Stay engaged, involved, and up-to-date: 10/22/2018 Weekly Review
Monday, October 29th, 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!
We partnered with the Coalition on Human Needs to release an Ohio Poverty Snapshot highlighting data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on income, poverty, and health coverage through the year 2017. According to the snapshot, while poverty rates have declined since 2016, 1.5 million people in Ohio remain in poverty and 3.5 million people throughout the state remain near poor.
With the release of this new data, we called upon lawmakers in Ohio and Washington to recommit to policy efforts that support working families, particularly women who take on dual roles of caregivers and breadwinners:
Programs like SNAP, housing assistance, and Medicaid play a critical role in the economic security of Ohio households. Efforts to restrict access to these programs could increase hardships for the families who depend on the program to make ends meet. [To read the Ohio Poverty Snapshot, click here. And to access infographics from the snapshot, click here.]
We are nearly one week away from Election Day – and early voting is already underway! Issues fundamental to women and their families should be at the forefront of every single race here in Ohio, and that’s exactly what our 2018 General Election Voter Guide Website aims to do.
The website has responses from a questionnaire we sent candidates running for state executive offices (Attorney General, Auditor, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Treasurer), State House, and State Senate. This guide provides voters with a non-partisan tool to understand candidates’ priorities on three main issues areas:
1.) Promoting economic security for women and their families;
2.) Ensuring fairness and opportunity in the workplace; and
3.) Improving women’s health and wellbeing
Before you vote, make sure you know where candidates stand on crucial issues related to women’s economic security, workplace opportunity, and health. Check out the full Voter Guide on our website.
In Ohio, women are 51% of the population and hold only 22% of elected offices in the state legislature. Are you ready to be a leader in your community? Have you considered running for public office or volunteering for a political campaign? Do you know someone that you think would make a great political candidate?
We Need More Women in Public Office: Research shows that women make government more transparent, inclusive and accessible. Women bring different priorities and experiences to public life, including perspectives that have been largely absent in public policy making. Women change the way government works, and their voices are needed around the country.
The John Glenn College of Public Affairs will host Ready to Run – Campaign Training for Women on December 6, 2018. This one-day conference provides training on building, financing, messaging and launching your campaign for elected office.
If you are not ready to run, but want to be a leader in your community advocating for issues and candidates important to you, we invite you to join us for the Ready to Advocate conference track with sessions on voter engagement, sexual harassment, and volunteer/political board engagement.
The John Glenn College of Public Affairs and Programs for Ohio Women Empowered to Represent (POWER) challenge you to attend this conference and jump-start your political career. Get more information about the program and register today!
Governing.com, October 2018
Life-threatening birth complications more common in minorities, study finds
NBC News, October 10, 2018
In Prison, Discipline Comes Down Hardest on Women
NPR, October 15, 2018
Child Care’s Impact on Women’s Opportunities
The Wall Street Journal, October 21, 2018
Miscarrying at Work: The Physical Toll of Pregnancy Discrimination
The New York Times, October 21, 2018
Despite Dip in Poverty Numbers, 1.5 Million Ohioans Struggle
Public News Service, October 24, 2018
Justice Department says businesses can discriminate against transgender employees
The Hill, October 24, 2018
More than 1 million absentee ballots requested in Ohio
10TV, October 24, 2018
OSU students want young people to vote in November
NBC4i, October 24, 2018
Ohio lawmaker wants to eliminate sales tax on diapers
Cincinnati Enquirer, October 25, 2018
Uber, Lyft and Lime offering discounts to polling locations on Election Day
10TV, October 26, 2018
After-school program says low-income children are not getting free meals
ABC6, October 26, 2018
Women candidates challenged history, party, and sexism
CNN, October 28, 2018
Polling Shows Health-Care Protections a Hot-Button Election Issue
Public News Service, October 29, 2018
‘Yes means yes’: How Ohio universities teach students about consent
Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 29, 2018
More students opt for free breakfast when it’s served in classroom
The Columbus Dispatch, October 29, 2018
- House Bill 752 (Sykes) – Health Standards: Requires the State Board of Education to develop and adopt health education standards for grades kindergarten through 12. This bill would also limit the approval of the Ohio General Assembly to require approval of only venereal disease education standards and curriculum adopted by the State Board. The bill was introduced in the House on October 24th.
- House Bill 753 (Antani) – Sales Tax Exemption: To exempt from sales and use tax the sale of diapers designed for infants and toddlers. The bill was introduced in the House on October 29th.
