The Rundown: Child Poverty, Ending Pride, Expanding School Choice
Center for Christian Virtue's The Rundown is the most important political and cultural news for Christians in Ohio. If you find this newsletter insightful, don't forget to share it!
What's Happening
Ohio
New report on family culture: Earlier this week, Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) and the Institute for Family Studies released a new report revealing the disastrous effects of marriage decline and family collapse across America. The report includes the Family Structure Index, which ranks all 50 US states based on their family culture, and a strategic plan to rebuild families with public policy and cultural solutions in Ohio. As CCV President Aaron Baer shared with Cleveland.com, the data shows that the best way to reduce poverty–especially child poverty–and decrease the demand for government assistance programs is to ensure strong, stable marriages and families.
An overdue update: The Cleveland Clinic has quietly removed a webpage promoting transgender treatments like puberty blockers and wrong-sex hormones for minors. This move comes amid publicized consequences of the dangerous ideology, including President Trump's Executive Order to protect children from so-called "gender affirmation" and Ohio's HB68, which was signed into law last year. That said, the Clinic's decision may have been influenced by the campaign Consumers' Research launched, claiming the Clinic had "infused a political agenda into their patient care."
Law and order: The Columbus City Schools Board of Education voted to align its bathroom policy with Ohio's "Bathroom Bill" (SB104) after initially attempting to defy the law. The vote only comes after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost threatened legal action against the district for its refusal to comply with the new law, which protects students' right to single-sex bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and overnight accommodations. The law becomes effective on February 25.
More choice! Ohio lawmakers are advancing a bill that would expand private school vouchers to allow students with autism or disabilities to access both the EdChoice scholarship and their special-needs scholarship, not one or the other. This bill is another step forward for parents seeking the best educational option to meet their children's needs, regardless of their income, zip code, or disability.
Calling an audible: Jim Tressel, a former Ohio State football coach and president of Youngstown State University, was appointed as Ohio's lieutenant governor on February 10, succeeding Jon Husted, who was appointed as Ohio US Senator after then-Senator JD Vance became Vice President. While Tressel has not announced plans to run for governor in 2026, neither has he ruled out the possibility. The governor's primary race has already attracted a few other recognizable names, including Vivek Ramaswamy and current Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, both Republicans. Dr. Amy Acton, the Director of the Ohio Department of Health during the 2020 pandemic, is pursuing the Democrats' nomination.
US
An order or two a day: Since being confirmed to the presidency one month ago today, President Trump's administration has seen a flurry of activity, including more than 75 Executive Orders (EO). While many of his orders are beneficial to life, family, and faith, his recent EO on in vitro fertilization (IVF) is deeply troubling. Children resulting from IVF are killed or indefinitely frozen far more often than they are born, treating precious lives as commodities to be engineered, bought, and sold. Check out CCV's IVF episode on The Narrative for more information.
World
12 months of sanity: Google Calendar has removed default references to Pride Month, Black History Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Month, and other cultural heritage months and cultural holidays. The calendar now only displays federal holidays and national observances. While Google cited logistical reasons for this change and said it was implemented last year, the decision aligns with similar moves by federal agencies under the new Trump administration.
Listen Up: A Closer Look at Trump's Executive Orders
On this special episode of The Narrative, CCV President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, and Communications Director Mike Andrews break down President Trump's top Executive Orders you should know about.
Worldview Development
As a Christian, whether Evangelical or Catholic, knowing how to engage in social-political conversations can be hard. Here are our top recommendations this week for developing your worldview to be equipped to tackle today's top issues:
The Super Bowl and Sports Gambling: America’s Newest Addiction by John Stonestreet and Timothy D Padgett
An article last year in The Atlantic stated the truth bluntly: "Legalizing Sports Gambling Was a Huge Mistake." The author, Charles Fain Lehman, wrote that the return of sports gambling "has caused a wave of financial and familial misery" that "disproportionately falls on the most economically precarious households." In other words, those who have the least money to lose do the vast majority of the losing. In fact, in addition to debt delinquency and bankruptcy, the data shows that there is a greater chance of domestic abuse in homes where gambling is common.
Can a Catholic attend a same-sex wedding? by David Ramos
For Father Hugo Valdemar, who a few years ago was a penitentiary canon — a priest with the power to absolve the most serious sins, with the exception of those reserved to the Holy See — "if one has an upright conscience, the answer is no."
"Above blood or emotional ties is the truth, and even more so the revealed truth in which God has decreed that marriage can only take place between one man and one woman," he explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
No halfway revolution: Today’s victories won’t mean much without sweeping changes to the nation’s moral fabric by Andrew T. Walker
As welcome as all this newfound momentum is, it will be nothing but a halfway revolution if we do not combine our cultural momentum with a moral vision. Until we address the deeper cultural rot that has corroded our national soul, we are celebrating prematurely. The mere act of defeating an opponent does not mean we have built something in its place. "Owning the libs" may make for an entertaining political spectacle, but it is not a strategy to build a culture of marriage, stem the tide of pornography consumption, or revive our civic and spiritual health.
