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Dear Constituents,
As Ohio has been leading the nation in opioid and heroin overdose deaths, 1 Democratic
lawmakers in Ohio have been calling on Gov. John Kasich to declare a state of
emergency in Ohio to bring more resources to bear in the fight and increase our focus
across the state. Recently, the president of the United States of America announced he
is declaring a national state of emergency on the opioid crisis.
Ohio House Dems
Are Now On:
I believe it is more important now than ever that our governor put aside petty
disagreements or political differences with the president to do what I believe is the right
thing, here at home in the Buckeye State: declare a statewide emergency and release
emergency funding for law enforcement, treatment, education and prevention.

Too many families in Ohio have experienced firsthand the tragic loss and devastation
that highly addictive painkillers and heroin have brought us. Drug-addicted parents have
abandoned young children, forcing them into the states growing foster care system or
even worse temporary state custody.2

I believe that, unless we declare a statewide emergency and truly invest in treatment
and prevention, more Ohio families will be torn apart, more neighbors will become
criminals to support their addiction and more people will become dependent on state
assistance to make ends meet.

It is difficult to imagine what things could be like in our state if we dont do everything in
our power to stop the devastation and destruction now.

Ohioans already rank first in the burden of student loan debt3, 35th in household
income4, and first in reliance on the federal government for financial help fighting
poverty5. We simply cant afford to do any worse.

I would like to see Ohio leading in job creation, take-home pay and economic stability
not deaths from drugs.

Thank you for taking the time to stay engaged and informed, and please do not hesitate
to contact me with your ideas, concerns and questions. I am honored to serve as your
voice in Columbus.
Sincerely,

Emilia S. Sykes
State Representative
Ohios 34th House District
1
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20161129/ohio-leads-nation-in-overdose-deaths/1
2
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/opiate_addiction_including_her.html
3
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170805/ohio-ranks-worst-when-it-comes-to-college-students-in-debt
4
http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2015/09/ohio_income_up_but_state_ranki_1.html
5
http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/gov-state-budgets-federal-funding-2015-2018-trump.html

In This Issue
Charter school sponsors should return money/New bill would protect domestic violence victims
I feel ensuring a quality education for our children should not be a
partisan issue. Moving forward, I hope we can do a better job at
shining light on the misuse of taxpayer funds and ensuring that
charter schools operate in a transparent, accountable manner.

Dem lawmakers proposal seeks to address domestic violence by

allowing judicial discretion in cases of temporary protection orders
allowing a judge to order the surrender of firearms while a
temporary restraining order is in effect.

Click here to read more.

Bill would require local officers to report abuse/Sales Tax Holiday lessens sting of recent hikes

Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent (D-Columbus) recently introduced

House Bill (HB) 137, legislation which will make municipal and county
peace officers mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. By
requiring more trained officers to report abuse in the home, we can
save lives and help put a stop to domestic violence.

Ohio families recently had the opportunity to ease the pain of

Republican-led sales tax hikes through the second-ever sales tax-free
holiday August 5-7. The temporary tax-free holiday covered many
back-to-school items, including clothing, school supplies and
instructional materials.

Click here for more.

77 South High Street

Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-3100 Phone
State Representative (614) 719-6944 Fax
Emilia Sykes (800) 282-0253 Toll Free
Contact Information
Send me an e-mail! Rep34@ohiohouse.gov
On the Web: http://www.ohiohouse.gov

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2017 State Representative Emilia Sykes