Recently in Action Alerts Category
Will President Clinton play sax or sing back-up on Born In The USA?
Cuyahoga Community College's Western Campus is the site of a get-out-the-vote rally Thursday headlined by former President Bill Clinton and rock star Bruce Springsteen.
Doors will open at 11 a.m. for the event, which is free and open to the public, although a ticket is required.
Tickets Available Here:
Parma Field Office
5734 Ridge Road, Parma
Shaker Square Field Office
13100 Shaker Square, Cleveland
Lakewood Field Office
11822 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Lee & Harvard Field Office
4071 Lee Rd., Suite 110. Cleveland
Euclid Ave. Field Office
3740 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
One ticket per person will be distributed.
Tune in today at 12:30pm for the first debate between Sherrod and Josh Mandel. You won't want to miss it.
The Boss is hitting the campaign trail on President Barack Obama's behalf.
Springsteen will join former President Bill Clinton at a rally in Parma, Ohio, on Tuesday, the day of the second presidential debate.
As we get ready to watch the Vice Presidential candidate debate tonight, a reporter here in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, asked Rep. Paul Ryan whether he thinks we have a gun problem. Here are a few of the things I heard - and didn't hear - in his answer.
First, he said we have a crime problem in our inner cities. And I agree with him - though we have a crime problem in our suburbs and towns, too, as recent mass shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin painfully reminded us.
Second, he said we should enforce the gun laws we have. And I agree with him on that point too - and I am committed to doing all that we can to make sure that criminals and other dangerous people don't exploit the legal loopholes that allow them to easily buy guns. But this does not change the fact that there are too many illegal guns in every community in our country.
But what he didn't say is a glaring omission: he declined to say what concrete steps he and Governor Romney would take to reduce the gun violence that kills 34 Americans every day.
And he's not alone in his silence: President Obama hasn't told us his plan to stop the violence either.
There's no excuse for this lack of leadership -- from Rep. Ryan and Governor Romney, or from President Obama and Vice President Biden. Not when 48,000 Americans will be killed by guns during the next president's term.
Check out the clip for yourself, then Demand A Plan to end gun violence from President Obama and Governor Romney.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Every day, Catholic sisters help the less fortunate, and this week they'll cross Ohio to highlight the effects harmful federal budget cuts would have on those they serve. The Nuns on the Bus tour will visit social service agencies and local leaders to discuss the effects of the Republican Ryan budget and promote the need for a "faithful budget" that values solidarity, justice and the common good.
Sister Monica McGloin of Cincinnati says it's a budget that ensures the right of all people to have health care.
"A faithful budget would ensure that access to health care by investing in wellness and making needed improvements in the health-care system."
Sr. McGloin and others are concerned that a federal budget that slashes dollars to the states will cause Ohio to cut back on vital programs for seniors, children and people with disabilities. She says it's critical to not cut programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and instead to expand them, so all Ohioans can lead healthy lives.
An important piece of legislation has been introduced in Congress to help end the long-standing discrimination against internet radio. We're asking that you contact your representative today to urge them to support the Internet Radio Fairness Act.
This bipartisan bill will end royalty rate discrimination against internet radio and bring greater fairness to our industry. Today, the discrimination is extraordinary. In 2011, Pandora paid over 50% of revenues in performance royalties, while SiriusXM paid less than 10%.
Internet radio brings millions of listeners back to music, plays the songs of tens of thousands of promising working artists, enabling them to build their audience while receiving fair compensation.
Visit the FAQ for more information
Jennifer Brunner has always been an Ohio politico that garners reaction.
Regardless of where you were in the Brunner-Fisher Senate primary or during her term succeeding Ken Blackwell as Secretary of State - her book Courage and Cupcakes is bound to give greater insight into Ohio politics that many of you observed and experienced.
Today we are proud to offer her book online as a sneak preview.
In many ways Courage and Cupcakes is a product of the electronic age. Ohio political junkies can now read perspectives from insiders much like Bob Woodward and others have perfected in DC. The medium allows for the more limited Ohio politico audience to hear the perspectives and voices of state-based political observers that the cost of mass publishing could not sustain in bulk.
Jennifer Brunner has agreed to donate $1 of every book sale from her ProgressOhio edition to PO. She also serves on our Board.
But the book is her view, her perspective on events, and her view of what she experienced not ProgressOhio's.
Hopefully, in the future the medium will allow other perspectives as well - some of which agree and some which offer other perspectives from the events Jennifer experienced. Indeed it is part of the magic of the electronic age we inhabit.
When someone spends $400 million, they expect something in return. Don't let the Koch Brothers and other special interests use their billions to destroy the American Dream.
Join us at this press event Friday against the Koch Brothers' Greed!
Friday, October 5th
10:30 am
ProgressOhio
172 E. State Street, Suite 600
Columbus, OH 43215
In all my years in politics, Gov. John Kasich did something I can't remember ever seeing - he sued his own appointee to force him to do something unconstitutional.
On Friday the Ohio Supreme Court agreed with us and dealt a blow to Kasich's latest scheme to take public money off the books and hand it over to big corporations. It was a great victory, but the battle is not over yet.
Since the beginning of Kasich's administration, ProgressOhio has kept a close eye to make sure the Tea Party goal of raffling off our government to private corporations doesn't become a reality. We're not the biggest fans of lawyers around here, but we've had to take to the courts to defend your rights and the future of our state.
Can you help us stop Kasich's plan to privatize Ohio?
If Kasich wins, there will be no going back. Big business will have direct, secret access to corporate hand-outs from what used to be public funds. It doesn't square with our values and after Friday's great news; we're more convinced than ever that it is against our constitution.
We're powered by you and together we can defend Ohio's Constitution.
Sincerely,
Brian Rothenberg
Every ten years, Ohio goes through a process known as "redistricting" in which the boundary lines for Statehouse and Congressional districts are re-drawn.
--Here's the problem:
Instead of a fair system--the politicians and their greedy special interests friends have grabbed the power, turning our current system into "we the politicians" rather than "we the people." Ohio's redistricting process has been rigged by corrupt politicians and their greedy special interest friends.
--What does this mean for Ohioans?
It means that special interests get to have more input in who gets elected than voters do. It means that we end up with politicians in office who are more concerned with protecting their own perks and benefits than working to find solutions to move our state and country forward. They have stolen our voice, our vote and our power--rewriting the rules to benefit themselves at our expense. They have stolen our voice, our vote and our power, rewriting the rules to benefit themselves at our expense. Government no longer represents "we the people," but "we the politicians."
--How Issue 2 will solve these problems.
This measure is a step towards meaningful reform that ensures that neither party can unfairly dominate state politics and makes sure that decent people who want to actually fix our problems can compete against the career politicians and win. With Issue 2, decent people who want to solve our problems will finally get a fair shot at ousting the career politicians.
--It's up to us.
Don't listen to their lies and vote YES on Issue 2, sending a message that we're tired of politics as usual because when elections are fair and balanced, we the people win. Don't listen to the lies. Vote YES to end politics as usual--because when elections are fair and balanced, we the people win.
Starting today the polls are open across the Buckeye State
Early Voting
In Ohio, you don't have to wait until Election Day--you can vote early.
Most counties hold early voting at their Board of Elections, but some hold it at a different location.
Early in-person vote hours are October 2nd-November 5nd, Monday-Friday, at the following times:
- Oct. 2nd - Oct. 19th: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Oct. 8th: Closed for Columbus Day
- Oct. 22nd - Nov. 1st: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Additional special hours:
- Last day to register & vote at the same time: October 9th 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Early vote in person: November 2nd 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Early in-person voting may be available the final three days prior to Election Day. Check back at Gottavote.com or email info@ofaoh.com for the latest information.
WHAT TO BRING TO VOTE EARLY
If you've voted in a federal election in Ohio before, all you need to vote early are the last four digits of your social security number.
If you are a first time voter, bring any ONE of the following forms of identification:
- Your current and valid Ohio driver's license or ID card
- Your current and valid Military ID
- Copy of your most recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address
Note: All voters in line when the early vote site closes may cast a ballot.
Tomorrow the Voters First bus will be pulling into an early voting center near you.
Come cast your ballot among friends and neighbors!
Find out more about why Yes on 2 means fair elections for Ohio.
Tuesday, October 2nd - Yes on 2 early vote stops:
- Columbus - 9 am at Old Kohl's store at Northland Mall [directions]
- Mansfield - 11:30 am at Richland County Board of Elections [directions]
- Marion - 2 pm at Marion County Board of Elections [directions]
Please come out and join us!
Vote YES to end politics as usual--because when elections are fair and balanced, we the people win.
Planned Parenthood has a new national on-line voter guide where you can enter your zip code and they will tell you what candidates in your area are standing strong for women's health.
At 5 pm this Wednesday protesters will be gathering at 1940 State Route 256 in Reynoldsburg [directions] to protest the policies of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Sen. Rob Portman will be on hand, extolling the the Romney-Ryan plan which eliminates Pell Grants for a million students, shifts the tax burden to the middle class and creates a future where seniors can't rely on Medicare.
Next Friday Brian Rothenberg will be making a special appearance at Cleveland's City Club. He'll be discussing solutions to the outbreak of gun violence our country is experiencing.
He'll be joined by former police officer Michael Weinman, who was paralyzed after being shot on the job. Mr. Weinman is now the director of governmental affairs for the Fraternal Order of Police.
We need you to come out and support us at this critical event. You can get your tickets online right now.
What: Brian Rothenberg & paralyzed officer Michael Weinman talk on gun violence in America
Where: The City Club of Cleveland, 2nd floor of 850 Euclid Ave., 44114
When: Friday, August 24th at noon
The City Club is a unique forum that allows the public to dialogue with their featured speakers, which have included presidents, experts, and dignitaries from across the world. If you've never experienced this great public institution, this is a great opportunity to start. Visit their site for all the details.
"My favorite part about being a nurse is being able to provide quality care to both patients and families...that's what I live for."
Since 1980, Jeannie Mulichak has selflessly served the Youngstown area as a registered nurse. Her service towards her community and passion for her career is unmatched.
"Morale at the hospital amongst the nurses has been getting worse. We haven't seen a raise in seven years and with our rising insurance premiums, we are literally going backwards in the wage scale. It's time they show value in their employees."
"Wayne Smith, CEO of Community Health Systems, received over $28.5 million in 2011. Yet some of his employees still aren't getting the wages and respect they deserve."
$250 million.
That's how much business the Dayton area could lose if across the board 10% spending cuts go into effect this New Year's Eve. The only way to avoid these cuts is if Congress makes a balanced budget deal before then.
On Tuesday, Congressman Mike Turner is having a townhall to present his plan for avoiding this crisis. He opposes having the wealthiest corporations and individuals pay their fair share. We need a balanced plan, not one that balances the budget on the back of those least able to pay.
Show your support for Dayton and for a fair economy that works for everyone.
Join us outside of Congressman Turner's townhall at Sinclair Community College's Building 12 Auditorium at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, August 14th.
Mitt Romney is trying to restrict voting rights for over 900,000 Ohio veterans (along with every other Ohioan).
We need to fight back, to protect our democracy against this horrific move.
Absolutely unreal! As detailed in a piece I wrote for ThinkProgress, Mitt Romney is trying to restrict voting rights for over 900,000 Ohio veterans (along with every other Ohioan). This includes military retirees with more than 20 years of service and multiple tours. We need to fight back, to protect our democracy against this horrific move.
Late last week, the Romney campaign came out in defense of a new Ohio law, which would take away early voting rights for Ohio citizens - a law which President Obama is fighting against in court. That new law, passed by Ohio Republicans, would restrict the incredibly successful early-voting program in the state, and specifically do away with voting the weekend before election day, when many working Ohioans chose to vote early. In 2008, almost a third of Ohio voters used the early voting program, including veterans.
CLICK HERE TO TELL MITT ROMNEY TO STOP TRYING TO TAKE AWAY VOTING RIGHTS FOR VETERANS
This week on Labor Create's All Wealth with Bruce Bostick an interview with IBEW leader Mario Ciardelli discusses mobilizing for the huge, Union-led August 11 Workers Stand for America rally in Philadelphia.
Labor & allies are kicking off a major push for a Second Bill of Rights, calling for;
- Right to a job
- Right to vote and full participation in the electoral process
- Right to join a Union & for a voice at work & Right to a secure & healthy future!
Friends are urged to jump on the buses to the big rally in Philly!
The program will air Wednesday August 8th at 4pm on WCRS at 98.3 and 102.1 in Central, Ohio
It is also available to be downloaded or streamed on-line at: http://www.wcrsfm.org/content/labor-creates-all-wealth-august-11th-rally-philadelphia
He really did it this time! Brian Rothenberg is to be locked up by the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Thursday, August 9th, from 12-1PM and he needs your help!
His parole officer is already accepting donations towards his $2400 bail and every dollar counts!
Give Brian a helping hand while being apart of a great cause.
Brian had it coming.....
I'll get straight to the point. I'm Jon, the new intern at ProgressOhio and I need your help!
I
think we can all agree that Brian Rothenberg can be a bit of a pain at times. He's always wandering around the office, throwing endless piles of work at me while he takes all the credit. So, to get him off my back, I thought I'd have him arrested by the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Brian will be locked up on Thursday, August 9, from 12-1PM, however, since the news broke the office is has been going up in flames!
Brian's parole officer is already accepting donations towards his $2400 bail!
I never thought I'd say this, but I think I made a mistake!
Please help save my internship and donate to a great cause.
Thanks,
Jon the Intern
We want to help Josh Mandel out. Yep you heard that right.
Now that he's recently been awarded his record fifth Pants On Fire designation from PolitiFact, we want to lend Josh a hand and spare the public on either side from more Pants on Fires.
We're asking all seasoned fact checkers to forward your resume to www.progressohio.org. We will then do the honorable thing by forwarding all aspiring fact checkers to Mr. Mandel's team.
Why We're Seeking to Help
At ProgressOhio we believe that Ohioans should be told the truth by candidates, especially current elected officials. Sure a misfire once in a while is one thing. But it's frightening to think that the person elected to manage and distribute our state's money has been called out by his hometown newspaper so often. So let's give him some help.
If you can't change behavior, help modify it. So offer to help Josh Mandel out. Apply to be a fact-checker. Let's give Plain Dealer reporters a respite on PolitiFact Ohio.
Friday is the Voters First fair districts petition deadline, and we need your help.
I just received an urgent note from the Voters First movement. Due to recent developments, they now fully expect an aggressive and unprecedented attack on petition signatures by politicians and their insider cronies. These self-serving special interests have recently made it clear that they will use every means necessary to stop the voice of everyday Ohioans from being heard.
Every signature will likely be attacked, so if you haven't signed, it's critical that you to find a location and sign today. There are NEW signing locations all across the state.
Click here to find the signing location nearest you!
The Voters First campaign and its partners continue to collect as many signatures as possible in the final days, but it's going to be very, very close. As of today, the campaign projects that they have 350,000 valid signatures. That number is 50,000 short of the 400,000 total valid signatures the effort will need to defeat possible challenges by opponents.
Our opponents are desperate. They will work to silence the voice of everyday Ohioans in every way possible. Their only concern is holding on to their power and that means stopping our non-partisan effort to put citizens in charge of creating fair districts.
There are lots of new signing locations across the state, and it is now easier than ever to find a location to sign a petition and get involved with this historic movement.
Click here to find a signing location near you!
If you've already signed a petition, consider picking one up to circulate at one of the signing locations or sharing the petition link on Facebook and asking your friends and family to sign.
We have just a few days left to make the ballot and put the power of our government back where it belongs - in the hands of the people.
Your signature will make the difference.
In response to the tragedy in Aurora, a group of survivors and family members of victims of the January 2011 shooting that killed 6 people in Tucson, Arizona today demanded a plan of action to reduce gun violence from President Obama and Governor Romney in a full-page advertisement in USA Today.
