Democratic News

COLUMBUS— House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement following a memorandum from Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) that the entire House of Representatives would be once again put under Work From Home status beginning tomorrow after a suspected COVID-19 outbreak among Republican staff was brought to light by Democratic representatives and staff and in response to public outrage of the Republicans' handling of this issue.

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Joe Miller (D-Amherst), Thomas West (D-Canton) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) have introduced two related bills that would tackle key issues surrounding police departments in Ohio. The legislation would ultimately allow the chief of police of a municipal corporation to conduct training schools for prospective law enforcement officers. The goal is to create a new unclassified position called “cadets” within the police department, allow for exceptional appointment of candidates with ideal qualifications and resolve any issues regarding lateral transfers within statutory cities.  

House Democrats, led by Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), today announced the kickoff to the Ohio Promise Virtual Town Hall Tour, a series of virtual town halls this summer where local lawmakers will discuss statewide issues like COVID-19, jobs and the economy, racial justice and police reforms. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement following today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down a Louisiana law that would have restricted abortion rights in the state, a defeat for conservative lawmakers across the country who have spent years attacking women’s reproductive rights. 

State Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) and Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today filed legislation that will criminalize the harmful use of chokeholds by police officers or peace officers in Ohio.

Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today joined Dem lawmakers to urge House Republican leaders to call the chamber back into session to address several critical issues facing the state, including health and the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, systemic racism and police brutality, questions surrounding the November election, and looming state budget shortfalls.

COLUMBUS—Rep. Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland) today announced that House Bill (HB) 11, her bill to improve prenatal and maternal health outcomes, was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday. 

COLUMBUS— Yesterday, Governor DeWine announced the signing of executive order 2020-24D, which provided protections for unemployed Ohioans who are over 65 or considered “high risk” and asked to return to work by their prior employer. Where previously they would have been disqualified from receiving benefits for refusing an offer of suitable work, now these Ohioans will remain eligible for unemployment.

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today signed onto a concurrent resolution urging Congress to designate June 19^th a paid federal holiday. This date is to be known as Juneteenth Independence day in recognition of June 19, 1865, when news of the end of slavery reached the southwestern states two months after the end of the American Civil War.  

State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose urging him to include return postage on absentee ballot application forms that will be mailed to all voters and on absentee ballots that are ultimately mailed to voters who request them. State law prohibits board of elections from making such an expenditure, but the secretary is not similarly barred. The federal CARES Act included funding to the states for unanticipated increased expenses due to COVID-19. The Controlling Board approved on Monday the state’s use of federal CARES Act funding for this year’s election.