Democratic News

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today received a coronavirus vaccine while touring a vaccination site in Akron. During her visit alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, Leader Sykes thanked medical staff and personnel for their work throughout the pandemic and urged every Ohioan to sign up for a vaccination appointment. The state opens vaccination to anyone 16 years old and over beginning Monday, March 29.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Finance Committee Ranking Member Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) issued statements following the final passage of House Bill (HB) 74, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Democrats fought against the governor’s proposed cuts to public transit funding in the bill, securing more than $221 million over the next two years, more than doubling the governor’s proposed investment. 

House Democrats today voted in opposition to a motion to override the governor’s veto of Senate Bill (SB) 22, controversial Republican legislation that would threaten the health and safety of Ohioans by curbing authority from the governor and health director during public health crises.

Today, on this year’s Equal Pay Day, State Reps. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) reintroduced legislation to fight pay discrimination in Ohio by establishing a toll-free equal pay hotline, an easily accessible, anonymous resource for workers to report wage discrimination and gather more information to find out if they could be victims of pay discrimination.

Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) and Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) today introduced the Ohio Equal Pay Act, legislation to recognize the full value and potential of Ohio’s working women. The announcement comes as advocates commemorate Equal Pay Day, the date to which the average working woman in America must work into the next calendar year to make what their male counterparts did the previous year. For women in Ohio, that annual pay gap is nearly $10,000. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on Gov. DeWine’s veto of Senate Bill (SB) 22, controversial legislation that would threaten the health and safety of Ohioans by curbing authority from the governor and health director during public health crises. Democrats voted against the bill and sent the governor a letter urging his veto.

Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) issued a statement Tuesday welcoming President Joe Biden to her district in Columbus. President Biden will visit The Ohio State University’s James Cancer Center to mark the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and to tout the recently-passed American Rescue Plan, which will benefit working people, small businesses and Ohio communities amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today issued statements on President Joe Biden’s visit to Ohio, where the president will speak on the anniversary and importance of the Affordable Care Act at The Ohio State University’s James Cancer Center.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as the state reported Monday that it had surpassed one million total cases of coronavirus. The one-millionth case comes just days after the anniversary of the state’s first coronavirus death.

State Representative Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick) has introduced legislation that updates Ohio’s Homestead Tax Exemption program. According to the legislator, the changes to the tax exemption law are long overdue. The changes will provide much needed tax relief to senior citizens 65 years of age or older, as well as qualifying Ohioans who are disabled.