The campaign calls on President Obama and Governor Romney to present their plans to address the tragic fact that 34 Americans are murdered with guns every day.
You made a difference and can still make a difference!
You more than anyone understand the importance of fair districts and why Ohio needs and deserves them. That is why ProgressOhio is taking this opportunity to thank the activists who have helped reshape Ohio through Voters First.
Join us for a fun filled evening Thursday, July 24 from 5-9PM, as we collect signed petitions and thank activists with a private screening of the 2010 documentary "Gerrymandering".
We will also have petitions available to sign if you or your friends have yet to do so.
The festivities will take place at our office located at 172 E. State St., 6th floor, Columbus.
I can't stress the urgency enough. This is your last chance to make sure Ohio is represented by fair districts. The deadline for turning in signatures is this week!
It is people like you that are changing Ohio and making it an even greater place to live.
We can't thank you enough and look forward to seeing you this Thursday.
Tomorrow, the Senate will have a chance to show us where their priorities really lie -- either with the top 2% or the other 98% of us.
We know the tax system is rigged in favor of the ultra-rich and corporations at the expense of the rest of us. Ending the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% is a good first step towards tax fairness. Senate Democrats have a bill that will do just that, but the GOP refuses to make the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.
The GOP believes that giving away $1 trillion in tax breaks to the richest 2% will create jobs. We believe the middle class is the engine of our economy and that when working people have money, they spend it, creating business and jobs.
Don't let the GOP hold 98% of us hostage.
The Senate votes tomorrow! Tell your Senators to end the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2%.
Get the Scoop!
Come learn more about voting and protecting your rights and enjoy free ice cream!
Common Cause Ohio, OhioVotes, Project Vote, Ohio Voice, ProgressOhio and the Advancement Project would like to invite you to an ice cream social on Saturday, July 28 at 2:00pm at Advent United Church of Christ, 2303 N. Cassady Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43219.
Get the scoop on voting from the Franklin County Board of Elections and from voting rights and election experts.
My Vote Counts! Rev. Susan K. Smith, author of "Crazy Faith: Ordinary People; Extraordinary Faith" and Sam Gresham of Common Cause will share why voting is important to them.
We'd like to hear your story too!
Speakers also include Camille Wimbish of Project Vote, Donita Judge of the Advancement Project and Professor Dan Tokaji of Election Law @ Moritz at The Ohio State University.
The 99% Need a Raise
Make your Voice Heard on Increasing the Minimum Wage!
Attend Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally in Cincinnati on Tuesday!
Raising the minimum wage is an important step toward an economy that works for all of us, not just the richest 1%. It will put more money in the pockets of ordinary Americans who need it and who will spend it in our local communities. That will help small businesses grow, create jobs and boost our economy.
- The minimum wage can't support our families. The current federal minimum wage of just $7.25 an hour amounts to only $15,080 a year. That's almost $9,000 below the federal poverty line for a family of four.
- Minimum wage workers get $7.25. CEO's get 725%. The federal minimum wage hasn't kept up with inflation; if it had over the past 40 years it would be $10.55 an hour. Yet CEO pay has risen 725% over the last 30 years.
- We all deserve a fair chance for a better life. More and more people - including recent college grads - find only minimum wage jobs available. That impacts all of us. Meanwhile, 80% of all real income growth has gone to the richest 1% of Americans.
Together, we can end the growing gap between the richest 1% and the rest of us.
It's time to make raising the minimum wage a priority!
Join Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally:
Tuesday, July 24th at 5:30pm
435 Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Contact: Kamilah Bryant, 513.680.6709
Sign Fight for a Fair Economy's Raise the Minimum Wage Petition at www.fightforafaireconomy.org
The 99% Need a Raise
Make your Voice Heard on Increasing the Minimum Wage!
Attend Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally in Toledo on Tuesday!
Raising the minimum wage is an important step toward an economy that works for all of us, not just the richest 1%. It will put more money in the pockets of ordinary Americans who need it and who will spend it in our local communities. That will help small businesses grow, create jobs and boost our economy.
- The minimum wage can't support our families. The current federal minimum wage of just $7.25 an hour amounts to only $15,080 a year. That's almost $9,000 below the federal poverty line for a family of four.
- Minimum wage workers get $7.25. CEO's get 725%. The federal minimum wage hasn't kept up with inflation; if it had over the past 40 years it would be $10.55 an hour. Yet CEO pay has risen 725% over the last 30 years.
- We all deserve a fair chance for a better life. More and more people - including recent college grads - find only minimum wage jobs available. That impacts all of us. Meanwhile, 80% of all real income growth has gone to the richest 1% of Americans.
Together, we can end the growing gap between the richest 1% and the rest of us.
It's time to make raising the minimum wage a priority!
Join Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally:
Tuesday, July 24th at 5:30pm
Westfield Mall side of Monroe Street near Tallmadge
Toledo, OH 43623
Contact: Greg Lyons, 419-902-2365
Sign Fight for a Fair Economy's Raise the Minimum Wage Petition at www.fightforafaireconomy.org
The 99% Need a Raise
Make your Voice Heard on Increasing the Minimum Wage!
Attend Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally in Cleveland on Tuesday!
Raising the minimum wage is an important step toward an economy that works for all of us, not just the richest 1%. It will put more money in the pockets of ordinary Americans who need it and who will spend it in our local communities. That will help small businesses grow, create jobs and boost our economy.
- The minimum wage can't support our families. The current federal minimum wage of just $7.25 an hour amounts to only $15,080 a year. That's almost $9,000 below the federal poverty line for a family of four.
- Minimum wage workers get $7.25. CEO's get 725%. The federal minimum wage hasn't kept up with inflation; if it had over the past 40 years it would be $10.55 an hour. Yet CEO pay has risen 725% over the last 30 years.
- We all deserve a fair chance for a better life. More and more people - including recent college grads - find only minimum wage jobs available. That impacts all of us. Meanwhile, 80% of all real income growth has gone to the richest 1% of Americans.
Together, we can end the growing gap between the richest 1% and the rest of us.
It's time to make raising the minimum wage a priority!
Join Fight for a Fair Economy's Rally:
Tuesday, July 24th at 5:30pm
8900 Day Drive (Just East of Ames Rd.)
Parma, OH 44129
Contact: Nakeisha Gibson, 216-650-6739
Sign Fight for a Fair Economy's Raise the Minimum Wage Petition at www.fightforafaireconomy.org
Did you hear the bad news? They're winning.
Voters First will make Ohio a state where the voter's voice is heard. Lobbyists and politicians will no longer have the power to deviously scheme behind closed doors to redraw Ohio's congressional districts to protect themselves at the expense of the people they are supposed to serve.
We are looking to purge our state of corruption while restoring power to the people by creating a transparent, independent 12 member Citizen's Commission to redraw fair districts for every Ohioan.
But without your help. the lobbyists and self-interested politicians will win.
The clock is ticking and Voters First only has until next week to collect more than 100,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot.
Don't let corporate money silence the voice of millions of Ohioans! Visit ProgressOhio to get involved and sign a petition near you.
With your help, we can once again live in an Ohio where people, not politicians hold the power.
Stop the Frack Attack is the first-ever national action on fracking! Join us in Washington, DC from July 28.
Rally on the US Capitol and march the DC streets on Saturday, July 28 or come early for training, a lobby day and an activists' gathering with strategy sessions and a town hall meeting.
For a complete schedule of events, see http://www.stopthefrackattack.org/schedule
Get On The Bus! No Frack Ohio Coalition is sponsoring a bus, leaving from Columbus, to the Stop the Frack Attack Rally in Washington D.C.
To reserve your space on the Bus go to this link and fill out the form http://bit.ly/LE1bPO we have 54 spaces to fill.
Then make a donation of $40 on our Crowdrise donation page http://www.crowdrise.com/frackattackcolumbusoh
The Bus will leave Columbus for Washington DC at 12:01 AM July 28th. We will be meeting at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, 93 West Weisheimer, Columbus, Ohio 43214. Please park in the parking lot closest to Weisheimer. Please consider carpooling. The bus will be departing for the return trip home at 10:00pm on the 28th. Cost is $40 per person.
Note: your space on the bus will only be confirmed once you have filled out the reservation page and made a donation.
SEE YOU IN D.C
Rapid Response Needed!
JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY JULY 18TH TO RALLY AGAINST A HEALTH CARE REPEAL AND REPLACE EVENT IN COLUMBUS!
Please join us as we hold a counter event and stand across the street from the office building where Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will be attending a Health Care Repeal and Replace Event.
The recent Supreme Court ruling upheld the Federal Health Care Law. It is time to move forward and enforce the federal health care law which has already helped thousands of Ohioans including young adults, seniors and those with pre-existing conditions. We need to stop fighting the law and to move forward and build an Ohio health care exchange marketplace.
It is time to get to work on fixing the economy and creating good paying jobs here in Ohio not fighting past battles dragging our country backwards and trying to take away our health care benefits.
JOIN US WEDNESDAY AT A COUNTER EVENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THEIR REPEAL EVENT!
WHERE: In the grass area across the street in front of the SEIU Billboard. We will have signs and water available.
WHEN: 3:30 PM, Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 (Their event begins at 4:00)
Parking: You can park at the SEIU parking lot at 1395 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 and walk about a block south to the billboard across the street from their (Governor Jindal's) event at 1335 Dublin Road/Riverside Drive.
RSVP: Denise Gastesi, ProgressOhio, Cell-614-562-4768
We're excited that the Children's Defense Fund's national conference is less than two weeks away--July 22-25 in Cincinnati--and we hope you can join us! A movement of change is built upon a diverse and fully represented community. We believe it is essential that "all of the doers" who work with you be with us for this action conference.
Reduced Rate Registrations
As a partner in pursuing justice for children and the poor, we would like to offer the ProgressOhio network a sponsored reduced registration rate--for as many as twenty (20) individuals--at just $50 each. Made possible through the generosity of our sponsors, our hope is that at this very low rate, all of our Ohio doers who could not register because of cost will now attend. Please help us make this special opportunity known to your network right away. We need each and every voice!
To sign-up at this $50 sponsored rate, please register here:
http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1060345
At this webpage, select "Individual Registration" for $225. A box will then display for a code to be entered--please enter "Cincinnati" (it is case-sensitive) in that code box to be registered at the $50 rate.
Please contact me with any questions. Thank you so much and we look forward to seeing you and other key community leaders soon!
Sincerely,
---Chris
Chris Glaros
National Field Organizing Coordinator and General Counsel
Children's Defense Fund
395 E. Broad Street, Suite 330
Columbus, Ohio 43215
If you are in the Cincinnati area and support affordable health care, let Josh Mandel know.
Protesters will gather at 7:15 pm on Tuesday, July, 10th in front of the Sharonville Convention Center (directions).
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel says we should get rid of a law that lets:
- Nearly 97,000 of Ohio's young adults stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26.
- Thousands of Ohioans with pre-existing conditions have access to health care through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
- More than 3.3 million Ohioans access preventive health services at no cost.
- 4.5 million Ohioans stop worrying about hitting a lifetime limit on their insurance coverage.
- Ohio seniors who have reached the so-called "donut hole" save more than $164 million.
Join others in letting Josh Mandel know you support affordable health care this Tuesday.
COLUMBUS, OHIO - Senator Sherrod Brown's campaign today launched "African Americans for Sherrod," a group of community leaders, activists, and elected officials who are supporting Sherrod for re-election because of his strong record of supporting the issues important in the African American community, including education, job growth and fair access at the ballot box.
The group will mobilize support for Sherrod, advise the campaign, and speak about Sherrod's strong record.
Today the Supreme Court issued their ruling on the future of the new health care law that already provides benefits to over 100 million people across the country. No matter the outcome, Ohio will be impacted. Join us as we gather to speak out and tell our neighbors, lawmakers and the media what the Supreme Court's ruling means for the future of health care in our state.
Numerous health care advocacy organizations will be holding Rally/Press Conferences at various locations across the state on Friday June 29th (except one event in Bowling Green on Monday July 2nd) to react to the Supreme Court's decision and continue our fight for health care that works for all Americans, not just for the profits of large health insurance companies.
Each event will have speakers sharing their real stories as well as local experts that will also be speaking on the subject of health care.
Last year Governor Kasich of Ohio signed SB5, an attack on police officers, firefighters, teachers and the middle class.
SB5 (Issue 2) was soundly defeated. But Romney continues to attack police officers, teachers and firefighters. Ohioans disagree with Mitt Romney.
President Obama cares about what real people think about, are worried about, and are concerned about.
Watch It:
Are you in? http://OFA.BO/i8tung
The clock is ticking and your help is more important than ever.
For decades politicians have protected their jobs and their friends by rigging who Ohioans can vote for.
Leaving them in charge of drawing our districts is like letting the foxes guard the henhouse.
If we can get the signatures, Voters First Ohio can cut the politicians out and create a fair system to decide who will represent you in Congress.
We only have 7 days left until we have to turn in our signatures and we're very close but need your help to make it.
Find the nearest Voters First location and sign the petition this week!
Don't Forget-Join us This Saturday at Comfest!
ProgressOhio is proud to receive the Organization of the Year award at Comfest!
This Award is Yours! Join us Sat. 6-23-12
While we are very proud to receive the Organization of the Year award at Comfest, we recognize that we couldn't have done this without you.
Please help us celebrate together on Saturday June 23rd!
11 AM to 12 PM
What: Thank You Breakfast Reception-ProgressOhio
Yes we will feed you to say Thanks!
Where: Peace Tent in Peace Village, Comfest, Goodale Park, Columbus
12:55 PM to 2:00 PM
What: Know Your Ballot Issues
Know It or Blow It, Hear Presentations on this Year's Ballot Initiatives
Moderated by: ProgressOhio
Voters First, Medical Cannabis, Freedom Ohio, Fair Elections
Where: Solar Stage, Comfest, Goodale Park, Columbus
5:05 PM
What: Comfest Award Ceremony
Bozo Stage, Comfest, Goodale Park, Columbus
Help us to plan on food for the Saturday reception. RSVP for the 11:00 Thank You Reception to Denise Gastesi if you have any questions at 614-441-9145 or denise at progressohio.org.
Remember when Mitt Romney proclaimed, "Corporations are people too!"? The sad thing is that our politicians do believe this and will do anything to protect themselves and their special interest friends.
For years our politicians have been drawing their own congressional and legislative districts- protecting their jobs while meandering around the best interests of everyday Ohioans. Voters First will be collecting signatures on Friday June 22 to take back the reigns from lobbyists and special interest.
The proposed amendment will take the power out of the hands of political insiders and hand it to a commission of independent citizens; to fairly draw our districts and build a better future for Ohio.
If you're in any of the following towns today (Friday!) stop by and help make a difference!
Akron/Canton: 1105 Tuscarawas St Canton, OH 44702 (map) from 9:00am-4:00pm
Cincinnati Friday: 261 W McMillan St Cincinnati, OH 45219 (map) from 9am-3pm
Cincinnati Saturday: 11540 Winton Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45240 (map) from 9am-3pm
Cleveland afternoon: W 25th and Lorain Cleveland, OH 44113 (map) from 3pm-6pm
Columbus: Goodale and High St. Columbus, OH 43215 (map) from 12pm-6pm
Toledo: 2761 Broadway Toledo, OH 43614 (map) from 2pm-6pm
Youngstown: 3657 Belmont Ave. Youngstown, OH 44505 (map) from 10am-6pm
Help us redraw a better Ohio!
Our friends at USAction want to help progressives win this fall, but they need your help to set our priorities. They want to hear from you on which candidate is most deserving of our help now, before the critical end of quarter deadline on June 30th. So they're launching the Progressive Dream Team contest!
Vote for your favorite among these seven great progressive congressional candidates in key districts we've identified around the country.
Of course, we highly recommend Representative Betty Sutton from among the seven selected.
