Democratic News

Ohio House Democratic Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) released the following statement upon House passage of Sub. HB 108, which would create a funding mechanism for Rape Crisis Programs administered by the Attorney General and funded through registration fees of sex offenders, new fines for sexually oriented offenses and donations.

“I applaud the creation of a state funding mechanism for the 27 Rape Crisis Centers in Ohio.  These centers provide critical care and assistance to rape survivors.  Rape is a heinous crime that happens all too often, and can have life altering effects on the victims and their families.  This fund is a step in the right direction but we must do more to prevent rape – not just deal with the aftermath.”

State Rep. Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery) today urged lawmakers to approve her legislation, House Bill 166, which would connect Ohio veterans to the Department of Veterans Services through income tax returns.

“This bill will provide a much needed linkage of services to the men and women who have served our state and nation so dutifully,” said Rep. Pillich.  “Too often a gap exists between our veterans and our Department of Veterans Services. By promoting the identification of veterans through income tax returns, the Department of Taxation and the Department of Veterans Services can work together to ensure our service members are connected to resources.”

Representative John Patrick Carney (D-Columbus) sent a letter to State Auditor Dave Yost today calling on him to perform a full public audit of JobsOhio before Senate Bill 67 takes effect in 85 days.  SB 67 was rushed through the legislature and signed by the governor in less than a week, in an effort to prohibit Auditor Yost from fulfilling his constitutional responsibility to Ohio’s taxpayers and ensuring accountability and transparency of their tax dollars.

A copy of the letter can be seen below:

State Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) and State Representative Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) released a report documenting thousands of instances of voter suppression – discouraging people from voting, denying voters their ballots, and throwing out votes – that took place during the 2012 general election.  Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted in January instructed county election officials to investigate voter suppression and voter fraud and report it to him.  The Secretary recently released a report of his findings stating that no voter suppression took place.  

Ohio House Democratic Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) joined with protestors to speak out against House Bill 151 and House Joint Resolution 5, both of which work to remove workers’ rights to collectively bargain.

Ohio House and Senate Democrats held a press conference today to lay out all of the attacks on voting rights by the Ohio GOP so far in this General Assembly and the impact that GOP voter suppression tactics are having on real voters in the House District 98 Election Contest. 

After withdrawing from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission in this year’s transportation budget, the Kasich administration has again underlined their unwavering opposition to non-auto transportation by not settling an account in arrears with the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission.

Tuesday, the Ohio House Democratic Women’s Caucus hosted a Women’s Lobby Day to discuss issues of concern to women and working families across our state. The event featured legislative briefings, an expert “How to Lobby” training from former Rep. Nancy Garland, and keynote speaker, Kathy Groob, a former elected official and author of Pink Politics. This thirdWomen’s Lobby Day brought together over 60 women from all across Ohio to get involved with their state government and to meet their representatives.

State Rep. Matt Lundy (D- Elyria) sent a letter to Gov. Kasich today and President and CEO of JobsOhio John Minor calling on them to voluntarily release the list of the five anonymous donors that provided $6.9 million used to run JobsOhio in its first year. The anonymous donations raise serious concerns about ethics at the organization and the potential for misusing funds. It is also important for Ohioans to know whether those who made the donations received any loan or grant from JobsOhio.