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State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) today joined Ohio Board of Education member A.J. Wagner to call for a pause on faulty state school report cards that the duo says hurts kids, communities and school districts. The lawmakers contend that the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) tests used to develop the Ohio School Report Card – at an estimated cost of $200 million – were not properly vetted, but in fact were hastily designed and put into use without sufficient validation.
“Every grade on these report cards is tainted by unverified, arbitrary, poorly designed and implemented tests that have been thrown out by the Ohio legislature,” said Fedor, who serves as ranking minority member on the House Education Committee. “The flaws are so pervasive that the grades on the Ohio School Report Cards should not be counted for anything. The state calls it a safe harbor, which should lead one to question: why there are there report cards at all?”
Rep. Heather Bishoff (D-Blacklick) today heralded the House passage of House Bill (HB) 215, legislation to increase penalties for those who knowingly engage in activities associated with cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another. Joint sponsored by Rep. Bishoff and Rep. Barbara Sears (R-Monclova Township), HB 215 will require anyone found guilty of pitting an animal against another to be charged with a felony offense.
“States with weak cockfighting laws become a hub for a variety of illegal activity, such as gambling, narcotics trafficking and homicide,” said Bishoff. “By elevating the offense from a minor misdemeanor to a felony charge, we send a clear message to Ohioans and the nation that Ohio cares about animal welfare.”
State Rep. and Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Alicia Reece today joined OLBC lawmakers, community leaders and hundreds of citizens from around Ohio at the Statehouse for the OLBC’s Fourth Annual Day of Action. The two-hour event began with the State of Black Ohioans address from Reece, followed by a presentation of the OLBC’s 2016 “Justice for All” policy agenda.
“Black Ohio taxpayers deserve an up-or-down vote from the legislature on bills that create economic stability for their families, address health disparities, allow our children to learn the skills they need to succeed, and restore faith in a criminal justice system that has failed a generation of black Ohioans,” said Reece. “We cannot wait any longer to confront the challenges facing our community. We had the taskforces and we have the facts – now the public wants immediate action from the Statehouse.”
House Democratic Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Kasich signing House Bill 294, legislation defunding Planned Parenthood and groups that contract with the organization:
“The vast majority of Ohioans support Planned Parenthood because they know it opens the doors to healthcare for underserved populations that have trouble accessing comprehensive healthcare services like cancer screenings and domestic violence prevention initiatives. From low-income urban centers to remote rural communities, Ohioans from all walks of life turn to Planned Parenthood in times of medical need.”
State Rep. and Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) will join OLBC members, community leaders and citizens from around the state for the OLBC’s fourth Annual Day of Action next Wednesday, February 24, at the Riffe Center Capitol Theatre Lobby from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
This year’s event will highlight the OLBC’s 2016 agenda on issues that are important to Ohio’s African American community – including voting rights, jobs and economic opportunities, criminal justice reform, infant mortality, and more.
“As we celebrate black history month, citizens from all over the state will gather at their capitol to make their voices heard. Our constituents, the people of Ohio, are tired of sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the legislature to act on issues like justice reform, voting rights, economic opportunity and infant mortality,” said Reece. “That is why we will be calling for action to effect positive change on a statewide level to make sure the future looks brighter for African Americans in Ohio. As we enter the new year, African-American unemployment remains double the state average and black babies are dying at twice the rate of white babies. We must move beyond just words by taking action to help address the challenges faced by the African American community in Ohio.”
WHAT: The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Annual Day of Action
WHO: Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, advocates, activists, faith community
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 24
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
State Reps. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) and John M. Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today announced House Bill (HB) 58, legislation to encourage drivers to yield to sanitation and recycling vehicles, passed favorably out of the Ohio House with bipartisan support.
State Reps. Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson) today applauded passage from the House of legislation to establish the “Annie Glenn Communication Disorders Awareness Day” in honor of Mrs. Annie Glenn and to recognize all Ohioans who struggle with a communication disorder. House Bill 431, sponsored by Reps. Sheehy and Patterson, designates February 17, Annie Glenn’s birthday, as the official day of recognition.
“Today, the Ohio House of Representatives celebrated Annie Glenn’s 96th birthday by honoring her as an advocate for communication disorders,” said Sheehy. “Afflicted with a severe stutter, Annie Glenn overcame her disorder and become a role model for others facing a similar challenge.”
State Rep. Stephen Slesnick (D-Canton) today applauded the passage of House Bill 87, legislation to honor Moses Fleetwood Walker, the nation’s first professional African American baseball player. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Slesnick, designates Walker’s birthday of October 7 as “Moses Fleetwood Walker Day” in the state of Ohio.
"Walker overcame prejudice and discrimination to break into professional baseball during the Jim Crow-era," said Slesnick. "His legacy as one of the first professional African American athletes is an inspiration to all of us today."
State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) testified Thursday at the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission (OCMC) Committee on Education, calling for a return to Ohio’s all-elected state school board model. Fedor, the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, was invited to come before the OCMC after state school board President Tom Gunlock, an appointee of Gov. Kasich, recently proposed ridding the board of locally elected members.
“A political appointee cannot be the voice of the parents, teachers and students. We have seen political appointees in our state education system illegally scrub data and make decisions based on special interests instead of the best interests of our children,” said Fedor. “An all-elected board would hold educational trustees accountable by putting the power back in the hands of parents and The People.”
State Rep. Kevin L. Boyce (D-Columbus) today asked Gov. John Kasich to veto recently passed House Bill 294, legislation that seeks to defund Planned Parenthood in Ohio.
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