In State of the State response, Democrats outline plan to build a better, stronger Ohio

COLUMBUS – Today, House and Senate Democrats issued a joint response to Gov. DeWine’s State of the State speech. During the press conference, Democrats highlighted their plan to expand opportunity, invest in working people and families, and build an economy that works for everyone. 

House and Senate Democratic leaders highlighted several ways Democrats have already delivered results for Ohioans the past three years, including the American Rescue Plan to spur Ohio’s economic recovery and support working families, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to rebuild Ohio’s infrastructure, including to repair the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati. Democrats also helped pass the Fair School Funding Plan, a longtime priority to invest in our students, and secured $210.98 million for public transit and $250 million for broadband development in underserved areas in the state’s last budgets.

Southwest Ohio Democrats are especially proud of the successes they have delivered for constituents thus far in the 134th General Assembly. Members of the delegation have sponsored several pieces of legislation that have passed in the Ohio House, including HB 105, to require all public schools to implement age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention curriculum, and HB 371, to improve breast cancer screenings. 

Democrats outlined their priorities for the remainder on the 134th General Assembly, including: 

Strengthening our democracy by enacting fair maps that best represent Ohioans and protecting the freedom to vote;
Continuing to stand with working people, to invest in our communities and grow good paying jobs that cut workers in on the deal and build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top
Making healthcare affordable and accessible;
Investing in working families by enacting paid family leave and expanding access to childcare;
Implementing commonsense gun safety reforms;
Implementing criminal justice reform;
Fixing the state’s broken unemployment system;
Tackling corruption and restoring integrity to state government;
Ending the coal plant bailouts within the corrupt HB 6 legislation and prepare Ohio for a clean energy future;
Reforming our state’s tax system so working people can get ahead.
 

Here’s what Southwest Ohio Democrats had to say: 

“Democrats are prioritizing an agenda to expand opportunity, invest in working families, increase access to affordable health care, root out corruption and keep our communities safe through comprehensive policy reform for all Ohioans,” said Rep. Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati).

“Ohioans deserve equal access to opportunity, and it is our job as representatives to deliver on that promise. We must focus on strengthening our democracy and listening to all Ohioans to ensure everyone has the ability to thrive,” said Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park). 

“There is still much work to be done, such as the state maps, which have been stuck down three times, and holding our government and agencies accountable for the things that should be guaranteed to all Ohioans - opportunity and prosperity,” said Rep. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati). 

Watch the full Democratic response HERE