Category: News

Columbus, Ohio- Ahead of the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs vs Jackson, Ohioans are still facing Republican attacks on their right to an abortion even after overwhelmingly voting to enshrine those rights in the state constitution.

Last week, Ohio Republicans in the state legislature introduced a bill to criminalize all abortions and ban IVF and some forms of birth control, including IUDs. Republican proponents of the legislation openly admitted their goal was to overturn the amendment that Ohioans passed in the Supreme Court. 

This isn’t the first time Ohio Republicans attempted to rip away rights Ohioans overwhelmingly voted for. Here’s tricks Republicans tried as it became clear their extreme agenda was out of touch with Ohioans.

First, Republicans tried to trick voters into changing the state constitution in a move that Secretary of State Frank LaRose openly admitted was 100% about… abortion. Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected them at the polls.

Then, Republicans on Ohio’s ballot board crafted confusing and incorrect ballot language that contained misleading information about what the amendment would do in an attempt to scare voters. Ohioans overwhelmingly passed the amendment anyway.

Now, even after a judge ruled that the amendment voters passed made Ohio’s six week ban unconstitutional, Republicans haven’t gotten the message. Republicans in the state legislature want to charge women who have an abortion at any stage with homicide, ban IVF, and some forms of birth control such as IUDs.

Ohio voters have spoken loud and clear, but Republicans instead are insistent on ripping away the rights Ohioans voted for. While Republicans work overtime to hurt Ohioans, Democrats will always fight to ensure Ohio won’t go back.

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The post Ahead of Dobbs Anniversary, Abortion is Still Under Attack in Ohio appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Earlier this week, Ohio Republicans moved a budget forward that is packed with freebies for billionaires while gutting public education and ripping healthcare from Ohio families. The rigged Republican supermajority that presided over Ohio’s slip down the rankings is back with a budget that leaves working Ohioans behind while making sure to take care of their billionaire donors.

Check out what Ohioans are reading about the billionaire-first Ohio budget as it moves into conference committee: 

Signal Ohio: Near-final version of Ohio budget will knock adults and babies off Medicaid, experts and analysts say

• Lawmakers are close to finalizing a state budget that includes changes to Medicaid that could cause a significant number of Ohioans, including children and babies under three, to lose health care coverage.

• The state budgeting process began in January and is due to be completed at the end of June. But looming on the horizon are federal changes to Medicaid that could have the potential to cost Ohio billions regardless of changes it makes to the state program.

Cleveland.com: Ohio Republicans’ state budget priorities: Helping the rich while aiming to cut spending for the poor

• While lawmakers are still crafting the enormous budget plan, many of their current proposals would generally favor wealthier individuals while potentially creating difficulties for many struggling Ohioans. The Ohio Senate’s draft budget plan, unveiled last week, would offer a $1.4 billion state income tax cut, only for taxpayers making more than $100,000 per year.
• GOP lawmakers also generally agree that two billionaires, in particular, should get an additional $600 million: Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who want the state money to help them pay for a new $2.4 billion stadium in suburban Brook Park. 

• To balance the budget, GOP lawmakers have taken aim at a variety of programs and services at various points in the budget process, including cutting funding to public libraries (a proposal that has since been removed) and programs that address lead poisoning, which particularly affects impoverished children.

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Senate GOP moves to give wealthiest Ohioans tax cut

• Ohio Republican senators have proposed a flat income tax for the state’s top earners, which would result in a projected $1 billion loss in the general revenue fund.

• Many cuts for programs that benefit lower-income families have already been proposed in the budget. Funding for schools, Medicaid, libraries, lead abatement, food banks and child care face funding decreases from the current status or from the governor’s budget.

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The post WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING: Republican State Budget Gives Wealthy Ohioans Tax Cuts appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- This evening, members of the Ohio Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee elected Kathleen Clyde as Chair. As she steps into her new role leading Ohio Democrats to success in 2026, Chair Clyde released the following statement: 

“After years of failed governance from illegal Republican supermajorities, Ohioans are seeing their bills climb and their quality of life drop while billionaires line their own pockets. With every statewide office and a U.S. Senate race on the ballot, Ohio has key opportunities to elect Democrats who actually work for Ohioans and get our state back on the right track.

Already, Ohioans are fed up with Republicans as they push a budget that prioritizes special interests and their billionaire backers while working families fall behind. I’m grateful to Ohio Democrats for putting their trust in me during this critical election cycle, and I’m looking forward to getting to work,” said Chair Clyde.

