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COLUMBUS— State Representatives Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma) announced plans on Tuesday to introduce a bill that would strike the provision in Ohio Revised Code that prohibits collective bargaining for currently exempted state employees, including legislative staff. A co-sponsor request was sent to the entire House of Representatives on Monday. The deadline to sign on as a co-sponsor is Monday, July 20.
State Rep. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) today sent a letter to Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) calling for transparency and clarity on the House’s handling of coronavirus cases. Last week, House HR staff misidentified a Miranda staffer in its attempt to respond to potential coronavirus exposure among Republican staff. Democrats said that had the mistake not occurred, they would have been kept in the dark entirely.
COLUMBUS – House Democrats announced Monday the state Controlling Board approved another round of federal funding to support Ohio’s efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, including $300 million in federal funding to offset Ohio’s K-12 schools and colleges and university’s costs of keeping students and staff safe in the fall.
COLUMBUS— House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement following a memorandum from Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) that the entire House of Representatives would be once again put under Work From Home status beginning tomorrow after a suspected COVID-19 outbreak among Republican staff was brought to light by Democratic representatives and staff and in response to public outrage of the Republicans' handling of this issue.
COLUMBUS – State Representatives Joe Miller (D-Amherst), Thomas West (D-Canton) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) have introduced two related bills that would tackle key issues surrounding police departments in Ohio. The legislation would ultimately allow the chief of police of a municipal corporation to conduct training schools for prospective law enforcement officers. The goal is to create a new unclassified position called “cadets” within the police department, allow for exceptional appointment of candidates with ideal qualifications and resolve any issues regarding lateral transfers within statutory cities.
House Democrats, led by Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), today announced the kickoff to the Ohio Promise Virtual Town Hall Tour, a series of virtual town halls this summer where local lawmakers will discuss statewide issues like COVID-19, jobs and the economy, racial justice and police reforms.
House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement following today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down a Louisiana law that would have restricted abortion rights in the state, a defeat for conservative lawmakers across the country who have spent years attacking women’s reproductive rights.
State Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today filed legislation that will criminalize the harmful use of chokeholds by police officers or peace officers in Ohio.
Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today joined Dem lawmakers to urge House Republican leaders to call the chamber back into session to address several critical issues facing the state, including health and the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, systemic racism and police brutality, questions surrounding the November election, and looming state budget shortfalls.
COLUMBUS—Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today announced that House Bill (HB) 11, her bill to improve prenatal and maternal health outcomes, was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday.
COLUMBUS— House Democratic lawmakers Reps. Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Michael J. O’Brien (D-Warren) today blasted Speaker Robert Cupp (R-Lima) for his refusal to repeal House Bill 6 – the $2 billion corporate bailout bill is at the center of an ongoing FBI criminal investigation into an alleged $60 million racketeering and bribery scheme led by former Republican Speaker Larry Householder. Householder and four associates were arrested and indicted in the alleged scheme.
COLUMBUS—House Democratic lawmakers Reps. Michael J. Skindell (D-Lakewood) and Michael J. O’Brien (D-Warren) today announced they will file a discharge petition to bring bipartisan legislation to repeal House Bill (HB) 6 to the floor for a vote next week. The passage of HB 6 in 2019 has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following the arrest and indictment of former Republican Speaker Larry Householder and several close associates in an alleged $60 million bribery and corruption scheme to pass the bill.
COLUMBUS – Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 752. The legislation would prohibit anyone from interfering with the circulation of election petitions by threatening, intimidating or compensating another person, a practice commonly referred to as petition blocking.
COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued a statement ahead of the 57th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, which was held August 28, 2020, to advocate for the civil and economic rights and freedoms of Black Americans. The anniversary comes amid months of protest and renewed activism to end racial injustice in the United States.
State Reps. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) responded to the state Controlling Board refusing to hear Secretary LaRose’s late request for additional authority to pay return postage for absentee ballots in its meeting yesterday. LaRose said he will come back to the Board in mid-September, but absentee ballot applications are set to be mailed to 7.8 Million Ohio voters before that – around Labor Day – without return postage. The members have been urging LaRose for months to use existing authority of his office to pay return postage for both applications and ballots.
COLUMBUS – House Democrats announced Monday the state Controlling Board approved another round of federal funding to support Ohio’s efforts to control the COVID-19 outbreak as school districts prepare for fall semester.
COLUMBUS — Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today as House Republicans filed articles of impeachment against fellow Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
State Reps. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) responded to Secretary LaRose’s announcement that he is requesting additional permission from the state Controlling Board to pay return postage for voting materials. The deadline for submitting such requests was Monday, Aug. 17 for the Board’s Aug. 24 meeting. No request from LaRose’s office appears yet on the Controlling Board’s website. It is unclear whether the late request will be added to the meeting agenda or what specifically is being requested.
COLUMBUS — Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), State Representative Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and State Representative Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) today released a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s calling for a boycott of an American company, based in Akron, Ohio, that employs approximately 62,000 people.
The House Democratic Caucus today sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose addressing recent major developments in Ohio’s elections. Last week, the country watched in horror as Post Office mailboxes and processing machinery were dismantled and removed across the country and in Ohio.