Women's Public Policy Network

Ohio

Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 07/30/2018 Weekly Review

Tuesday, August 7th, 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!

From L to R: Dr. Sasha Beyer, M.D., Ph.D, 5th year resident, The Ohio State University; Elizabeth Brown, Executive Director, The Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network,
Angela C. Dawson, Executive Director, The Ohio Commission on Minority Health;
Kenya George, Executive Director, Capital Health Home Care Concierge and co-chair of Health Committee for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Central Ohio Chapter; and Doug Anderson, attorney, Squire, Patton, Boggs
[Photo Credit: Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice]
Access to affordable, comprehensive health care is critically important to the well-being and economic security of women and their families. Last week, we hosted a panel discussion that explored the advancements and innovations in women’s health since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The conversation provided a wide range of view points: tackling how implicit bias and discrimination lead to gender and racial disparities in access and quality of care; examining how the insurance markets have become more equitable for women since the passage of the ACA; and discussing how women’s workforce participation and economic potential has improved as a result of greater access to care.
 [Read our Fact Sheet to learn more about the direct connection between women’s health care and economic security]

ADVANCING EQUAL PAY FOR BLACK WOMEN
Women face wage disparities in nearly ever sector and industry – and for women of color, the wage gap is far larger than for white women. Tomorrow marks Black Women’s Equal Pay Day: symbolizing how far into the year a black woman must work in order to catch up to what a white man made the previous year.
To recognize this day, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, the Columbus Women’s Commission, and business leaders from the city gathered to commit to ending the gender and racial pay inequalities experienced by women in our community, signing the Columbus Equal Pay Pledge.
Equal pay is a critical issue for the economic security of women and their families, as well as businesses and our state. Promoting equal pay helps women reach their full economic potential, meaning that they will have more to spend on themselves and their families, invest and save for their future, and put back into the local economy with their buying power. That’s why the work business leaders, advocates, and lawmakers are doing to close the wage gap is so critically important. [Learn more about the Columbus Pay Equity Pledge]
WHAT’S NEW IN THE NEWS FROM THIS PAST WEEK

Trump abortion ‘gag rule’ hurts AIDS fight, advocates say
NBC News, July 27, 2018

USA Today, July 28, 2018

Opinion: Think Summer Child Care Is Tough? Low-Income Families Deal With That All Year
The New York Times, July 29, 2018

The Abortions We Don’t Talk About
Slate, July 29, 2018

Opinion: The Senate must prevent Kavanaugh’s nomination from corrupting the Supreme Court
The Washington Post, July 30, 2018

Three Children, Two Abortions
The Atlantic, July 31, 2018

An Ivanka Trump-Backed Paid Family Leave Plan Is About To Drop – And It’s Already Controversial
Bustle, August 1, 2018

The Columbus Dispatch, August 1, 2018
Rewire, August 2, 2018

For a number of Ohioans, a job doesn’t mean health insurance
The Columbus Dispatch, August 2, 2018

Opinion: Planned Parenthood belongs in federal Title X program
The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 5, 2018

The Columbus Dispatch, August 5, 2018

A potentially pathbreaking local effort to unknot the ways of black infant mortality: editorial
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 5, 2018

New Campaign Raises Awareness of the Pay Gap for Black Women
Forbes, August 5, 2018

#OHLEG ALERT
We are tracking the progress of any state bills affecting women in the Ohio Legislature for the 132nd General Assembly. No updates: the House and Senate were out last week and this upcoming week for summer recess. 

We will keep tracking any new updates and will be sharing timely legislative updates on 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 ADVANCE EQUAL PAY LEGISLATION
Tomorrow, we recognize Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. In Ohio, the wage gap for black women is slightly larger than the national average: black women working full-time, year round are paid just 64 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man.
Black women’s pay is critically important for the economic security of themselves and their families. In fact, nationally, 85 percent of black mothers take on the role of key breadwinner for their families. Unfair wage disparities not only impact women’s paychecks now, but also have long-term consequences for women’s wealth attainment, investment, and retirement savings.
We need lawmakers to get serious about pay equality: If the current pace of change continues at the same rate as it has in the United States since 1960, men and women will not reach gender pay parity until the year 2059.
There are a number of equal pay bills current pending in the Ohio state legislature, including Ohio House Bill 385, which prohibits state agencies from enacting certain policies that lead to unfair pay and discriminatory hiring practices, such as requiring salary history or allowing wage secrecy. The bill has already received two hearings, but needs your help to continue moving. 
Use our letter writing tool to contact the members of the committee and urge them to support the bill.