Help Betty go for the gold!
Click here to learn more about the candidates and cast your vote!
The gold medal winner, the candidate who receives the most votes by midnight Eastern on Tuesday June 26th, will receive a fundraising email to US Action's list on their behalf ahead of the deadline on June 30th.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all of your continued support. At ProgressOhio we really mean it when we say that "we are powered by you".
I'm very proud that ProgressOhio is receiving the Organization of the Year award from Comfest this Saturday June 23rd, but I recognize that we couldn't do it without you.
We are starting the day of festivities with a Thank You brunch reception at 11:00 in the Peace Tent in Goodale Park. Then there will an educational session on the various ballot initiatives and end with the Award Ceremony and all that Comfest has to offer in between.
I hope that you'll be able to join us for at least one, if not all of our activities. Especially since we could not accomplish half of what we do regarding the environment, health care, social justice, voters rights, redistricting, and fighting privatization and big corporations, just to name a few, without your support.
I look forward to seeing you at Comfest this Saturday. Please see below for the list of our activities and their locations within Goodale Park.
Belpre Voters First Drive Thru
Come sign the petition to hold politicians accountable and give power back to the people. Let's declare our independence from politicians and let them know this is still a country by the people and for the people!
Time: Saturday, June 16, 2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
Location: Howe's Grove Park (Belpre, OH)
1600 Washington Blvd.
Belpre, OH 45714
Athens County Farmers Market (Upcoming Petition Signing Events)
The Athens County Farmers Market features multiple vendors, live music, and fun people. It is an excellent opportunity for you to buy fresh produce, handmade crafts, and homemade/local foods! There is a festival type atmosphere, and an opportunity for every registered voter to sign a Voters First Petition, or to pick up a petition to assist in the effort of collecting signatures! There will be petitions available for multiple counties, so make sure you stop by our table at the Athens County Farmers Market!
Time: Saturday, June 16, 2012 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM EDT
Location: Athens County Farmers Market (Athens, OH)
1000 East State Street
Athens, OH 45701
Troy Signature Drive-Thru (Upcoming Petition Signing Events)
Sign the petition from the comfort of your car! Drive up between the hours of 10am - 2pm, on Saturday, June 16th
Time: Saturday, June 16, 2012 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Location: UAW Local 128 (Troy, OH)
1230 S. Market Street
Troy, OH 45373
Noble County Fairgrounds Petition Signing (Upcoming Petition Signing Events)
Come sign the petition to declare our independence from politicians and ensure they listen to us, the people. We will be holding a Voters First petition signing at the Noble County Fairgrounds in Caldwell to help restore power back to the people and remind our politicians this is still a government by the people and for the people.
Time: Saturday, June 16, 2012 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Location: Noble County Fairgrounds (Caldwell, OH)
County Road 56
Caldwell, OH 43724
Vermilion Festival of the Fish (Upcoming Petition Signing Events)
Vermillion Festival of the Fish, a booth will be setup for the entire event where you can get your hands on a petition!
Time: Sunday, June 17, 2012 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM EDT
Location: Downtown Vermillion- Rt. 60 (Main St.) between Rt. 6 (Liberty Avenue) and Ohio Street (Vermilion, OH)
Vermilion, OH 44089
Strawberry Festival (Upcoming Petition Signing Events)
We will have a booth starting a 3 P.M., June 21st-June 23rd. The Strawberry Festival is downtown London.
Time: Thursday, June 21-23, 2012 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM EDT Host: Patty Rich Location:
Downtown London (London, OH)
London, OH 43140
For decades politicians have protected their jobs and their friends by rigging how we draw congressional and legislative districts - leaving voters out in the cold.
Leaving politicians in charge of drawing our districts is like letting the foxes guard the henhouse.
With this amendment, an Independent Citizens Commission of Ohioans will be in charge. Politicians, lobbyists and political insiders need not apply. Everything the Commission does will be out in the open for all of us to see.
We have until July 4th to gather enough signatures to take back our voice and our vote.
We need your help to meet this goal. Find the nearest Voters First location and pick up a petition form today!
COLUMBUS -- Over 1,000 "fracktivists" will descend on Columbus this weekend for "Don't Frack OH," the largest protest against fracking in US history. The weekend will end in a people's assembly in the Ohio statehouse that will "pass" legislation to stop fracking in the state.
What: Don't Frack OH, a three-day activist summit and action in Columbus. Who: Josh Fox, director of the Oscar-nominated film Gasland; Bill McKibben, a leading environmentalist, author and founder of 350.org; and over one thousand concerned citizens.
Endorsing organizations include: ProgressOhio, Ohio Student Environmental Coalition, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, President, for Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection, Fracking Coordinator Buckeye Forest Council, Ohio Alliance for People and Environment, Ohio Fracktion, Athens County Fracking Action Group, 350.org Action Fund
When: June 15-17, and culminating in a people's assembly in the Ohio statehouse that will "pass" legislation to stop fracking in the state.
Why: Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is an increasingly controversial method of drilling for natural gas that has concerned citizens lining up to oppose its spread in the Buckeye state.
In May, Gov. Kasich's energy bill sailed through the Ohio General Assembly, opening vast areas for fracking. The bill allows fracking companies to claim trade secrets to hide chemicals used in the fracking process; gags physicians from disclosing the chemical composition of treated water; doesn't go far enough on water testing; and doesn't address the serious climate impact associated with fracking.
Chesapeake and the Oil and Gas Association greased the wheels to push SB 315 through. Contributions from them in the past several years to the Ohio General Assembly and Governor Kasich topped a million dollars, ensuring their voices were louder than that of the people of Ohio.
A full schedule of events is available at http://www.dontfrackoh.org/schedule/
It's Pride month and we are calling on you to help us end marriage discrimination in Ohio as early as November, 2013.
You can help by taking action right now. Help us by collecting signatures at Columbus Pride on Friday and/or Saturday at our Freedom to Marry Pride Booth. We need help in the booth and at key locations throughout the event.... and best of all, it's not just a great movement, it's going to be SUPER easy to get people to sign.
Can we count on you Volunteer with Freedom to Marry Ohio at the upcoming Pride Fest in Columbus? We only need a couple hours of your time (more if you have it to give).
What will you be doing? Well, you're going to help us collect signatures to put the amendment on the ballot.
We need about 386,000 valid signatures and there is no better place to circulate than the Pride this weekend.
Volunteering is easy, just decide which day(s) work best for you to volunteer, then choose the link below that work best for you.
From July 22nd - 25th in Cincinnati, CDF will convene 3,000 leading researchers, educators, policymakers, practitioners, faith leaders, and advocates--including 1,500 young adult leaders--to help shape a robust national conversation on economic inequality and the urgent needs of childrenand the poor in 2012 and what we can all do to change the odds and change the outcomes for those being left behind. When 16.4 million children are poor, 8.3 million children don't have health care, and a majority of children cannot read or compute at grade level in the fourth, eighth, and 12th grades - we have a growing national crisis that demands an urgent response in these politically volatile and polarized times.
In our first national conference since 2003, we will examine strategies to close off the major feeder systems fueling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline and mass incarceration through sessions that explore critical issues in early childhood development, education, child welfare, community violence, juvenile justice, poverty, child health and nutrition. We will also showcase community building and engagement programs that inspire children, engage parents, and teach social justice through service and civic activism and organizing through faith communities. And we will provide intensive organizing training for more than 1,000 young leaders. Our focus is on inspiring action to close the gaps between what we know and what we do for children and the poor.
Voters First is led by a coalition of nonpartisan groups and people from across Ohio. It was created to take the power over drawing our congressional and legislative districts out of the hands of the politicians and put it in the hands of the people.
The Voters First campaign comes after a highly controversial redistricting process where Ohio's district maps -- drawn by politicians -- received widespread criticism from citizens and editorial boards of major newspapers across Ohio for destroying competition, dividing communities, and giving one political party an unfair advantage over the other party.
Sign the Petition today!
Call your State Representative and urge them to vote No on HB 496.
Your call will make a difference. It sometimes only takes five calls to make someone rethink their opinion and vote.
Ohio HB 495 will be heard today at 1:30 in room 116 at the Ohio statehouse. They could vote on it in this committee today!
HB 495 would allow:
- untrained out of state gun owners to carry loaded hidden guns in Ohio without scrutiny
- any gun owner to carry a weapon and the ammunition next to it in their car
- eliminate the competency requirements for any renewal of permits to carry loaded guns in public
One proponent said that the bill was needed to 'tidy' up the law and that permit holders were 'pretty much law abiding.' !!!!!
Call your representative as soon as possible.
No on HB 495 the bill to make it easier to carry loaded guns.
Thanks for working for a safer Ohio!
This June the Supreme Court of the United States will rule on a case to overturn Obamacare. This would take away health care from millions of Americans.
Watch It:
We know how important health care is for Ohioans which is why you we need your help now to prepare for any possible outcome from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the Federal Health Care Law.
We don't know how the court will rule, but we do know that Ohioans need quality health care for everyone in our state, no exceptions.
Be one of the first to hear when the Supreme Court rules!
S
how your support of the Health Care Law by sharing your health care story and/or join the Healthy Stories Express Rapid Response Team!
Be one of the first to hear when the Supreme Court rules!
The much anticipated U.S. Supreme Court Ruling regarding the Federal Health Care Law, the Affordable Care Act, is expected any time between now and the end of June.
We know how important health care is for Ohioans which is why you we need your help now to prepare for any possible outcome from the U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the Federal Health Care Law.
We don't know how the court will rule, but we do know that Ohioans need quality health care for everyone in our state, no exceptions.
The Healthy Stories Express is a collaborative effort of health care advocacy organizations holding various events across the state to listen and collect stories on how the federal health care law has assisted Ohioans. Collaborative partners include: ProgressOhio, UHCAN Ohio, Know Your Care, Alliance for Retired Americans, Communities United of Ohio and Health Care for America Now.
Two Ways You Can Help:
Mobilization Planned for June 14-17 in Columbus
COLUMBUS -- Over 1,000 "fracktivists" have registered for "Don't Frack OH," the largest protest against fracking in US history, scheduled to take place June 14-17 and culminating in a people's assembly in the Ohio statehouse that will "pass" legislation to stop fracking in the state.
Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is an increasingly controversial method of drilling for natural gas that has concerned citizens lining up to oppose its spread in the Buckeye state. In May, Gov. Kasich's energy bill sailed through the Ohio General Assembly. It allows fracking companies to:
- claim trade secrets to hide chemicals used in the fracking process. Only doctors are able to request the names of chemicals not disclosed, but they are restricted to using the information for diagnosis and treatment alone.
- bypass local authorization prior to granting locations of drill sites, pipelines or even chemical facilities
- cut corners by only water testing up to 1500 ft only for unconventional wells and zero for conventional well testing radius in rural areas.
What: Don't Frack Ohio, a three-day mobilization to oppose fracking
Who: Josh Fox, director of the Oscar-nominated film Gasland; Bill McKibben, a leading environmentalist, author and founder of 350.org; and thousands of concerned citizens.
Endorsing organization include: ProgressOhio, Ohio Student Environmental Coalition, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, President, for Network for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection, Fracking Coordinator Buckeye Forest Council, Ohio Alliance for People and Environment, Ohio Fracktion, Athens County Fracking Action Group,350.org, Action Fund
When: June 14-17, and culminating in a people's assembly in the Ohio Statehouse that will "pass" legislation to stop fracking in the state.
A full schedule of events is at: http://www.dontfrackoh.org/schedule/
Join Fellow Progressives at a movie screening for:
HEIST: Who Stole the American Dream?
A new, groundbreaking feature documentary about the roots of the American economic crisis, and the continuing assault on working and middle class people in the United States. "HEIST" unflinchingly reveals the crumbling structure of the U.S. economy - the result of four decades of deregulation, massive job outsourcing, and tax policies favoring mega-corporations and wealthy elites, implemented by both Republican and Democratic parties.
After detailing how the economy has been derailed, HEIST offers a robust Take Action section with real world solutions and up-to-the-minute footage from the Occupy Wall Street movement - an essential primer for everyday Americans to participate in the restoration of economic fairness and our democracy.
Watch The Trailer:
Showings:
Saturday, June 9, 2012, 11:30AM
and
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 4:30PM
Gateway Film Center
1550 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614.545.2255
and
Monday June 18th 7:00 PM
Upper Arlington Public Library Friends Theater
2800 Tremont Road
Upper Arlington, Ohio 43221
Presented by Upper Arlington Progressive Action
Ohio's venture-capital program, slated for expansion, does not meet Ohio investment requirements. Eleven of 25 funds that have received money from the Ohio Venture Capital Fund have not invested at least half of the money in Ohio, as required by law, and some have not invested in the state at all.
That's what Zach Schiller told the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee in recent testimony. The House shot down some good amendments before sending the bill to the Senate, where it now awaits action. The House increased reporting requirements, a change we supported, but not enough has been done to make this program accountable before it expands, increasing the potential liability for Ohioans.
In his testimony, Schiller advised that lawmakers install a clawback mechanism that would have venture funds repay money, with interest, if they don't invest the required 50 percent of funds here. He also suggested that the committee postpone action until it ensures the maximum benefit to Ohio. The House missed its chance, but it's not too late for the Senate.
Tell your state senator that this bill should not pass until it includes new, stronger accountability measures for the Ohio Capital Fund.
Right now Ohio politicians make backroom deals to draw their own districts. Voters First Ohio wants to make our redistricting process open, balanced and citizen run. This will make your vote matter more when it comes to who will represent you.
In order to make fair districts a reality we need to get signatures. Meet up with other organizers this Saturday at 2 pm ProgressOhio's Columbus office. Voters First will be serving snacks, screening a film about the issue and then heading down to the Columbus Arts Festival to gather signatures.
What: Movie Screening and Petitioning for redistricting at Arts Festival
Where: ProgressOhio - 172 E. State Street, 6th Floor, Columbus (directions)
When: Saturday, June 2 at 2:00pm.
Free parking for those who get there early.
Enter via the S. Young Street entrance and look for a volunteer to meet you.
Please join us at ProgressOhio (172 E. State Street, 6th Floor) on Saturday, June 2 at 2:00pm.
This is an opportunity to meet up with other Voters First volunteers. We will also screen The Gerrymandering Movie. Then we'll go to the Columbus Arts Festival and collect as many signatures as possible. Snacks and petitions will be available!
If you have any questions, please call Catherine Turcer at 614-441-9145.
Thanks again for volunteering!
ProgressOhio and Planned Parenthood, accompanied by other groups and activists were at Rep. John Boehner's Office Thursday to deliver a petition created by Ultra Violet demanding that the U.S. House of Representatives pass the Expanded Violence Against Women Act Now.
Join Upper Arlington Progressive Action and guest speaker Mike Curtin on Tuesday, May 22nd at the Upper Arlington Main Library on Tremont Road from 7:00 to 8:30!
Curtin, the former editor, associate publisher and chief operating officer of The Columbus Dispatch, will discuss the ongoing revolution in the newspaper business, the dramatic upsurge in online news consumption, and how these changing patterns influence our political process.
The UAPA meeting will be held in the Friends Theater downstairs in the Upper Arlington Public Library, 2800 Tremont Road. There will be light refreshments, good conversation and an opportunity for Q&A at the end of Mr. Curtin's presentation.
Join Upper Arlington Progressive Action as we work to build a better community, state and country!
Go to www.uaprogressiveaction.com for more information.
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mom, released a video asking parents nationwide to support the Second Chance campaign, a new national campaign working to reform, repeal and prevent passage of new Florida-style "Shoot First" laws around the country.
The Second Chance campaign launched after Martin's death with the NAACP, the National Urban League, the National Action Network, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, VoteVets and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to oppose reckless Shoot First laws that are on the books of 26 states and pending in 10 more.
