This week, Ohio Democrats held a joint press conference to respond to Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State address.
Read Leader Antonio's full remarks below or watch the full response here.
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"With the March primary behind us, there is a concerning trend that must be addressed ahead of the quickly approaching November election. Poll workers in Ohio and across the country have been unable to focus entirely on their jobs to run our elections smoothly because they are also worrying about their safety.
Throughout the United States, election workers are being threatened..."
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The homestead exemption is a statewide property tax reduction program for senior citizens, those who are disabled, and surviving spouses of fallen first responders.
Who is eligible for a Homestead Exemption?
- Homeowners over the age of 65, who meet certain income requirements
- Homeowners who are permanently and totally disabled
- Military veterans who have received a 100% disability rating
- Those already receiving it
- Spouses of a first responder killed in the line of duty
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"In early January, the Ohio Senate Select Committee on Housing visited Cleveland to learn more about the issues exacerbating the housing crisis in both Ohio and across the country. We heard from a range of individuals and organizations on their experiences, including new, young homeowners as well as individuals currently experiencing housing insecurity.
After leaving the committee meeting held at the new Cleveland Foundation building, I found myself reflecting on not only the day but also the location where we met. The very site of our meeting sits adjacent to the exact same neighborhood where the 1966 Hough riots unfolded..."
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"Ohio used to be 5th in the nation when it comes to education. Since Republicans have taken over, we’ve fallen to 29th.
The right-wing Buckeye Institute released a policy brief on Jan. 16 detailing their recommendations for the One-Time Strategic Community Investments Fund. Unsurprisingly, their top proposal is to create a slush fund for private and charter schools to use public dollars to improve and expand their buildings, or even build new ones..."
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"Senate Republicans just overwhelmingly voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68, the transphobic, anti-science piece of legislation that every single major medical association has come out against.
It was the first thing the Ohio Legislature did after our holiday break.
With only seven more sessions until we break for the summer in July, it begs the question: What are we working on to improve the lives of Ohioans? The answer is not much..."
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In today’s world of right-wing propaganda machines and AI-generated content, misinformation is rampant. However, Ohio Senate Democrats have made it part of our mission to disseminate factual news and stories to everyday Ohioans through our website, The Democratic Standard. Launched in November 2023, The Democratic Standard features political reporting from across the state, highlighting snippets of relevant articles and stories.
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"It has been little more than a year since nearly 200 residents were forced to evacuate their apartments in the Latitude Five25 building last Christmas.
I was there that day helping to move families out of their homes and the situation was devastating. Burst pipes, flooded floors, electrical issues, and asbestos contamination meant that many of my constituents were forced out of their homes for the holidays, some unable to return for months.
The sad reality is that many Ohioans experience unlivable conditions like this. Safe and secure housing is fundamental and foundational to the quality of life for all our families and children. But one of the biggest obstacles facing everyday Ohioans is finding and keeping affordable housing..."
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"This month, Ohio Republicans made it clear who gets special treatment on Capitol Square, when Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 201 after it was amended at the last minute and rushed through both chambers.
Originally, House Bill 201 was an unnecessary bill meant to prohibit any type of restrictions on gas-powered vehicles. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the amendment was yet another effort to give more of your money to the utility companies in this state and do so with as little discussion as possible..."
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Far too many Ohioans die from gun deaths each year. In the United States, around 80% of all homicides and over half of suicides involve guns, and this nationwide public health crisis is on the rise, with 2020 bringing the United States’ highest recorded rate of gun deaths in over 25 years. The Ohio General Assembly has a responsibility to work towards bipartisan solutions that seek to end this increasing cycle of violent death by guns.
The Senate Democratic Caucus seeks to address some of the systemic problems related to gun deaths through a series of impactful pieces of legislation. The bills currently being proposed cover a broad range of gun death prevention and gun safety issues, including safe storage, disarming domestic abusers, and suicide prevention.
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"House Bill 6 is not only a controversial and scandalous piece of policy, but it has also proved to be a persistent and significant burden on the shoulders of Ohioans.
Nearly five years after the passage of H.B. 6, Ohio and its taxpayers remain entangled in a web of consequences and continuous bailouts. Just this month, Ohioans are learning of yet another indictment in connection to the nuclear bailout..."
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"Republicans in the Ohio Senate recently proposed horrendous changes to the adult-use marijuana laws that voters overwhelmingly approved in November.
The Republican plan would have reduced legal possession amounts, eliminated home grow entirely, and tripled the tax rate on marijuana sales.
The results would have been a legal, adult-use marijuana market in name only."
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"Higher education is under attack in Ohio. Right-wing legislators, who have entrenched their power through gerrymandering, now want to control what happens on college campuses in an attempt to fight back against 'liberal indoctrination.' Senate Bill 83, sponsored by Senator Jerry Cirino, is Ohio’s iteration of bills that have been introduced by Republicans across the United States to promote 'intellectual diversity.'"
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"On Election Day, millions of Ohioans came out in support of Issue 1 to enshrine the right to abortion into our state constitution. While we don’t always agree, I definitely can stand with Gov. Mike DeWine’s recent statement, that the will of the voters must be accepted, recognized and respected.
In fact, I couldn’t agree more."
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"The Republican leadership in the Ohio House and Senate have displayed disgusting arrogance since election day.
Having just got their ass kicked for the second time in four months by a clear majority of Ohioans, they think they can do anything they want—voters be damned!"
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Throughout my time as an elected official representing the people of Columbus, I have spoken with constituents and met with advocacy groups about the effect of gun proliferation in our neighborhoods, the necessity of proper storage and safety procedures, and the impact that easy access to firearms has on suicide rates in Ohio.
Over the summer, I joined my colleagues from the Ohio House of Representatives and from Columbus City Hall on the steps of the Statehouse to once again emphasize the impact that gun-related violence has on our communities and families.
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From my earliest days as a legislator, one of my top priorities has been promoting and supporting small and minority businesses. Two years ago, I had the privilege of touring Ohio and hearing from hundreds of minority business owners. From my home in Northeast Ohio to all corners of the state like Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, and Lima, I witnessed the tremendous potential and diversification of these businesses.
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Recently, I introduced legislation to allow workers participating in a labor strike to collect unemployment benefits, support which striking workers are currently prevented from obtaining under Ohio law.
A strike is a message from hardworking Ohioans that their needs must be met. These are not people who don’t want to work; they are people who want to work for a fair, family-sustaining wage, in safe conditions, and with the sort of benefits that keep them healthy and allow them to retire comfortably. They should not have to worry about paying their bills while they stand up for better treatment for themselves and their fellow workers.
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This General Assembly, I have once again introduced bipartisan legislation to end the use of the death penalty in the state of Ohio, replacing it with a sentence of life in prison without parole for capital cases. This 135th General Assembly, Senate Bill 101 will be the vehicle.
Death penalty repeal bills have been introduced in Ohio many times over the last decade. I continue to speak with my colleagues in the Statehouse on both sides of the aisle every day, and the momentum for ending the death penalty is palpable.
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On The Record has once again proven itself to be about nothing more than it claims: views, no matter what any logic or reputable sources say. The website’s most recent attempt to justify those views with “facts” is riddled with misrepresentation and inflammatory, inaccurate language.
On The Record’s response to an Associated Press article totes the GOP’s talking points on Issue 1 – that it is too extreme for Ohio. But this world of “abortion on demand” fundamentally misrepresents what Issue 1 is.
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