Strickland Announces Ohio Families First Plan To Fight For Women & Working Families, Launches "Women For Ted"
Press Release
Today, Ted Strickland joined women and community leaders in Columbus to announce his Ohio Families First Plan to fight for women and working families -- highlighting his support for policy proposals on issues like equal pay, paid family leave, affordable childcare and accessible women's healthcare. The event also marked the launch of "Women For Ted," a coalition of 100 women leaders who are supporting his campaign.
Strickland was joined by Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, and the event was held at Print Syndicate -- a woman and minority owned clothing design company which has been featured as the creators of the "Notorious RBG" shirt honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
"My mom raised 9 kids on a shoestring budget -- growing up we didn't have everything but mom always made us feel like we had enough. Women are the backbone of our families, communities and our economy -- but working families are never going to be able to get ahead until Ohio's women have a fair chance to achieve their full potential," said Ted Strickland. "The problem is that Washington politicians like Senator Portman are looking out for their rich and powerful friends, while Ohio's working women and families are paying the price: Portman has voted five times against equal pay legislation and he's led the charge to take healthcare decisions away from women -- making these vital healthcare services more expensive and less accessible. In the U.S. Senate, I'll fight for economic fairness for Ohio's women -- we need to ensure working women are earning equal pay for equal work, that they have fair access to family leave and childcare, and that a woman's health care decisions are between her and her doctor, and no one else. While Senator Portman is pushing the agenda of the wealthy and well-connected, I'm want to fight for Ohio's working families -- that's where I'm from, that's who I care about and that's who I'll always put first.
Strickland's previously announced Ohio Families First economic policy proposals include a middle class tax cut, fair overtime pay for workers, a minimum wage increase, and cracking down on unfair foreign trade deals.
Strickland proposals announced today focus on the following issue areas and are available online here:
Ensuring Equal Pay For Equal Work. Strickland is a proud supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act, and in the U.S. Senate he will fight to make sure that Ohio women receive equal pay for equal work. Senator Portman voted five times against equal pay legislation.
Paid Family and Medical Leave. When a family member gets seriously ill or welcomes a new child, it's often women who take the time off to care for their loved ones. That means women often face the gut-wrenching choice of taking time off or losing a paycheck or even a job. In the U.S. Senate, Strickland will support the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act that would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take time for their own serious health conditions or for the serious condition of a parent, child, spouse or domestic partner.
Access to Paid Sick Days. At least 43 million private sector workers in the U.S. cannot earn paid sick days, and even more cannot earn time to care for sick children or family members. Women are much more likely to miss work to care for a sick child -- and 60 percent of women will not get paid when they have to do that. In the U.S. Senate, Strickland will support the Healthy Families Act that will allow workers to earn up to seven paid sick days each year for their own illness, to access preventative care, provide care to a sick family member, attend school meetings related to a child's health condition or disability, or engaged in other specified activities relating to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.
Increasing The Availability Of Affordable And Quality Childcare. The high cost of childcare makes it extremely difficult for families to save for college, put food on the table, and keep the lights on. Strickland believes more must be done to make sure that the cost of childcare and the lack of available childcare services is not unfairly forcing women out of the workforce and holding working families back. Strickland will work to increase tax credits available to both families and employers to tackle this challenge and make sure women and families have affordable, quality options for childcare.
Protecting Women's Healthcare. Strickland believes women's healthcare choices should be between her and her doctor and that there is a clear connection between the accessibility of women's healthcare services and economic opportunity for working families. That's why in the Senate, Strickland will work to protect affordable and accessible healthcare for women, and fight against efforts to take healthcare choices away from women. In contrast,Senator Portman wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, has repeatedly worked to restrict women's access to healthcare, and led the charge to allow a woman's boss to decide whether or not to cover birth control -- costing an individual hundreds of dollars more a year.
