Democratic News

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) today announced the introduction of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 18, which urges Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the president to uphold existing net neutrality rules. Net Neutrality is the principle that internet service providers (ISPs) must treat all data equally. Under net neutrality, no user, platform or website can be accessed faster or slower than another.

House Democrats today voted in opposition to House Bill (HB) 380, a Republican-sponsored bill to deny workers’ compensation benefits to undocumented workers who get injured or killed on the job. The House passed the bill on a largely party-line vote.

House Democrats today voted in opposition to House Bill (HB) 380, a Republican-sponsored bill to deny workers’ compensation benefits to undocumented workers who get injured or killed on the job. The House passed the bill on a largely party-line vote.

State Rep. Michael Sheehy (D-Toledo) and Toledo Department of Public Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski will join public health officials Saturday, December 9 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Maumee Branch Library to discuss healthcare issues, open enrollment and the Affordable Care Act. Public Health staff will be ready to help people navigate the healthcare exchange and sign up for coverage before the Dec. 15 deadline.

This event is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in signing up for healthcare should bring income information documenting their annual earnings, their social security number and personal information of any dependents, including social security numbers. All information will remain private and confidential.

WHO:               State Rep. Michael Sheehy

                          Toledo-Lucas County Health Commissioner Eric Zgodzinski

WHAT:           Healthcare Town Hall, Healthcare Exchange Sign Up Drive

WHERE:        Toledo Lucas County Public Library

                         Maumee Branch

                         501 River Rd

Maumee, Ohio 43537

WHEN:            Saturday, Dec. 9

3:00-5:00 p.m.

Freedom is never a given. Its pursuit is not always easy. It often demands the sacrifice of those willing to give of themselves for a greater cause. It’s these values that most exemplify our nation’s veterans, many of whom sacrificed so much to secure the freedoms we too often take for granted. 

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, a holiday marking the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I. It quickly became a celebration of all our veterans who gave of themselves to defend our freedom and way of life. Because of their selflessness and determination, we are able to enjoy many of the freedoms we cherish today.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) held a community town hall Tuesday as part of the Ohio Promise Town Hall Tour, a statewide legislative town hall series hosted by House Democratic members. The purpose of the tour is to hear from constituents in their districts about their most pressing concerns, answer questions, and discuss the state budget, bipartisan priorities and a number of recent Democratic-led, legislative wins for working people and families.

As Republicans in Washington try to dismantle healthcare and slash enrollment periods and public notice, state Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) is encouraging Ohio taxpayers without health insurance to sign up and get covered during the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period, which ends on Dec. 15, 2017.

“This about more than just finding healthcare insurance you can afford at a reasonable price,” said Sykes. “This is about you and your family’s economic security and stability. Though many of us don’t think we need healthcare, we are all just one accident or diagnosis away from a life-changing hospital stay or operation.”

Sykes notes that last year, eight out of ten taxpayers who signed up for healthcare during open enrollment took advantage of a significant financial discount. Sykes warns that if you miss this open enrollment period in 2017, you likely miss out on healthcare for all of 2018.

You can sign up through healthcare.gov or find more information at getamericacovered.org

State Rep. Thomas E. West (D-Canton) today responded to Attorney General Mike DeWine’s lawsuit against Rover Pipeline LLC, months after the Ohio EPA referred some $2.3 million in fines to the attorney general for illegal dumping of toxic chemicals in the Canton area during the construction of the Rover Pipeline.

“It seems that with the outside threat of an Ohio Elections Commission investigation looming, Attorney General DeWine finally decided to take action to protect taxpayers from an out-of-state corporation’s reckless disregard for our safety,” said West. “This is welcomed news, but the timing of the lawsuit makes people wonder if the state could have done more, sooner. This was referred to Attorney General DeWine at the beginning of July. Meanwhile, local taxpayers have been forced to bear the brunt of toxic spills in our community and close to our drinking water supply.”

DeWine’s action comes one day after complaints were filed with the Ohio Ethics Commission, asking them to investigate DeWine for his potential conflict of interest in owning stock in Rover’s parent company, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners.

State Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) today sent a letter to Board Members at the Lucas County Board of Elections to urge training of election officials and poll workers on new procedures for early voting that began earlier this year. Early voters now have the option to present Election Day-style voter identification or provide the last four digits of their Social Security Number.

State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) testified this week in the House Federalism and Interstate Commerce Committee in support of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 15, which would call President Trump to immediately restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Rep. Ramos introduced HCR 15 in response to the Trump administration’s September decision to end the program.

State Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent (D-Columbus) today released a statement after her bill, House Bill (HB) 137, passed the Ohio House. HB 137 would join Ohio with every other state to mandate law enforcement officials to report child abuse and neglect.

“As lawmakers, our duty is to pass laws that put the health, safety and well-being of Ohioans first—and that begins with our children. I was shocked and saddened to learn that Ohio was the only remaining state not to have law enforcement listed as mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. Now, thanks to the tremendous support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we are one step closer to adding another critical layer of protection for the most vulnerable in our society. I urge the Senate to move quickly and pass this common-sense legislation.”

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

House Democratic lawmakers today sent a letter* to Secretary of State Frank LaRose alerting him to new problems with the purge list and urging him to cancel the upcoming voter purge. Thousands of Ohio registered voters are being targeted for removal from the rolls at the beginning of September, many of whom are still eligible to vote. Last Thursday, community groups working to help find people on the purge list also raised problems with the process and the tools provided by the Secretary and asked for more time to help people stay registered.

State Reps. Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati), Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) and Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) held a community town hall last Thursday as part of the Ohio Promise Town Hall Tour, a statewide legislative town hall series hosted by House Democratic members. The purpose of the tour is to hear from constituents in their districts about their most pressing concerns, answer questions, and discuss the state budget, bipartisan priorities and a number of recent Democratic-led, legislative wins for working people and families.

“I really appreciate People Working Cooperatively allowing us to use their beautiful space,” said Rep. Denson. “I enjoyed hearing the thoughts and concerns of those in attendance, and can’t wait to incorporate that into what I’m doing in Columbus at the Statehouse.”

State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) last week introduced new legislation, House Bill (HB) 316, that would allow family members, household members, or law enforcement officers to file for a court order temporarily preventing individuals considered to be an imminent danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.

“In many instances of gun violence, there were clear warning signs the shooter posed a serious risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm,” said Rep. Russo. “Extreme risk protection orders save lives by giving families and law enforcement time to quickly intervene before those warning signs escalate into tragedies, while also respecting Second amendment and due process rights.”

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and Dayton, Ohio Mayor Nan Whaley will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, August 15 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Dayton Metro Library, located at 215 E. Third Street in Dayton. 

State Reps. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) and Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) and Sen. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) today announced a town hall meeting TOMORROW, August 14at 4:45 p.m. at Fairhill Partners in Cleveland to discuss the state budget, bipartisan priorities and a number of recent Democratic-led wins for working people and families in Cleveland.

State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) this week introduced new legislation, House Bill (HB) 315, to require federally licensed firearms dealers to provide information about suicide prevention in hopes of decreasing the alarming statistics associated with gun-related fatalities.

“Over 50 percent of gun deaths in Ohio are the result of firearm assisted suicide,” said Rep. Liston. “I want to ensure that all gun owners are aware of the risks associated with firearms and are able to make informed decisions that are best suited for themselves and their families.”

State Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon), with joint sponsor Rep. Adam Miller (D-Columbus), yesterday introduced House Bill (HB) 317, titled the “Protect Law Enforcement Act,” or PLEA—legislation that would require all firearms transactions to be processed by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), closing the current loopholes in law that allow many guns sales to occur without a background check.

Just days after the tragic shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, members of American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention (ASLGVP) — a non-partisan coalition of legislators from across the country — joined legislative leaders from Ohio to call for enactment of common sense state laws to stop gun violence. Altogether, nearly 70 legislators from 23 states and the District of Columbia were present.