House Democrats Urge Governor, Attorney General to Accept, Release $900M in Unused Federal Unemployment Funds

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House Democratic Caucus today sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost urging them to not appeal Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Holbrook’s ruling that the governor violated a statue in 2021 when he refused to accept $900M in federal unemployment during the pandemic. The ruling, if not appealed by the attorney general and if the funds are distributed by the governor, means 300K Ohio families will be eligible for meaningful financial support.

“Though the emergency of the pandemic has ended and funds should have been received back in 2021, these funds can still provide meaningful support for Ohio families. Distribution today means extra money available to Ohioans to weather the high cost of living, rising inflation, and the slowing job market.1 Such additional household spending will also aid local communities and Ohio’s economy,” wrote House Democrats.

Roughly 320K people filed a class action lawsuit for the original payments denied by the governor in 2021. In the height of the pandemic, $3K could have helped many struggling Ohioans, and still can now