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The post Kathleen Clyde Elected New Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- As the Senate prepares to consider Trump’s budget bill, Senator Jon Husted is still dodging questions about his support for Medicaid cuts that could rip away healthcare from as many as 500,000 Ohioans. Cuts to Medicaid are extremely unpopular in Ohio but Husted doesn’t want to admit his vote was bought by billionaires and special interests. 

When asked directly if he supported cuts, he refused to directly address the question- instead claiming a budget that would actually cost working families access to food, healthcare, and more would save them money. He then went on to say there was a need to “find savings” somewhere. 

“While Husted dances around questions about whether or not he’ll vote to cut Medicaid, families across Ohio are anxiously waiting to find out if they’ll be able to access the healthcare they need,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Husted has previously admitted he just does whatever Donald Trump wants. Ohioans clearly can’t count on him to stand up for their healthcare.”

Ohioans can contact Senator Husted at 202-224-3353 to urge him to vote against any bill that will rip away access to healthcare. 

READ MORE reporting from the Columbus Dispatch about what could be at stake if Husted votes to cut Medicaid: 

• As many as 500,000 Ohioans could lose Medicaid coverage under federal legislation that aims to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda.

• The U.S. House passed a sweeping budget bill last week that would slash Medicaid and food stamps, cut taxes and roll back climate policies. The measure would make unprecedented changes to the Medicaid program, which serves over 3 million patients in Ohio.

• While Republicans who backed the bill say Medicaid restrictions will help the government save hundreds of billions of dollars, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating that it would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $625 billion, the decrease in revenue expected to result from millions of Americans losing their health insurance may exceed those savings.

• An early estimate from KFF, a health policy research organization, determined that 307,000 to 512,000 Ohioans could lose coverage – numbers that may increase under the latest version of the bill.

• Medicaid provides health coverage to over 1.3 million children in Ohio and pays for nearly 40% of births in the state. 

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The post ICYMI: Senator Husted Dodges Question on Medicaid Cuts appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Following the beginning of Pride Month, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement:

“Pride month is a time to honor the contributions LGBTQ+  Ohioans have made to our state, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and commit to continuing to fight for equality for all. 

While there will still be celebrations across Ohio, this year will be undoubtedly tainted by the actions of Republicans in our federal and state government who have chosen to target LGBTQ+  Ohioans at every turn. Instead of addressing our state’s rising cost of living or corruption in our state government, Republicans would rather drive young LGBTQ+ Ohioans away from the state.

Democrats will always stand with the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to fighting alongside them for a more welcoming Ohio where everyone can thrive,” said Chair Walters.

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The post Ohio Democratic Party Chair Commemorates Pride Month  appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio – Early this morning, almost every Ohio Republican voted to pass the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill, which now heads to the senate for further consideration. Republicans passed a dangerous budget that will rip healthcare away from families, close hospitals, and create even more barriers for Ohioans struggling to put food on the table.

Ohio is expected to be one of the hardest hit states following cuts to Medicaid. The budget reconciliation bill alone could slash healthcare access for as many as 400,000 Ohioans. Over a quarter of Ohioans count on Medicaid to stay healthy. Now, the disastrous and dangerous budget coming from Washington has them questioning whether or not they can get the care they need.

As Ohioans grapple with rising costs of groceries brought on by the Trump administration’s reckless economic policies, this bill also wants to make it harder for Ohioans to receive assistance with paying for food. More than 600,000 Ohioans count on SNAP to put food on the table, but now they’re faced with uncertainty about affording their next meal. 

“Instead of working towards a brighter, healthier future for Ohio, congressional Republicans chose to take away food and affordable healthcare from their own constituents in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires,”  said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Ohioans deserve better than representatives who vote to hurt their quality of life while helping their billionaire friends.”

Ohioans can find contact information for their Republican Members of Congress here to make sure they know the consequences of their disastrous vote.

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The post VOTE ALERT: Ohio’s Congressional Republicans Rip Away Healthcare, Food from Working Ohioans appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio – New research has revealed that if House Republicans pass their budget reconciliation bill and allow affordable healthcare tax credits to expire, as many as 400,000 Ohioans could lose their healthcare. Whether it’s rising doctors’ bills, risk of hospital closures, or ripping away healthcare all together, this budget will be disastrous and dangerous for Ohio.

Over a quarter of Ohioans rely on Medicaid to access the healthcare they need, but Ohio Republicans appear ready to vote for a bill that will rip away healthcare from families, punish workers who lose their jobs, and shut down hospitals and medical practitioners across the state. Republicans who vote for this bill will show their constituents that they’d rather sacrifice their healthcare to give tax breaks to billionaires. 

“Ohioans should be able to easily and affordably access the healthcare they need, but so far congressional Republicans have opted for more tax breaks for billionaires,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “We’re calling on our Republican congressional delegation to stand up for their constituents and vote against this dangerous bill.”

