Democratic News

State Reps. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview) today announced the unanimous passage of House Bill (HB) 8, their bipartisan bill to simplify Ohio’s foster caregiver training laws. With the number of displaced children increasing—in part because of opioid related deaths and offenses—Ohio’s foster care system is struggling with the volume and cost of placing children in foster care.

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. Debbie Phillips (D-Athens) released the following statement in response to today’s speech:

“Ohio is 44^th in the nation for job creation; unemployment is at 7.5 percent-- significantly higher than the national average. Governor Kasich and Ohio’s GOP elected officials need an economic reality check. Instead of prioritizing millionaires and special interests, Ohio needs to grow our economy by putting working and middle class families first.  What we heard today is more of the same failed trickle-down policies, which knocked Ohio back down just when we were starting on the road to recovery.”

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. John Patrick Carney (D-Columbus) released the following statement in response to today’s speech:

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.”

Ohio House Democratic lawmakers today applauded the passage of House Bill (HB) 80, the two-year state Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) budget, which contained a number of Democratic priorities, including benefits for first responders with PTSD and reforms to the state’s employee misclassification laws.

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. 

COLUMBUS- State John Carney (D- Columbus) sent the following letter to Development Services Agency spokesman Todd Walker asking questions about the developing JobsOhio controversy. 

Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) andHouse Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) today issued a statement following Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s announced support for ending the state’s statute of limitations on rape. Boggs and Galonski are sponsoring a proposal this legislative session to modernize Ohio’s rape code, including lifting the statute of limitations on rape. 

Central Ohio House Democratic lawmakers, including Assistant Minority Leader Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and Reps. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester), Erica Crawley (D-Columbus), David Leland (D-Columbus), Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), Beth Liston (D-Dublin), Adam Miller (D-Columbus), and Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), today issued a statement in support of the nearly 500,000 LGBTQ taxpaying Ohioans who call the Buckeye State home. The statement follows controversial remarks from House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), regarding the permissive use of libraries for LGBTQ events.