Democratic News

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Finance Committee Ranking Member Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) issued statements today on the passage of a pair of bills, Senate Bills (SB) 108-109, which would direct $682 million in aid to Ohio businesses struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati) today announced that they will soon introduce legislation to limit qualified immunity for police officers in Ohio.

In response to a proposed constitutional amendment from Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) is deeply concerned with the potential of reducing or eliminating public hearings and public input from the redistricting process. 

Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today announced the introduction of House Bill (HB) 269, legislation to repeal Senate Bill (SB) 22, controversial legislation that Democrats say threatens the health and safety of Ohioans by curbing authority from the governor and health director during public health crises. 

State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today issued the following statement regarding the news that Ohio will lose one of its sixteen seats in the U.S. House of Representatives according to U.S. Census data:

Members of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus elections and voting rights working group today responded to pending Republican legislation that would force people to provide two forms of Voter ID, reduce the number of days of early voting, shorten mail ballot access by a week and restrict ballot drop boxes.

State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo), Ranking Member of the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee, voiced opposition to House Bill (HB) 140, a misleading ballot language bill that would create more confusion in an attempt to modify how property tax levies are worded on the ballot. HB 140 was previously introduced during the 133rd General Assembly and was vetoed by Governor DeWine.

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Finance Committee Ranking Member Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) today issued statements on the House passage of House Bill 110, the state’s two-year budget. House Democrats largely opposed the bill, saying it was a missed opportunity to invest in everyday Ohioans still struggling amid the health and economic crisis. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on the verdict reached in the Derek Chauvin trial for the killing of George Floyd.

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President and State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today announced that the OLBC will host a free webinar on implicit bias in healthcare on Monday, April 26 from 9-11 a.m. All healthcare professionals are invited to attend. Dr. Quinn Capers IV, M.D. will be the presenter.