Craig Issues Statement on Unsafe Committee Environment

Today, state Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) issued a statement to address the inadequate safety protocol during the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee this week: “I strongly support Senator Thomas’s decision to leave committee during the Government Oversight and Reform Committee hearing yesterday. As Ranking Member of the committee, I felt it was important to stay to address misinformation and personal attacks against other elected officials, our previous health director and other medical professionals. However, I am deeply troubled with the blatant disregard of Covid-19 safety protocol, especially the absence of mask mandates, in the committee hearing rooms. “More than 445,000 Americans, including almost 11,500 Ohioans, have died of Covid-19. Having masks and following the medical guidance should be our top priority, and we should be basing our policy decisions on peer-reviewed policy decisions and medical science. The global pandemic has caused pain, uncertainty and frustration, but we cannot let our guard down now. We must continue to be vigilant and do everything we can to save lives.”