Watch It:
I don't want another mother to go through what Sybrina, Trayvon Martin's mother, has gone through. Make us safer by reforming Shoot First laws across the country. One more child lost to reckless gun policies is one too many.
Senator Brown receives hundreds of Thank You's
for his Stafford Loan Legislation from ProgressOhio members
WASHINGTON, D.C.--After the Senate failed to block a filibuster today on the Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) vowed to keep fighting for Ohio students and invited Ohio's college students and their families to share their financial aid stories on his website at brown.senate.gov/CollegeLoanStories.
Brown will share some of the stories collected on his website with his colleagues through speeches on the Senate floor. More than 382,000 students across Ohio would be forced to pay significantly more in college loan costs unless Congress acts to block the interest rate from doubling on federally-subsidized Stafford loans. The Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012 would maintain the current interest rate, which is set at 3.4 percent, and prevent a hike to 6.8 percent scheduled for July 1st.
"This fight is far from over. My colleagues who voted to block consideration of our bill need to hear from more college students and less from special interests.
That's why I'm asking students to share their student loan stories on my website. Tell me what low student loan rates have meant to your ability to afford college. Tell me how you would be affected if you had to pay more in student loan costs once you graduate. I'll be collecting your stories and sharing them on the Senate floor and with my colleagues," Brown said.
"It's disappointing that some in the Senate would rather preserve tax breaks for the wealthy than help our best and brightest afford the ever-rising cost of a college education.
"I will continue working for Ohio's college students and middle-class families to ensure that they won't have to pay more for their student loans come July. I encourage students and their families to share their financial aid stories on my website at brown.senate.gov/collegeloanstories," Brown added.
"Already, recent college graduates are struggling to find work, with half of young college graduates jobless or underemployed. Allowing the interest rates on federal student loans to double is a step backwards. Ohio students--and our economy--can't afford this sucker-punch at a time when we need to be doing more to get our economy back on track."
Dangerous exotic animals caught up in the pet trade and in substandard roadside zoos need a voice: YOURS!
Please join us for a show of support for SB 310 in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, May 8th and Wednesday, May 9th.
With some of the weakest exotic pet laws in the nation, Ohio has become a haven for exotic animal menageries and breeders and dealers of wild animals. Keeping dangerous wild animals in backyards and basements has ended in tragedy time and time again -- as was sadly witnessed with the incident in Zanesvillelast October.
US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, has announced a field hearing With Senator Sherrod Brown examining the impact of Ohio's new voting law, HB 194, which restricts early voting, eliminates the requirement that poll workers direct voters to the proper precinct, and makes it harder to vote absentee.
As an Ohio voter, can you attend this important hearing?
Who: US Senator Dick Durbin
US Senator Sherrod Brown
What: Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights Field Hearing: "New State Voting Laws III: Protecting the Right to Vote in America's Heartland"
When: Monday, May 7, 2012 9:30am ET
Where: Carl B. Stokes United States Court House
801 West Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio
A Big Vote is coming up in the Senate to Protect College Affordability by Closing Tax Loopholes for Millionaires.
If Congress fails to act in time, student loan interest rates will double for nearly 8 million Americans.
Click here to sign the petition to urge Senator Portman to vote on May 8th to protect college affordability.
We will deliver petitions on Monday, May 7th to the Senator's Office in Columbus before the big vote on Tuesday.
It's time to let Senator Portman know that he needs to join Senator Brown and stand up for the 379,567 Ohio college students that could have their student interest rates rise. The bill to be voted on in the Senate on Tuesday May 8th would save $362,866,052 across the state by protecting student borrowers from having their interest rates double.
The Senate Bill sponsored by Sherrod Brown would pay for the Stafford Loan Program by closing tax loopholes for millionaires instead of putting the burden on women by cutting important preventative health care services like breast cancer screenings which is what the bill passed by the Republican majority in the House of Representatives would do.
Click here to sign the petition to urge Senator Portman to vote on May 8th to protect college affordability.
Your voice matters!
Today students will gather at 4:30pm in front of the Ohio State University Union to protest the administration's pursuit of privatizing parking on campus for the next 50 years. Recently President Gee sent out an email about the University privatizing parking services for the next 50 years. His email starts out by saying "the Senate Steering Committee voted unanimously in favor" seemly showing support towards leasing parking services. The evidence is overwhelming that Professors, Students, and the Community do not support the University selling the parking garages. There have been numerous polls conducted via email and most recently in The Dispatch, every poll shows more than %85 are opposed to privatizing parking.
Federal student loan interest rates will double on July 1st if nothing is done. Ohio's own Senator Sherrod Brown has introduced a bill to stop this and save the average student $1,000.
This week Sen. Sherrod Brown is touring college campuses across Ohio to talk about his Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act and what it will mean for higher ed students.
Here's where you can stop out to see Sen. Brown and show support for our students:
Columbus:
Wednesday, May 2nd at 11 AM
Ohio State Student Union (directions)
Cincinnati:
Thursday, May 3rd at 11 AM
University of Cincinnati, University Pavilion, Room 302, near the admissions office (directions)
Dayton:
Friday, May 4th at 9:30 AM
Wright State Student Union (directions)
A little over a year ago, a maintenance worker at Ohio State took his own life after shooting his supervisor to death. The 9 millimeter Luger he carried with him was last traced to a seller at a Columbus gun show that didn't require background checks.
If you buy a handgun at a store, you have to undergo an instant background check. Criminals have figured out a loophole that allows them to buy the very same weapon at Ohio gun shows without undergoing a background check.
That's why 85% of Ohioans, including 80% of Ohio gun owners, support background checks for every gun sale. There is a bill right now that takes a major step towards reaching this common sense goal.
HB 263 is a common sense bill that makes our communities safer without infringing on anyone's Second Amendment rights. It simply closes a loophole used by criminals to avoid the instant background check system used by all licensed firearm dealers.
16 states already have this law and Ohio citizens deserve the same.
Please call Rep. Rex Damschroder at 614 466-1374.
Tell him:
- HB 263 deserves a hearing because it makes our communities safer while respecting the rights of gun owners.
- You are part of the 85% of Ohioans that support background checks.
After your call, tell us how it went.
Sign the petition Thanking Senator Sherrod Brown for protecting the pursuit of a college education.
If Congress fails to act in time, student loan interest rates will double for nearly 8 million Americans. A proposal in the House of Representatives wants to pay for the Stafford Loan Program by cutting billions of dollars from the Prevention and Public Health Fund part of the federal health care law, the Affordable Care Act.
It's time to let Senator Sherrod Brown know that we appreciate him standing up for the 379,567 Ohioans that could have their interest rates rise.
The bill to be voted on in the Senate on Tuesday May 8th would save $362,866,052 across the state by protecting borrowers from having their interest rates double.
The Senate proposal would pay for the Stafford Loan Program by closing tax loopholes for millionaires instead of putting the burden on women by cutting important preventative health care services like breast cancer screenings which is what the proposal in the House of Representatives would do.
Click here to sign the Thank You Petition for Senator Brown to show him that you support his decision to vote on May 8th to protect college affordability.
We will deliver the thank you petition with your signature to the Senator as he visits colleges around the state to discuss the importance of this expected vote next week.
What do reproductive rights and bowling have in common? They come together in an event that can change lives: the Women Have Options (WHO/O) Bowl-a-Thon!
On April 29, we are holding our third annual Bowl-A-Thon. This year, the bowl-a-thon is about giving choices back to the women of Ohio. Lawmakers have done everything in their power to take away women's choices. We are standing up defiantly and giving choices directly back to women.
Whether you start a team or join a team, all bowlers are expected to raise a minimum of $50 (just $30 for students) to bowl at the event. When you register, you receive your personal donation/fundraising page with a unique link. So you can email it and post it on Facebook and Twitter. You fundraise for Women Have Options, telling your friends why you're bowling to increase access to abortion in Ohio. Then the progressive community comes together for a bowling party on April 29.
Interested in captaining a team, or joining a team? Check out the event website. Or email info@womenhaveoptions.org for details. We can tell you how to start a team or get you connected with a team.
They're at it again.
Out of touch politicians in Columbus are locking the doors on your voting booth, barring you from your most sacred right in our Democracy.
Protect Your Voting RightsThey are also up to their old tricks to stop you this November from making it easier and more convenient to vote.
Democracy shouldn't be this hard, but these extremists don't want you to vote. They passed a law last year to close the window of opportunity to vote early or by absentee. We didn't take this voter suppression sitting down. Hundreds of thousands of voters collected signatures to repeal this law just like we did last year with Senate Bill 5, the unfair, unsafe attack on us all.
Now, these politicians are saying Senate Bill 295 will repeal the anti-voting rights law, but the truth is it won't. You still will not be able to vote on the weekend and Monday prior to Election Day. In 2008, tens of thousands of voters cast their ballots, but this year the voting booths will be padlocked on those days.
Sign our on-line petition now and add your name to the thousands who are demanding that the Ohio House of Representatives stop suppressing the voting rights of Ohioans.
SB 295 continues to limit voting rights and opportunities for all voters and is NOT a true repeal.
Statehouse Republicans are whistling passed the graveyard while schools and communities across Ohio are feeling the squeeze.
Last year, Gov. Kasich made massive funding cuts to schools and communities all across Ohio. This created a financial crisis that's hurting our kid's education, weakening safety services in our communities and putting more pressure on local property taxpayers.
We can't sit back and let this happen. Today, the state budget is getting fat yet Gov. Kasich is continuing to starve schools and communities. He has proposed numerous changes in his mid-year budget review (HB 487), but he has done nothing to address the brewing funding crisis at the local level.
That's why House Democrats have proposed the KIDS & COMMUNITIES FIRST FUND, which will make $400 million available this year to help keep teachers in the classroom, safety forces on the streets and provide relief for local property taxpayers.
If you agree that Ohio shouldn't turn its back on our schools and communities, help us pass the Kids & Communities First Fund, sign this petition and Tell Statehouse Republicans to pass the Kids & Communities First Fund as an amendment to House Bill 487.
Why should we believe that Mitt's got nothing to hide? Between his Swiss bank accounts and off-shore investment funds in the Caymans, don't you think there's probably more going on than meets the eye?
Mitt's tried to hide his records before, but outcry from citizens like you forced Romney to reveal the truth behind these international bank accounts. Now it's up to us again to hold Mitt Romney accountable about his tax returns.
Watch It:
Demand To See His Tax Returns!
Send Senator Portman a Message!
Sign a Petition and/or Attend a Tax Day Event!
Tell Senator Portman to Protect the Middle Class, Tax the 1%
It's time that the millionaires pay their fair share!
Next week, right as Tax Day hits, there's a vote scheduled in the Senate on the Buffet rule also known as the Paying A Fair Share Act.
It's a bill that fixes our unfairly skewed tax code so that millionaires and billionaires pay at least the same share of their income in taxes as middle-class families.
Click Here to tell Senator Portman to support the "Buffett Rule"/Paying A Fair Share Act and tell him it is time for Millionaires to Pay Their Fair Share.
We all know that if millionaires and big business paid their fair share in taxes, our communities could invest in job creation, schools, health care, and clean energy.
The Buffett Rule would make it so that Americans who earn $1 million a year or more would be subject to a 30 percent tax rate. The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on the Buffett Rule on Monday, April 16, the day before millions of working Americans must file their federal income taxes.
Click Here to tell Senator Portman to support the "Buffett Rule"/Paying A Fair Share Act and tell him it is time for Millionaires to Pay Their Fair Share.
On April 12, 2006 Governor Mitt Romney signed "Romneycare" into law, ensuring affordable health care for 98% of Massachusetts residents.
"The key features of the new law were an individual mandate, which required state residents to purchase health insurance or face a tax penalty -- and the creation of a state agency to help the uninsured to purchase private health insurance plans at reasonable costs. It was touted by Romney at the event as a way of "expanding coverage to all our citizens."
Thanks to Mitt Romney's progressive health care reform model, we will soon all enjoy the same access to affordable care under provisions of President Obama's Affordable Care Act.
Thanks to "Obamacare," millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, young people who were previously uncovered, and seniors all enjoy affordable access to health care!
And we can all thank Mitt Romney for a progressive model for health care reform.
JOIN US IN SAYING
"THANKS, ROMNEYCARE!"
Today 350.org, Josh Fox and some good friends announced in a public letter the Don't Frack OH action, 3 days in June dedicated to training and movement building, including taking over the Ohio statehouse for a People's Assembly that will 'pass' legislation that Ohioans need to stop fracking.
Gun lobby extremists and their allies in Congress want to impose a law that will let dangerous people like George Zimmerman carry concealed guns nationwide.
Sign The Petition!
Tell Washington: Don't Give Dangerous Vigilantes
A Nationwide Free Pass
Here is our chance.
Politicians draw lines for their own districts - the fox guarding the henhouse.
• How different would Ohio be if Legislators and Congress faced competitive districts?
• How different would Ohio be if politics were taken out of the process, communities would be kept whole and citizens made the rules?
That's why Voters First needs your help to circulate petitions to change redistricting in Ohio.
Sign up to fundamentally change and give power back to Ohioans through Voters First's petition.
• A system where citizens are paneled to make the rules not politicians.
• A system where no party has an edge and party politics takes a back seat to a supermajority that requires dialogue.
• A system that protects your communities from divided representation and limits to 5% any partisan advantage.
• A system that gives the Ohio Supreme Court narrow rules to prevent gaming the system.
Sign up today to be a circulator for Voter's First.
It's time to put power back in people - not politicians!
In one of the most optimistic books to come out of Washington during these trying times, Congressman Tim Ryan presents us with an inspiring and hopeful view of our country's future--and a roadmap for how to get there. Across America, people are feeling squeezed, exhausted, and running faster and faster while falling farther behind. The economy continues to struggle, wars rage on, and every week brings news of another environmental disaster. Everything seems broken and people feel helpless to make a difference. Despite this bleak outlook, there are strands of quiet hope and confidence. People are beginning to take action in a new way: they are slowing down, paying attention, and gaining an awareness of the inner resources at their disposal.
This new way is based on the timeless and universal practice of mindfulness, the natural capabilities of our brains and minds, and the core American values of self-reliance, stick-to-it-iveness, and getting the job done. And it's manifesting in every sector of our society--it's helping sick people work with their pain, school children improve their learning, veterans heal from trauma, and CEOs become more inclusive and effective leaders.
In A Mindful Nation, Congressman Ryan--an all-American guy from the heartland who is also a thoughtful, committed leader--takes this story about the benefits of mindfulness to the next level. He connects the dots between what's happening with mindfulness in the classrooms, hospitals, boardrooms, research labs, and army bases across the country by sharing his interactions with experts in education, defense, health care, criminal justice, and the environment. A Mindful Nation paints a picture of emerging solutions that both benefit the reader and address the societal difficulties we are facing. Ryan's folksy, warm, and encouraging voice uplifts us and shows that there is something we can do right here and right now to help ourselves and our country.
Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes you think are the most influential people in the world.
Official voting ends on Friday, April 6, and the poll winner will be included in the TIME 100 issue.
This isn't a call for justice...
or better police work...
or about the racial implications of the shooting of Trayvon Martin, although these things are all important.
We just wanted to let you know that the man who shot Trayvon can, right now, at this very moment, legally carry a concealed gun in our bars and restaurants...
and in our parks...
and in your neighborhood's streets.
Because Ohio recognizes Florida concealed carry permits, Ohio gives Florida a say in who can legally carry a gun here. Even though Trayvon's killer was the subject of a court order to prevent domestic violence...
was arrested for assaulting a police officer...
and shot a teenager to death, Florida continues to allow him to carry a hidden, loaded gun.
And so Ohio lets him carry hidden, loaded guns here too.
Help put a stop to this now!
On March 13, less than two weeks after Trayvon Martin's death, a Democratic senator from gun-friendly Alaska, Mark Begich, introduced the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012." Just another week later, SenatorJohn Thune from South Dakota introduced a bill "to allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms."
