Fighting for Women
When we support women, everyone wins. We have a lot of work to do, including ensuring access to affordable healthcare (especially safe, legal access to abortion) equal pay for equal work, paid parental leave, affordable child care, and the ability to report and be assured of an effective response to sexual harassment and abuse. These issues disproportionately affect women in Ohio. The party in power has taken aim at women’s rights and I won’t stand for it.
Growing Our Economy
Our global, regional, and local economies are changing, and we need to invest in our workforce to adapt. We need to make sure our workforce has the necessary skills to meet the demands of high-growth industries like renewable energies, manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare. We must also eliminate overly burdensome regulations that are discouraging the wind energy industry from bringing jobs to Ohio. I am proud to co-author the The Energy Jobs & Justice Act which is a comprehensive clean energy policy rooted in equity, economic development, and accountability. After decades of energy policy that largely favors utilities and fossil fuels, Ohio needs forward-looking solutions that are good for our economy, our communities, and our health. The Energy Jobs & Justice Act ensures that Ohio emerges with an energy policy designed for all Ohioans. We have a tremendous opportunity to invest in our future and provide secure, high-paying jobs for many years to come.
Restoring Local Control
Even our most established communities struggle with basic road upkeep. I understand the infrastructure needs of our district and Ohio, which is why I fought to increase municipal funding in the transportation budget, allowing for more projects. Today, our district is now getting 62.4% more in state funding for local transportation infrastructure! I also understand that our emergency responder's hindered ability to respond to the opioid crisis must be addressed. Though Ohio’s rainy day fund is now full, the state continues to hoard money and direct resources away from local governments. I successfully worked to secure the first increase to the Local Government Fund since 2009. These monies are targeted at small cities and villages like those in Ohio’s 34th district.
SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY, VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
Every single day, we as a nation enjoy freedoms that our veterans and first responders work hard to protect. That’s why I want to work hard to protect them. I had the incredible honor of seeing our Governor sign my military families bill (HB133/SB7) into law. This law ensures Active Duty spouses have a clear path to maintain employment by honoring out of state licenses and certifications when stationed in Ohio. I also co-sponsored HR 77, a bipartisan bill with the Chairman of the Armed Services & Veterans Affairs Committee that urges Congress to fully fund Ohio’s $112 million in military construction projects. Most recently, I had the pleasure of helping secure state funding to assist in building the state of the art Northfield Center Township Safety and Administration Building for our First Responders.
Supporting Access to Healthcare
All Ohioans deserve access to affordable healthcare. The cost of many services and necessary medication, including insulin, is too high for most - even for those who have healthcare plans. People should not have to put off a house payment, take out a loan, or travel out of the country for medical care that should be available at a reasonable price in the United States. I support reducing prescription drug prices, maintaining Medicaid expansion, and providing affordable healthcare for seniors. I am proud to help combat the opioid crisis by securing additional funding for existing successful programs, including the Summit County Quick Response Team and the Drug Abuse Team Grant Response Program. I also co-authored HB 243 or Madeline’s Law, which requires insurance coverage for minors’ hearing aids that are currently considered “cosmetic” and therefore very costly for families. This bill will cover up to $2,500/year every 4-years for those under 21.
Educating Our Children
Our children deserve a solid educational foundation to ensure they are prepared to join the workforce of tomorrow. I have and will continue to deliver the resources necessary for the next generation to succeed. Through mine and my Democratic colleagues’ efforts, the state’s operating budget increased funding for public universities and K-12 institutions and added millions of dollars to the Ohio College Opportunity Grant to make college more accessible. This effort also increased the base teacher salary from $20,000 to $30,000. Our state wasted $1 billion in taxpayer money on unaccountable charter schools as part of a corrupt pay-to-play scheme. This is unacceptable, and we can’t expect the same people who broke the system to fix it. I will continue the fight to restructure the way we fund our public schools and invest in our children's future with a strong universal pre-K.
Protecting Our Environment
The 34th District is home to parts of Cuyahoga River, a perfect example of Ohio’s natural beauty. Preserving and enhancing our natural environment is good for the health, happiness, and prosperity of our families as well as our economy. We need to turn our attention towards sustainable and responsible environmental policies that make sense for Ohio’s economy and our families. I was proud to vote in favor of a budget that included $170 million for the H2Ohio program geared at long term, sustainable, science-based, and cost effective protection of Ohio’s water resources, and $47 million for preservation of AEP ReCreation Lands that ensures accessibility and protection for almost 55,000 of acres that were in jeopardy of being sold.
Supporting the First Amendment
I fully support the First Amendment to the Constitution, which protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government to see redress of grievances. While these civil liberties are considered the cornerstone of our democracy, there have been threats to them in recent years. I strongly support a person’s right to choose and practice their religion (or not) freely, and in the separation of church and state. I know that we are strongest when we can exercise our beliefs and convictions, free from coercion, intimidation, or harassment.