Dear friends,

President Joe Biden is pushing forward with an ambitious plan to deliver direct relief to working families and defeat the coronavirus pandemic. He's hard at work for all those who need it most. The president's American Rescue Plan would:

Get $1,400 direct relief checks to Americans, on top of $600 checks previously approved, for a total of $2,000 in direct aid
Enhance unemployment benefits and extend pandemic unemployment programs
Increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour
Provide additional support for small businesses
Extend the federal eviction moratorium and provide additional aid to low- and moderate-income households out of work
Provide funding for vaccines, testing and schools

In this challenging moment, we need to think big and go big. The president's rescue plan would boost the economy back to where it was before the pandemic. In contrast, the Republican alternative, which is being pushed by Sen. Rob Portman, would fall short of restoring economic growth.

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Saving lives and rescuing the economy shouldn't be a partisan issue. In fact, an overwhelming majority of Americans support the president's coronavirus relief plan. Don't buy the Republican spin -- the Biden agenda IS a bipartisan agenda. It's time to Build Back Better.

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In solidarity,

Liz

Liz Walters
Chair
Ohio Democratic Party


OHIO DEMS IN THE HEADLINES

Sen. Sherrod Brown Introduces PRO Act

This week U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown joined with Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate to introduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive labor legislation to protect workers' right to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits and safer workplaces.

"Honoring the Dignity of Work starts with honoring the rights of working people to start or join a union," said Brown. "We cannot address inequality in this country until workers get more power in the workplace. Especially now, with workers fearing for their health and economic security amid a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, we must recommit to the rights of all workers to band together and fight for better pay, safe working conditions and a fair share of the wealth they help create."

The pandemic has made it clearer than ever that our economy is benefitting the biggest corporations and wealthiest individuals, while failing workers. Unions are critical to increasing wages and addressing growing income inequality -- with studies showing that union members earn on average 19 percent more than those with similar education, occupation and experience in a non-union workplace.

The PRO Act would reverse years of attacks on unions and restore fairness to the economy by strengthening the federal laws that protect workers' right to join a union and bargain for higher wages and better benefits.

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GOP WATCH

Ohio GOP Ignores Massive Problems with Unemployment System

This week Ohioans learned that Gov. Mike DeWine's administration paid out $330 million in fraudulent unemployment compensation claims from April through December 2020.

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Meanwhile, more than 2 million Ohioans have applied for unemployment insurance benefits since the coronavirus crisis began, and many Ohioans with legitimate claims have been waiting weeks and even months for the benefits they're entitled to receive.

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Ohio Republicans are stonewalling on the issue. Last year, the Ohio legislature created the Unemployment Compensation Improvement Modernization Council, but GOP leaders have refused to hold a single meeting. State Sen. Teresa Fedor and state Rep. Lisa Sobecki are pressuring Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Bob Cupp to convene the council immediately to address Ohioans' concerns.

"Ohioans are suffering, and some of the problems with Ohio's unemployment system are unacceptable," said Sobecki. "Not just my constituents, but all Ohioans are wondering, why the council hasn't met? They haven't even named a council chair. This hurts Ohioans across the entire state. It is unacceptable that they are dragging their feet."

"After the delays we saw earlier in the pandemic, the council should have started its work on day one," said Fedor. "Ohioans can't wait because their bills can't wait. This legislature has a habit of manufacturing crises by waiting until the last minute to address urgent issues, only to say there isn't time to find a real solution. We will not be quiet while Ohioans are suffering."

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UPCOMING EVENTS:

Monday, Feb. 8 -- Ohio State University College Dems Conversation on Political Careers
Tuesday, Feb. 9 -- Fair Districts Coalition Speakers Bureau Training
Wednesday, Feb. 10 -- Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations of Central Ohio February Meeting
Wednesday, Feb. 10 -- Delaware County Democratic Party Black History Month Forum Hosted by Ohio Dems Vice Chair Andre Washington
Thursday, Feb. 11 -- Columbiana County Young Dems Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 11 -- Northwest Montgomery County Democrats Black History Month Meeting
Saturday, Feb. 13 -- Greene County Democratic Party Meeting
Saturday, Feb. 13 -- Summit County Democratic Party Valentine's Drive-through Fundraiser
Tuesday, Feb. 16 -- Reynoldsburg Area Democrats Drive-through Mardi Gras Celebration
Monday, Feb. 22 -- League of Women Voters Luncheon Discussion with State Rep. Brigid Kelly
Tuesday, Feb. 23 -- All of Us: Community Town Hall with State Rep. Dontavius Jarrells
Wednesday, Feb. 24 -- Upper Arlington Progressive Action Book Club Discussion
Wednesday, March 3 -- Fairfield County Democratic Party Book Club Discussion
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Paid for by the Ohio Democratic Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. [link removed]

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