Democratic News

House Democrats today applauded the unanimous passage of Aisha’s Law, Democratic priority legislation sponsored by Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) that would change how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence cases and provide added protections for those in high-risk situations. Democrats say the bill’s passage comes at a critical time as prolonged isolation during the state’s stay-at-home order has led to a spike in domestic violence cases. 

State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) today joined lawmakers and UAW workers at a Statehouse press conference to announce legislation to extend unemployment benefits and food assistance to union workers fighting for fair wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The call comes amid a nationwide strike by UAW employees, who reached a tentative labor agreement Wed. on the 31st day of their strike with General Motors.

Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus), the ranking Democrat on the House Finance Committee, today reacted to the latest version of House Bill (HB) 74, the state’s two-year transportation budget. Democrats had expressed concern over the governor’s proposal, which significantly cut public transit funds. Democrats on the Finance Committee had pushed for more transit funding in the bill in recent weeks.  The amended transportation budget includes $193.7 million in public transit funding over the next two years, a doubling the total investment from the governor’s initial proposal. 

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes is one of a select group of University of Florida alumni named to this year’s prestigious “40 Gators Under 40.” The annual awards program was established in 2006 to recognize alumni under the age of 40 whose achievements positively reflect The Gator Nation. Criteria for the competitive award include making a significant impact on the candidate’s industry and having civic or professional accomplishments at the state, national or international level.

COLUMBUS- State Representative Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights) today announced that House Bill (HB) 3, ‘Aisha’s Law’, her bipartisan priority legislation with Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) to change how law enforcement agencies respond to domestic violence cases and create a continuum of protections for victims of domestic violence that are in extreme risk and lethal situations, passed out of the House Criminal Justice (12-0) and House Finance Committees (31-1).  The bill is named for Aisha Fraser, a former Shaker Heights sixth-grade teacher who was brutally murdered by her ex-husband, former state Rep. Lance Mason, in Nov. 2018 following years of domestic abuse. The bill now awaits an expected House floor vote tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) recognizes April 7th as World Health Day. Since taking effect in 1950, this day has been celebrated across the globe to create awareness for various health issues. Spanning from mental health, climate change, maternal and child care, and more, World Health Day provides an opportunity for countries to come together to focus on global health priorities. This year, the World Health Organization is pushing to eliminate health inequities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Democratic state Reps. Jeff Crossman (D-Parma), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo) and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) will hold a press conference TOMORROW, Thursday, Oct. 17, at 9:30 a.m. in the Harding Senate Press Briefing Room to introduce legislation to extend unemployment benefits and food assistance to union workers fighting for fair wages, better benefits and safer working conditions. The call comes amid a nationwide strike by UAW employees as they reach a tentative agreement today on the 31^st day of the strike with General Motors.

Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) today issued a statement as the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB), the panel tasked with overseeing the Ohio Statehouse grounds, voted to implement a new rule requiring any removal of a statue on the grounds first be subject to a five-year waiting period before a final vote can be taken. The measure comes as a number of groups pushed for the removal of a statue of Christopher Columbus on the West lawn of the Statehouse. A CSRAB member, Rep. Crawley voted against the measure.

Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) today sent a letter to House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) continuing Democratic calls urging him to enact CDC workplace safety recommendations, like requiring facemasks and physical distancing, to protect lawmakers, staff and the general public 

State Rep. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) and State Senator Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) announced the creation of the bicameral Ohio Gun Violence Prevention Caucus. An invite has been sent out to all Ohio House and Senate members to participate in the legislative caucus focused on advancing commonsense gun safety measures in Ohio.

COLUMBUS— State Reps. Jeff Crossman (D- Parma) and Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville) testified today in the House Insurance Committee on House Bill (HB) 125, known as the Pre-Existing Condition Protection Act, which would enshrine protections for people with pre-existing conditions into Ohio law.  This effort became necessary due to persistent efforts by Republicans to negate Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections through federal legislation and ongoing litigation. Reps. Crossman and Lightbody filed the legislation on Feb. 16, 2021.

COLUMBUS– House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) released the following statement in response to the Ohio Supreme Court's denial of Attorney General Yost's motion. 

COLUMBUS– Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today filed with the Court opposition to the Attorney General’s attempt to relegate them to “amici” status in the lawsuits challenging the state maps. 

