Joyce Beatty
Will Kasich be the only Ohioan to speak at the Democratic National Convention?
The news of former Republican Gov. John Kasich being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention turned quite a few heads. It now appears Kasich will be the only Ohio politician to speak at the virtual convention — at least, during the prime-time hours. The DNC is scheduled for Aug. 17-20, with a slate […]
An SOS (Save Our Schools) to U.S. Sen. Rob Portman from education groups
Editor’s Note: This is a joint commentary from Lois Carson, president of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, and Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. On Thursday, March 12, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Ohio schools would be shutting down physically and four […]
House Dems pass massive infrastructure bill; Ohio GOP reps call it ‘not serious’ and a ‘partisan game’
When U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, a Republican from southeast Ohio, talks about the infrastructure needs of his district, he talks about how crucial better internet connections are for students, patients and entrepreneurs. He says Appalachia’s roads and bridges are too often neglected by state and federal officials who decide where to spend money for repairs. […]
George Floyd’s brother: ‘Make sure that he is more than another face on a t-shirt’
WASHINGTON — George Floyd’s younger brother, Philonise Floyd, pleaded with lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday to ensure that his brother didn’t die in vain. “I can’t tell you the kind of pain you feel when you watch something like that. When you watch your big brother, who you looked up to your whole entire life […]
Portman invited political allies to call on COVID-19, racial justice
A growing number of black organizations and leaders in Ohio have confirmed they were not invited to participate in a recent conference call hosted by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman about COVID-19 and racial injustice. At least two political allies of Sen. Portman were, however, invited to join, the Ohio Capital Journal has learned. The call […]
House passes $3T relief bill that’s been declared ‘dead on arrival’ in Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Friday cleared a massive $3 trillion relief bill aimed at blunting the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sweeping legislation, which passed largely along partisan lines by a vote of 208-199, carries a price tag that’s roughly equal to the four previous coronavirus response bills already signed into law. […]
Will Congress send aid to ailing local news outlets?
WASHINGTON — Politicians are banding together to try to rescue local news media from economic collapse during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced that Democratic leaders in Congress are pushing to fix a small business lending program so that it applies to local news publishers and broadcasters affiliated with larger organizations. […]
Congressional Dems want more federal cash to combat hunger during pandemic
WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers want to prioritize food insecurity in the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation. More than 100 lawmakers sent a letter Tuesday asking Democratic and Republican leaders of the U.S. House and Senate to boost the maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit by 15% — a request Republicans rejected in the $2 […]
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan takes workhorse-showhorse divide to extremes
WASHINGTON — One of the most influential members of Congress — and most ardent defenders of President Donald Trump — is also one of the least active legislatively. Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan — the ranking Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the upper chamber’s main investigative arm — didn’t introduce any bills […]
‘What year is this?’ Ohio congresswomen aim to stamp out hair-based discrimination
WASHINGTON — About a year ago, a New Jersey teen was forced to cut his dreadlocks in order to participate in a high school wrestling match. The wrestler, Andrew Johnson, received a hurried haircut after he was told by a referee that his hair violated wrestling rules. He won the match and state officials opened […]
Here is what Ohio’s members of Congress said about impeaching Trump
Wednesday’s historic vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President Donald Trump was approved on a near-completely party line vote. Such was true for Ohio’s delegation of 16 representatives. All 12 Republicans voted against the two articles of impeachment, while the four Democrats voted in favor. Nine Ohio representatives from both sides spoke […]
Catching our eye 12.6.19
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching our eye: About the GM Lordstown announcement. If you read our reporting closely, in Tyler Buchanan‘s story today […]