Ohioans can find contact information for their Republicans members of Congress here to call and demand they vote against dangerous cuts to their healthcare.

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The post 400,000 Ohioans Could Lose Access to Healthcare Under GOP Reconciliation Bill appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio- Over the past months, Ohioans have been forced to contend with a never-ending barrage of bad news from Washington while their jobs, education, and more are on the line. Here’s a recap of just a few ways Washington billionaires like Donald Trump and Elon Musk have harmed Ohio families while cutting taxes for fellow billionaires. 

Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education while Governor DeWine cheered.  Now, Ohio is in danger of losing billions in funding, disproportionately harming low-income students.

• The Department of Education allocates funds to Title One schools, which have the highest numbers of low-income students. Ohio educated over 800,000 students with these funds. For Ohio’s low-income students, these funds help pave the path to a brighter future for themselves and our state. Their state’s elected officials would rather score points with Donald Trump than grow the next generation of Ohio’s leaders. 
• Columbus Dispatch: Ohio could lose more than $5 billion in annual funding it receives from the U.S. Department of Education after Donald Trump signed an executive order to close the department.

As costs continue to rise, billionaires are cancelling programs that fed hungry Ohioans and boosted Ohio farmers. 

• Hungry Ohio families have been left scrambling to find assistance after billionaires eliminated funding for organizations that feed hungry Ohioans. While families face even more uncertainty about whether or not they can put food on the table, Republicans would rather see lower bills for billionaires.
• NBC4: Food banks and farms are facing challenges after the U.S. Department of Agriculture eliminated key funding programs as the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said they are slashing federal spending to reduce government waste.  The move cuts about $420 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement, a program that helped feed hungry people with high-quality Ohio-grown products. 

While billionaires brag about their own tax breaks, they’re putting Ohioans in danger.

• Donald Trump and Elon Musk have gutted critical staff and resources that monitor environmental conditions and watch for potential hazards in the Great Lakes. Almost three million Ohioans rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water. Now, Republicans have cut critical safety measures to keep their water safe.
• ProPublica: Cutbacks have gutted the staff at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. […] Multiple people who have worked with the lab also told ProPublica that there are serious gaps in this year’s monitoring of algal blooms, which are often caused by excess nutrient runoff from farms. […] That data has helped to successfully avoid a repeat of a 2014 crisis in Toledo, Ohio, when nearly half a million people were warned to not drink the water or even touch it.

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The post How Billionaires are Harming Ohioans While Giving Themselves Tax Breaks appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio– Yesterday, Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, including Ohio Representatives Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, and Troy Balderson, took another step towards cutting Medicaid. 

Following a lengthy markup session, Energy and Commerce Republicans voted to advance their budget- including massive cuts to Medicaid. Under the current version of the budget, as many as 770,700 Ohioans are at risk of losing access to affordable healthcare. Ohio is likely to be among the hardest hit states if these extreme Medicaid cuts become reality. 

Cuts to healthcare are deeply unpopular in Ohio, even in the most republican leaning congressional districts. It’s not surprising that the three Ohio Republicans on Energy & Commerce have refused to show up for town halls with their constituents. Latta and Rulli both declined direct invitations to join town halls, with Rulli calling one event a “pathetic spectacle.” Balderson sent his staff to hold an event instead of showing up himself. 

“While billionaires enjoy the tax breaks politicians fought so hard for in this budget, Ohio families will grapple with sky-high healthcare costs,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “We’re calling on all members of Ohio’s Republican congressional delegation to do the right thing and vote against a budget that prioritizes billionaires over the health of their constituents.”

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The post Republicans Just Took Another Step Towards Cutting Medicaid  appeared first on Ohio Democrats.

Columbus, Ohio– Last week, a new report from the U.S. News & World Report ranked Ohio as the 13th worst state in the country. For Ohioans who have watched as Republicans used their illegal supermajorities to gut education, rip away personal freedoms, and destroy our state’s economy, this ranking is disappointing, but not surprising.

Under years of Republican control, Ohioans’ quality of life has deteriorated while costs have gone up. Instead of fighting for access to education, healthcare, and a good-paying job, Republicans have left Ohioans behind in service of billionaires and fellow party insiders. Every Republican on the ballot owns the state of our state- and Ohio Democrats will make sure voters know they’re responsible.

“Ohioans are seeing their quality of life go down while their state government would rather reward billionaires and extremists,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “Voters can expect to see Republican candidates try every trick in the book to avoid taking responsibility for the decline in our state, but at the end of the day they only have themselves to blame. Ohioans deserve better from our state government.”

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