The differences between the two are minor and due to an arcane dispute between the NRA and the smaller and more radical Gun Owners of America. The NRA has asked its members to contact their senators and ask them to co-sponsor the Begich bill.
Both bills would force all states that issue permits to carry concealed weapons to recognize permits obtained elsewhere. States such as California and New York that have stringent regulations on who can carry a gun would be obliged to allow people with permits obtained from states with lax gun laws, such as Florida. Gun control advocates say that it is laws allowing citizens to carry loaded handguns in public that form the basis of additional legislation, Such as the Florida Stand Your Ground law that barred police from arresting Zimmerman.
As Alcee Hastings, a Democratic congressman from Florida put it: "This misguided law does not make our streets safer, rather it turns our streets into a showdown at the OK Corral. But this is not the Wild West. We are supposed to be a civilized society. Let Trayvon's death not be for naught. Let us honour his life by righting this wrong." Hastings, who is African American, called for a repeal of the law.
That is not likely to happen, and less so in an election year. US President Barack Obama has stayed out of the debate on gun laws, which flares every time there is a headline-making shooting, and with few exceptions, lawmakers seek the gun lobby's favour and the resulting votes. This is the chief reason why advocates of tighter gun regulations have had little success over the past two decades.
Tell Washington: Don't Take Away Our Right To Keep Our Communities Safe
This documentary provides the real story of how the health care systems in Canada and the United States evolved to be so completely different, when at one point they were essentially the same. Most people under the age of 50, in both countries, are not aware of the intensity of the political struggle that led to the universal medical care system in Canada. Nor are they aware of the public relations campaigns, still active today, that have been prevalent in the United States since the early 1900's to dissuade the public from supporting national health care.
Produced by Canadian/American couple Laurie Simons and Terry Sterrenberg, The Healthcare Movie reveals the personal and emotional impact on Canadians who now have access to universal health care because of the heroism of people who took a stand nearly 50 years ago. It also reveals the continuing struggle in the United States between the fear of government intervention and the right to quality health care for all people.
Watch It:
Attend A Screening
March 27, 2012 7:30 pm
Drexel Theater
2254 E. Main Street
Columbus, OH 43209
Rally to Save Ohio Lives!
On Monday March 26th the U.S. Supreme Court begins hearing testimony on portions of the Federal Health Care Law, the Affordable Care Act.
Join us at 10:00 AM on Monday to Rally to Save Ohio Lives!
If the Affordable Care Act (or portions of) are repealed, thousands could lose vital health benefits that they have begun to receive or will receive due to Federal Health Reform.
Join us Downtown on Monday to demonstrate that the Affordable Care Act is saving lives. Ohio is one of the 26 states involved with the lawsuit being heard at the U.S. Supreme Court starting Monday.
Join us Monday to Make Your Voice Heard
What: Affordable Care Act: Rally to Save Ohio Lives
When: Monday March 26th at 10:00
Where: Outside of the Rhodes State Office Tower, (Attorney General Dewine's Office), 30 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH
Who: Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage and ProgressOhio
Speakers: Cathy Levine, Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, Co-Chair
Col Owens, Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, Co-Chair
Brian Rothenberg, Progress Ohio
Nancy Pitts, Raising Women's Voices
Reverend Eric Brown, Woodland Christian
RSVP: (Not Necessary but Appreciated) jyoder@uhcanohio.org
PLAN TO ATTEND THE RALLY MONDAY!
The shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman is a heartbreaking tragedy. But make no mistake, it is not a surprise that it happened in Florida, the NRA's closest thing to an armed utopia. In fact, much more so than any of the shills they had promoting their agenda in their big budget propaganda campaign, George Zimmerman is the embodiment of the gun lobby and its vision for America.
George Zimmerman is the NRA.
And now the NRA has made it abundantly clear that their vision is of an America that looks just like Florida, a nation where it's easy for criminals and dangerous people to get, carry and use guns -- a nation without any gun laws, where just about anybody can get a gun and use it anywhere. Their spokespeople use fear, bordering on paranoia to justify flooding our streets with armed and violent people, and the result is more tragedies like Trayvon Martin's.
The NRA is literally working to promote "George Zimmermans" to carry and use their guns in virtually every state across our nation.
Just days after the Trayvon Martin tragedy, the NRA was working on Capitol Hill to nationalize Florida's vigilante mentality. The gun lobby has gotten U.S. senators to introduce a bill that will force states like New York with strong gun laws to follow Florida's model of arming criminals and killers. Led by Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), they call S.B. 2188 the National Reciprocity Act.
We call it the George Zimmerman Armed Vigilante Act.
If the Washington gun lobby and their allies in Congress get their way, states across the country will be stripped of their ability to decide who can -- and more importantly, who can't -- legally carry a hidden, loaded gun inside their borders.
More than 65,000 Americans have already signed a petition urging Washington to respect the rights of local communities to decide who can carry concealed, loaded guns in their state. But unfortunately, Congress is still considering a bill that would force all states to recognize out-of-state permits for carrying concealed handguns, even when those out-of-state permits are held by:
- People convicted of assault
- Domestic abusers
- Drug addicts
- Stalkers
- People with violent arrest records
- People convicted of illegal firearms possession
- Sex predators
- Habitual alcohol abusers
- People with zero training who've never touched a gun before
This drastic new federal policy, called the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011" (H.R.822), would override the laws of almost every state and put our communities and police officers at unnecessary risk.
Last year, the Ohio House passed H.B. 125, the so-called Heartbeat Bill, which would virtually outlaw abortion in our state. Senate President Niehaus has indicated that hearings could resume in the Senate Health Committee at any time.
On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, more than 200 Ohioans will take part in the Freedom of Choice Ohio (FOCO) "Storm the Statehouse Emergency Lobby Day" in opposition to this dangerous legislation.
Noon Statehouse rally speakers will include: Taba Aleem, Branislov Ugrinov and Nancy Pitts, who will share their personal stories about abortion. State Representatives Ted Celeste (D-Columbus), Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Tracy Heard (D-Columbus) and Nancy Garland (D-NewAlbany), and State Senators Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) and Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) will also address the crowd.
Trainings at 10am will be held prior to the rally at the YWCA Columbus, Huntington Ballroom, 65 S. Fourth Street, Columbus.
Statehouse Rally 12:00pm; Ohio Statehouse North Staircase.
SPONSORS: The ACLU of Ohio, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, the National Council of Jewish Women and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio
Just in from our friends at COHHIO.
Advocates in Cincinnati need your help!
Ohio House Bill 408 would change the composition of the Board of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), adding two additional members from townships and suburbs in Hamilton County.
HB 408 is scheduled for another hearing and potential vote in the House Financial Services, Housing and Urban Development Committee this Thursday, March 22.
The Ohio General Assembly should not get involved in what is a local matter. Local officials are already permitted to appoint residents of townships and suburbs to the CMHA Board. The OGA should not be able to "tip the scale" and determine who is on the CMHA Board.
Please voice your opposition by calling members of the committee and submitting online comments TODAY by clicking here. Please do so ASAP!
Whose side are you on Mary Taylor?
The federal health care law, the Affordable Care Act is turning TWO years old yet Mary Taylor is still using it for political gain instead of developing an Insurance Exchange for Ohioans.
Tell Mary Taylor to start building an Ohio based health care exchange now!
The Department of Insurance needs to set up an Ohio based health insurance marketplace to give Ohioans more control, quality choices and better protections when purchasing health insurance.
On Thursday, March 22nd we will be going to the Department of Insurance to rally and deliver the petition telling Mary Taylor to start working to set up an Ohio based health care exchange marketplace today!
Sign the petition to Tell Mary Taylor to stop playing politics and set up an Ohio based health care exchange marketplace today.
It is time to be on the side of Ohioans that need quality affordable health care options.
JOIN US
What: Celebrate the two year anniversary of the federal health care law and deliver a petition to Mary Taylor asking her to set up an Ohio based Health Care Exchange now.
Who: ProgressOhio, Constituents, Activists, Seniors, Communities United, Alliance for Retired Americans Ohio, Health Care for America Now (HCAN)
Where: Outside the Department of Insurance
50 W. Town St. Columbus, OH 43215
When: Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:00
If you can't join us on March 22nd, please click here to SIGN the petition to send Mary Taylor a message that it is time to move forward with the two year old law and create an Ohio based health care exchange now to side with Ohioans and not big business insurance companies.
Tonight is the premiere of The Road We've Traveled, a documentary by Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim on President Obama's first three years in office -- and you're invited to be one of the first to see it.
The film gives an inside look at some of the tough decisions the President had to make -- signing the Recovery Act, rescuing the auto industry, and pushing for health care reform when its chances of passing were far from certain. I was lucky enough to be in the room for some of them, and this film does an incredible job at capturing those moments.
Watch The Trailer:
Be among the first to see the whole film
Yes! I Stand with Senator Turner and Others to Demand Sexual Health Equality for Men!
Men having been legislating Women's Reproductive Health Choices for years now and I want to return the favor!
http://bit.ly/sexualhealthequality
Yes! I stand with Senator Turner and others to demand Sexual Health Equality for Men!
Men having been legislating Women's Reproductive Health Choices for years now and I want to return the favor.
http://bit.ly/sexualhealthequality
Uncover the truth about marriage for gay and lesbian Americans.
Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Martin Sheen and Jane Lynch join an all-star cast for a one-night-only benefit reading of "8," the new play by Academy-award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar) that chronicles the landmark federal trial of California's Prop. 8 using the actual court transcripts and first-hand interviews.
Watch the L.A. Premiere LIVE >
Saturday, March 3, 7:30 p.m./10:30 p.m. ET
It's happening again. Wall Street is coming into Ohio, buying taxpayer assets for pennies on the dollar, and heading back to the coast to reap the profits.
From the turnpike to the prisons to liquor sales, Governor Kasich and his corporate cronies are fleecing the hard-working citizens of Ohio in order to make big profit for a handful of millionaires.
This time they are forcing through a lease of OSU's parking system that would give up almost $600 million to Wall Street while slamming the rest of us with yearly rate increases.
The current lease proposal, which was slipped through the Board of Trustees with no public input, allows OSU to lease the parking spaces for $375 million for 50 years. Except if they don't privatize, the net PROFIT (after labor and other expenses) to OSU over the same 50 years is $950 million, a difference of $575 million.
That is $575 million that will not be spent on financial aid to students or equipment for labs. $575 million that will be lining the pockets of Wall Street executives and not helping make OSU even better.
Even a Michigan graduate can see that almost $1 billion is more than $375 million.
Let your voice be heard!
Attend a rally outside of Mitt Romney's Columbus Visit Tomorrow!
Come and add your voice to the protest of Mitt Romney's campaign for the 1% Wednesday February 29th at Capital University, Bexley, Ohio.
Join us tomorrow to make your voice heard against Mitt Romney's proposals for the 1% including his recent proposal to raise the Medicare Eligibility Age!
WHO: Activists, labor groups, community members, concerned citizens
WHAT: Protest of Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
WHEN: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 2:00pm - 3:30pm
WHERE: Harry C. Moores Campus Center @ Capital University -745 Pleasant Ridge, Bexley, OH [map]
Protestors will assemble at the site of Governor Romney's town hall beginning at 1:30.
Make sure that you are one of them!
Join Us Tomorrow!
Yesterday, tragedy struck Ohio. Lives have already been lost, and thousands more will forever be changed, after the shooting at Chardon High School.
Today, we're asking you to support the students, staff, survivors and families by sharing your thoughts or prayers for them during this most difficult time.
We'll make your kind thoughts and words of support available directly to those who were at the school and their families as they work to heal.
Thanks for standing with Ohioans during this most difficult time.
P.S. We'll follow up and let you know when they receive your message
Kenneth Munson is our regional director for Health and Human Services, the department responsible for implementing health care reforms. He'll be the featured speaker this Thursday at a Small Business Health Care Listening Tour Forum at the University of Toledo.
This tour is an opportunity to help small businesses learn more about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This is your chance to learn how the ACA is working for local businesses and share your concerns and ideas.
Small Business Listening Tour
When: Thursday, March 1, 2012, 6:00-7:30 pm
What: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Region V Director, Kenneth Munson
State Senator Edna Brown
Where: University of Toledo, Scott Park Campus, Room 1070
2205 E. Scott Park Drive
Toledo, OH 43607
(Free Parking)
Sponsors: Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN Ohio), Small Business Majority & ProgressOhio
For additional information please contact: 614-441-9145.
Make plans to attend this Small Business Health Care event this Thursday in Toledo!
This Ohio listening tour is an opportunity to help small businesses learn more about the federal health care law - The Affordable Care Act (ACA), hear how the ACA is working in their businesses, and have an opportunity to share their concerns and discuss what needs improvement.
The Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio, and Progress Ohio, two groups with which Toledo Area Jobs with Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice Coalition work closely, are sponsoring a visit from US Health and Human Services, Region V Director, Kenneth Munson. Director Munson is taking part in an Ohio "listening tour" to help small businesses learn more about the Affordable Care Act; hear how the ACA is working in their businesses; and what needs improvement.
We hope you will join State Senator Edna Brown in making Director Munson's visit to the Toledo area meaningful and memorable. Please come with questions, comments and concerns.
What is RootsCamp Ohio 2012?
It's about Ohioans talking with Ohioans.
Rootscamp is back in Ohio. This will be your chance to dialogue with Ohio's progressive activists, organizers, leaders, techies, fundraisers and bloggers.
We'll share innovations, failures, old wisdom and new discoveries, with an eye toward:
• Sharing our thoughts and experiences on 2011's historic legislative battles.
• Building organization and sustainability in Ohio's progressive movement.
Who: Progressives from across the state.
When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012
Sign-in starts at 8:30 AM and the opening session is at 9:30 AM.
Where: Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)
390 Worthington Rd. Ste. A
Westerville, OH 43082-8329
[map]
How: Get your free tickets today.
Need a ride to Columbus? Email us at rootscampohio@gmail.com
Politicians in Congress, encouraged by irresponsible corporations and lobbyists for polluters, are trying to gut the Clean Air Act and dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency.
They're fighting for the right to pollute our air.
Lined up against them to strengthen clean air regulations are some of the most respected medical organizations in the world: the American Lung Association; the American Medical Association; the American Heart Association; the American Academy of Pediatricians; the American Nurses Association.
Now there's another powerful group supporting our right to clean air: Moms Clean Air Force.
Moms have passion and power -- an unbeatable combination. We are harnessing the strength of mother love to fight back against polluters.
Moms are joining together, to come out in strength for our kids' right to clean air -- just as our parents fought for us, forty years ago, to get the Clean Air Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon.
Moms Clean Air Force is nonpartisan-because clean air should be more important than politics.
Learn More About Mom's Clean Air Force Ohio
Freedom to Marry Ohio is a coalition of past and present elected officials, candidates, community and business leaders who are advocating for Marriage Equality in Ohio.
Led by Statewide Co-Chairs Tim Hagan (former Cuyahoga County Commissioner) and Andrew Ginther (President of Columbus City Council), and John O'Grady (Franklin County Commissioner) the organization seeks to have a discussion with Ohioans regarding allowing two consenting adults the right to marry.
This campaign is a multi-faceted organization with two main goals:
1. Putting a constitutional amendment on the Ballot in Ohio that would end the 2004 constitutional ban on gay marriage in Ohio.
UPDATE: We keep getting emails and FB messenger from folks asking if they can can still turn in their petitions. The answer is "YES." We are still data entering the petitions we got in this week and have very high validation rates, but we always like to turn in petitions with buffer.
We will file the petition EARLY next week, so if you are still circulating, thank you for your hard work. Please deliver your petitions no later than noon Monday, February 27th to Freedom Ohio 1349 East Broad Street, Columbus OH 43205
Across the nation, greedy corporate CEOs and the 1% are using new strategies to bust unions. That is because the only line of defense between an America with a strong middle class where everyone has the chance at the American Dream and one that only favors the greedy 1% is the strength of the nation's labor movement.