COLUMBUS—Ohio House Democratic Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today releases the following statement following the death of Ohio treasure, Annie Glenn :

COLUMBUS– Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President Rep. Thomas E. West and OLBC First Vice President Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) today released the following statements on the first day of Black History Month.

State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) penned an OpEd in the Akron Beacon Journal this week in which he called for the repeal of Ohio’s new no duty to retreat law, which passed in December 2020 and is set to take effect Tuesday, April 6. Rep. Weinstein is a co-sponsor of legislation, House Bill (HB) 38, which would repeal the controversial law.

COLUMBUS—House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), today unveiled “Ohio House Democrats - Working for You,” a roll-call style video highlighting the fight to restore Ohio’s promise of better lives, better jobs and brighter futures during the 134th General Assembly (GA) and beyond. In the video, Democratic lawmakers outline initiatives to expand opportunity for working people and middle class families and to deliver a plan to combat the virus and get Ohioans back to work safely.

COLUMBUS– Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today filed with the Court a response to the recent objections filed by petitioners against the latest state legislative district maps passed by the Redistricting Commission’s five Republican members

COLUMBUS— House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron), House Minority Whip Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), and State Representatives Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) released their proposal for holding a safe and accessible presidential election this November as the global pandemic continues.

COLUMBUS —House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement after the Ohio House approved an amendment yesterday to House Bill (HB) 93 which would make several changes to the filing requirements for the primary election.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today called on Statehouse leaders to repeal Ohio’s new no duty to retreat law, which passed in December 2020. Democratic-sponsored legislation, House Bill (HB) 38, would repeal the new shoot first law that takes effect Tuesday. 

COLUMBUS— Today during House session, the Ohio House Democratic Caucus swore in its new leadership team for the remainder of the 134th General Assembly. In an all-caucus vote on Jan. 12, Democrats elected Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) as Minority Leader.

COLUMBUS – Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), co-chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, and House Minority Leader-elect and commission member Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), issued the following statement after releasing a state legislative map on behalf of their caucuses ahead of today’s meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission:

COLUMBUS–Ohio Redistricting Commission member and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement today after Republican Commission members voted to pass partisan state legislative maps that fail to comply with the Constitutional and Court requirement that maps must reflect the statewide preferences of Ohio voters who voted 54% Republican and 46% Democratic over the last ten years. If approved by the Supreme Court, the maps will last for only four years.

COLUMBUS–Ohio Redistricting Commission member and House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today reiterated the importance of following the Constitution and the Court’s decision by drawing fair state legislative maps that reflect the statewide preferences of Ohio voters who voted 54% Republican and 46% Democratic over the last ten years.

COLUMBUS–House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) issued a statement today committing to drawing fair state legislative maps following the first Ohio Redistricting Commission meeting.  

COLUMBUS – House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) today issued a statement after the Ohio Supreme Court struck down the Congressional map. 

COLUMBUS—House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today penned a letter to Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) following a House floor session where all members were not socially distanced as the health experts recommend and where only a few of the Republican members were wearing masks.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) recognizes the month of April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Officially observed in 2001, this year marks the 20th anniversary, but the sexual assault prevention movement has its roots dating back to the early-mid 1900s with Black women and Women of Color at the forefront. Sexual Assault Awareness Month is aimed to spread awareness about sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. This year, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center is promoting the education of digital consent and how to create a safe space online.

With Ohio’s new no duty to retreat law set to take effect Tuesday, Democratic Reps. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) and Thomas West (D-Canton) today renewed their call to Statehouse leaders to pass House Bill (HB) 38, their legislation to repeal Ohio’s new “shoot first” law, which passed in December 2020.

Today, Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) issued a statement urging U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to ensure that the distribution of federal funding from the recently passed American Rescue Plan (ARP) be eligible to towns and townships across the country, including Ohio’s more than 1,300 townships. She said making ARP funds available to townships is crucial to Ohio’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today received a coronavirus vaccine while touring a vaccination site in Akron. During her visit alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, Leader Sykes thanked medical staff and personnel for their work throughout the pandemic and urged every Ohioan to sign up for a vaccination appointment. The state opens vaccination to anyone 16 years old and over beginning Monday, March 29.