C. Allison Russo News

State Reps. Allison Russo (D- Upper Arlington) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today announced the introduction of The Safe Drinking Water Act to guarantee safe drinking water in Ohio.  The bill provides for state-level standards for drinking water to limit known toxics and protect residents from harm. 

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) sent a letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran today expressing their concerns with the implementation of Medicaid work requirements. The lawmakers’ letter comes in light of a year-end report sent by Director Corcoran to Gov. Mike DeWine detailing a variety of issues the department has dealt with over the past year, including chronic problems with the information technology system “Ohio Benefits,” utilized by both ODM and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to determine benefit eligibility.

State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today announced the introduction of The Caregiver Expenses Tax Credit, a bill that would provide a tax credit for certain expenses incurred by a family caregiver for the care and support of a qualifying family member. To qualify, the family member must be age 18 or over and require assistance with at least one activity of daily living. 

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced the introduction of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, bipartisan legislation with Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) that would align Ohio’s mental health parity laws with current federal law; raise awareness amongst individuals, families, and employers about their rights and responsibilities under the law; and facilitate greater implementation and enforcement. 

State Reps. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today introduced a bill to protect health providers and patients across Ohio. 

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 287, her bipartisan bill alongside Rep. Rick Perales (R-Beavercreek) that would allow reciprocity for Medicaid home and community-based service (HCBS) waivers for the family members of active-duty military when families move to Ohio for military assignment. These Medicaid waivers are often necessary to provide custodial and nursing care for individuals with significant developmental disabilities. 

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today issued a statement announcing approximately $7.63 million in funding for The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Franklin County, which was passed with Democratic backing in the state’s transportation budget earlier this year.

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) called on Governor DeWine and fellow Representatives today to address the rapidly rising number of uninsured children in Ohio. This renewed call to action from Rep. Russo follows new research released today that says Ohio has the sixth highest number of uninsured children. 

State Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced the installation of cameras in five additional House hearing rooms, signaling the completion of a major project to offer live coverage of all House committee meetings for the first time, fulfilling a long-time Democratic priority for a more open and transparent committee process.

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) today held a press conference with state Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), OPERS Corporate Governance Officer Patti Brammer and Coming Together Stark County President Connie Rubin to discuss a House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) encouraging Ohio companies to include more women in leadership roles and on public boards in an effort to establish equitable gender representation in the workplace. The resolution, introduced by Reps. West and Carruthers this week, is modeled after HCR 23 of the 132^nd General Assembly.

“We’ve already seen that a gender diverse workforce brings significant business benefits, including greater innovation, higher employee retention and satisfaction, more business opportunities, and improved team decision-making,” said Rep. Russo. “It is important that we see those same benefits of diversity reflected in board rooms and executive management.  Besides the tremendous economic benefit, the role-model effect of female leadership is critical for Ohio’s young girls and women and for closing pervasive gender gaps in pay, executive leadership, and elected office.”