WHAT’S INSIDE

• President Biden Statement on Roe v Wade
• CCDP Statement on Ohio HB99 Arming Teachers
• Meet Your 2022 Democratic Candidates
• Ohio Democratic Party
• What’s New From Clermont To Columbus And Beyond
• Word From The Chair
• Join The Donkey Club
• Stand With Ukraine
• Reading Room
• COVID19 In Ohio
• Democratic Club Updates
• Clermont County Democratic Club Directory
• Next Issue Publication Dates

Editor’s Note: This issue contains a lot of important information. Although it will require an exceptional amount of reading we feel it is important to keep you informed during these chaotic times. Read a little. Digest the information. Bookmark the newsletter, then go back and read a little more. But most importantly commit to taking at least one action. Our future depends on your action.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
-Barack Obama

June 24, 2022 President Biden’s Statement on the Overturn of Roe v Wade

Today, the Supreme Court expressly took away a constitutional right from the American people. They didn’t limit it, they simply took it away.

It’s a sad day for the court and for the country. Fifty years ago, Roe v. Wade was decided, and it has been the law of the land since then. This landmark case had protected women’s right to choose. It reaffirmed basic principles of equality. And it reinforced a fundamental right of privacy, the right of each of us to choose how to live our lives. Now, with Roe gone, the health and lives of women in this nation are at risk.

Let me be very clear and unambiguous. The only way we can secure the right to choose is for Congress to restore Roe v. Wade as federal law. No executive action from the president can do that. If Congress, as it appears, lacks the votes to do that now, voters need to make their voices heard this fall.

This November, we must elect more senators and representatives who will fight back. We need to elect more state leaders to protect this right at the local level. We need to restore the protections of Roe as law of the land.

This decision must not be the final word. We will use all appropriate, lawful powers, but Congress must act. With your vote, you can act. You can have the final word. This is not over.

Thank you for your support,
Joe
Joseph R. Biden Jr.
President of the United States

ACTION NEEDED

Go to https://ohiodems.org/2022democraticcandidates/ for a list all the Ohio statewide candidates and how to follow them on social media. Like, comment and repost. Pick a candidate or two and volunteer and/or donate to their campaigns.

CLERMONT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON OHIO HB99 – ARMING TEACHERS

The Clermont County Democratic Party opposes HB 99, the law that gives local school districts the option to allow teachers and staff to carry weapons on school property with minimal training.

Accordingly, we strongly discourage its implementation by Clermont County’s local school boards of education.

BACKGROUND

HB 99 was passed weeks after the mass shooting in a Uvalde, Texas grade school. Both the Ohio House and Senate passed the bill rapidly and on mostly party-line votes. Governor DeWine signed HB 99 on June 13, 2022, the same day the permitless concealed carry law went into effect.

REASONING

HB 99 is an unfunded mandate on our local school districts. The law creates more bureaucracy by creating a new Ohio School Safety and Crisis Center and Ohio Mobile Training Team. The only appropriation budgeted is for this training team. For the school districts that choose to implement HB 99, there are substantial costs, including training costs, possible incentive pay, and higher insurance costs to manage the increased legal liability. These dollars would be better invested in furthering the schools’ existing safety plans. HB 99 is not what most Ohioans want.

We are persuaded by some of HB 99’s most direct stakeholders, who oppose the new law:
● The Ohio Federation of Teachers
● The Ohio Education Association
● The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio
● The American Federation of Teachers
● The National Education Association
● The National Association of School Resource Officers

In addition, other organizations – including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – have gone on record with their
opposition to increasing the number of guns in our homes and communities. HB 99 makes schools less safe.

This law does not represent “common sense” or “protective” gun safety legislation. It reduces
training hours initially required to carry a gun from 728 to 24, with only 8 hours of training
annually. Minimal training combined with the high stress of an active-shooter situation will mean fatal accidents. Solving the problem of gun violence requires a community solution; arming educators is not that solution. The safety of our students and teachers is better served by the experts: our city, county, and state safety and law enforcement experts.

ACTION NEEDED

Clermont County School Board Contact Info. Click on the name of your school district and it will take you to their contact page. Please take a moment and contact your local school board members and tell them you oppose arming teachers.

Batavia Board of Education
Bethel-Tate Board of Education
CNE Board of Education
Felicity-Franklin Board of Education
Goshen Board of Education
Milford Board of Education
New Richmond Board of Education
West Clermont Board of Education Williamsburg Board of Education

If you are not sure what to say, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• The Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio Education Association are opposed to arming school staff.
• The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio are opposed to arming school staff.
• This bill reduced the training requirement by 97% (from 728 hours of training to no more than 24 hours).
• Guns in school would increase the risk to our children and school personnel.
• The schools will be opened up to additional liability that comes from arming staff.
• The school districts will be responsible for paying the additional costs of training for the staff that want to carry guns.
• School Districts will have to train all of their teachers how to respond to active shooter threats, knowing that their own co-workers may also be armed.

