Women's Public Policy Network

Ohio

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 04/16/2018 Weekly Review

Monday, April 23rd, 2018

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: In the weekly reviews from the Women’s Public Policy Network, we look back on last week’s highlights from the WPPN, share updates on bills affecting women that are moving at the Statehouse, showcase weekly news clips, and provide calls to action on bills pending in the Legislature. Sign up for our emails to receive these updates in your inbox every week!
EMBRACING YOUR VOICE FOR SURVIVORS
On Thursday, we joined our partners at the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence for their 6th annual Advocacy Day, which celebrated the theme “Embrace Your Voice.” We were reminded that every Ohioan has the opportunity to support survivors of sexual assault and harassment by making their voices heard at the Statehouse.
A Survivor Panel Discussion with Jocelyn Frye, a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and members of the OAESV Survivor Advisory Council shared how they found their voice and why this work is so important. Then, attendees met with legislators to advocate for a number of bills currently pending in the legislature, such as House Bill 377 (Erin’s Law) and Senate Bill 41 (Advocate Privilege).
LOOKING AHEAD: PARTNER EVENTS FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK
Saturday, April 28, 2018
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
YWCA Dayton – 141 W. Third Street, Dayton, OH 45402
Rape Culture 101: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Break: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Showing Up, Showing Support: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
YWCA Dayton is proud to present a community training session that teaches everyday people techniques for recognizing and responding to sexual violence, as well as techniques on how to support the survivors in their own lives. This day-long training session gives cultural context for sexual violence, relevant techniques for recognizing situations where violence may be present, methods on showing support to survivors, and ways to actively intervene before violence occurs. Register online here.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Cedar Lee Theatre – 2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44110
Networking: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Documentary Screening: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Panel Discussion on Paid Leave: 8:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Hosted by: State Representatives Janine Boyd and Stephanie Howse and State Senator Sandra Wiliams
Sponsors: The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, National Council of Jewish Women, Policy Matters Ohio, Black Women’s Political Action Committee, League of Women Voters (LWV), Greater Cleveland, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Foundation, ACLU Foundation of Ohio, Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network, New Voices Cleveland, Innovation Ohio Education Foundation
Twenty- five years ago, on February 5th, 1993, former President Bill Clinton signed the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into law, which provided workers with unpaid, job-protected leave to recover from a serious medical condition, provide care for a seriously ill family member, or care for a new child. While the FMLA was a landmark piece of legislation in addressing the duel demands of work and family responsibilities, it falls short of providing many working families with the kind of leave they need: paid leave. 
 
Join us for a screening of ZERO WEEKS, a documentary exploring America’s paid leave crisis and the importance of providing paid leave for American worker. After the screening, join advocates and legislators for a conversation about what you can do to advocate for paid family leave in Ohio. RSVP here!
WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK
#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. House and Senate session was cancelled last week and a number of Committees did not meet last week. This week, the only thing on the schedule for the House or Senate side is the Tax Expenditure Review Committee. Here is the one update we have from last week:
  • HB 605 (Kelly, Smith) – Overtime Pay: Expands the overtime pay laws to increase the salary threshold above which employees are exempt from the overtime laws. The bill was introduced in the House on April 17. 
We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on these and other women-centric legislation on Twitter using the #OHLeg hashtag. Follow us to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at the Statehouse.
RAISE YOUR VOICE TO PROTECT MEDICAID 

The Ohio Department of Medicaid has received comments on its proposed Medicaid program changes, which would impose work requirements for Medicaid coverage. The Governor may decide not to submit the waiver based on the comments, as the majority of comments submitted opposed the waiver.
Studies have shown that work requirements don’t work. They would have an especially harmful impact on women; hurting women’s health and economic security while failing to increase employment. For more information about how the waiver would hurt women, read our comment submitted to the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
TAKE ACTION
 
Contact Governor Kasich and urge him not to submit the waiver.
Call (614) 466-3555 or send him a message here 
 
During your call or in your message, tell him:
  1. Do not to submit the 1115 waiver
  2. These requirements will hurt the health of workers who lose health care coverage because of this new red tape. It will hurt the health of people who have lost their job through no fault of their own, and struggle to find work. Without health care coverage, they will lose preventive care and will not get care until they need hospital care.
  3. It will hurt the health of people whose illness makes it difficult to work but haven’t navigated the bureaucracy to prove disability.
  4. The waiver will cost county governments millions to implement and will not improve job opportunities.
  5. It will hurt health care providers and institutions who will be faced with increased uncompensated care.