Advocacy Updates

Ariel Miller is joined in today’s advocacy update by Becky Surendorff of Ascension and Holy Trinity, Wyoming, who is working to reform Ohio’s laws so sexual predators are exposed and held accountable. Highlights of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Senate Aug. 7 In a dramatic marathon session Aug. 6-7, the United States Senate…

Climate Action revived by Inflation Reduction Bill On July 11, drawing on their discernment during General Convention, the Episcopal House of Bishops published an urgent call to climate action. On July 26, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer astounded the political world by announcing agreement on a bill that would invest…

August 2 primary using maps ruled unconstitutional; Ohio Supreme Court rejects second Congressional map In this second primary of 2022, Ohio voters will choose candidates for the state legislature using maps that the Ohio Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional, but which a federal court put in place for this year’s election after the Ohio Redistricting Commission…

Abortion access, the EPA’s ability to slow climate change, and gerrymandering This update puts last month’s Supreme Court decisions and a case they have agreed to hear this fall in the context of over 150 years of striving to extend equal protection to all American citizens under the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as implications for…

Ohio Environmental Council policy briefing June 22 Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans lost electric power last week when severe winds downed power lines in many communities and days of terrible heat strained the state’s grid just when people most desperately needed power to stay cool. Heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States. The non-profit…

Episcopal Church resources on deradicalization As the Jan 6 hearings continue, the Episcopal Church is publishing resources that congregations can use to help fellow Americans overcome their extremist ideology and reintegrate into their communities. This post introduces the series, grounding it in the White Supremacy and Deradicalization resolution passed by Executive Council following the violent…

Bill allowing schools to arm minimally-trained staff awaits Governor’s signature Last week, despite a huge volume of opponent testimony including letters from many Episcopalians, the Ohio Legislature passed legislation allowing school districts to arm staff with as little as 24 hours of safety training. The bill is now on Governor DeWine’s desk, and he is…

Gun Violence The Episcopal Public Policy Network has a page packed with policy information and spiritual resources for Episcopalians working to stop the epidemic gun violence that is killing and wounding people across this country and traumatizing entire communities. The resources include resolutions passed by General Convention, the May 24 statement by Presiding Bishop Curry,…

May 31, 6-8 pm: 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan Kickoff at Cincinnati Zoo Cincinnati has emerged as a national leader in sustainability and resilience since launching its first Green Cincinnati Plan in 2008. This in-person event at the Cincinnati Zoo’s Harold C Schott Education Center welcomes you to contribute your time and energy to the 2023…

New gun rights expansion bills moving in Ohio Legislature SB 293, which would prohibit fees or liability insurance for gun owners, has a proponent hearing today (May 17) in the Senate Veterans and Public Safety Committee. That means a hearing for opponent testimony could take place next week. If you write testimony, you can submit…