Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 04/23/2018 Weekly Review

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!

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE CANDIDATES STAND ON IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECT WOMEN AND FAMILIES

Ahead of next week’s May 8th primary election, we launched a 2018 Primary Election Voter Guide for candidates in contested races for state house, state senate, and state executive office (Attorney General, Auditor, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer).

Our Voter Guide is intended to serve as a nonpartisan voter education tool for voters to learn more about candidates’ priorities for policy issues affecting women’s economic security, workplace opportunity, and healthcare. Be sure to check out the guide before you vote! Access the full Voter Guide here.

IT’S PAST TIME FOR PAID LEAVE

 

Last week, we joined State Representatives Janine Boyd and Stephanie Howse, State Senator Sandra Williams, and community partners to sponsor a screening in Cleveland Heights of the documentary Zero Weeks: Exploring America’s Paid Leave Crisis. 

Following the film screening, Caitlin Johnson, Communications Director for Policy Matters Ohio, moderated a panel discussion with State Representative Janine Boyd, and Max Gerboc, an Organizer with SEIU Local 1, about how Ohioans could join their efforts to advocate for a statewide paid leave policy.

Learn more about how you can help advance paid leave legislation in Ohio using our Paid Leave Advocacy Toolkit.

---

LOOKING AHEAD: PARTNER EVENTS FOR THIS UPCOMING WEEK

Columbus Chapter of NOW – Gun Violence Symposium 

Saturday, May 5, 2018

2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Grandview Heights Public Library, 1685 W. First Ave, Grandview, OH 43212

Speakers: 

Ethel Guttenberg, grandmother of a Parkland School shooting victim 

Marian Harris, representing the grassroots group, Ohioans for Gun Safety 

Amanda Lynch, Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence 

This event is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP: nowcolumbus614@gmail.com

Visit our Partner Events Calendar for more details on future events hosted by our coalition partners across the state.

---

---

#OHLEG ALERT

We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. The legislature is out again this week. Here are updates from last week:

• HB 613 (West, Galonski) – Pregnancy Testing: Makes changes to current law regarding testing pregnant women for HIV, syphilis, and gonorrhea. The bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday, April 24.

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

UPDATE AS OF APRIL 30: We were one of many groups and individuals to submit comments in opposition to Ohio Department of Medicaid’s proposed Medicaid program changes, which would impose work requirements for Medicaid coverage. Although the overwhelming majority of public comments were opposed to the changes, the Kasich Administration did submit the 1115 waiver to the federal government for approval on the afternoon of Monday, April 30th. The full waiver is available online here. Stay tuned for more ways to make your voice heard.