Rep. McNally Announces New House Committee Assignments
COLUMBUS — State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced her assignments to the following House Committees for the 136th General Assembly:
- House Commerce and Labor Committee (Ranking Member)
- House Natural Resources Committee
- House Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee
- House Veterans and Military Development Committee
“My guiding focus in negotiating for committee assignments was to represent the interests of the Mahoning Valley in powerful ways and I’m thankful for the chance to do that. At the same time, our voice in Youngstown is diluted when Statehouse Republicans change the rules to limit our representation on these committees, a unique choice given that Democrats picked up seats in the Ohio House after November’s election,” said Rep. McNally. “These laws we are hearing, that have very real impacts on the lives of Ohioans, are deserving of proper oversight and not some sham process that favors special interests who have the resources to hover the statehouse like hawks.”
In the 135th General Assembly, when Democrats held fewer seats in the Ohio House, Rep. McNally served on five committees and Democrats were given five seats for each committee, enabling more robust dialogue on important issues. In the 136th General Assembly, several Democratic House Members will be restricted to serving on three committees, silencing millions of Ohioans. Ohio House Republicans also changed rules requiring more advance notice to the public for amendments and session agendas, keeping Ohioans in the dark and off guard as ideas are proposed and voted on.
“We know a lot about that in Youngstown. In 2015, a 67-page amendment was drafted in secret to House Bill 70 and passed in less than 24 hours to remove local control of the Youngstown City School District and force a state takeover of the school. Because of them, an already troubling school system was run further into the ground,” said Rep. McNally. “No one takes away sunlight and time because they’re doing something popular. This rule change takes away transparency and advocacy abilities for the public.”
Rep. McNally will continue her commitment to using her committee assignments as an opportunity to work for all Ohioans—no matter your race, gender or economic status— ensuring all Ohioans have the freedom to be who they are, have the dignity of a safe community and secure job, and the opportunity to thrive.
Committees are open to the public. The public can watch committees live by going to www.Ohiohouse.gov or www.Ohiochannel.org. The schedule for committee meetings can be found at www.Ohiohouse.gov.