Democratic News
Featured Stories
News Feed
State Rep. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) today expressed concern and disdain for the recent appointment of state Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) to serve as committee chair for the Senate Health committee.
State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) issued a statement on Wednesday’s inauguration of Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, cementing Democratic control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.
State Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus) and Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) last week introduced legislation to keep Ohio’s drinking water clean and safe by preventing the destruction of natural buffer zones around drinking-water reservoirs, like the Hoover Reservoir in Franklin County.
“The Hoover Reservoir is a vital source of public water for Columbus, and the strip of land encircling Hoover and other reservoirs acts as a natural filter that removes contaminants that would threaten our water supply,” said Leland. “This provision, which was inserted into the previous state budget at the last minute without public input or participation, is a potential threat to the health and safety of all Franklin County residents.”
Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) will sponsor legislation to allow for committees to meet and witnesses to testify virtually amid worsening conditions of the coronavirus pandemic across Ohio. Rep. Kelly introduced similar resolutions in the 133rd General Assembly to allow House committees and Sessions to be conducted virtually.
State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 1, bipartisan legislation to modernize Ohio’s dating violence laws. The bill is modeled after HB 392 of the 131st General Assembly, legislation that passed the House unanimously last spring and as an amendment during the lame duck session. House Bill (HB) 1, co-sponsored by Rep. Nathan Manning (R-N. Ridgeville), would allow victims of dating violence to obtain civil protective orders against their attacker, a protection not allowed under current Ohio law.
“It is past time we pull Ohio out of the dark ages by modernizing our laws to protect all victims who are impacted by dating violence,” said Sykes. “By allowing this measure to become House Bill 1, we are sending a clear message that now is the time to close the loophole in Ohio’s dating violence laws. With every day we wait, more women and men in Ohio are placed in serious danger.”
State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) hosted the Eighth Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day today at the Ohio Statehouse, as lawmakers, law enforcement officials, advocates and survivors from across the state and nation gathered for a day of discussion on ways to raise awareness and fight back against human trafficking in Ohio.
“While we have made great strides at the state level to halt the spread of human trafficking, we cannot let up now. Law enforcement, advocates, families and survivors must continue to work together to raise awareness and protect vulnerable men and women from being ensnared by modern day slavery,” said Fedor. “I am confident that by bringing diverse voices from all across the state to the same table, we can make positive progress toward finally ending human trafficking in our state.”
State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) will host the eighth annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day on Thursday, February 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.at the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. The annual event will bring together law enforcement officials, advocates, experts and survivors for interactive educational workshops and informational and inspirational presentations regarding ways to raise awareness and fight back against human trafficking in Ohio. This year’s special guest is Dr. Elaine Richardson, an author, artist and inspirational professor.
“I believe that by bringing diverse voices from all across the state to the same table, we can help raise awareness and collaborate on strategies to combat modern day slavery,” said Fedor. “While we have made great strides at the state level against the spread of human trafficking, the real work is done out in the community by law enforcement, advocates, families and survivors.”
This year’s event will also include the first ever Ohio Youth Trafficking Prevention Summit focused on prevention and protection strategies for young people on Friday, February 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
“Unfortunately, human traffickers often target young and vulnerable children,” said Fedor. “By educating our youth on prevention and protection strategies, I believe we can help keep our children safe from predatory criminals.”
The youth summit is free to attend but tickets are required. Those interested can register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/8th-annual-ohio-human-trafficking-awareness-day-youth-summit-tickets-28770533440
For the past ten years, Rep.
COLUMBUS – The Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus yesterday during their first meeting of the 134th General Assembly elected their leadership team for this session:
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today applauded the House passage of Aisha’s Law, Democratic priority legislation sponsored by Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) that would better protect the safety and security for those in high-risk situations for domestic violence. Aisha’s Law would improve how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence cases and provide added protections for those in high-risk situations.
State Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton) provided sponsor testimony today before the Ohio House State and Local Government Committee on House Bill (HB) 340, which seeks to designate September as the "International Underground Railroad Month." Rep. Blackshear is a joint sponsor of HB 340 with Rep. Adam Bird (R- New Richmond). HB 340 seeks to recognize Ohio’s involvement in the abolitionist movement by honoring the abolitionists and freedom seekers who risked their lives fighting for equality. Following sponsor testimony, the House State and Local Government Committee unanimously passed HB 340.
The lead Democratic legislator on the state’s budget and finance panel, state Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire), released the following statement in response to today’s state budget unveiling:
“Trickle-down tax promises of the last six years haven’t come true, and it’s dangerous to expect they will by shifting even more taxes onto working people. As our nation grows and realizes new opportunities since the recession, Ohioans have been running in place instead of getting ahead. We don’t just need to bring Ohio back from the recession - we need to make Ohio first in growth and opportunity. The economic underpinnings of this budget represent the governor’s plans from the past, not a plan for our future.
Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump.
