Democratic News

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) today issued the following statement after the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved on party lines state legislative maps proposed late last evening by Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima):

Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a joint statement today as the Democratic lawmakers proposed district line changes that would bring the Commission’s state legislative district maps closer to Ohio’s constitutional requirement for representational fairness. The Democratic Commission members also reiterated their commitment to working together with the Commission’s five Republican members on a bipartisan, 10-year plan by the Sept. 15 deadline. 

COLUMBUS— Ohio House Democrats issued a statement on the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. 

COLUMBUS— Reps. Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today announced that they will soon introduce legislation to address the hacking in the state’s unemployment system that has compromised personal information and resulted in untold thousands of dollars stolen from deserving recipients. The legislation would urge Gov. DeWine to activate the Ohio Cyber Reserve to investigate reported hacking in the state’s unemployment compensation network. Thus far, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) has refused to acknowledge a hack and has instead referred to those incidents as “account takeovers.”

– Rep. Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick) today introduced a resolution honoring and recognizing the victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Between 1961 and 1971, the United States Armed Forces utilized Agent Orange to destroy enemy crops and vegetation as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand. In just ten years, more than 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed, exposing some 2.6 million American soldiers to dangerous chemicals.

COLUMBUS– Ohio Redistricting Commission co-chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today after the Redistricting Commission failed to meet its constitutional duty to release, hold three hearings on, and adopt a state legislative district map by Sept. 1. Even though other maps have been presented to the Commission, the Commission itself has neither produced nor worked on one, and co-chair Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) has not given a date that the Commission will propose a map for review.  

State Representative Joe Miller (D-Amherst) penned an Op-Ed in the Lorain Morning Journal last week, in which he called on the Ohio Redistricting Commission to draw fair districts that empower Ohio voters to choose their leaders. 

COLUMBUS – Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including $121.2 million from the American Rescue Plan to support homeless youth, preschool students and children with disabilities.

COLUMBUS – Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including $121.2 million from the American Rescue Plan to support homeless youth, preschool students and children with disabilities.

COLUMBUS – Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including $121.2 million from the American Rescue Plan to support homeless youth, preschool students and children with disabilities.