Says economic relief is long overdue
COLUMBUS – House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Democrats Monday announced the approval of funds by the state Controlling Board to further aid Ohio’s response to the health and economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
COLUMBUS— Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following a press conference with Governor Mike DeWine and Statehouse Republicans discussing Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding.
Calls out Republican leadership for refusing to repeal corrupt bailout bill
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) today issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of the enactment of House Bill (HB) 6, the multi-billion corporate bailout bill at the center of an ongoing FBI criminal investigation into an alleged $60 million racketeering and bribery scheme led by former Republican Speaker Larry Householder. Former Speaker Larry Householder and several associates were arrested and indicted for their roles in the alleged corruption scheme.
COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D - Toledo), Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) are again demanding answers from Secretary LaRose. They asked him yesterday to confirm that his order cutting the time period that counties have to count votes will not actually block any votes from counting.
Demands answers and accountability for state contracting error
COLUMBUS- State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) today issued the following statement in response to Secretary LaRose’s failure to answer a legislative inquiry into Midwest Direct and the secretary’s directive calling on county Board of Elections to complete their vote counts by November 18th at 2pm:
Ballot printer delays may add to time needed to count ballots
COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D - Toledo), Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose asking him to account for a directive he issued late Friday afternoon. The directive cuts off six days of vote counting time that counties might need to finish the count. It moves the deadline from November 24 to November 18 for counties to complete the official canvass.
COLUMBUS – House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following the news that Ohio broke its single-day record of COVID-19 cases with 2,039 in the last single 24 hours, according to the Ohio Department of Health. This is the first day over 2,000 cases since the pandemic began.
Lawmaker says transparency between branches of government is vital as we near Election Day
COLUMBUS— State Representative Paula Hicks-Hudson (D - Toledo) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose today asking for daily updates on any ongoing election problems in the state of Ohio, including the delay in mailing absentee ballots that impacted roughly 67,000 Lucas County voters.
Calls on Republicans from the Statehouse to the White House to denounce hate and violence
COLUMBUS—Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today following news reports that six men were charged in an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. According to the FBI, the initial plans were hatched here in Ohio.
Columbus – Chair Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Vice Chair Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo), on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Ohio Democratic Women’s Legislative Caucus, today issued a joint statement regarding the arrest of conspirators by the FBI, who were allegedly planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
