Democratic News

State Reps. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) today filed legislation for introduction to fund public transit in Ohio at $150 million annually, using a mix of State and Federal revenues.  The legislation seeks $100 million from Ohio’s General Revenue Fund and $50 million in revenue from Federal Highway dollars, known as Federal Flex dollars, annually over the two-year budget to go to transit.

House Democratic lawmakers Reps. Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Michael O’Brien (D-Warren) testified before the House Public Utilities Committee today on House Bill (HB) 57, their legislation to repeal HB 6. The Democrats urged lawmakers on the panel to act swiftly to repeal the controversial corporate bailout legislation at the center of an FBI investigation into an alleged $60 million public corruption scheme led by then-Republican Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), the largest corruption and money-laundering scheme ever in Ohio.

COLUMBUS — State Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 79, or the Caregiver Expenses Tax Credit.  Previously introduced as HB 454 in the 133rd General Assembly, this legislation would provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 for certain expenses incurred by a family caregiver for the care and support of a qualifying family member.  To qualify, the family member must be age 18 or over and require assistance with at least one activity of daily living. 

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati) testified today on House Bill (HB) 58, previously introduced as HB 740 in the 133rd General Assembly, which would repeal a provision in state law allowing First Energy to keep excessive profits rather than returning the money to electric customers through a rate adjustment. The pricing provision was added to the state two-year budget, HB 166, which was signed into law in July 2019. 

COLUMBUS— State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) today re-filed the Pre-Existing Condition Protection Act, which seeks to enshrine popular patient protections found in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, into Ohio law.  This effort became necessary due to persistent efforts by Republicans to repeal the ACA through federal legislation and ongoing litigation. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as two bills that would allow for more House business to be conducted virtually and to require face masks during House committee meetings and floor sessions received their first hearings in the House Thursday.

COLUMBUS – House Democrats today held a news conference to introduce the Learning & Education Advancement Package (LEAP) Initiative, legislation to reaffirm K-12 education as a Democratic priority, setting goals and standards for our education system prior to the next school year for for-profit charter school oversight, private school vouchers accountability, investing in early childhood education, and supporting public schools, educators, and students. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement following reports that the Census Bureau will not be able to deliver census data by the usual April 1 deadline, concluding that the first data states will receive will not be until September. 

COLUMBUS – House Democrats today announce the swearing-in of Rep. Jodi Whitted (D -Madeira) to represent Ohio’s 28th House District, after the resignation of former State Rep. Jessica E. Miranda last month.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) issued the following joint statement on the current state of the vaccine rollout in Ohio schools.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today responded to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s plans for another statewide voter purge clouded in darkness that will happen two weeks before voting in the upcoming presidential election. 

Rep. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) testified before the House Government Oversight Committee Thursday on two bills that would allow for more House business to be conducted virtually and to require face masks during House committee meetings and floor sessions. 

COLUMBUS - Leaders of the Ohio Democratic Caucus, the Franklin County House and Senate delegation and the Jewish Caucus released the following statement concerning the overnight protests and arrests on the campus of the Ohio State University. 

State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Jamie Callender (R-Concord) testified before the House Finance Committee Thursday on House Bill (HB) 1, their bipartisan legislation to modernize Ohio’s primary and secondary school funding formula. HB 1 is identical to HB 305, the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan, which overwhelmingly passed the House in December, 87-9 with 72 co-sponsors. 

Ohio and Mississippi lawmakers are partnering to fight voter purging in Mississippi. The Mississippi legislature is advancing a copycat of an Ohio “use it or lose it” purge process and Ohioans are offering a strong cautionary tale and shining a light on key details that Mississippi must consider.

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) today was elected by the Ohio House of Representatives as minority whip of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus for the remainder of the 135th General Assembly, replacing former State Rep. and current Hamilton County Auditor Jessica E. Miranda.