Women for Ted: Today's event also served to mark the formal launch of "Women for Ted:" a coalition of 100 Ohio women elected officials, community leaders and activists who will work to mobilize voters across the state and share Ted's message of fighting for working families with Ohioans throughout the campaign. The first members of the coalition announced today include the following individuals:
U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
U.S. Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
Former First Lady Frances Strickland
Greene County Democratic Party Chair Doris Adams
Scioto County Recorder Gail Alley
President of North Shore Federation of Labor Harriet Applegate
State Representative Nickie Antonio
Jaladah Aslam
Former Mayor of Belle Valley Sheila Baker
Crawford County Democratic Party Chair Maggie Barth
City of Toronto Auditor Lisa Bauman
Pickaway County Commissioner Karen Bensonhaver
State Representative Heather Bishoff
Monroe County Recorder Ann Block
State Representative Kristin Boggs
Columbiana County Commissioner Linda Bolon
Harrison County Recorder Tracy Boyer
State Representative Janine Boyd
Putnam County Democratic Party Chair Linda Jones-Borton
Former State Representative Barbara Boyd
Pike County Recorder Misty Brewster
Columbus City Councilwoman Liz Brown
State Senator Edna Brown
Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown
State Senator Capri Cafaro
Geauga County Democratic Party Chair Janet Carson
Former Mayor of Batesville Mary Ann Carpenter
Licking County Democratic Party Chair Grace Cherrington
State Representative Kathleen Clyde
Lucas County Commissioner Carol Contrada
Athens City Councilwoman Jennifer Cochran
Former Public Safety Department Director Cathy Collins
Martins Ferry City Council President Kristine Davis
State Representative Denise Driehaus
Marietta City Council Kathy Downer
Ross County Recorder Kathy Dunn
Athens County Law Director Lisa Eliason
Athens City Council Christine Fahl
Belmont County Commissioner Ginny Favede
State Senator Teresa Fedor
Former OEA President Pat Frost-Brooks
Tuscarawas County Democratic Party Chair Gail Garbrandt
Former State Representative Jennifer Garrison
Bedford Heights City Councilwoman Kay Gary
Warren County Democratic Party Chair Bethe Goldenfield
Chillicothe City Councilwoman Alicia Gray
Bedford Heights City Councilwoman Wendy Grant
Former Adams County Democratic County Chair Virginia Grooms
Erie County Democratic Party Chair Amy Grubbe
Emily Hagan
Geneva City Councilwoman Susan Hagan
Athens County Auditor Kathy Hecht
Melissa Hedden
Jen House
Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson
Columbus School Board Member Mary Jo Hudson
Mercer County Democratic Party Chair Carrol Jefferies
State Representative Greta Johnson
Bridget Kelly
Summit County Clerk of Courts Sandra Kurt
Athens City Councilwoman Christine Knisley
Ronda Kinnamon
State Representative Michele Lepore-Hagan
Pike County Democratic Party Chair Joyce Leeth
Carroll County Democratic Party Chair Jane Linder
Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez
Athens County Recorder Jessica Markins
Allen County Democratic Party Chair Beverly McCoy
Former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin
Harrison County Clerk of Courts Kinsey Milliken
Former Department of Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris
Lana Moresky
Bexley City Councilwoman Deneese Owen
Franklin County Clerk of Courts Maryellen O'Shaughnessy
Columbus City Councilwoman Jaiza Page
Athens City Councilwoman Michele Papai
Highland County Democratic Party Chair Dinah Phillips
State Representative Debbie Philips
Gahanna-Jefferson School Board Member Beryl Piccolantonio
Lynnie Powell
Martins Ferry Auditor Rita Randall
Clinton County Democratic Party Chair Ann Reno
Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti
Former Department of Aging Director Barbara Riley
Gallia County Democratic Party Chair Carole Rousch
Monroe County Clerk of Courts Beth-Ann Rose
Bowling Green City Council Sandy Rowland
Former Bureau of Worker's Compensation Director Marsha Ryan
Former Ohio Budget Director Pari Sabety
Lillian Sharpley
Wayne County Democratic Party Chair Betsy Sheets
Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Sunny Simon
Coshocton County Democratic Party Chair Breanne Smith
Akron City Councilwoman Margo Sommerville
Hancock County Democratic Party Chair Nancy Stephani
Former Ohio Department of Mental Health Director Sandy Stephenson
Athens County Clerk of Courts Ann Trout
Columbus City Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson
Former Washington County Democratic Chair Molly Varner
Summit County Councilwoman Liz Walter
Mayor of Dayton Nan Whaley
State Senator Sandra Williams
Former U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow
Former Department of Commerce Director Kim Zurz
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