Democratic News

State Reps. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) and Phil Robinson (D-Solon) filed a bill today to reinstate the Joint Education Oversight Committee (JEOC), a state legislative committee comprised of members from both parties in the State House and State Senate which provided non-partisan, fact based and in-depth analysis of K-12 education in Ohio at a great value to taxpayers.

Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today responded to the Ohio Department of Education’s release of school report cards.

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) today responded to the Ohio Department of Education announcement that Youngstown City Schools received an F overall grade on their state report card, which, under the provisions of HB 70, the so-called “Youngstown Plan” will trigger the removal of the school board members who were elected by the residents of the city.

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today revealed new errors her office has discovered in the voter purging that’s taken place so far and commented on most Ohio counties missing the Secretary of State’s voter purge deadline.

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) today held a press conference with state Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), OPERS Corporate Governance Officer Patti Brammer and Coming Together Stark County President Connie Rubin to discuss a House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) encouraging Ohio companies to include more women in leadership roles and on public boards in an effort to establish equitable gender representation in the workplace. The resolution, introduced by Reps. West and Carruthers this week, is modeled after HCR 23 of the 132^nd General Assembly.

“We know from research that having more diverse boards makes a business stronger,” said Rep. West. “Passing this resolution shows the state is taking the first step in recognizing that increasing gender diversity and equity in corporate leadership would make Ohio a better place to live, work and retire with security. I am proud to be a joint sponsor of this important resolution.”

State Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) issued the following statement in response to the news that the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute settled its legal challenge against Secretary of State Frank LaRose such that Ohioans’ ballots will be counted even if they are caught up in the voter purge. See the settlement agreement here and her statement below.

State Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus), Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced town hall meetings TOMORROW, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Norwich Township Safety Services Building in Hilliard and Thursday, August 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the Whetstone Library to discuss the state budget, bipartisan priorities and a number of recent Democratic-led wins for working people and families in Central Ohio.

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Democratic lawmakers today announced the launch of DoSomethingOhio.com, a website designed to provide resources for constituents to contact their legislators and call for commonsense gun reform in Ohio.

State Reps. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) and Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today introduced legislation honoring the late author Toni Morrison by designating her birthday, February 18, as “Toni Morrison Day” in Ohio.

Democratic state Reps. Randi Clites (D-Ravenna) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) will host a press conference Wednesday, August 28, at 11:00 a.m. at the Hudson Public Library to highlight the second leg of the freshman district bus tour, which includes Clites and Weinstein’s House Districts 75 and 37, respectively.