Hicks-Hudson Responds to Governor's State of the State Address

Today, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) issued the following statement in response to Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State address.

“Today the governor laid out efforts to invest in Ohio’s children,” said Hicks-Hudson. “Several of his initiatives are already happening in Lucas County, such as the collaboration of Toledo Public Schools and local clinicians and care providers to provide mental health care. It is critical to meet children and families where they are. The governor’s comments, while well-intentioned, did not include the necessary efforts to scale up efforts to invest in our youth’s health and wellness across the state.

“We must acknowledge the critical role of doulas in infant and maternal healthcare, and understand that to provide high-quality education to our children, from pre-K through post-secondary school, will require seeking federal as well as state financial contributions.”

Following the Governor’s State of the State address, Senate and House Democrats held a joint press conference to highlight their legislative priorities to make Ohio the best place to live, work and raise a family. These priorities include providing economic relief to working families, rooting out and preventing government corruption, solving Ohio’s housing crisis, expanding access to health care, fostering public safety through commonsense legislation, supporting the state education system, protecting the environment, and ensuring all Ohioans are treated equitably and fairly.

“The governor’s efforts are a step in the right direction for our state, but we must more critically examine the factors contributing to the harsh realities faced by Ohio families, and we cannot continue to ignore the malicious efforts of the unrepresentative state legislature to undermine the best interests of Ohioans,” said Hicks-Hudson.

Watch the full Democratic response here.