that child the most, the parents,” asserted Governor DeWine, firmly advocating against state interference in parental medical choices.
More Read
Nevertheless, the governor’s reasoning failed to quell the backlash, particularly from conservative circles. Influential figures within the GOP, including Senator JD Vance and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, openly criticized DeWine’s decision.
Senator Vance dismissed the governor’s justification as a mere slogan and accused interest groups and pharmaceutical companies of influencing the controversial veto. Ramaswamy expressed disappointment, characterizing the governor’s move as a rejection of a straightforward law aimed at safeguarding women’s sports and limiting specific medical procedures for minors.
Even Ohio’s Lt. Governor, Jon Husted, voiced his support for the bill, condemning Governor DeWine with a pointed “Shame on DeWine.”
Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines took a more combative stance, denouncing Governor DeWine as a spineless coward who should be removed from office. Gaines asserted that Ohio possesses the votes required to override the veto, expressing optimism that state lawmakers would act to protect women’s sports and prevent what she labeled as child mutilation.
Despite the intense criticism, some Republicans adopted a more measured approach. Ohio state Rep. Gary Click acknowledged the ongoing dialogue, emphasizing that the governor did not conclude discussions with the veto. Click suggested that more could be said and done, hinting that the veto might not be the final word on the matter.
The Ohio state constitution mandates a three-fifths majority vote in both chambers to override the governor’s veto. Presently, Republicans maintain a supermajority in both the state Senate and House, with 26 of 33 seats and 67 of 99 seats, respectively.
The internal divide within the GOP over the SAFE Act and Governor DeWine’s decision underscores the intricate nature of the debate surrounding transgender issues, parental rights, and women’s sports. The upcoming weeks will unveil whether the Ohio legislature can reach a consensus and potentially override the contentious veto.