State Reps. David Leland (D-Columbus) and Jeffrey Crossman (D-Parma) introduced a bill Monday to postpone evictions and foreclosures in Ohio amid the ongoing pandemic. The bill adds additional protections and plugs many of the well-documented gaps in the existing Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) moratorium, which expires on January 31, 2021. The bill also extends the moratorium for the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency at the state level since the extension of the CDC's moratorium beyond January is dependent on additional federal action.
State Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) today announced the Ohio House passage of House Bill (HB) 254, which would create a pathway for counties and regions to establish domestic violence fatality review boards that are tailored to meet each county and region’s needs in order to prevent further domestic violence fatalities.
Ohio House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) released the following statement in response to today’s state budget unveiling:
“Though Governor Kasich has said Ohio is on the verge of a statewide recession, his budget proposal is largely built on the same failed economic ideology that has been holding Ohio back from sharing in the economic growth and stability our nation has experienced since the recession. Tax shifting from the wealthy few to the working and middle class has sidelined Ohio, and predictably failed to bring back middle-class jobs.
<p>Democratic state lawmakers today unveiled an ambitious economic agenda focused on laying a foundation for economic stability and paving a path to the middle class for the next generation of working people in the state</p>
Ohio House Democratic Whip Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement today in response to a ruling by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Michael Merz that declared Ohio’s new three-drug lethal injection process unconstitutional. Merz also indefinitely suspended three planned executions of Ohio inmates, including one scheduled in February.
“When the proposed drugs for lethal injection are found to be unconstitutional because they may cause ‘substantial risk of serious harm’, it is immoral for the state to continue to fight to use them,” said Antonio. “I believe it is long past time we abolish the death penalty in Ohio and replace it with a sentence of life without parole.”
State Reps. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain) and David Leland (D-Columbus) earlier this week announced the reintroduction of legislation that proposes Ohio join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a group of states that pledge their entire Electoral College delegation to the winner of the national popular vote during the general election.
“This is a change that is long overdue. Two-thirds of the presidents elected in my adult life will have been chosen by the Electoral College in their first term without receiving the majority vote,” said Ramos. “Our current framework does not respect the direct will of the people. This is patently undemocratic and undermines confidence in the people that we are truly a democracy.”
State Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) today announced that House Bill (HB) 308, legislation to allow first responders diagnosed with work-related PTSD in the absence of any physical injury to qualify for BWC compensation and benefits, was signed into law Jan. 9 by the governor. This is something Democrats have prioritized in recent General Assemblies.
State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine encouraging Ohio to use Federal funding received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand supportive and affordable housing for Ohioans in need.
Democratic state lawmakers today unveiled an ambitious economic agenda focused on laying a foundation for economic stability and paving a path to the middle class for the next generation of working people in the state
State Reps. John Boccieri (D-Poland), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Glenn Holmes (D-McDonald) last week wrote a letter to Gov. John Kasich urging him to preserve the revenue local governments and public transit systems receive from the Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have given Ohio a deadline of June 30, 2017 to remedy its MCO tax structure so that it complies with CMS policy, but any changes may threaten the millions of dollars local communities currently receive from the tax.
“Our concerns need to be heard on this issue and I want to work with the governor to include a fix to the MCO tax revenue in the upcoming state budget,” said Boccieri. “If local revenue sharing isn’t preserved, the legislature will cripple our communities with another unbearable budget hit.”
Reps. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) and Juanita O. Brent (D-Cleveland) testified before the House Insurance Committee Wednesday on House Bill (HB) 416, their legislation that would promote financial security and stability for Ohioans after they retire. The bill would create The Ohio Retirement Savings Program (ORSP), a supplemental pension plan in addition to Social Security benefits.
Ohio Redistricting Commission member and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) Monday sent a letter to House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) and Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) requesting the General Assembly take the necessary steps to be able to consider congressional district maps should the Ohio Redistricting Commission fail to approve maps by their Oct. 31 deadline.
Today, Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) was named the Ranking Member of the House Finance Committee. She fills the role formerly held by Erica C. Crawley, now a Franklin County Commissioner. Rep. Sweeney becomes likely the youngest-ever Ranking Member on the powerful Finance Committee.
Today, State Representatives Jeffrey Crossman (D-Parma) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) filed legislation to strengthen the accountability over charter school operators. This is a re-filed version of the legislation first filed during the 133rd General Assembly as House Bill 549.
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today outlining the caucus’s next steps to expand on the Opportunity Agenda for Ohio, their legislative framework to restore Ohio’s promise of better lives, brighter futures and economy that works for everyone. They released a short list of key legislative priorities in the coming months, including delivering fair maps, combatting the coronavirus pandemic and reforming the state’s broken unemployment insurance system.
House Democratic lawmakers from around the state, including Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus), Minority Whip Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton), and Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park), today called on Republican members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission to release draft congressional districts so the Commission can begin working to reach an agreement on a bipartisan 10-year map.
Reps. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus), Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today called for immediate action on legislation that would reform Ohio’s criminal justice system and expand opportunities for survivors of sexual violence and abuse to seek the justice they deserve.
Follow us :
