House Democrats Urge Governor, Attorney General to Accept, Release $900M in Unused Federal Unemployment Funds

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Erika White (D-Springfield Township) last week joined the Ohio House Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to Governor Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost urging them to not appeal Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Holbrook’s  ruling that the governor violated a statue in 2021 when he refused to accept $900M in federal unemployment during the pandemic. The ruling, if not appealed by the attorney general and if the funds are distributed by the governor, means 300K Ohio families will be eligible for meaningful financial support.

“I am urging the governor and attorney general to do the right thing and reinstate the funds that so many Ohioans have been depending on since 2021 and may still need today. In today’s economic climate, it is as important as ever that people receive the assistance they need,” said Rep. White.

Roughly 320K people filed a class action lawsuit for the original payments denied by the governor in 2021. In the height of the pandemic, $3K could have helped many struggling Ohioans, and still can now.