Buckeye Collective Bargaining Battle A National Bellwether

Forbes ^ | 11/03/2011 | Bill Flax

[billflax]

With few statewide elections and nothing nationally in 2011, several initiatives in Ohio provide bellwethers with broad implications for 2012. Issue 2, if passed, will uphold Senate Bill 5, a Republican attempt to alleviate looming budget problems by decelerating the expansion of employee compensation packages via collective bargaining reform.

Thanks to a gargantuan grassroots effort, Issue 3, the Healthcare Freedom Amendment, will test Obamacare’s mettle. It would prevent pretentious governments from forcing citizens to finance their care in fashions fancied by bureaucrats. The attention afforded these contests across the ideological spectrum from Rush Limbaugh to the Huffington Post underscores their national significance.

Ohio echoes America’s pulse. No Republican has ever claimed the presidency without her. Only JFK, since WWII, has lost Ohio yet won the White House. The Buckeye state intermixes industrial with agricultural, rural and urban concerns. She offers a snapshot of American politics replete with worsening fiscal woes afflicting many state and municipal jurisdictions across the country.

State and local administrations cumulatively owe $3.2 trillion in long term unfunded liabilities, exacerbated by debilitating contracts with government employee unions. Public pensions and healthcare costs careen toward a certain collision with fiscal reality. SB5 seeks to stem Ohio’s fiscal demise through commonsense reforms. Passage would save about $1.4 billion annually.

Every major Ohio newspaper – hardly bastions of Tea Party conservatism – endorses SB5 calling for “Yes” on Issue 2. As the Cincinnati Enquirer notes, “SB5 contains reforms that are fair and reasonable, make good economic sense, are happening elsewhere and are necessary for the state’s fiscal health.” If anything, it doesn’t do enough.

But Big Labor is motivated, highly organized and well funded. “We Are Ohio” accumulated $30.6 million to repeal SB5 whereas “Building A Better Ohio” netted but $7.6 million in its defense.

[billflax]

Yes on Issue 2 and 3

[traditional1]

Sadly, National Union Dues are being poured into Ohio to defeat Issue 2 and, to a lesser extent, Issue 3.

It is VERY likely that the Unions will win this one in Ohio, as the only people that are Union Members that have jobs left in Ohio are those that work on Government Contracts, work FOR the government, teachers, firemen, and police.

Others, such as Nurses, are Unionized and promoting defeat of the Issue 2, on the basis that people will die due to fewer nurses, teachers are complaining about too much time away from kids due to competency testing and no say in classroom size, etc. Police are using the Joe Biden "more crime" B.S., as they want the padded payrolls in ALL Union jobs to continue.

I'm sorry to say that Issue 2 is probably going to be defeated, and HOPE the Republicans in the Legislature are already prepared with a NEW piece of Legislation, that aims at busting the Union stranglehold on Taxpayers and their funneling money to Democrats from the Taxpayers.

There are VERY FEW yard signs that are FOR Issue 2, and every yard sign that is "VOTE NO on 2" I suspect is a Union Member's yard (teacher, nurse, fireman, or policeman, or other Government Employee who wants the fleecing to continue).

[libs_kma]

My whole family and I are a yes on Issues 2 and 3 in Ohio on Tuesday, but there are rumblings that at least issue 2 will be defeated and SB5 will be repealed.

I can't verify the rumors but I hope they're false. The unions spent one helluva lot of money on ads here in Ohio and they hit the "poor firefighter" theme pretty hard.

All I know is that firefighters, police and teachers are paid from taxpayer funds, and what they don't pay for their benefits, people like me have to cover...and I'm tired of covering my own and theirs too.

But even if SB5 is repealed, the word is that individual pieces of it that poll really well with voters (some with high 60's and 70's) are coming right back into law in the State Senate.

[MikefromOhio]

The problem with SB5 is that it tweaked one of the most conservative segments in Ohio (being the Firefighters and Police, especially outside of the cities) and a lot of Firefighters I know and have grown up with who are very socially conservative are now in the unions’ court.

SB5 is what this state needs to get the insanity in check, but Issue 2 is going to fail miserably.

In a state as evenly divided as Ohio is, having a significant segment of one side or the other switch sides is going to tip the balances quite a bit. That has happened here IMO. And no, the independents aren’t going to flock to the “yes” side either, not happening this time around.

It sucks, but essentially this state is going to have to fail completely for any changes to occur.

[hinckley buzzard]

The biggest fight by far is Issue 2 which addresses the budget reform law which restricts the content of collective bargining among many other reforms.

Here's the deal: Ohio is a Union contaminated State, with state employees subject to SEIU "representation." Since SEIU is the great criminal enterprise at the heart of union corruption in 2011, they are fighting to the death.

Ohio has a legacy of heavy union membership, among them the UAW, United Steelworkers, Mineworkers and Teamsters, to name a few.

Few of them still have jobs, since the unions killed off most productive enterprise, but they have a sentimental attachment to the outmoded ideal of the Union based on what their parents told them 50 years ago.(Ohio has a high percentage of senior retirees.).

This election will be close. If the resolution fails to uphold the budget reform law, it will be a blow to the hopes of recovery of the entire nation. It would be the equivalent of Wisconsin rescinding all the advances made by the new governor and legislature in that state.

Buckeyes, you have to vote yes. Everyone else, keep your fingers crossed.

[true believer forever]

Do you know if there are any national phone banks for Ohio? A couple senators in WI recall had those, and they felt they helped a lot...

[Reddy]

Just might gut feeling, but I don’t think Issue 2 will pass. Too many people on the union dole. I think that might carry over to mean that issue 3 (protection from Obamacare) will not pass, either.

[buccaneer81]

There are VERY FEW yard signs that are FOR Issue 2,

Because we don't want our homes and cars vandalized. It's as simple as that.

[ken21]

i don’t understand how obama can destroy a state and the people not rebel against his policies.

but we have many other states in the same situation.

[Right Wing Assault]

There are VERY FEW yard signs that are FOR Issue 2, and every yard sign that is "VOTE NO on 2" I suspect is a Union Member's yard (teacher, nurse, fireman, or policeman, or other Government Employee who wants the fleecing to continue).

The second part is the answer to your first observation. There are very few "Yes" yard signs because people don't want to be targeted by the union thugs. Same thing goes for signs and bumper stickers during the elections.

The police and fire are running despicable ads. In one, a fireman tells you how to keep your house from burning down. First, check the batteries in your smoke detector. Second, I don't recall, but something obvious like don't smoke in bed. Third? Vote NO on issue 2!

There's a cop ad, too. Similar emotional argument.

[traditional1]

You’re right about public displays of pro-Taxpayer yard signs and bumper stickers....the Left frowns on Free Speech from those who don’t toe the Union line.....