Democratic News

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.

COLUMBUS— State Representatives Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) announced the introduction of House Bill 687, a bill to improve voting so Ohio can hold a safe and accessible presidential election this November as the global pandemic continues. The bill is a strong contrast with the GOP’s HB 680, introduced last week by Rep. Cindy Abrams, which would repeal voter access provisions like the hard-won last three days of early voting and the mailing of applications to all voters.

The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) today introduced legislation that would declare racism a public health crisis, echoing similar calls in Cleveland and Franklin County. The resolution, if passed, would be the first of its kind passed at the state level. 

COLUMBUS – House Democrats announced Monday the state Controlling Board approved another round of funding to support efforts to control the COVID-19 outbreak statewide and provide to relief for Ohio’s schools and small businesses.

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) released this statement today following the weekend’s protests throughout the state: