August 2008 - Posts

• Keep Predatory Payday Lending in Check. Vote Yes on Issue 5.

  Earlier this year SEIU worked in coalition with hundreds of other organizations to pass HB 545 reforming the payday lending industry in Ohio. Among other provisions, HB 545 reduced the payday loan interest rates from 391% to 28% APR.  Currently, the national payday lobby organization is collecting signatures for the first round of the referendum process. They plan to spend upwards of $20 million on this campaign.   The Attorney General ruled a few weeks ago that the first bill summary written by the national lobby was unfair and misleading. They rewrote the language and fanned out across the state collecting signatures. If you or another member have been approached by a petition circulator, who may have misrepresented the issue to you, please contact cathyjohnston@cohhio.org with information about the location, date and summary of the circulator's presentation about the issue.    Below is a video about payday lending circulators misleading voters into signing their petitions. <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDoeXujagE4>> The video explains how those who were deceived into signing can get their names off of the petitions. But you must act fast; the PETITION SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 31. You must have notified the payday lending campaign headquarters by FRIDAY, AUGUST 29. We can help you! Call us on our new hotline number: 1-866-966-8727 "The payday lenders took my name and I want it back,'' Bexley resident Peder Johanson says in the video. Johanson, who is studying for the seminary, was told the referendum is intended to lower interest rates, rather than raise them. He urges others who were deceived into signing to call the new COHHIO hotline. Consumer advocates staffing the hotline will work to ensure that removal requests are honored. Society condemns usury, fraud, exploitation and injustices, especially if it is directed toward the poorest members of our community. To learn more about what makes a payday loan a defective product, one that by design and intent, traps hardworking Ohioans in unmanageable debt, by visiting: http://www.yesonissue5.com/ Please help us turn predatory payday lending into responsible payday lending by keeping House Bill 545 intact. And don't be fooled into signing a petition that promises payday lending 'reform.' It's just another trap.   Thanks for your help with this important issue. And remember, in November, vote YES on Issue 5! posted Aug 26 2008, 03:32 PM by chris.collins with no comments

• DISTRICT 1199 ANNOUNCES POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS

  Monday, August 11, 2008 Endorsements complemented by Member Political Organizer Program Columbus – With a desire to change the face of the Republican-controlled state legislature and White House, members of the Service Employees International Union District 1199 (SEIU District 1199) today announced endorsements of several candidates seeking elected office. The union endorsed 19 candidates for the Ohio House of Representatives and one candidate for Ohio Attorney General.  District 1199 expects to announce additional endorsements in the coming weeks.   "Our endorsements represent our belief that each candidate will continue working to address the issues facing average Ohioans; rising health care costs, stagnant wages, unemployment and rising oil prices," said Becky Williams, President, SEIU District 1199.   District 1199 is issuing more than endorsements. To help ensure that endorsed candidates are successful, the union recently launched the Member Political Organizer (MPO) program. The MPO program enables SEIU members to work full-time on the presidential campaign and targeted Ohio House and Senate seats.  Over the next couple of months, 200 District 1199 (and Local 3) members will take a leave of absence from their primary employer and work full- or part-time on targeted races.   "Our endorsements and our MPO program are a part of an effort to change the face of the Republican-controlled White House and Ohio General Assembly and ensure that government is more responsive to the needs of working people," Williams concluded. ENDORSED CANDIDATES: Statewide Office: Richard Cordray, Ohio Attorney General   Ohio House of Representatives: Jennifer Brady, 16th District Armond Budish, 8th District John Carney, 22nd District Ted Celeste, 24th District Dan Dodd, 91st District Mike Foley, 14th District Lorraine Fende, 62nd District Nancy Garland, 20th District Jay Goyal, 73rd District Bobby Hagan, 60th District Marian Harris, 19th District Matt Lundy, 57th District Eugene Miller, 10th District Debbie Phillips, 92nd District Mike Skindell, 13th District Richard Spangler, 72nd District Dan Stewart, 25th District Matt Szollosi, 49th District Matt Patten, 18th District SEIU District 1199 represents more than 35,000 health care and social service workers across West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. The Union is a part of the Service Employees International Union, whose 2 million members make it the largest union in the country as well as the largest health care union in the nation. posted Aug 19 2008, 10:10 PM by chris.collins with no comments