DeWine appeals order to retrieve $900 million in pandemic aid

The latest: Attorneys from DannLaw and Zimmerman Law have filed a motion asking the court to require DeWine and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) to retrieve the federal funds.

• They propose that the Franklin County Common Pleas Court safeguard the funds while the appeal is ongoing.

What they're saying: "There is no legitimate reason at this point for the governor not to seek a cost-free infusion of almost $1 billion into Ohio's economy," attorney Marc Dann tells Axios.

Between the lines: In a statement, the attorneys said time was of the essence, given the risk that the funds could be repurposed for other federal initiatives.

• "Congress is already talking about using unspent COVID relief dollars as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling, and the DOGE crew is turning over rocks to find and repurpose unspent money," Dann said in the statement.

The other side: DeWine cut off the aid in 2021 after the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Restaurant Association and other business groups complained that the aid was making it more difficult to hire workers.

• "That extra $300 a week… is, in some cases, certainly discouraging people from going back" to work, DeWine said at the time.
• DeWine's office confirmed the appeal to Axios but provided no additional comment.

Note: This story has been updated with comment from the governor's office.