Democratic News

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following a call with Governor Mike DeWine and the entire House Democratic Caucus. During that call, Democratic members of the House expressed their thoughts on legislative remedies to the current public health and economic crises as well as shared concerns they are hearing from local leaders and constituents in their districts.

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced that House Bill (HB) 12, his bipartisan legislation with state Rep. Don Manning (R-New Middletown) to create the Children’s Behavioral Health Prevention Network Stakeholder Group, officially takes effect after being signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine 90 days ago.

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today criticizing the state’s chief election officer, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, for sharing inaccurate information during a time of chaos when Ohioans are turning to him for truth and guidance.   

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today about the confusion and spread of misinformation related to the State Health Director ordering the polls to be closed and in-person voting to not take place today:

COLUMBUS—House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement tonight about the confusion caused by the governor’s Monday afternoon recommendation that Election Day be moved to June 2 which was then denied in court and caused chaos and confusion in the late evening hours. Ohio’s Health Director has since ordered polling locations to be closed over coronavirus concerns.

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) released a statement today aboutthe decision made by Gov. Mike DeWine to postpone the primary election originally scheduled for tomorrow, March 17 to June 2:

 COLUMBUS—The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) released a statement today concerning the letter they sent Saturday to Governor Mike DeWine, Speaker of the House Larry Householder and Senate President Larry Obhof:

State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today filed House Bill (HB) 557 to allow public bodies to meet and conduct business remotely during a state of emergency. 

House Democratic leadership today sent Gov. Mike DeWine a letter urging him to create a temporary, emergency paid sick leave program to benefit Ohio’s working people and families affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, following the lead of Illinois, which announced a similar program Wednesday. 

COLUMBUS- State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) today asked Gov. Mike DeWine and leaders of the General Assembly to utilize Ohio’s $2.7 billion “Rainy Day” fund to support small business that will be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. Lepore-Hagan is proposing that the rainy day fund be used to issue short-term, no-interest loans to business owners unable to pay rent, utility bills, taxes, health insurance and workers’ compensation premiums, employee wages and other expenses as a result of the emergency. She issued the following statement: