Ohio Governor Mike DeWine along with Attorney General Dave Yost have appealed a Franklin County judge's order stating that DeWine's administration is required to pursue the remaining federal funds from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

That order came after several lawsuits were filed by people who were denied benefits when DeWine had ended Ohio's participation in the program prematurely in June of 2021.

The program, which was funded by the CARES Act was scheduled to last until September of 2021 and provide additional unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to a press release, these payments averaged about $300 per week over a 10-day period.

Ohio Democratic Party Spokeswoman Katie Seewer released a statement Friday afternoon slamming the governor for appealing the ruling accusing him and his administration of avoiding an opportunity to put money back in Ohioans' pockets.

"For DeWine and Yost, an extra couple hundred dollars a week might not mean a lot, but that money could help families in Ohio put food on the table and keep the lights on. It's clear that Republicans are deeply out of touch with what Ohioans need," Seewer said.

21 News has reached out to Governor DeWine's office for a response to this statement and we're waiting to hear back.

DeWine had previously defended ending the program prematurely arguing that by 2021, there was a surplus of open jobs in Ohio and that there had been enough time for Ohioans to find work.

You can read much more about the judge's initial ruling and reactions from local and state officials in our related coverage below.

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