Democratic News

COLUMBUS—Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) members today held a press conference to provide updates on their Build Up Black Families legislative package in honor of Black History Month. This initiative was first introduced in June 2019. 

House Democratic lawmakers today reacted to the House passage of Senate Bill 120, which moves the beginning of the EdChoice Voucher program application period from Feb. 1, 2020 to April 1, 2020 after GOP lawmakers could not come to an agreement on a deal to fix the state’s controversial voucher system.

Rep. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today urged Ohio’s top higher education official for ways to improve college access for students from working-class families following a new study that singles out seven Ohio colleges for alarmingly low rates of Pell grant recipients.

State Reps. Thomas E. West (D-Canton) and Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) today unveiled House Bill 469, which will cut out-of-pocket prescription costs for patients.

COLUMBUS—House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D- Akron) and Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon), who serves as the Ranking Member on the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee, issued statements today concerning the need for immediate action as a first step to fixing the state’s broken EdChoice voucher program in advance of the February 1 application period and the requested improvements House Democrats would like to see made to safeguard fair access and fair funding for our schools.

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) sent a letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran today expressing their concerns with the implementation of Medicaid work requirements. The lawmakers’ letter comes in light of a year-end report sent by Director Corcoran to Gov. Mike DeWine detailing a variety of issues the department has dealt with over the past year, including chronic problems with the information technology system “Ohio Benefits,” utilized by both ODM and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to determine benefit eligibility.

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today introduced legislation to increase safety on Ohio roadways by making it a primary offense to use handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.

COLUMBUS— State Rep. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) announced today that the City of Sheffield Lake, Ohio has been awarded a $225,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Clean Ohio Trails Fund to construct Lincoln Trail.

COLUMBUS—State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) today announced Gov. Mike DeWine’s signing of House Bill (HB) 4, his bipartisan bill with state Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) to help streamline the process of developing industry-recognized credential and certificate programs. This is both Rep. Robinson’s first bill as a legislator, and his first to become law.

State Representative Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) today announced Gov. Mike DeWine’s signing of House Bill (HB) 2, bipartisan legislation that expands job training and workforce development opportunities in Ohio.