Democratic News

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) participated in a virtual press conference with other House Democratic lawmakers to discuss legislative solutions that are needed as the state faces multiple unprecedented crises. The Ohio House was scheduled to meet for an if-needed House session today, but Speaker Robert Cupp canceled this session on Friday, Sept. 11.

COLUMBUS – House Democrats slammed GOP lawmakers on the Controlling Board Monday for refusing to approve funds to cover the cost of absentee ballot postage for Ohio voters ahead of the November election.

COLUMBUS— State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) responded to today’s refusal by the state Controlling Board to grant the Secretary of State’s last minute request for additional authority to pay return postage for absentee ballots. Sec. LaRose recently mailed absentee ballot applications to registered Ohio voters without including return postage. Sweeney has been urging LaRose for months to use the existing authority of his office to pay return postage for both ballot applications and absentee ballots.

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement on the 19^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States.

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following reports that Governor Mike DeWine’s new health director Dr. Joan Duwve withdrew her acceptance hours after it was announced because she learned of the “harassment” Dr. Amy Acton had faced while she had the job.

COLUMBUS –Today, during the initial meeting of the newly-created Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight, House Democrats once again attempted to repeal House Bill (HB) 6, the multi-billion corporate bailout bill at the center of an ongoing FBI criminal investigation into an alleged $60 million racketeering and bribery scheme led by former Republican Speaker Larry Householder. During the meeting, Reps. Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Michael O’Brien (D-Warren) offered sponsor testimony on HB 738, their bill to repeal HB 6.

COLUMBUS- Ohio House Democrats today announced the feedback members received from a back-to-school questionnaire created for teachers, administrators, students, parents, grandparents and other caregivers to share their thoughts and concerns with lawmakers as the new school year is underway.

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the passing of longtime Democratic state lawmaker Patrick Sweeney.

COLUMBUS- State Representatives Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) today strongly condemned the comments reportedly made by President Donald Trump that labeled fallen US service members as “losers” and “suckers”. The comments add to previous public statements by the President belittling the service of former President George HW Bush and US Senator John McCain.

COLUMBUS- State Representative Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester) voted “no” on House Bill 606, sponsored by State Representative Dianne Grendell (R-Chesterland), during Tuesday’s House session after the majority caucus blocked provisions that would protect essential workers who contract COVID-19 on the job from being included in the legislation.