MEET YOUR 2022 DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

In light of the devastating decisions handed down by SCOTUS this past week we urge you now more than ever to educate yourself on Ohio elections. The only way we are going to fight back is by taking our state back from extreme Republicans. So in this issue, rather than focus on a single candidate, we will give an over view of the August primary and two important trifectas in the general election.

Be sure to vote in the August 2 primary. We must work to get more Democrats elected at the state level in the Ohio General Assembly. Brian Flick is our Democratic candidate for state House in District 62. Richard J. Perry is a write-in candidate for state House in District 63.

The November 8 general election may be the most important election in our lives if we do not want to see our democracy die. Of course we want you to vote D all down the ticket, but we have two super important trifectas we really need to promote.

Trifecta One: We have three Ohio Supreme Court candidates. Justice Jennifer Brunner is running for Chief Justice and we need to add Marilyn Zayas and Terri Jamison to the Ohio Supreme Court as well.

Trifecta Two: After experiencing the recent redistricting nightmare brought to us by the Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Committee it is imperative that we replace three key statewide offices with Democrats. These are the positions who will serve on the next Redistricting Committee: elect Nan Whaley as Governor of Ohio, Chelsea Clarke as Secretary of State, and Taylor Sappington as State Auditor.

Of course we would love a clean sweep of all state wide offices but it is essential that we win these two trifectas.

We urge you to check your voter registration and plan your vote for November 8, 2022. The deadline to register for the November 8th general election is October 11, 2022. You can check your registration here.

ACTION NEEDED

Go to https://ohiodems.org/2022democraticcandidates/ for a list all the Ohio statewide candidates and how to follow them on social media. Like, comment and repost. Pick a candidate or two and volunteer and/or donate to their campaigns.

ODP Statement On SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe V. Wade

For Immediate Release:
June 24, 2022 – Columbus, OH — Following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, stripping Americans of the fundamental right to have an abortion, Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement:

“Ohioans’ fundamental right to reproductive care, including abortion and birth control, is on the line in this year’s election. This disastrous decision lays squarely at the feet of Ohio Republicans – from J.D. Vance to Mike DeWine to extremists in the statehouse – who have spent years working to strip women of their basic rights and enacting new, cruel restrictions that would punish survivors of rape and incest. READ MORE

WHAT’S NEW FROM CLERMONT TO COLUMBUS AND BEYOND

CLICK ON THE HEADLINE TO ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

OHIO’S ‘HEARTBEAT BILL’ ABORTION BAN IS NOW LAW. HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS

Less than an hour after it was announced that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a motion to lift an injunction against Ohio’s “heartbeat bill.” And by Friday evening, the bill — officially called the “Human Rights and Heartbeat Protection Act” — became law.  READ MORE

‘JUST SAY THE ELECTION WAS CORRUPT’: TRUMP PRESSURE ON JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DETAILED

In the weeks between Election Day 2020 and Jan. 6, 2021, the date of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the former president implored Justice Department officials to “just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and Republican congressmen,” according to former acting Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue. READ MORE

CONGRESS SENDS BIDEN HISTORIC GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, WITH GOP SUPPORT

WASHINGTON — Congress on Friday cleared the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, a bipartisan package that was signed into law on Saturday morning by President Joe Biden. READ MORE

WORD FROM THE CHAIR – RAYMOND LEMBKE

The U.S. Supreme Court last Friday overruled the 50-year-old decision in Roe v. Wade which had recognized a woman’s constitutional right to obtain an abortion early in her pregnancy. Roe had been the basis for federal court decisions barring enforcement of state anti-abortion laws, including a “heartbeat bill” here in Ohio. Effective last Friday, there is no longer any federal constitutional right to obtain an abortion under any circumstances. Whether a woman can legally obtain an abortion under any circumstances is now determined by the laws of her state. READ MORE

Join The Donkey Club

Our Donkey Club is our major source of funding and we hope you will become a member by joining.

As a member of the Donkey Club, what can we provide you?

• A Headquarters where you can attend Central and Executive Business Meetings of the party as well as other events (meetings are presently held by Zoom until further notice)
• A Website with a wealth of election information and other pertinent political information and news
• A bi-monthly e-newsletter with the latest local and national news, information about candidates and activist opportunities
• A robust social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• A listing of Democratic Clubs throughout the county where you can meet other like-minded people and find out how to get more involved locally
• You are helping SUPPORT OUR CANDIDATES and supporting our participation in the Clermont County Fair and other Community Events around the county

Suggested donation amounts: $50 Individual, $100 Couple, $200 Family, $250 Congressional, $500 Senate, $1000 Presidential

There are two ways to donate. Simply click the Donate button below and make your donation securely online through ActBlue or mail a check.

