Leader Sykes: "Statehouse GOP held this funding back until now and it is disgraceful."

COLUMBUS— Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following a press conference with Governor Mike DeWine and Statehouse Republicans discussing Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding.

“I find the timing of this announcement incredibly convenient for Statehouse Republicans and long overdue for everyday Ohioans who have been needing these CARES Act funds to be released months ago. For some, it comes too late entirely as so many have already lost homes, vehicles and hope.

House Democrats have been calling since the beginning of this pandemic for the legislature to return to session and provide relief and assistance to small businesses, front-line workers, unemployed Ohioans, caregivers, schools and so many others who have been struggling during this pandemic. House Republicans ignored us and the pleas of our constituents and instead held onto this money until the opportunity when they could use it to their own political advantage by manufacturing their own ‘October surprise.’

This was a blatant and disgraceful political stunt done on state time with state resources and they should be ashamed.”

Ohio broke another single-day record today with 2,518 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours. Hospitalizations also broke a new record with 1,347, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Nationally, the U.S. set a single-day record of 77,640 COVID-19 cases on Thursday. The previous record of 75,723 was set July 29.