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State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) released the below statement in response to last night’s federal district court order rejecting Secretary of State Husted’s limited remedy for purged voters and implementing a solution that will allow more people to cast ballots in the November election:

"After a federal court of appeals found Secretary Husted had illegally purged voters, the secretary still tried to get the very stingiest remedy to his wrongdoing approved by the lower court. The court soundly rejected Husted's inadequate proposal," said Rep. Clyde. "Illegally purged voters will get to vote and have their votes counted in this historic election and that is a huge victory for the people of Ohio."

 
 
Bill would incentivize conservation of environmentally sensitive agricultural lands
October 19, 2016

State Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) today announced a legislative proposal aimed at protecting and improving Ohio’s water quality through the establishment of the Ohio Water Quality Improvement Program. Under the program, farmers would be incentivized to conserve environmentally sensitive agricultural land rather than use the property for farming or ranching. 

“Ensuring safe and clean drinking water for the citizens of Ohio is of the utmost importance,” said Patterson. “While we have made great strides in working with the farming community to fight agricultural runoff, as a state we can and should do more. The Ohio Water Quality Improvement Program gives us the opportunity to partner with Ohio’s farmers to strategically conserve farmland in order to promote healthier streams, rivers and estuaries.” 

 
 
Rep. Sykes: State, local partnership helps connect Akron residents with economic opportunities

State Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) recently recognized the 10 graduates of the first ever Drive for Success program in Akron. Established jointly by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Akron Summit County Action Agency (ASCA), Drive for Success helps provide individuals with the opportunity to attain career readiness skills in the construction industry.

“The Drive for Success program is a marvelous example of how effective partnerships between the state and local communities can help expand access to economic opportunities for our residents,” said Sykes. “By providing these graduates with the training they need to enter and find success in the workforce, we are investing in their future as well as the future growth of our regional economy.” 

 
 
Says state should follow county's lead in supporting Ohio families
October 17, 2016

State Rep. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) today applauded Summit County Council’s vote in support of legislation giving county employees six weeks paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Currently, county employees must exhaust all their sick and vacation benefits before tapping into the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows for up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave. The city of Dayton became the first Ohio city to pass a paid parental leave measure roughly one year ago, but with today’s vote Summit County becomes the first county in the state to offer paid parental leave to its employees.

“I am incredibly proud to serve in Summit County – the first county in Ohio to vote to implement paid parental leave,” said Johnson. “Allowing mothers and fathers to spend more time with their newborn children without worrying about falling behind financially will positively impact our families and communities. Providing paid parental leave is the responsible thing to do in a modern, industrialized nation, and it is also the right choice to remain competitive in attracting new workers. Seeing local communities step up to address this issue is incredibly encouraging and I look forward to continuing the push for paid family leave at the state level.

 
 
Lawmaker denounces Husted's latest moves in court
October 14, 2016

State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) today called on Secretary of State Jon Husted to restore illegally purged Ohio voters to the rolls and count the vote of any voter who should never have been purged in the first place. Yesterday, Husted ended negotiations with voting rights advocates and filed a motion in federal district court seeking to keep purged voters off the rolls and to continue to throw out the ballots of the wrongly purged.

“Over the past five years, under Husted, Ohio has led the nation in purging voters from the rolls. That's not on accident. That's on purpose. And the court caught him. And like so many other GOP officials across the country who want to tip elections in their favor, Husted is still refusing to make things right even after he was caught red-handed,” said Rep. Clyde.

 
 
Overwhelmingly poor sponsor ratings show need to close underperforming schools
October 14, 2016

State Rep. John Boccieri (D-Poland) today decried the lack of results from Ohio charter schools in light of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE)’s release of unflattering school sponsor evaluations. The Mahoning County ESC was one of many sponsors that received an overall rating of “poor,” the lowest on the scale, while also earning a “D” for academic performance, an “ineffective” for compliance, and a “significantly below standards” rating for quality practices.

“These ratings show just how ineffective charter schools have been under the current law and what a financial bust they are for taxpayers and students,” Rep. Boccieri said. “Ohio spent $1 billion in the recent state budget— the most ever documented— on for-profit charter schools that cannot make the grade above the worst performing public schools. We have been far too flexible in allowing our sponsors to duck quality measures, conflicts of interest and performance standards.”

 
 
Congressional committee calls Ohio "the face of the nation's opioid epidemic
October 12, 2016

State Rep. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) today responded to the release of the Congressional report “Dying waiting for treatment” calling Ohio “the face of the nation’s opioid epidemic.” Issued Monday by Senate Committee on Finance staff, the report released highlighted the need for additional federal funding to support policies recently passed in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) for the treatment of opioid addiction.

“Sadly, this report highlights what our courts, treatment providers, law enforcement agencies, public health officials and some elected officials in our state already know: Ohio is the poster-child for the lack of mental healthcare and treatment for those struggling with opioid and heroin addiction,” said Johnson. “But we don’t need another report or more startling statistics to validate what first responders and family members are dealing with on the front lines every day. We need action from state leaders, and that includes treating opioid and heroin addiction like the statewide emergency that it is and releasing emergency funding until we can get back to work at the Statehouse in a unified and strategic way.”

 
 

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) today raised concerns over new allegations that Ohio charter schools possibly linked to an international Islamic religious movement have misused millions in taxpayer dollars through what’s being called a “closed-loop” leaseback scheme.

“Reports that Ohio charter schools are using millions in taxpayer funds for anything other than educating our children are deeply troubling and unfortunately speak to the continuing lack of adequate oversight in our state,” said Lepore-Hagan.

 
 

With Ohio's voter registration ending today, and early voting beginning tomorrow, State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) released guides today for early voting by mail and in person.  

Rep. Clyde has been traveling across the state, talking to voters and Ohioans about the ongoing effort to improve early voting opportunities and voter access. 

“Ohio adopted early voting for all in 2005, but it's been a struggle to keep it ever since. Republicans have continuously led efforts to reduce voter turnout, to promote the boogeyman issue of voter fraud and to eliminate opportunities for early voting,” said Rep. Clyde. 

 
 
Ohio exceeds Minority Business Enterprise goal for second consecutive year
October 11, 2016

State Rep. and President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) applauded today’s announcement that Ohio met its Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification goals for the second consecutive year since the program was established over 30 years ago.

“I am proud that we have been able to move a thirty-plus year law championed by the OLBC from goals and aspirations into results and reality for Ohio’s African American and minority businesses,” said Reece. “This record level of investment is historic and demonstrates that OLBC’s advocacy and partnership with the governor and state is leading to a stronger promise of prosperity and economic opportunity for our entrepreneurs and business leaders who create jobs and pay taxes.”

 
 
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