GOVERNMENT UNIONS
Posted on 02/17/2011 9:55:09 AM PST by flutters
Well over 1,000 enthusiastic supporters and opponents of the Senate's proposed collective bargaining overhaul enveloped the Statehouse this morning with cheers of "kill the bill" and "yes on 5," prior to the latest hearing on Senate Bill 5.
The spacious Statehouse atrium was packed mostly with public union workers outraged at efforts to end collective bargaining for state workers and significantly weaken the ability for local workers to bargain for their pay, benefits and working conditions.
While a strong union presence was witnessed for the bill's first two hearings, they were joined today by more than 200 red-shirt clad tea party activists pushing for the bill's passage. The mix verbally clashed in the Statehouse rotunda, where the two sides did their best to drown out the other.
Meanwhile, the atrium had the feel of a rock concert or an Ohio State football game, as union supporters cheered loudly when Senate sergeants-at-arms led their leaders across the balcony and into the hearing room.
More than 50 witnesses are scheduled to testify today. The first dozen or so will be supporters, and then opponents, including police, firefighters and Ohio Highway Patrol troopers union leaders.
"This is a true test of democracy," said Sen. Kevin Bacon, chairman of the committee hearing the bill, during his opening comments.
The bill is not an attack on the middle class, public workers or jobs, Mike Wilson, head of the Cincinnati Tea Party, told a crowd gathered outside the Statehouse. "This bill is about math. Government has grown bigger than our taxpayers' ability to support it."
Rick Barry, a tea party member from Akron, said of public unions: "Their benefits are so much better than mine and their pay is so much better than mine, but they are still crying."
Wearing stickers that read "Taxpayer defender" and holding signs including those that read, "We're broke. Support SB 5," tea party activists said they wanted to show lawmakers that while they cannot compete with union numbers, there is support for changing collective bargaining laws.
The group is transitioning from holding politicians accountable to showing support for their actions, said Tom Zawistowski, executive director of he Portage County Tea Party. "We want them to know that if they do it, we will work to keep them in office."
He added: "We don't have any more money. We have to make some hard decisions."
The Highway Patrol did not report any incidents during the morning, though some women standing in the atrium were heard saying they were moving out because things were getting heated opposition.
Kasich is the best thing that has ever happened to Ohio!
Unions = commies.
Fire the all. NOW
Duh....should read “Fire them All” NOW
Obama’s plans are coming to fruition. Thank you, Governor Kasich.
That is all that is really going on here, take the cut in pay/benefits or lots of people are going to be unemployed soon. It is happening right now in NY, the union refused to work with the state and pink slips have now gone out.
contact Governor John Kasich by mail at:
Mailing address:
Governor John Kasich
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Oh 43215-6117
Phone: (614) 466-3555
Internet:
http://governor.ohio.gov/ShareYourIdeas.aspx
Isn’t it interestng how most “Tea Party” / reform activists have to WORK for a living while a lot of the Union folks are free to protest, demonstrate, and lobby on the taxpayer’s dime? Aren’t they either on welfare, questionable “disability” status or getting special “time off” while still on the workday clock a lot of times?
I would think that anyone calling in sick to attend a political demonstration - especially if it compromises a significant service like education - ought to be FIRED!
How much is Ohio spending on substitute Teachers while the Union “educators” are out advocating for their Union?
Shouldn’t the Union have to reimburse the taxpayers for that kind of FRAUD?
How long would a private sector employee last if they repeatedly pulled that stunt?!
Isn’t the exploitation of children and the mentally retarded (they do it here in Maine all the time) to participate in political demonstrations a form of child / handicapped abuse?
Wow...Ohio, Nevada, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Florida...maybe more. This is FANTASTIC!
glen Beck predicted all of this
glen Beck predicted all of this
I agree that it is fantastic to see state and local governments dramatically change the leftist course Obama was championing until November.
We should see a lot of major changes in the states that elected conservative/tea-party governors and legislatures.
Conversely, we should see a lot of tax and spend in the Democrat strongholds like California and Illinois and Connecticut.
Wow, the thugs are going national. Trying to mimic the “Egypt” approach. I wonder what they’ll do when they tick the people off enough that we start using the “second amendment” approach. Flippin’ mafia union thugs!
Maybe it’s time for a counter-protest. I think it would be nice if a few million taxpaying patriots went out there and faced down these lazy, greedy idiots. I don’t think that they realize that WE, THE PEOPLE are tired of paying for their free ride as our hard-earned dollars are stolen in the form of taxes to support the freeloaders.
Exactly- just glanced at the new CT governor’s solution- higher taxes...it’s going to get easier and clearer to see which states are succeeding and which are failing.
Yes, he did. And Rush is all over the Wisconsin "march of the deadbeats".
GOVERNMENT UNIONS
Only 1,000?
I like it. The next Tea Party chant.
GOVERNMENT UNIONS
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