October 2008 - Posts

• Summary of Statewide Issues for Ohio on November Ballot

  ISSUE ONE: Reforming the Ballot Process for Issues This proposed constitutional amendment would reform the statewide ballot issue process. With the increasing number of issues being brought to the ballot in Ohio a number of ambiguities in the law have been uncovered. This amendment would require petitions be filed with the Secretary of State at least 125 days before Election Day, extending the time the Secretary of State has to review the signatures that have been gathered. It also clarifies how challenges to signatures by opposition groups will be handled and lays out specific deadlines for challenges to be resolved. SEIU is neutral on Issue One.  ISSUE TWO: Clean Ohio Program Bonding Authority This proposed constitutional amendment gives the state authority to issue bonds (up to $400 million) to continue to the Clean Ohio program. This is part of Governor Strickland’s $1.57 billion job stimulus package to help jump start the Ohio economy. The Clean Ohio program focuses on conservation and preservation of natural areas for parks and other related projects. It also helps revitalize and redevelop contaminated and polluted lands. SEIU urges a YES vote on Issue Two.  ISSUE THREE: Protect Private Property Rights for Owners near Water This proposed constitutional amendment clarifies rights of those who own private property near Lake Erie and other bodies of water. When the Ohio General Assembly debated the Great Lakes Compact (a multi-state piece of legislation to protect the public interest in the use of the Great Lakes) earlier this year some legislators expressed concern about the potential impact on private property rights for those near Lake Erie. In order to secure support for the Great Lakes Compact a deal was struck to place this issue before voters to ensure that the Ohio constitution provided protection for those who own property along such lakes. SEIU is neutral on Issue Three.  ISSUE FOUR: Ohio Healthy Families Act (WITHDRAWN)  ISSUE FIVE: Referendum on Payday Lending Reform Legislation Earlier this year SEIU joined with hundreds of other organizations to lobby and pass legislation in the Ohio General Assembly to rein in the payday lending industry. SEIU believes that the two-week payday loan product with a 391% APR interest is designed to capture borrowers in a cycle of debt that forces individuals to repeatedly borrow larger and larger amounts. This predatory lending practice is bad for Ohio. The coalition succeeded in passing a law to cap interest rates on small loans at 28% APR. Now the payday loan industry has funded an effort to undo this law by placing a referendum on the ballot. A YES vote is required to keep the interest cap of 28% and prevent the payday loan industry from preying on Ohioans in need of small loans.  SEIU urges a YES vote on Issue Five  ISSUE SIX: Allow Construction of a Casino in Southwest Ohio This proposed constitutional amendment would allow construction of a casino near Wilmington in Clinton County, between Columbus and Cincinnati. Supporters say that Ohio's 88 counties would divide 30 percent of the revenue from the casino; the proposed casino and resort would create thousands of jobs; and the casino would keep gambling money from going out of state. Opponents say that Ohio voters already have said no to casino gambling three times; Issue 6 also says that if other casinos are built in Ohio that the tax rate for the Clinton county casino would drop to whatever the other casino pays, possibly 0%; and the financial benefits will be minimal for counties and nonexistent for state government. SEIU is neutral on Issue Six   posted Oct 22 2008, 11:06 PM by chris.collins with no comments

• DISTRICT 1199 OUTLINES SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES IN KEY STATEHOUSE RACES

  Columbus – Members of the Service Employees International Union District 1199 (SEIU District 1199) convened in Columbus this past weekend to seat newly elected officers and outline plans that will affect thousands of members throughout the three-state region of West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. In addition to seating 49 new Executive Board members, 10 officers and a president, the 210-member board outlined a bold new vision to improve the lives of working people.  Executive Board members also recognized the commitment of several candidates whose vision and values align closely with that of the Union.   “We understand that our ability to affect positive change for working people is directly related to the support we provide to candidates who share our vision of ensuring a more just and equitable society for working people,” said Becky Williams, President, SEIU District 1199.    In addition to candidate endorsements, the District 1199 Executive Board also weighed in on the payday lending debate.  Overwhelmingly declaring that 391% is too high to pay for a short-term loan, board members voted to endorse the Vote Yes on 5 Committee.   SEIU District 1199 also endorsed the following candidates:   Ohio Senate Danielle Blue, 16th Senate District Kathryn Bridgman, 4th Senate District Tom Sawyer, 28th Senate District Rick Shriver, 20th Senate District     Ohio House of Representatives Bob Belovich, 17th House District Linda Bolon, 1st House District Connie Crockett, 84th House District Celeste DeHoff, 50th House District Denise Driehaus, 31st House District Darlene Dunn, 46th House District Stephen Dyer (D), 43rd House District Andi Eveslage, 37th House District Ron Gerberry, 59th House District Keith Goldhardt, 23rd House District Tracy Heard (D), 26th House District Jan Lanier, 2nd House District Tom Letson, 64th House District Shane Meldick, 87th House District Merle “Joe” Miller, 3rd House District Mike Moran, 42nd House District Charles Morton, 36th House District Mark Okey, 61st House District John Otterman, 45th House District Ray Pryor, 85th House District Connie Pillich, 28th House District Jeff Sinnard, 34th House District Mark Schneider, 63rd House District Jennifer Stewart, 94th House District Vernon Sykes (D), 44th House District Terry Traster, 58th House District Carlton Weddington, 27th House District   Endorsements for non-statehouse races include the following: Bruce Carter               12th District Court of Appeals of Ohio Laura Curliss               12th District Court of Appeals of Ohio Ed Leonard                 Franklin County (OH) Treasurer Todd Portune              Hamilton County (OH) Commissioner Joe D. Russo                Ohio Supreme Court   posted Oct 02 2008, 09:57 PM by chris.collins with no comments