Thou shalt make beauty for beauty’s sake by Maria Baer
Christians can appreciate the heart behind this view. The disciples asked this same sort of question when the woman anointed Jesus’ feet with an alabaster jar of "expensive" perfume a few days ahead of his crucifixion. Shouldn’t our time, money, and energy belong first to the "poor"? Isn’t "making beauty" far less valuable?
Not necessarily. "Why do you trouble the woman?" Jesus asked his disciples. "For she has done a beautiful thing to me" (Matthew 26:10).
Legislative Update
Big news for Ohio! Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine released his draft of the State Operating Budget for fiscal year 2026-2027. Introduced as House Bill 96 (HB96) and sponsored by Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), the budget will be refined through an extensive legislative process at the Statehouse and must be signed by the governor by June 30.
More information about the proposed budget can be found in the "Blue Book" PDF, as well as on the following websites:
Office of Budget and Management
Executive Budget Recommendations
Tax Expenditure Report
Medicaid Caseload and Expenditure Forecast Report
Budget Highlights
Executive Budget Fact Sheets
Legislative Service Commission
Budget in Brief
Appropriation Spreadsheet
Redbooks–detailed analysis of the executive budget proposal for each agency
Issue 2
The Ohio Ballot Board unanimously approved the language for the public works constitutional amendment, which will appear as "Issue 2" on the May 6 ballot. The amendment is the first to be placed on the ballot following the adoption of a new law that requires state ballot issues to be numbered consecutively rather than restarting the numbering for every election, following the confusion from three separate "Issue 1" amendments in the last year.
2026 State Treasurer
A Republican primary race for Ohio Treasurer of State is shaping up. Former State Senator Niraj Antani shifted his focus to the office after incumbent Treasurer Robert Sprague decided to run for Secretary of State, the position Antani initially sought. Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) has also entered the race for Treasurer. No Democrat has yet announced a campaign for the position.
SB1–Advance Ohio Higher Education Act
Sponsored by Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act would ban DEI courses, training, and required statements, spending on DEI initiatives or programs with the same intent, and political and ideological litmus tests in all hiring, promotion, and admissions decisions at Ohio's state colleges and universities. SB1 moved quickly through the Senate and ultimately passed out of the Chamber last Wednesday by a 21-11 vote.
Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) is sponsoring the companion bill moving through the Ohio House of Representatives.
Take a moment to review where all of the CCV-backed bills currently stand in the 136th General Assembly, and check out our new resource, the Legislative Week In Review!
Let us know if you find the Week In Review helpful at contact@ccv.org.
Click here to learn how a bill becomes a law in Ohio.
Elections
This year, there are two major elections: the Primary Election on Tuesday, May 6, and the General Election on Tuesday, November 4.
Important Dates
Monday, April 7: Deadline for voter registration for the Primary Election.
Tuesday, April 8: Early in-person and absentee voting begins for the Primary Election.
Tuesday, April 29: Boards of Elections must receive applications for absentee ballots by the close of business.
Tuesday, May 6: Primary Election Day. Polls are open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.*
To Do:
Are you registered to vote? You can easily register to vote or update your voter registration information online at olvr.ohiosos.gov.
Review what's on your ballot. Each county Board of Elections office has a list of the candidates and issues appearing on your ballot.
Learn more about Ohio elections, request an absentee ballot, and more here.
*Please note: a photo ID is required to cast a ballot. View accepted forms of ID.
Don't Miss
For Better: Getting and Staying Happily Married for the Long Haul with Brad Wilcox | Sunday, February 23, at 7:00 pm
Why do many people view marriage as something to wait for until your 30s or 40s (if ever), as a ball and chain, or as something that restricts our lives in ways that are not worth the price? What about marriages in need of repair? What about our children and their vision of marriage?
Join New Albany Presbyterian Church and Dr. Brad Wilcox, the Jefferson Scholars Foundation University Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia, for this lecture series.
This event is free, open to the public, and relevant to young people, parents, and grandparents. While supplies last, participants will receive a free copy of Dr. Wilcox's 2024 book Get Married. Please invite your friends and family and come out for what will be a very interesting and encouraging event! Childcare is provided. Register here.
2025 Ohio March for Life
Our fourth annual statewide march will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025. Learn more and register to stay up to date here!
CCV will be participating in and hosting a number of incredible events throughout 2025–stay tuned for more details!
Prayer
Scripture calls us to pray for those in authority and to have confidence that God hears our prayers. Join the CCV team this week in praying for the below intentions.
Let's honor 1 Timothy 2 by praying for Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, Attorney General Dave Yost, Auditor of State Keith Faber, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and State Treasurer Robert Sprague.
For Pope Francis as he battles double pneumonia alongside a complicated respiratory infection.
For the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act that it may find favor in the Ohio House of Representatives.
For the Church, government, and business leaders to see and act upon the necessity of promoting and protecting marriage and family.
For Ohio to see a resurgence in stable marriages and children born to their married parents.
As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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