Democratic News

Today, Gov. Kasich, Speaker Batchelder and President Faber spoke to members of the business community during a year-in-review speech at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. State Rep. Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) released the following statement in response to today’s speech:

State Rep. Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced on Wednesday the passage of Senate Bill 23, a bill to provide persons adopted between 1964-1996 access to their original birth certificate. The bill passed by a nearly unanimous vote of  88 to 2.

Ohio House Democratic Leader Tracy Maxwell Heard released the following statement today paying tribute to longtime Ohio House Majority Leader and personal mentor, State Rep. William Mallory Sr.:

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we mourn the loss of Leader William L. Mallory, Sr. Ohio has lost a distinguished statesman and trailblazing soldier.

“As a legislator, Rep. Mallory broke barriers, serving as the first African American Ohio House Majority Floor Leader under late-Speaker Verne Riffe. Rep. Mallory’s personal leadership helped guide me as the first African American female House Majority Leader, and I had the distinct honor of calling him a mentor and a friend. It is a privilege to follow in his wake.

Let us keep his beloved widow, sons, daughter and extended family in our thoughts and prayers.

“May we remember the legacy of Leader Mallory in word and deed as we strive to give honor to service and integrity to leadership and work for the advancement of Ohio and her citizens.”

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) released the following statement this afternoon in response to the passing of former Majority Leader and OLBC founding member William L. Mallory, Sr.:

State Rep. Ron Gerberry (D-Austintown) on Thursday called on Secretary of State Jon Husted to testify on pending elections bills in the Ohio legislature. Rep. Gerberry sent a letter to House Policy & Legislative Chairman Mike Dovilla requesting that the Secretary of State attend committee to address these complex changes and the capacity of Boards of Elections and poll workers to prepare for them before statewide officeholder elections in less than a year.

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) issued the following statement, paying tribute to the late Nelson Mandela:

“Today we lost a world champion of change and peace. Because of his sacrifice and determination to fight against apartheid and for voting rights in South Africa, the world is a better place. In his spirit, we must continue to fight for voting rights, justice and equality for all—even in the face of great odds.”

On Wednesday, State Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) introduced legislation to grow the state’s “Straight A” fund with some $400 million in expected budget savings from Medicaid expansion. 

The long-awaited JobsOhio report was issued by State Auditor Dave Yost in late November, but it created more questions than answers.

COLUMBUS—Today, House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) released the following statement about the unexpected resignation of Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton:

COLUMBUS— Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President State Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today issued a statement in response to state Senator Steven Huffman’s (R-Tipp City) being fired from his job as an emergency room physician at Upper Valley Medical Center.

COLUMBUS— Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President State Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today issued a statement in response to state Senator Steven Huffman’s (R-Tipp City) question Tuesday about whether “colored” people get COVID-19 from not washing their hands as much.

State Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) issued a statement today following the passage of House Bill 624,Republican legislation that would require the release of certain COVID-19 related data, which Liston says will make it more difficult for health departments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COLUMBUS— Ohio House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), are acting swiftly to respond to the thousands of concerned voices being raised in cities and towns throughout Ohio by announcing today their preliminary legislative plans to combat police brutality. The proposed bills would prohibit profiling, tear gas, and the use of quotas by all law enforcement agencies, as well as call for the independent investigation of officer-involved shootings and the creation of databases to better track problematic behavior and employment history of law enforcement officers.

COLUMBUS—Today, Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) and fellow House Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine urging him to ban the use of tear gas by all county, municipal and township police departments indefinitely. 

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today blasted House Republican lawmakers who passed an elections bill that does little to prepare the state’s Boards of Elections to safely conduct a presidential election amid the worst global pandemic in more than a century.

COLUMBUS – Yesterday, Ohio Democratic state legislators called on members of the Ohio Congressional Delegation to support and approve an increase in funding for local school systems in the next Covid-19 supplemental appropriations bill.

COLUMBUS—State Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today announced that they have sent a joint letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran requesting that she establish a pathway for Ohio’s pharmacists to be reimbursed for the administration of COVID-19 tests.

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Democrats sent a letter to Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) urging him to consider additional security measures for members receiving threats of physical violence. The letter follows threats of violence made against House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and her family in May. To date, the speaker has not publicly condemned the incident and has refused to make any additional security measures available to Leader Sykes.