Representatives Brigid Kelly (D) and Niraj Antani (R) recently introduced two important bi-partisan bills for women and families in Ohio: one to eliminate the sales tax on menstrual hygiene products; and one to make baby diapers sales tax free. Representative Kelly stressed why the passage of these bills is so crucial for women and families:
“Making sure people and families have medically necessary products means that people can go to work, can go to school, can more fully participate in their school and their community,” Kelly said. “It will keep women healthy, it will keep babies healthy and that’s good for everybody.”
When Irene’s father became ill with pneumonia, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 made sure that her job was protected while she cared for him. The FMLA helps American workers balance the duel demands of work and family responsibilities, but it falls short of providing the kind of support many workers need: access to paid leave. Watch Irene’s story here.
WEEKLY PREVIEW (FEBRUARY 18 – FEBRUARY 22): Things are picking up at the Ohio Legislature as lawmakers introduce some of their priority bills for the session and committees continue to meet to take up legislation. Here’s what is happening this week:
1.) Contact your State Senator and demand that they put a stop to the attacks on abortion access in Ohio. Use the letter writing tool from NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio to send a message directly to your lawmaker’s inbox.
2.) Attend the second hearing on the six-week abortion ban (SB 23) in the Senate Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee. The Committee will meet at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 19 in the South Hearing Room of the Statehouse. Help us send a message to lawmakers at this hearing: Stop The Bans. More details.
3.) Contact Senate President Larry Obhof and tell him: Spread the love, Pass the Ohio Fairness Act in 2019. Use the letter-writing tool from Innovation Ohio to send a message directly to his inbox.
Conservatives Are Perpetuating Dangerous Tropes About Patients Who Need Later Abortions
Rewire News, February 04, 2019
Restrictions on Later Abortions Hurt People of Color the Most
Rewire News, February 06, 2019
The New York Times, February 11, 2019
Cleveland, February 11, 2019
The New York Times, February 12, 2019
The Mary Sue, February 12, 2019
Bustle, February 12, 2019
Glamour, February 12, 2019
Teen Vogue, February 12, 2019
The Columbus Dispatch, February 12, 2019
Policy Matters Ohio, February 13, 2019
Harvard Business Review, February 13, 2019
The Secret History of Women in Coding
The New York Times, February 13, 2019
12 Women in Politics Write Notes to Each Other for Valentine’s Day
Elle, February 13, 2019
Galentine’s Day and the political power of women’s friendships
The Washington Post, February 13, 2019
More women wanted in parliament – archive, 1920
The Guardian, February 13, 2019
Opinion: We Passed Paid Leave In Our States. The Rest of America Deserves The Same
News Week, February 14, 2019
Abortion rights lawsuit filed to head off new Ohio restriction
The Columbus Dispatch, February 14, 2019
Los Angeles Sentinel, February 14, 2019
The Washington Post, February 15, 2019
Could the U.S. Get Paid Family Leave? It’s Looking Better Than Ever
The New York Times, February 15, 2019
Virginia Democrats Now Look To Women Of Color For Leadership
NPR, February 16, 2019
Opinion: Do Women in Politics Face a Double Standard?
The New York Times, February 17, 2019
New Ohio lawmaker Erica Crawley’s difficult life is familiar to her Columbus constituents
The Columbus Dispatch, February 17, 2019
Hartford Courant, February 18, 2019
Next week, on February 26th, we’ll be gathering with hundreds of women in Central Ohio for Thrive Columbus, a full day summit that will support women in accomplishing their goals by providing them with the resources they need to thrive in their personal and professional lives.