Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 04/30/2018 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!


AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR OHIO VOTERS
Ohio’s primary election takes place tomorrow! Learn more about where candidates stand on critical issues affecting women and families by using our newly launched 2018 Primary Election Voter Guide.
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.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS FROM THIS WEEK

Ohio asks feds for ok to impose Medicaid work requirements 

The Columbus Dispatch, April 30, 2018

Caregiver stressed by low wages, but client is ‘family’

The Daily Jeff, April 30, 2018

Think abortion should be punished? Take a look around (Opinion)

The Washington Post Opinions, April 30, 2018

Bill to end statute of limitations for rape introduced in Statehouse

ABC6, May 1, 2018
Akron Beacon Journal: Editorial Board, May 3, 2018

Iowa governor signs strictest abortion regulations in US

AP, May 4, 2018

Anti-abortion activist shared tips in DeWine probe

AP, May 4, 2018

The Deafening Silence Around Police Violence Against Black Women and Girls (Opinion)

Huffington Post, May 5, 2018

Americans are starting to suffer from Trump’s health-care sabotage (Opinion)

The Washington Post: Editorial Board, May 6, 2018

#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. The legislature was out again last week, and only a few Senate committees are scheduled to meet this week. Here are updates for women-centric legislation:
  •  HB 627 (Smith, Galonski) – Statute of Limitations: Eliminates the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of rape. The bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday, May 1.
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
We were one of the many organizations, health care professionals, and individuals to write comments in opposition to imposing work requirements for Medicaid. Bottom line: work requirements don’t work. And they would be especially harmful to women; threatening women’s health and economic security without improving employment. (Read our full comment here).
Despite an overwhelming majority of public comments in opposition to the proposed changes, the Kasich Administration submitted their 1115 Medicaid Waiver for work requirements to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Now, CMS will review the proposal and open up a federal public comment period, likely to begin in mid-May.
TAKE ACTION
UHCAN Ohio is beginning the process of collecting comments to submit to the federal level once the federal comment period opens.