Democratic News

State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) today commented on the nineteenth anniversary of the landmark school funding Supreme Court decision, contending that Ohio has failed children and families and challenging her colleagues in the legislature to put children first.

“Almost two decades after the DeRolph decision, Ohio still does not have a coherent education plan. Instead, the legislature has relied on a drawn-out, piecemeal approach that has failed to deliver the ‘thorough and efficient’ funding necessary to provide our children with the education required to succeed in the 21^st century. Though the DeRolph ruling pushed the state closer to funding the construction of new school buildings, it is what takes place inside of our schools that matters most.

“How many children has Ohio failed? How many potential doctors, teachers, and scientists have we held back by not investing properly in our public education system?

House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) today announced State Rep. Greta Johnson (D-Akron) as the lead Democratic member of the Ohio House Judiciary Committee. The first-term lawmaker was elevated to the committee leadership position this week, after serving on the panel since the beginning of her term in 2015. 

State Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) today announced the introduction of House Bill 489, legislation to support abandoned mine reclamation, promote mine safety, and encourage the employment of laid-off mine workers.  

State Reps. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) and Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) today introduced their “Restore Ohio” initiative, legislation to invest in Ohio’s communities and build reliable, efficient, and modern infrastructure systems that will fuel a strong and thriving economy.

State Reps. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Janine R. Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today introduced legislation aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence from gun violence by requiring individuals convicted of a domestic violence crime or served with a civil protection order to turn over their firearms to law enforcement. 

Rep. Ramos (D-Lorain) today introduced legislation to increase the number of early voting facilities in qualifying counties across the state to better promote public participation in statewide elections.

State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) released the following statement regarding today’s court ruling that overturned a statewide directive from Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted barring eligible 17-year-olds from voting in Tuesday’s presidential primary: 

Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) issued the following statement in response to reports that the CEO of Ohio’s privatized economic development entity received a $122,634 pay increase this year for a total salary just shy of a half million dollars: 

State Reps. Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) and Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) this week introduced a resolution calling for the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act, the core provisions of the federal Banking Act of 1933, to improve transparency and stability in the financial sector. 

“At a time when our state and nation are amidst a fragile recovery from the Great Recession, as far too many communities simply have not recovered yet, it is incumbent upon us to action to ensure this never happens again,” said Ramos. “We owe it to our constituents, the American taxpayers, to ensure that their tax dollars are being utilized to create opportunities for the public, not just a handful of wealthy Wall Street opportunists.” 

State Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) issued the following statement in response to a lawsuit brought by a number of eligible 17-year-old voters challenging Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s directive to exclude them from presidential primary voting:

“Ohio law is clear and has permitted those who will be 18 years old before the November election to vote in the presidential primary since 1981. Disenfranchising eligible voters is wrong, creates confusion, and drives people away from the voting process. I applaud these extraordinary young Ohioans in their fight to be able to vote in our state’s presidential primary.”

A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.