Members of USW Local 207L gave up $30 million in pay and other benefits to help Cooper Tire in its time of need.
With their help, Cooper made more than $300 million since 2009. The company paid its executives millions of dollars in bonuses, bought a new corporate jet, then refused to bargain in good faith.
They locked USW union employees out and gave replacement workers their jobs.
Learn more of the Cooper Lockout and Sign the Petition Here.
The 2012 Planned Parenthood VOX Training brings together student leaders from across Ohio to discuss how they can best organize to for reproductive justice!
Sessions will educate attendees on messaging, recruitment, and other skills that will help you build power for women's health and rights on your campus.
Date: Saturday, March 3, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Address:
172 E State St.
6th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
If you'd like to attend this event you can RSVP online.
Whether you vote in person or by mail, you must have identification in order to cast your ballot. Click here for a full list of acceptable voter identification.
If you plan to vote by mail, identification can be as simple as a social security or driver's license number. For in-person voting most utility bills, including cell phone bills and government checks, are acceptable forms of identification.
If you do not have proper identification, do not wait to get it. If you do not have ID, you will be forced to cast a provisional ballot, which may not be counted.
Remember, primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 6.
For more information, visit the ACLU of Ohio's Vote Center.
A new coalition Voters First has been formed to help fix redistricting because Ohioans deserve fairly drawn districts. We can't rely on politicians to get the job done, so we're collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot.
What is your first campaign goal?
- Collect 2,000 petition signatures by Thursday, February 23, 2012. This will allow us to submit the ballot language for review by the Secretary of State and Attorney General.
How can I collect signatures?
- Petitions can be picked up during business hours at ProgressOhio's office on the sixth floor of 172 East State Street in downtown Columbus.
- PDFs of the petition can be downloaded here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/81850334. Printing instructions: two-sided print on 11x17 paper, folded and stapled into a booklet.
Where can I sign a petition?
- Stop by ProgressOhio's office (172 E State St, 6th Floor) during business hours or attend our first signing event, inside Tim Horton's at 5470 North High Street from 7 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, February 18th.
Where can I learn more about this?
- Visit http://votersfirstohio.org/
- You can download an info packet to present to your organization or potential signers here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/81850453.
Who is leading this effort?
- Voters First Ohio is an emerging coalition focused on getting this issue to the ballot. The steering committee is :
• Ann Henkener, League of Women Voters of Ohio
• Ellis Jacobs, Miami Valley Voter Protection Coalition
• Sam Gresham, Common Cause/Ohio
• Richard Gunther, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University
• Dan Tokaji, Professor of Law, The Ohio State University
• Brian Rothenberg, ProgressOhio
If you're dedicated to Ohio's progressive movement, join us and 198 of your new best friends at Rootscamp Ohio 2012.
This event isn't about any one group, person or issue. It's a chance for people dedicated to moving Ohio forward to meet with, and learn from, each other. If you're progressive and have something to share, we want you here.
Rootscamp Ohio will take place just outside of Columbus on Saturday, February 25th. Half our spaces are already reserved, so make sure you get your free ticket today.
If you have something to share about what is was like for a first-timer canvassing for SB5, how to hold an effective press conference or what new social media tool everyone should know about, RSVP today.
Congress is at it again. Attacking those most vulnerable so they can pay-back their corporate contributors and their ALEC masters.
The bus is rolling out tomorrow morning. Will you be on it? RSVP RIGHT NOW and get one of the last spots!
The annual State of the State address is scheduled for February 7th but for the first time in the history of the State of Ohio, its not going to be at the Statehouse.
After the beating Kasich took on Issue 2, he knows the people are against him. So Kasich is breaking 200 years of tradition and running away to a small venue in hopes that no one will make the effort to travel there.
Will you join us to protest the State of the State? Can you grab a FREE BUS from Columbus, Cleveland, or Youngstown to/from Steubenville on Feb 7th and stand up for the 99%? Click here to RSVP for the FREE BUS.
SPOTS LEFT ON THE BUS:
Columbus: 13
(Leaves from 1395 Dublin Rd. Columbus, OH 43215 @ 7:30 am)
Cleveland: 3
(Leaves from 3250 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115 @ 7:30 am)
Youngstown: 7
(Leaves from 1105 Elm St. [Elm & Illinois], Youngstown, OH 44505 @ 8:30 am)
If you don't RSVP, spots will be on a first come, first served basis. Don't get left behind, reserve your spot RIGHT NOW!
John Kasich has the wrong vision for Ohio. It's time for Kasich and the rest of the politicians to do the right thing. The days of rewarding campaign contributors with Ohio's tax dollars are over.
The corporate takeover of Ohio stops here.
Join us in Steubenville on the 7th. Make your voice heard.
Boston Mayor Tom Menino and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg don't agree on football - but they strongly agree that we can keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people while supporting the 2nd Amendment.
This Sunday, during Super Bowl XLVI, Mayor Menino and Mayor Bloomberg will appear in a new television advertisement promoting common sense reforms to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
Watch It:
Join Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan coalition of more than 600 mayors from across the country, to help crack down on illegal guns.
The rights of the men and women who work at airlines and railroads are in jeopardy.
Over 75 years ago, Democrats and Republicans worked together to craft the Railway Labor Act to resolve labor disputes in the airline and railroad industries. Under the Act, the National Mediation Board administers union representation elections in the industry.
Until today.
Radical anti-union members of Congress are attempting to rewrite this important labor law and change the role of the National Mediation Board without debate or discussion. They have included drastic changes to the law in the FAA Reauthorization bill.
Click here to write Congress today and make sure that these changes are removed from the FAA Reauthorization bill.
The changes these radicals are seeking would:
- Make it much harder for airline and railroad workers to hold union representation elections.
- Threaten airline and railroad workers' right to a secret ballot during union representation campaigns, allowing for management intimidation and retaliation.
- Allow airline and railroad management to decertify unions without an election in a merger.
The FAA Reauthorization bill is an important piece of legislation that must be passed to ensure safe, efficient air travel. It is not the place to make drastic changes to rules that protect the rights of workers to join labor unions.
We must stand together to let Congress know that unrelated, controversial changes to labor law have no place in this bill.
Watch the video then use this form to write your Senators today and make sure that these changes are removed from the FAA Reauthorization bill. Or text FAA to 69866 to connect to your Senators' offices.
Watch It:
John Kasich is on the run but we need your help to fight his extreme corporate agenda.
The annual State of the State address is scheduled for February 7th but for the first time in the history of the State of Ohio, its not going to be at the Statehouse.
After the beating Kasich took on Issue 2, he knows the people are against him. So Kasich is breaking 200 years of tradition and running away to a small venue in hopes that no one will make the effort to travel there.
Will you join us to protest the State of the State? Can you grab a FREE BUS from Youngstown to/from Steubenville on Feb 7th and stand up for the 99%? Click here to RSVP for the FREE BUS FROM CLEVELAND. YOUNGSTOWN or COLUMBUS.
Why are we protesting the State of the State? Why are we rallying for the 99%?
Because Gov. Kasich isn't standing up for us and someone needs to be fighting for our future and our communities.
We are at a make or break moment in Ohio. While our citizens continue to struggle, John Kasich is giving away the state to his biggest campaign contributors.
Education. Environment. Voting Rights. Workers' Rights. Attack after attack - Kasich and his allies are working for their corporate special interests, continuing to ignore the will of the people.
Can we count on you to stand up for regular Ohioans and stand up against Kasich's bus at the State of the 99% Protest? We can send a message for the 99% but we need your help. Click here to RSVP and get more information on the protest.
On February 7th, we will prove him wrong. Citizens from across Ohio are going to come together and protest Kasich's fire-sale of Ohio to his corporate friends. We will show him that the 99% won't sit back while he rewards his 1% campaign contributors.
John Kasich has the wrong vision for Ohio. It's time for Kasich and the rest of the politicians to do the right thing. The days of rewarding campaign contributors with Ohio's tax dollars are over.
The corporate takeover of Ohio stops here.
Join us in Steubenville on the 7th. Make your voice heard. We have a free bus but you must CLICK HERE to RSVP and get more information.
Rootscamp Ohio is the one event a year where it doesn't matter whether you're a blogger, an elected official or a super-volunteer that had never been politically active before SB5 - if you're a progressive and have something to share, we want to hear from you.
Please join us on Saturday, February 25th for Rootscamp Ohio 2012, a unique chance to network, share and learn from your peers across the state.
Tickets are free and space is limited so make sure you can attend by RSVP'ing today!
What: Rootscamp Ohio 2012
Who: Progressives from across the state.
When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012
Sign-in starts at 8:30 AM and the opening session is at 9:30 AM.
Where: Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)
390 Worthington Rd. Ste. A
Westerville, OH 43082-8329 [map]
COLUMBUS - Today Gov. John R. Kasich announced that a block of tickets to his 2012 State of the State address on Tuesday, February 7, in Steubenville will be distributed to the public via an internet lottery. Interested individuals can register for the ticket lottery at: http://governor.ohio.gov/tickets/
The governor's State of the State address is historically delivered in the Ohio House of Representatives chamber at the Statehouse in Columbus, where public seating is limited. This year's address--the first delivered by a governor outside of the Statehouse--will be delivered to a special joint session of the General Assembly convened at Wells Academy, the top-performing public elementary school in Ohio and part of Steubenville City Schools. Wells shares a spacious auditorium with the Steubenville High School which allows for more Ohioans to attend.
Names will be collected until 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, and individuals selected for tickets by random lottery will be notified via e-mail by noon on Friday, February 3.
State Of The 99% Ohio:
Protest and Rally At State Of The State!
We all want to make a difference in Ohio, but opportunities like this don't come along often.
Ohio legislators are seeking twenty Ohio citizens to join them on the first ever Ohio Constitutional Modernization Committee. The committee will review the state constitution and can make recommendations on important issues facing our state like redistricting, school funding and judicial elections.
If you'd like to be considered, you must submit a cover letter and a resume to the committee co-chairs at the addresses listed below before February 1st:
Speaker William G. Batchelder
77 S. High Street
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
State Rep. Vernon Sykes
77 S. High Street
10th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
For more information, you can read news coverage on the committee here.
Tune in right here tonight to hear Barack Obama's last State of the Union Address before the election.
We'll be live-blogging the speech starting at 8:30pm. with an expert panel that includes USAction staff, leaders from around the country including Progressohio Executive Director, Biran Rothenberg and real Americans who've been impacted by Congress and the President's decisions.
Rootscamp Ohio is the one event a year where it doesn't matter whether you're a blogger, an elected official or a super-volunteer that had never been politically active before SB5 - if you're a progressive and have something to share, we want to hear from you.
Please join us on Saturday, February 25th for Rootscamp Ohio 2012, a unique chance to network, share and learn from your peers across the state.
Tickets are free and space is limited so make sure you can attend by RSVP'ing today!
What: Rootscamp Ohio 2012
Who: Progressives from across the state.
When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012
Sign-in starts at 8:30 AM and the opening session is at 9:30 AM.
Where: Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA)
390 Worthington Rd. Ste. A
Westerville, OH 43082-8329 [map]
The grassroots across the country are organizing and educating people about how corporate personhood and unlimited contributions distort and corrupt our political process. Our government needs to return to its constitutional roots. It is of, for, and by the "people", not the corporations. We can change it, but we need to stand up now. ProgressOhio has joined with national and local groups to mark the Citizens United anniversary and renew a call to end unlimited corporate influence in our political system.
Today at 3 pm at the Federal Courthouse in Columbus we rallied and protested in solidarity with other actions at Federal Courthouses in all 50 states and over 120 cities, including the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.
Slideshow:
It's common sense, or at least it used to be.
- Corporations are not people. Only people are people.
- Money is not speech.
- The People should decide elections, not big money corporations.
This Saturday is the second anniversary of the United States Supreme Court "Citizens United" decision. In that case, the Supreme Court explicitly stated what they have been working towards in case after case for over 100 years: corporations are people and money is speech, so corporate "persons" can't have their speech limited by contribution limits or disclosure requirements.
Practically overnight, Super PACs and other groups sprung up to take these corporate dollars and support pro-1% politicians. The 2012 GOP Presidential primary has already seen record spending by corporate dollars and it is only going to get worse once the general election begins.
In 2008, the Obama campaign raised $745 million, a record fundraising total in any campaign ever. That same year, one company, ExxonMobil, made over $45 Billion in PROFITS. If they were to spend just 2% of their profits to influence an election, they could outspend any candidate and effectively silence millions of people. And that is just ONE company.
Our democracy is not for sale. We may not always agree on every issue, but most people, outside of the corporate "persons" believe that "We the People" should make the decision, not big multinational corporate money operating from the shadows.
On Friday, January 20th, in Columbus and 65 other cities across the nation, Federal Court Buildings, including the U.S. Supreme Court, will be "occupied" by a wide variety of activists and Occupiers. Responding to the January 21, 2010 Supreme Court Decision: Citizens United v. FEC, citizens will call on the courts to sponsor a moratorium on bankruptcies and home foreclosures, to advocate for immigration reforms and criminal justice reforms, and to stop limitations on our voting rights.
Join event sponsor SPAN Ohio and state director Kurt Bateman for a screening of The Healthcare Movie, a documentary film narrated by Keifer Sutherland about the development of healthcare delivery and the two divergent paths taken in North America in the 20th century.
Bexley Public Library Auditorium, 2411 East Main Street Columbus, OH 43209
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; showing starts at 6:45 p.m. Running time 65 minutes.
Free and open to the public, however, only 50 seats available. Light refreshments provided and discussion to follow.
Contact: Kurt Bateman, span@spanohio.org
View Trailer: The Healthcare Movie:
Members of USW Local 207L gave up $30 million in pay and other benefits to help Cooper Tire in its time of need.
With their help, Cooper made more than $300 million since 2009. The company paid its executives millions of dollars in bonuses, bought a new corporate jet, then refused to bargain with us in good faith.
They locked USW union employees out and gave replacement workers their jobs.
Watch It:
Cooper Tire is just flat wrong.
Please sign the petition and urge Cooper to end the lockout!
On New Years Eve, a 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit Youngstown, OH. Despite there never being a recorded earthquake before, this was the 11th earthquake in Youngstown this year alone. Why the change? In 2011, D&L Energy began disposing of over 200,000 gallons a day of toxic frack water from Pennsylvania and Ohio (or enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every 2 to 3 days) by injecting it underground. Not surprisingly, by 2011 this toxic mixture had forced its way into a previously unknown fault and presto chango, earthquakes in Youngstown.
Preliminary reports from seismology experts from Columbia University say that even if they permanently stop this injection well, the earthquakes are probably going to continue for up to a year. But the chances of Gov. Kasich and the ODNR permanently stopping injection wells is about as possible as, well, an earthquake in Youngstown before this year.
On Tuesday, the first meeting day of the Legislature in 2012, No Frack Ohio and concerned citizens from across Ohio are joining up to protest hydraulic fracking wells and injection disposal wells being located in our communities. Can we count on you to help send the message?
Earlier this week, President Obama appointed Richard Cordray to be the new director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB is new organization with one important mission: fighting for American families. The folks at the CFPB go into the office every day to make sure that credit cards, mortgages, and loans work better for the people who use them.
On Thursday, Mr. Cordray put out a special video and sent an email to the CFPB email list asking the American people to share their stories about your experiences with everyday consumer financial products like credit cards, mortgage agreements and loans.
Check out the video and email below and then head over to ConsumerFinance.gov to share your story.
Watch It:
Great news! Progressive Talk Radio is returning to Columbus.
Tune in to WVKO 1580 AM to listen to popular radio hosts Ed Schultz, Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Mike Malloy, and Leslie Marshall, seven days a week.
