Democratic News

House Democrats today supported the final passage of House Bill (HB) 62, the state’s bipartisan two-year transportation budget. The bill makes historic investments in public transit and local communities for road and bridge repairs.

“Democrats were able to come together to make historic investments to improve public transit and allow local communities to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges,” said House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron). “I am encouraged that moving forward we can continue to work together to put people and communities first to restore the promise of our state.”

State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) today announced the unanimous House passage of House Bill (HB) 61, her bipartisan bill alongside joint sponsor Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) to make sensitive personal information of certain mental health workers and their families exempt from disclosure under Ohio’s public records law.

State Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 18, the Ohio Veterans’ Exemption Payment Act, her bipartisan bill alongside Rep. A. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) to exemptveterans’ disability severance payments from the state income tax.

Working collaboratively with Ohio educators and finance officers for the past 15 months, Ohio Reps. Bob Cupp (R, Lima) and John Patterson (D, Jefferson) are co-sponsoring a comprehensive and transparent school funding proposal.

“As Ohio legislators, we are committed and determined to find an education funding system for our state’s pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students; one that is fair, rational and justifiable in contrast to our current system that is often unfair and nearly always incomprehensible,” the two lawmakers wrote of the plan.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today issued the following statement in support of state Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and Bob Cupp’s (R-Lima) comprehensive school funding reform efforts, which were outlined today and will be detailed throughout the week in House committee:

“Today’s announcement is the result of over a year’s worth of bipartisan work to fix the broken, unconstitutional school formula that has held back too many Ohio children for over a generation.

“Through this ongoing bipartisan effort, I believe we have a real opportunity to ensure every child in every school across the state can live up to their individual, God-given promise and the promise of our state.

State Rep. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) today announced $34,000 in Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) grant funding to support marine patrol units for the Lorain Port Authority. 

“This assistance is essential to the Lorain Port Authority carrying out their mission of maintaining waterway safety,” said Rep. Miller. “It is heartening to see the state demonstrate their commitment to making sure our community has the tools necessary to keep our lakes safe and open for everyone.”

State Rep. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) today announced that the Lake County Sheriff's Office has received an Ohio Department Marine Patrol Assistances Grant provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Watercraft.

These funds are made available to law enforcement agencies through the State’s continuing effort to keep our waterways safe while enhancing recreational boating experiences.

House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) joined Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) today to announce that the first of eight remaining House committee rooms has been wired to broadcast committee hearings through the Ohio Channel. 

“Taxpayers deserve more access to what’s going on at their Statehouse, the People’s House,” said Sykes. “Increasing transparency and making government more accessible lets taxpayers know we’re working for them—together—to restore Ohio’s promise as a place where you can live, work and have the opportunity to get ahead.”

State Reps. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) and Don Jones (R-Freeport) today introduced bipartisan legislation to end state takeovers of local schools. Three districts, including Rep. Miller’s own Lorain City Schools, are currently under state control, while ten districts across the state could potentially join them over the next two years.

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) announced her support today for bipartisan legislation aimed at repealing and replacing House Bill (HB) 70, known as the “Youngstown Plan.” Lepore-Hagan added her support as a cosponsor to Rep. Joe Miller (D-Amherst) and Rep. Don Jones’ (R-Nottingham Township) legislation that would terminate Academic Distress Commissions, restore local control over public schools and move to a building-based, bottom-up reform model.

“This legislation offers a much-needed opportunity to end the failing system of Academic Distress Commissions and restore our district’s control to a democratically elected school board,” said Lepore-Hagan. “We also need an evidence-based turnaround model that allows children and teachers to truly have the opportunity they need to succeed.  My colleagues on both sides of the aisle have recognized the ineffectiveness of HB 70 in Youngstown, Lorain and East Cleveland and the need to refocus on public education in the wake of charter school scandals. The Youngstown City School District has suffered under our former governor’s disastrous plan for too long, and I look forward to finally passing a real solution.”