Democratic News

Today, Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) voted in favor of Substitute House Bill (HB) 169 to appropriate $4.18 billion to support education, expand access to childcare and improve public health, among other investments in Ohio’s working people, families and communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill is funded through several federal COVID-19 relief packages, the majority of which comes from the American Rescue Plan Act backed by Democrats and signed into law by President Biden earlier this year.

COLUMBUS – Today, State Reps. Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma) and Paula Hicks-Hudson announced at a press conference the introduction of an anti-corruption legislative package including the “Ohio False Claims Act” and a strengthened debarment statute that would require a ban of vendors who are caught committing fraud in their dealings with the State of Ohio.  The Ohio False Claim Act is modeled after a federal statute that has been successful in recovering millions of dollars every year at the federal level. Ohio is one of the few states in the country that does not have a state law modeled after the federal government’s “qui tam” law.  

Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today after Senate Bill (SB) 157, the latest Republican anti-abortion bill, passed the Ohio House on a party-line vote. Opponents say SB 157 would put patients in danger by interfering with the ability for doctors and patients to make appropriate and life-saving medical decisions if faced with a medical crisis during pregnancy.

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced her intention to step down from her caucus leadership position by the end of the year, capping a historic three-year tenure which saw unprecedented bipartisan success for Ohio Democrats and an increase in transparency of the legislative process for Ohio citizens. 

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo), Chair of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus, released a statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on the most important abortion case in decades. The case regards a Mississippi law that would ban abortion procedures 15 weeks after conception, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade. 

State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) today called on the House Criminal Justice Committee to hold legislative hearings on House Bill 367, known as Andre’s Law, which would require the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras by peace officers, among other changes to increase transparency and accountability for police in Ohio. 

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as Gov. DeWine signed into law the Republican-passed partisan, four-year congressional district map that unduly favors GOP candidates 13-2. Leader Sykes and House Democrats sent a letter Thursday to the governor urging his veto of the gerrymandered map. 

Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement as Republicans passed a partisan, four-year congressional district map that unduly favors Republican candidates 13-2. Leader Sykes and House Democrats sent a letter to the governor urging his veto of the gerrymandered map. 

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Beth Liston (D-Dublin) today voted in opposition to House Bill (HB) 218, Republican-backed legislation that contains last-minute changes to prohibit schools, universities and employers from requiring students or employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. It would also bar public and private entities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for any reason. 

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Democrats today condemned the Ohio House passage of House Bill (HB) 227, GOP-backed legislation that would gut public safety laws that currently require permits for people who carry hidden, loaded handguns in public.