Unemployed Workers, Community Advocates to Protest Speaker Boehner's Vote Against Unemployment Insurance Benefits, Demand Extension Before Year's End!
Unemployed constituents and concerned working families will hold a protest and press conference outside of House Speaker Boehner's West Chester office on Thursday.
The group will be protesting Speaker Boehner's vote against extending unemployment insurance benefits before they expire on Dec. 31st. Jobless Ohioans attending will emphasize the importance of the extension given the impact of long-term unemployment on working families and local communities.
WHO: Unemployed workers and community advocates
WHAT: Protest and press conference on Speaker Boehner's decision to cut off unemployment insurance benefits and a demand to extend them by Dec. 31st.
WHEN: Dec. 22nd, 2011 @ 2:30pm
WHERE: House Speaker John Boehner's office @ 7969 Cincinnati Dayton Rd. West Chester, OH
We Are Ohio said today that the group will donate $10,000 to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign and another $10,000 to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks.
Sgt. Jose Ranero of Toys for Tots said its check would be used to provide toys for as many as 1,000 youngsters.
Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the food banks' group, said the donation would provide food for as many as 1,600 families for three days.
A form on the We Are Ohio website offers a method for supporters to donate to a charity of their choice.
The White House has released a new report that shows how extended unemployment insurance benefits have helped, and would continue to help, the economic recovery. The report shows that unemployment insurance must be extended to ensure that millions of Americans are able to make ends meet and care for their families while looking for a job.
The report, prepared by the President's Council of Economic Advisers, National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Labor, found that five million workers will lose their benefits over the next year if Congress fails to extend unemployment insurance, including about 1.3 million people whose benefits will expire as soon as January. Additionally, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates that the economy will generate nearly 500,000 fewer jobs through 2014 if federally funded unemployment insurance benefits aren't extended.
Extending and reforming unemployment insurance, along with extending the payroll tax cut and preventing taxes from going up on 160 million Americans, are critical components of the President's plan to build a stronger middle class and a brighter future for the American people.
To learn more about how unemployment insurance provides important support for the millions of Americans looking for work and helps them return to work sooner, read the full report here.
Tell Your U.S. Senators: Reject the Cuts! Fully Renew Unemployment Insurance for 2012
Millions of hardworking Americans--nearly 2 million in January alone, and over 6 million in 2012--will be cut off from the emergency lifeline of federal unemployment insurance, unless Congress acts to fully renew the program before it expires December 31st.
But a bill that would slash jobless benefits in every state, and cut more than half the available benefits in the highest unemployment states including Ohio, is now headed for the U.S. Senate. This bill would cut over 74,000 Ohioans off of unemployment benefits at the time they need it the most to put food on their tables and keep their families warm.
In the past three years, federal unemployment insurance has helped more than 17 million Americans while they've looked for work in the toughest job market since the Great Depression.
Congress has never cut back or allowed these programs to expire when unemployment was anywhere near this high for this long. Senator Portman should reject the cuts to unemployment insurance, and pass a full renewal of the federal UI program immediately.
Please click this link to connect with Senator Portman (or any other federal elected official) through an innovated call back system. Just enter your information, including your phone number, and you will receive a call, hear a brief message and then you will be connected to your Members of Congress.
Much of the pollution in U.S. rivers and streams today comes from the manure generated by CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), which confine thousands of animals on a single site.
To determine the extent of the problem and how it might be better addressed, the public and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) need to know more about these facilities and the waste they produce. But unlike many other industries, CAFOs do not regularly disclose facility-specific information to the EPA--and the powerful interests behind CAFOs want to keep it that way.
Under a recent settlement agreement, the EPA promised a regulation that would require CAFOs nationwide to report some basic facts, such as the location of the operation and number of animals housed.
Yesterday, ProgressOhio found out about a bill that could make Ohio the worst in the nation when it comes to consumer protection.
Today, we're asking you to call your representative and tell them to stand up for the rights of citizens against corporations.
The National Consumer Law Center says that HB275 will: [1]
- Let many corporations that are caught defrauding customers get off the hook by simply returning the money
- Give Ohioans some of the "least effective deceptive-practices statutes in the country"
- Create new laws that discourage consumers from investigating the corporations that ripped them off
Lemon laws are meant to keep big corporations from preying on consumers. HB 275 will make Ohio a haven for crooked corporations and a nightmare for honest small business owners and other Ohio consumers.
Use this tool to find your state representative and then call them at 1-800-282-0253. Tell them to vote no on House Bill 275 and keep Ohio from becoming the worst in the nation at protecting consumers.
[1] http://media.cleveland.com/consumeraffairs/other/nclcreviewhb275.pdf
The most important new agency to protect consumers needs three minutes of your time today.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was set up last year after the landmark financial reform legislation that President Obama signed into law. Elizabeth Warren helped build the agency and set it up to protect consumers against the abusive practices of the big banks and credit card companies that destroyed our economy. After Elizabeth Warren was filibustered by Senate Republicans, President Obama nominated Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to become the top watchdog for consumers.
We joined Elizabeth Warren and consumer advocates in applauding Cordray's appointment, but Senate Republicans acting on behalf of Wall Street are trying to do everything they can to stop the nomination and the agency.
Richard Cordray is up for a vote tomorrow, and Senate Republicans are again trying to block his confirmation. We need to send a clear message to the Senate that the American people want Cordray confirmed to get the CFPB working.
Can you take three minutes and send your Senators an email demanding that they stop the filibuster of Richard Cordray?
The CFPB is the most important piece of the financial reform that passed last year but it needs a strong advocate to hold financial institutions accountable and protect banks.
Americans across the country have spoken up. We're sick and tired of a country that only works for the 1%.
It's time to bring the corporate agenda to an end, and it starts with these demands--common-sense policies that would restore the balance for the 99%.
What do you think we need to do to make America work for the other 99%?
It's up to you to make the ninth demand!
It's your opportunity to say what you think will get our country working again.
We know Rich Cordray. He deserves the Senate to confirm his appointment to protect us from bank abuse.
Tell Rob Portman to put politics aside for our country, for protecting us from Wall Street, for Rich.
This Thursday, Senator Portman has a chance to stop the recent abuses of Wall Street bankers. All it takes is a vote to confirm Rich Cordray, someone we in Ohio know well.
The bureau opened in July but currently is blocked from exercising its full authority until a director is confirmed. The confirmation vote is expected on Thursday.
Rich Cordray Needs Your Help Today!
Call Senator Portman at 202-224-3353 today and tell him to protect consumer's rights and to vote yes on Rich Cordray's nomination.
Have you signed a petition yet to repeal House Bill 319, the Republicans' unfair, gerrymandered congressional map?
Find a location near you and sign today!
There are just three weeks left to sign the Ohioans for Fair Districts Petition and have your voice heard. Let the statehouse know that you want fairly drawn congressional districts!
Ohioans for Fair Districts is the coalition to repeal House Bill 319 which creates an unfair gerrymandered Ohio Congressional Map. They need your help to sign the petition! Help Ohioans for Fair Districts to repeal House Bill 319 which takes away fair and competitive elections.
CLICK HERE to find an Ohioans for Fair Districts petition to sign near you!
Many signatures have been collected but many more are still needed to ensure that the repeal House Bill 319 issue is placed on the November 2012 ballot.
Also, help to make a difference by telling your friends and family to sign the petition to keep Ohio's districts fair and competitive!
CLICK HERE to find a location for the petition and to protect your voice in Congress!
On December 8, hundreds of events will occur nationwide as politicians who only care about the 1% look to cut off unemployment benefits for the rest of us. Rather than ensuring our communities are strong, vibrant and are creating jobs for our family, friends and neighbors, politicians like Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senator Rob Portman are wanting to cut benefits to the 99% and continue big tax breaks for the super wealthy.
ProgressOhio is supporting the call for thousands of Americans to go to Washington, DC in the first week of December to make the voices of the 99% heard and counter the influence of the 1%.
We are joining the many community groups, unions, religious organizations, and unemployed workers going to the nation's capital from December 5-9th to break the grip that corporate lobbyists have on Congress.
Will you be one of the many coming to Youngstown this Wednesday, Nov. 30, to protest the fracking industry's first Ohio conference? If so, here's the info you'll need to optimize your participation:
There's no better time than the holidays to let our servicemembers know how grateful we are for everything that they do. That's why Joining Forces has partnered with the USO to create a nationwide interactive thank you card. Just fill out a note and it will be added to a map along with messages from people all over the country, showing our troops and their families just how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. If we each do our part, our veterans and their families will get the recognition they deserve this holiday season.
Earlier this week, First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise phone call to Jessica Allen, the wife of an Army veteran who was deployed in Afghanistan earlier this year, to thank her and her family for their service and sacrifice.
Check out the video their conversation.
Watch It:
Columbus, OH - After votes by Congress to block President Barack Obama's jobs plan, and on the eve of the Super Committee's expected recommendations to enact more job-killing budget cuts, unemployed workers and local residents joined protestors nationwide in declaring an "Economic Emergency for the 99%." Columbus residents marched across the structurally deficient I-71 overpass on East Broad Street today, calling on Congress to create jobs, stop cuts, and make Wall Street banks pay.
The group gathered at The First Congregational Church to hear stories from unemployed and underemployed citizens and then peacefully marched to the overpass to illustrate the "structurally deficient" infrastructure, and others like it, needs work and so do 25 million Americans.
The march was part of a national day of protest at decaying bridges against policies that have enriched the 1% richest Americans and impoverished the 99%. In cities across America people are holding marches and sit-ins at bridges and other sites in need of repair to protest the inaction of Congress, the treatment of Wall Street banks and to demand that Americans be put back to work now.
"The economy, the banks and our leaders are failing the 99%," said John Reat, a former information technology manager with a Master's degree whose job was downsized. "We can't wait any longer for action. We need jobs - not more budget cuts. The overpass needs repair and is a symbol of our leaders' failure to pass a jobs bill or do anything to help the 99%, while the bankers and other members of the 1% keep getting richer."
Watch It:
Related:
Joining National Day of Protest, Columbus Residents Declare an Economic Emergency for the 99%
Ohio is facing a bullying epidemic in our schools. In recent national news, Ohio schools have been showcased as having a hostile and dangerous environment for our children. In Washington Court House, a special needs student was bullied by her own teachers. Caught on tape, a teacher and her aide called the student "dumb" and ridiculed her personal appearance.
In another horrifying incident from late October, a student in the Union-Scioto Local School District was beaten in his high school class room for being gay; the attack was videotaped as other students stood by and did nothing. These two incidents, among others from previous years, demonstrate that Ohio schools are not keeping our children safe.
We asked you to sign the Senate Bill 5 petition. We asked you to sign the petition to repeal the voter suppression bill. And now... you guessed it... we need you to add your signature to another petition. This one is to repeal HB 319 - the Republicans' unfair, gerrymandered Congressional map that rips apart Ohio communities and takes away fair and competitive elections.
Whether it's defending workers' rights, voting rights or gerrymandering, we are fighting back against the Republican agenda. Please help us by signing the petition to protect your voice in Congress.
See here for signing locations near you.
And check back often for updates - we're adding them everyday!
Three years after Wall Street wrecked our economy, 25 million people are still unable to find full-time work and the scandalous gap between the 1% and the 99% continues to grow. But instead of creating jobs, Congress continues to ignore the concerns of the 99%, and focuses on job-killing budget cuts and tax giveaways for the rich.
That's why it's time to declare an Economic Emergency for the 99%. On Thursday we are taking part in a National Day of Action and demand an economy and a country that works for everyone, not just the 1%.
Meet us at 4:30PM at The First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
https://www.facebook.com/events/303941792969347/
Come celebrate an extraordinary year, ProgressOhio's 5th Birthday at a Reception at the Renaissance Columbus, Saturday, November 19, 2011.
Tickets for the reception are $150 for 3 tickets (or $50 per person.)
ProgressOhio will be hosting its first Progressive Hero Award event. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown will be the award recipient and special guest at a reception and private dinner in Columbus, Ohio.
An award will also be given in the name of Barbara Klass Sokol, a dedicated progressive activist who passed away in September 2011.
Since 2006 ProgressOhio has worked to facilitate communication and education projects on progressive issues that affect all Ohioans. Because of this work, powered by you, we have built the reputation as a Progressive Leader and voice in Ohio. Whether the issue is guns in bars, antibiotics in our food system or voter rights, our efforts have greater impact because of the actions taken by our members.
Please take action today and buy your tickets for our Progressive Hero Event on Saturday, November, 19, 2011.
Thank you for all your support over the years - we are truly humbled by it.
Your participation in our Progressive Hero Event will help support our work in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Brian Rothenberg
Please feel free to contact Joyce at 614-441-9145 or joyce at progressohio.org, if you have any questions or to discuss being a sponsor.
Enough is enough--we can't wait any longer.
Three years after Wall Street wrecked our economy, 25 million people are still unable to find full-time work and the scandalous gap between the 1% and the 99% continues to grow. But instead of creating jobs, Congress continues to ignore the concerns of the 99%, and focuses on job-killing budget cuts and tax giveaways for the rich.
That's why it's time to declare an Economic Emergency for the 99%. On Thursday we are taking part in a National Day of Action and demand an economy and a country that works for everyone, not just the 1%.
Meet us at 4:30PM at The First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.
Then we will march four blocks to the overpass on Broad Street and 670 - a structure that needs work, just like millions of Americans - to join in solidarity with others peacefully gathering at bridges and other sites all across the country to send a loud message to the powers-that-be: We need jobs, not cuts.
View the event here on Facebook.
On Nov. 17th, We Will Declare an Economic Emergency for the 99%.
Here are the facts about our economic emergency:
- 25 million Americans are looking for work--but Congress can't pass a jobs bill.
- Super-Committee budget cuts could kill millions of jobs.
- The economy works for the richest 1%--not the 99%.
On Thursday, November 17 we will join together at 444 East Broad and send a loud message to the powers-that-be: We need jobs, not cuts. Put America back to work, protect our Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security - and make Wall Street pay for crashing our economy.
No on Issues 1, 2 and 3!
We know people like you will come out to vote, even during an off-year election. Here are three important tips to know before you go to the polls.
#1 - Where do I vote?
Use this online polling locator to find out.
#2 - What's Issue 3 all about?
Watch this quick video overview on why you should vote No on Issue 3.
"It is not just futile political posturing, it is wasteful and potentially destructive." - Youngstown Vindicator
Vote No on Issue 3 to stop a change to the Ohio Constitution that is opposed by every major newspaper in the state.
As the Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "...don't be fooled... Issue 3... could even bar schools from requiring immunizations... and impede state regulation of health insurers."
#3 - How else can I make a difference?
Volunteers are still needed everywhere. Help the No on Issue 2 campaign stop SB5 by volunteering.
We can use your help on Election Day, no matter where you are. We especially need your help at the following locations:
- Columbus - AIFF Local 67, 379 W Broad, Columbus, OH 43215
- Dayton - AFL-CIO 4127 E. 2nd Ave Dayton, OH 45403
- Toledo - Teamsters Local 20, 435 S. Hawley, Toledo, OH 43609
- Chillicothe - We Are Ohio Office, 149 W. Water Street, Chillicothe, OH 45601
- Struthers - We Are Ohio Office 520 Youngstown-Poland Rd, Struthers OH 44471
We wanted to make sure you didn't miss your chance to RSVP to join MSNBC's The Ed Show tonight and tomorrow night hosted by the Columbus firefighters.
Would you like to attend? Let us know by clicking here to RSVP.
Here are the details, in case you missed them on Friday:
WHAT: The Ed Show broadcasting live from Ohio
WHERE: Columbus Professional Firefighters, 379 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
WHEN: Monday, November 7 at 7PM and Tuesday, November 8 at 7PM
If you would like to attend Monday or Tuesday's show organized by IAFF Local 67, click here now to RSVP.
