COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Eyes from all over the nation have been on Springfield, Ohio these past few weeks, as unfounded claims that Haitian immigrants are eating their neighbors’ pets have been amplified by former President Donald Trump and his vice-presidential running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has also poured millions of dollars and resources into the western Ohio city, but Ohio Statehouse leaders talked about what more can be done in exclusive interviews.
Watch: Ohio Statehouse leaders on unfounded Springfield claims
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens
When Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) was asked whether he thinks any sort of statewide legislation could apply to both Springfield and other Ohio communities that might face the same problem, Stephens first brought up federal policies.
“This is, this is clearly, you know, the influx is clearly a policy from the Biden-Harris administration. It’s frankly, an unfunded mandate from the federal government and it is putting a lot of squeezes on a lot of the different institutions of the local government,” Stephens said.