The first lost for Republicans leading the charge against unions and public employees came, not in Wisconsin, in Ohio. Voters took voting booths to reject collective bargaining restrictions put into place by Gov. John Kasich and the Republican-controlled Legislature. It is the first blow in what could turn into a huge issue during the 2012 political season.
Like in Wisconsin, the citizens of Ohio took over the capitol building to voice their concerns over the collective bargaining restrictions. According to the Huffington Post, "The legislation affects more than 350,000 police, firefighters, teachers, nurses and other government workers. It sets mandatory health care and pension minimums for unionized government employees, bans public worker strikes, scraps binding arbitration and prohibits basing promotions solely on seniority." The Ohio law went a little further than the Wisconsin law in that it included firefighters and the police.
Millions of dollars poured into Ohio for those in favor of the bill and those against it. Those working to get voters to reject collective bargaining restrictions raised $24 million while, Build a Better Ohio, the group for the bill only raised $8 million.
No matter what side of the issue you're on, it's always better to work with people to get concessions and results instead of trying to force them. Republicans have overplayed their hand with the union issue. They assumed simply by doing what they want would overwhelm public workers and force them into submission. Instead, it had the opposite effect. Public employees all over the country were galvanized and made collective bargaining an important issue in the upcoming election.
With over 1 million votes cast, 63% of Ohio voters reject collective bargaining restrictions. Gov. Kasich is vowing to continue the fight but there might be consequences. The Republican-controlled Senate in Wisconsin lost two seats during recall elections and the drive to recall Gov. Scott Walker starts November 15. Perhaps this time Gov. Kasich will try working with instead of against public employees.
(Photo Source: Flickr/Matt Baran)
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Comments: 15
one step closer to the demise of a republic government, free market, capitalist sytem, that made everyone have the opportunity to be great, and now insures the mediocrity of all.
what a victory for the anti-americans ..................
you are ansolutely correct - many (but not all) repubs do indeed vote against their own interests - because they vote for the interests of the little people - while the prog dems vote for their own self-interests, enslaving people, and claiming they are helping, so they can be re-elected.
yet so many believe the lies, and vote them back in ......
it is exactly like a 12 year old, whose parent grounded them, and being mad at the person (the parent) that is actually looking out for them, and instead listens to the other 12 year old (or the pusher) that says 'it will be fine - no worries - the old people lie - take a hit, have a few more gulps - you can still drive home! and it will be SO much fun!'
it does seem crazy that some will vote in the interests of others, and ignore their own greed - the exact opposite of the progressive dems.