Democratic News

Democratic state Reps. Jeff Crossman (D-Parma) and Randi Clites (D-Ravenna) will hold a press conference Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. in the Harding Senate Press Briefing Room to introduce legislation that will incorporate protections for patients with pre-existing conditions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into Ohio law. While Representatives Crossman and Clites have been working on this legislation for several months, they are choosing to introduce this legislation during Breast Cancer Awareness month and ahead of this year’s ACA open enrollment date of November 1. This legislation is also offered amid an expected ruling any day in Texas v. U.S. which is pending in the Federal 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals and threatens healthcare coverage for persons across the country, including many Ohioans.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as a number of Democratic-backed policy provisions contained within the state’s two-year state budget went into effect Oct. 17.

State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today joined lawmakers and UAW workers at a Statehouse press conference to announce legislation to extend unemployment benefits and food assistance to union workers fighting for fair wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The call comes amid a nationwide strike by UAW employees, who reached a tentative labor agreement Wed. on the 31st day of their strike with General Motors.

Democratic state Reps. Jeff Crossman (D-Parma), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) will hold a press conference TOMORROW, Thursday, Oct. 17, at 9:30 a.m. in the Harding Senate Press Briefing Room to introduce legislation to extend unemployment benefits and food assistance to union workers fighting for fair wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The call comes amid a nationwide strike by UAW employees as they reach a tentative agreement today on the 31^st day of the strike with General Motors.

State Reps. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) today introduced the Ohio Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation to modernize state law to bar discrimination against LGBTQ Ohioans in employment, housing and public accommodations. 

State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) today applauded the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 26, which includes a provision she sponsored to eliminate Ohio sales taxes on feminine hygiene products, commonly known as the Pink Tax, which would save Ohio women millions of dollars each year. She released the following statement: 

State Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today introduced a bill to designate October 11 as “Coming Out Day” in Ohio.

“By recognizing this day, the Ohio General Assembly can acknowledge that coming out is one of the most courageous steps any LGBTQ+ person can take,” said Rep. Boyd. “Our recognition of that courage helps counter bigotry, ignorance and fear, and is an integral part of our collective, continued progress towards full equality.”

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement following the governor’s press conference Monday afternoon outlining his gun safety plan:

Ohio House Democrats today sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose calling on him to reverse most of the voter purge that has occurred over the last past several weeks. Errors in the process have been continually revealed and the status of each person on the “last chance” list is still unknown. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7. 

State Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 351, legislation allowing tenants to terminate their rental agreement if they are a victim of domestic violence or rape.