Make Checks payable to: Clermont County Democratic Party (CCDP), PO Box 475, Batavia, OH 45103

Thank you for your support! Raymond W. Lembke, Party Chairman Clermont County Democratic Party

HOW TO HELP PEOPLE IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW

As the Russian military invasion of Ukraine has unfolded, so too has a full-blown humanitarian crisis. “Heavy weapons fire along the line of contact has already damaged critical water infrastructure and education facilities in recent days,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine M. Russell. “Unless the fighting subsides, tens of thousands of families could be displaced, dramatically escalating humanitarian needs.” FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP

READING ROOM

This Will Not Pass by Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The shocking, definitive account of the 2020 election and the first year of the Biden presidency by two New York Times reporters, exposing the deep fissures within both parties as the country approaches a political breaking point.

This is the authoritative account of an eighteen-month crisis in American democracy that will be seared into the country’s political memory for decades to come. With stunning, in-the-room detail, New York Times reporters Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns show how both our political parties confronted a series of national traumas, including the coronavirus pandemic, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and the political brinksmanship of President Biden’s first year in the White House. READ MORE

COVID19 IN OHIO

TRACKING CORONAVIRUS IN OHIO

Sources: State and local health departments About this Data: New cases and deaths are matched to the date they occurred when possible. Otherwise, they are recorded on the date they are reported by health departments. The seven-day average is the mean number of new cases and deaths for the previous seven days.

You can find where to get vaccines and booster shots in Clermont County here.

Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests here.

For information for COVID19 testing in Ohio go here.

For more information about the numbers in Ohio, what precautions you need to take and where you can find resources for testing, mental health assistance and employment visit the Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus Portal  

CLERMONT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB UPDATES

Thursday, July 7, 2022
6:30pm
Clermont County Democratic Headquarters
174 E. Main Street
Batavia, Ohio 45103

Come meet your fellow Democrats in Clermont County. The Quin-T Democrat Club will be meeting again at the CCDP headquarters in Batavia. We will have an half hour social time between 6:30pm and 7:00pm. Feel free to bring something to eat and drink. Grammas Pizza is right next door to headquarters. At 7:00pm there will be a formal meeting with a short agenda. The remaining time will be used for an open forum. Information about the upcoming August 2 primary and candidates running in the mid-term election on November 8, 2022 will also be provided.

WEST CLERMONT DEMOCRATS UPDATED MEETING LOCATION

The West Clermont Democrats will meet at the Day Heights Fireman’s Memorial Building, 1313 OH-131, Day Heights, OH 45150 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm for the next three months. The next meeting will be held on Monday, July 11, 2022. Come meet your fellow Democrats in Clermont County and get updated on news from the Ohio Statehouse. There will also be information on opportunities to support Democratic candidates.

CLERMONT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB DIRECTORY

Below is a listing of Democratic groups in Clermont County. Due to the concerns about COVID19 it is a challenge to schedule in-person meetings. Remember this is temporary. We will get through this! Click on the name of each club and it will take you to their website or Facebook page with updated information about meetings. Some groups are conducting virtual meetings while others are looking to outside locations.

Clermont County Democratic Party Central Committee

Please contact Ben Indino, Central Committee Chair at: benjamin.indino@gmail.com for more information.

Clermont County Democratic Party Executive Committee
Next Executive Committee meeting will be Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., hybrid meeting with choice of in-person at headquarters or via Zoom, 174 E. Main Street, Batavia, Ohio 45103 and via Zoom. Central Committee members are encouraged to attend.

CLERMONT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONDUCTS BIENNIAL RE-ORGANIZATION

The Clermont County Democratic Party held it’s biennial reorganization meeting on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at noon via Zoom. Ohio Democratic Party Secretary Bill DeMora presided. Congratulations to the new duly elected leadership.

Benjamin Indino – Central Committee Chair
Tracy Jo Small – Central Committee Vice Chair
Amanda Fox – Central Committee Secretary

Raymond Lembke – Executive Committee Chair
Elaine Barnett – Executive Committee Vice Chair
Chris Barnett – Treasurer
Bonnie Carlier – Executive Committee Secretary

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This is your newsletter. We welcome you to submit news items, events, book reviews or anything else you feel is important to advance our Democratic values in Clermont County.

Next issue will be published Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Deadline for submissions for the next issue is Friday, July 8, 2022. Send your submission with “CCDP Newsletter” in the subject line to our newsletter editor Cheryl Richards at: cheryl1richards@gmail.com

Share the newsletter with your friends and encourage them to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter at clermontdems.org

Clermont County Democratic Party
174 E. Main Street P.O. Box 475
Batavia, OH, 45103
513-732-2378
Paid for by the Clermont County Democratic Party, Christopher Barnett, Treasurer