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Senator Edna Brown Condemns GOP Budget Amendment that
Poisons Ohio's Children, Introduces Counter Amendment
Last week, State Senator Edna Brown (D-Toledo) condemned an
amendment to the state budget offered by Republican State
Representative Derek Merrin (R – Monclova Township). The
amendment usurps local control over lead regulation. It will
poison Ohio’s families. Brown will introduce a new amendment
to remove this dangerous provision from the state budget
bill.
“Representative Derek Merrin introduced a last-second budget
amendment that further destroys local control and risks
further poisoning Ohio’s children,” said Brown. “In fact,
The Cleveland Plain Dealer Editorial Board referred to
Rep. Merrin’s amendment as the ‘Poisoning Ohio’s Children
Act.’ In my district, Toledo’s City Council worked with an
array of community and business leaders to pass a lead
control ordinance. Representative Merrin’s proposal would
reverse those efforts.”
Merrin inserted his amendment into the main operating
budget, Substitute House Bill 49, in April. It attacks local
control by removing the ability of local governments to
regulate anything lead related. This ensures that children
in Toledo and beyond will continue to live in homes and
attend daycares contaminated by lead paint.
“Instead of making reasonable efforts to contain lead paint
in rental homes and daycare centers, Representative Merrin’s
budget amendment does the exact opposite,” added Brown. “I
am introducing an amendment to remove his changes.”
Brown will soon introduce an amendment that removes the
language inserted by Merrin. It will allow local governments
to continue to take reasonable steps to stop lead exposure
in homes and daycares.
“Legislators are supposed to be working to make Ohio a
better place to live and raise a family,” said Brown. “We
should make sure local and state governments work together,
not against one another. If allowed to stand, Rep. Merrin’s
amendment does nothing less than ensure Ohio’s children
continue to be exposed to lead poisoning and all the
terrible effects that has on young minds and bodies.”
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