Uncategorized

Columbus, OH — The Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement today applauding a resolution introduced by Democratic lawmakers to expel disgraced former Speaker Larry Householder from the Ohio House of Representatives. Householder was arrested nearly a year ago as the alleged ringleader of a $60 million bribery scheme to raise the cost of Ohioans’ energy bills.

The corruption scandal has been called the ‘biggest open investigation in any Statehouse in America.’ The ongoing case has connections to high-level Ohio Republicans and continues to harm Ohioans, as taxpayers remain on the hook for bailouts linked to the bribery scheme.

“Larry Householder doesn’t deserve to collect another cent from Ohio taxpayers. While Mike DeWine and Bob Cupp look the other way, today’s resolution by Democratic lawmakers to expel him from the House is the kind of leadership Ohioans are looking for. It’s past time we clean up corruption and focus on the needs of Ohio voters rather than those of special interests and wealthy donors,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.

###

Columbus, OH — Today, the Ohio Democratic Party hosted a virtual press conference featuring Ohio leaders and moms to talk about how important President Biden’s investments in Ohio families have been for our state ahead of his visit to Cleveland on Thursday. 

“As President Biden has said, it’s not enough just to return to normal, we must build back better. Even before the pandemic, the cost of child care and education was too high. That’s why he’s introduced proposals that invest in Ohio families and build our economy from the bottom up and middle out,” said Senate Assistant Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood). 

“As we work our way out of the pandemic, our solutions to these problems can’t be the same old things we’ve already tried. We must think bigger and we must think bolder. His American Families Plan would not only invest in child care and community college, but in fundamental needs like child nutrition and lower healthcare premiums for families struggling to make ends meet. That’s the kind of forward thinking and meaningful change we need,” said Representative Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland). 

“Parents or guardians shouldn’t have to choose between quality child care and paying for groceries. Or between paying for a doctor’s visit and paying for prescription drugs. As a mom to three kids, I know how hard it can be. That’s why I’m so grateful that Joe Biden is investing in Ohio families and putting meaningful policies into place that will help make it easier for families like mine to not only make ends meet, but to also get ahead,” said central Ohio mom Crystal Lett. 

The American Rescue Plan has helped millions of Ohioans get vaccinated, put more money in the pockets of working Ohioans and helped small businesses reopen. President Biden is now working to secure passage of legislation, the American Families Plan, to make education more affordable, lower the cost of child care and extend middle-class tax cuts. 

A fact sheet with Ohio-specific information on how the American Families Plan will benefit our state can be found HERE. 

###

Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd and underscoring the Party’s steadfast commitment to the ongoing fight for racial justice. 

“One year after George Floyd’s death, our state and our country are still grappling with the fact that Mr. Floyd and so many other men and women should be alive today. No verdict or speech or piece of legislation can right the wrong that was done to Mr. Floyd and his family. Yet, we also know that we have a responsibility to do everything we can to help prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. Ohio Democrats are committed to fighting for racial justice, holding our institutions accountable and creating a safer, fairer and more just Ohio for all who call our state home,” said Chair Walters.

###

Columbus, OH — Amid comparisons to the Coingate scandal and millions in fraudulent payments, Mike DeWine is increasingly under pressure to answer questions about his administration’s mishandling of unemployment fraud.

Earlier this month, the Ohio Auditor revealed that the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services withheld the extent of unemployment fraud that was happening from other state officials and delayed action on implementing anti-fraud measures. His deputy auditor made comparisons to the Coingate scandal when testifying about the unemployment cover up. And then it was revealed that the state paid out more than $2 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims and overpayments.

This weekend, both Cleveland.com and the Toledo Blade published editorials raising questions about the ongoing scandal. It’s important that DeWine continue to be held accountable for his administration’s mishandling of unemployment benefits and address the issue publicly.

As more and more information comes out about the administration’s unemployment fraud cover up, here are six questions Mike DeWine should answer:

1. What did DeWine know and when did he know it? 
2. Why did the Ohio Auditor, not DeWine, make the withholding of these major fraud claims public?
3. Will DeWine conduct a public, transparent investigation into why these massive fraud numbers were kept secret? 

5. With the predictable rise in unemployment claims last year amid a global pandemic, why didn’t DeWine invest in more staff and better technology at ODJFS, as Ohio Democrats called on him to do?
6. Will DeWine financially punish Ohioans who received overpayments through no fault of their own, but rather because of the state’s errors? 
7. How does DeWine plan to cover the costs of the errors made by his administration? Through federal taxpayer dollars?

###

Columbus, OH — Telling you all you need to know about how far out of hand the Republican Senate primary has gotten, the latest point of contention between GOP candidates is who wants to know the least about the January 6th attack on our nation. 

As soon as the House passed legislation establishing a bipartisan committee to investigate the attack, Josh Mandel took to Twitter to publicly oppose the commission and call on fellow candidate Jane Timken to do the same. Mandel continues to go after Timken for remaining silent on the commission and tying her to fellow Republican Anthony Gonzalez, who voted to support the commission. Bernie Moreno has also publicly opposed the commission as we wait to hear from the other Republicans in the race who will likely follow suit in the coming days. 

“An attack on our country shouldn’t be political, but there’s no limit on how low Republican Senate candidates will stoop. GOP candidates are setting a standard that says if you don’t look the other way after a terrorist attack on our nation’s capital, you’re not a real Republican. It will be sad, but not surprising, when the other GOP candidates inevitably oppose the commission in order to play to Donald Trump, the only voter they seem to care about,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Loyalty to Donald Trump, not to the voters of Ohio, continues to be the focus of Republican Senate candidates. A Politico article this morning outlines the line Jane Timken is unsuccessfully trying to walk as she faces attacks from her fellow Republicans over her flip-flop on Gonzalez’ impeachment vote and the desperate pleas other GOP candidates are making to get the support of Trump while leaving Ohio voters behind. 

###