In Solidarity,
Ohio AFL-CIO
P.S. Click here to find out how you can help get out the vote get-out-the-vote from now until Election Day.
Issue 3 will have no effect on "Obamacare" but it will hurt Ohio!
During these last few days before election day, big-money from out of state groups are flooding Ohio with misleading campaign literature, portraying Issue 3 as a way to exempt Ohioans from the recently enacted federal health insurance mandate.
Here's a snippet from a flyer that's showing up in Ohio mailboxes, paid for by the Alliance for America's Future, a group led by Mary Cheney out of Alexandria, Virginia:
"Yes on Issue 3 makes the Obamacare mandate, requiring every American to purchase health insurance, illegal in our state."
That's completely false. Even the people responsible for putting Issue 3 on the ballot have admitted that their amendment would have no impact on the legality of Obamacare in Ohio.
Watch It:
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 3
TO AVOID HURTING OHIO WITH COSTLY LAWSUITS
The next few days will make a huge difference in the future of Ohio.
We need you to help us defeat Issue 2 and Issue 3. Besides going to polls and voting no on Issue 2 and Issue 3, you can help send a message to politicians by volunteering a few hours of your time between now and the election.
Whether you've been involved with defeating SB5 all along or just getting involved, now is crunch time. We need to send this message now, and we need your help to do it. Anything less than a strong and convincing win on Tuesday will encourage our opponents and lead to more dangerous and flawed legislation like Issue 2.
Click here to volunteer and defend Ohio's working families.
Make no mistake. The eyes of the nation are on Ohio right now. Our opponents and the Karl Roves and Koch Brothers of the world are looking for cracks in our resolve. We must be relentless, and we must finish the job with every resource we can muster.
The number of "NO" votes cast by Tuesday, November 8, will either encourage or discourage these deep-pocketed special interest groups. It's our time to mark off the distance they'll need to cover in the future.
Make your mark and click here to volunteer today.
Every door and every call not only helps get the word out about how Issue 2 hurts Ohio, it will help generate the votes needed to send a strong message on November 8: Hardworking Ohioans have had enough. It's time to end their attacks and anti-worker agenda in Ohio.
Time is short, and we need your help now more than ever.
History will be made this election. Be a part of it.
Today we went back to Senator Rob Portman's office to request a meeting with him, and demand an explanation of why he voted against the American Jobs Act - even though we had delivered over 700 petitions from Ohioans asking Portman to vote for jobs.
It's bad enough Portman voted against the 41,000 Ohio jobs the American Jobs Act would create - but his office couldn't even tell us why. And we were given the runaround about having a meeting with him.
We need your help to get answers and Jobs for Ohio.
MAJOR OHIO NEWSPAPERS ARE UNANIMOUS
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 3!
Every major Ohio daily newspaper has now urged voters to reject Issue 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that will be on the November 8 ballot.
Click Here to see a video with more information on Issue 3 and the endorsements.
On Saturday, November 19, 2011 ProgressOhio Education will be hosting its first Progressive Hero Award event. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown will be the award recipient and special guest at a reception and private dinner in Columbus, Ohio. An award will also be given in the name of Barbara Klass Sokol, a dedicated progressive activist who passed away in September 2011.
http:progressohio.pnstate.org/progressivehero
Since 2006 ProgressOhio has worked to facilitate communication and education projects on progressive issues that affect all Ohioans. Because of this work, powered by you, we have built the reputation as a Progressive Leader and voice in Ohio. Whether the issue is guns in bars, antibiotics in our food system or voter rights, our efforts have greater impact because of the actions taken by our members. Please take action today and buy your tickets for our Progressive Hero Event on Saturday, November, 19, 2011.
The cell phone video is grainy, but what it shows is simple enough: A 15-year-old boy being viciously beaten because he's gay.
The incident took place last week at Unioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio. In the video, there's a skinny 15-year-old boy in a classroom full of students. A much bigger boy says something to him. The smaller boy tries to walk away, but the bigger boy punches him. First once. Then again. Then over and over while the smaller boy curls on the ground, writhing in pain.
"I covered myself, I shielded my body, and he just kept hitting me," the victim said later. "Nobody did anything [to help me]."
Despite the brutal beating being caught on video, the bully received only three days' suspension, which means he could be back to school as soon as this week. The Union-Scioto school district has an anti-bullying policy that protects for gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, and disability -- but not sexual orientation or gender identity.
The American Dream Movement is flexing its muscle in Ohio. I'm coming to Columbus to be a part of it. This Thursday, November 3, we're gonna Rock the Repeal of Senate Bill 5 and restore the voice of hard-working, middle-class Ohioans in their workplaces by voting "No" on Issue 2.
This event is a celebration and a call to action. Volunteers, organizations, and coalitions like We Are Ohio and Fair Elections Ohio have fought hard for months to stand up to Governor Bob Kasich's assault on voting rights and the middle class. It's important to recognize how much of an achievement it was to even get the SB 5 repeal on the ballot and defeat House Bill 194's scheme to suppress votes.
But that's only half the battle. Now we have to make sure that every voter in Ohio knows that on Election Day they must vote "No" on Issue 2.
Ever wonder whether some members of Congress are living in the real world?
Obviously jobs - not cuts - are our nation's most pressing emergency, but you'd never know it by the budget-slashing, job-killing frenzy taking place in Congress these days.
That's why we are collecting pictures of all the crumbling roads and bridges, overcrowded classrooms and clinics, and rundown schools in our communities. Maybe then Congress will get the big picture:
It's time to put America back to work on the WORK THAT NEEDS DOING.
Ohio's working people are disappointed with Senator Portman's vote against creating millions of much-needed jobs last week. That's why we delivered over 700 petitions to his Columbus office from Ohioans expressing disapproval with Portman's vote. But Senator Portman now has a second chance to do the right thing for Ohio's economy by voting for the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act.
The bill provides Ohio with more than a billion dollars to create or protect more than 14,000 education jobs, while preventing the layoffs of thousands of police officers and firefighters. It will help keep our schools strong and our streets safe, without adding a dime to the deficit.
Call the US Congressional switchboard now at 1-877-851-2521 and ask to be transferred to Senator Portman's office.
Tell him to stand up for Ohioans, not his friends on Wall Street!
56 exotic animals ran wild in Ohio yesterday after their owner let them escape from his property before taking his own life. All but a few were shot and killed by police.
Terry Thompson's personal menagerie included tigers, lions, bears, wolves, leopards, and monkeys. And despite numerous previous complaints and visits from police, his operation was totally legal: Ohio has no regulations on the sale and ownership of exotic animals.
Liz Dumler is a Change.org member and student at Ohio University who worked for a ban on exotic animals in Ohio last year. When she heard about this disaster, she knew that Ohio's lack of regulation had threatened public safety and animal welfare for too long.
So she started a petition on Change.org asking Ohio Governor John Kasich to immediately issue an executive order banning exotic animals. Click here to add your name to her petition now.
In the last six years, local authorities visited Thompson's farm nearly 30 times in response to complaints about escaped animals, animal cruelty, and more. Police knew the rare animals were at a huge risk, but there was nothing they could do.
After Liz and other animal advocates fought for a ban, then-Governor Strickland outlawed exotic pets in January. But when the new governor, John Kasich, took office, he purposefully let the ban expire, saying it would "hurt small businesses."
Columbus, OH - ProgressOhio delivered petitions from over 700 Ohioans outraged with Senator Rob Portman's vote against the American Jobs Act, which would have resulted in 1 billion dollars in infrastructure money and nearly 41,000 infrastructure, school rebuilding, and teacher jobs for the state.
Senator Portman was among Republicans in Washington that obstructed the American Jobs Act, and forced the bill to be carved into separate pieces. ProgressOhio is demanding Senator Portman vote in support of the first stand-alone piece of legislation, which the US Senate is slated to vote on this week and provides $35 billion to prevent teacher, firefighter and police layoffs.
The gun lobby is trying to jam a dangerous new concealed carry law through the Senate this week. The measure would bar Ohio from deciding who can legally carry a hidden, loaded gun in our communities. Since Ohio passed the guns in bars bill earlier this year that means other states would get to decide who can carry a gun into Ohio's bars and restaurants.
It's not often that we ask you to call the Senate, but this is the gravest national threat to public safety this year. The vote could happen as early as today and your voice is crucial to defeating this amendment.
Use our easy online tool to call your Senators and let them know you're fiercely opposed to Congress trampling Ohio's public safety laws. Tell them to vote NO on the concealed carry amendment.
COLUMBUS -State Representatives Ronald V. Gerberry, (D- Austintown); Matt Lundy (D- Elyria); and Matthew A. Szollosi (D- Toledo) will each host Turnpike Town Hall meetings to discuss the Governor's plan to privatize the Ohio Turnpike.
The "Turnpike Town Hall Tour" will begin this week with events scheduled for the Toledo, Elyria and Youngstown area.
Once again politicians in Washington have failed the American people. On Tuesday, US Senator Rob Portman voted against funding nearly 14,000 infrastructure jobs, over 14,000 teacher jobs, and close to 13,000 jobs rebuilding schools in Ohio. More of our roads and bridges will crumble, since he chose to pass up one billion dollars in infrastructure money.
Sign the petition to Senator Portman and add your voice to the other Americans who have already spoken out on this issue.
They've made very clear to their representatives - in poll after poll, in town hall meetings this August, and in millions of letters, emails and phone calls to their Members of Congress - that they want immediate action to create jobs. Now it's your turn.
It's outrageous that Senators, such as Rob Portman, disregarded the will of the people and voted to kill the American Jobs Act.
Sign the petition to Senator Portman and include your own personal message of disapproval and we'll include it with the hundreds of others that we'll be delivering to Sen. Portman's office next week.
Ohioans Deserve The Freedom To Be Safe From Violence
It only took 11 days for a concealed carry permit holder to violate Ohio's new law that allows people to carry guns into bars. Chad O'Reilly was drinking in a suburban Cincinnati bar when he pulled out his semi-automatic Glock and threatened to kill a man.
Also last night, Tennessee State Rep. Curry Todd, the man behind that state's guns in bars law was arrested for a DUI while carrying a loaded gun. Rep. Todd joins Ohio state legislators Kris Jordan, Jarrod Martin and (the since resigned) Bob Mecklenborg as guns in bars supporters that have had alcohol-fueled run-ins with the cops during the past six months.
With the American Jobs Act the President has proposed investing $50 billion toward repairing and modernizing bridges, roads, and transit systems that would result in hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country, including the creation of approximately 13,700 local jobs in Ohio. The US Senate will vote on this important and needed bill on Tuesday. And we need your help.
Tonight Monday October 10th, we are holding a candle light vigil with a bridge listed as "structurally deficit" as the backdrop, to highlight how this plan creates jobs, in part by rebuilding our nation's infrastructure such as repairing crumbling bridges and roads. We will demand that Congress immediately pass the American Jobs Act on behalf of Americans all across the nation.
Can you join us?
Monday, October 10, 2011 at 7PM
Dodge Park and Recreation Center parking lot [map].
Q: How do I early vote?
A: You have two options - voting early by mail and voting early in person. We Are Ohio has an online tool to guide you through the process in your county.
Q: When do I need to register by?
A: Next Tuesday, October 11th, is the deadline to register. If you've moved in the last year, especially to a different county, you need to change your address or register again. We Are Ohio has voter registration forms and a hotline available at the bottom of this page.
Bonus tip for procrastinators: save yourself a trip. If you go to your local board of election between now and Tuesday, you can vote immediately after you've registered.
Q: What's the deal with that law that took away our voting rights?
A: HB194 was signed into law by Gov. Kasich earlier this year. The law would have made it much more difficult to vote. Thanks to the work of the Fair Elections Ohio team and the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans that signed petitions, these changes will not take affect this election.
Officials are currently reviewing the signatures, but it should be confirmed in the next few weeks that it will appear on the ballot in 2012. You still have a short time to sign the petition - just find a location using their online map tool.
Gloria Feldt is the best-selling author of No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power, a frequent keynote speaker, 30-year CEO, and passionate women's advocate.
On Wednesday, October 12, she will keynote at the Columbus Metropolitan Club at noon and at the Hilton Columbus at Easton at 7:00 p.m. for the New Directions Career Center.
How Women Succeed by Being Who They Are
Study after study finds that companies with greater numbers of women in leadership make more money. Managers are learning they must retain high performing women to succeed. Today's economic and social turbulence has jarred traditional boundaries, opening opportunities for women prepared to take them. Christine Lagarde is now atop the IMF. Crain's New York credits women such as Jill Abramson, the first female managing editor of the New York Times and Newsweek/Daily Beast's Tina Brown with coming to the rescue of the media industry.
While many doors have opened in the legal sense for increasing numbers of "first" women in almost everything, overall numbers remain numbingly immobile. Despite women being 60 percent of college graduates and half of the workforce, they hold just 18 percent of upper management positions across all employment sectors. Women sit in fewer than 15 percent of corporate board seats and hold a penurious 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions.
Though many structural and cultural barriers remain, my own research finds an equally pernicious barrier within. Many women resist embracing power even within their grasp.
When women earn today's average 77 cents a dollar compared to men, "nice-girl" salary negotiating tactics cost us a cool half million dollars on average over a working lifetime.
Even though we may feel stuck or helpless, but we are in the best position to unstick ourselves.
Yesterday, Representative Betty Sutton traveled to Wall Street to join fellow-Americans in sending a message to Wall Street fat cats and their political point men that enough is enough: it's time for Wall Street bankers and Corporate CEOs to pay their fair share.
Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing they all have in common is that they are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.
Workers are told that they aren't allowed health care, shelter, food. Students are told that they aren't allowed jobs, and that they will be in debt for the rest of their lives, unable to declare bankruptcy. The 1% has destroyed this nation and its values through their greed.
The People's Road Trip will be making its way to a city near you this week! We Are Ohio will launch the People's Road Trip in Cincinnati, with trip stops planned all across Ohio.
Workers who will vote NO on Issue 2 to stop SB 5 will speak at each stop to encourage Ohioans to vote early.
Doug Stern, the Ohio firefighter featured in the first television ad for We Are Ohio will join the People's Road Trip and will speak at all the stops.
Tuesday, October 4
10:50 AM: Hamilton County Board of Elections, 824 Broadway, Cincinnati
1:00 PM: Dayton Cultural Center, 40 S Edwin C Moses Blvd, Dayton
5:00 PM: Lima We Are Ohio Office, 43 Town Square (near Main and Market)
Wednesday, October 5
10:00 AM: (Near) Lucas County Board of Elections, 12th Street (near the corner of 12th and Washington), Toledo
3:15 PM: AFL-CIO, 3250 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
6PM-8PM: Community Forum- Bethany Christian Church, 3940 Martin Luther King Drive, Cleveland
Thursday, October 6
10:15 AM: Mahoning County Board of Elections, Oakhill Renaissance Place, 345 Oak Hill Ave Youngstown
2:20 PM: Steubenville Fire Department, 115 South Third Street, Steubenville
2:45 PM: March to the Jefferson County Board of Elections, 117 North Third Street, Steubenville
Friday, October 7
10:00 AM: Washington County Board of Elections, 205 Putnam Street, Marietta
4:00 PM: Franklin County Board of Elections, 280 East Broad St., Columbus
The National Education Association has launched a multi-state advertising campaign asking Congress to support President Obama's American Jobs Act, which would put up to 280,000 educators back to work and modernize 35,000 of our nation's aging public schools.
In the advertisement, America's students ask who they have to be to earn attention and action from Congress. Students across the nation are contending with overcrowded classrooms, cuts to art, music and physical education programs, and loss of vital services, from counseling to health care.
Please watch the ad, share it with your friends, and see how you can urge Congress to speak up for education and kids.
The 30-second ad is airing in select media markets in Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas.
Watch It:
The American Jobs Act would inject billions of dollars into the public education system, including;
- Providing employment for up to 280,000 public school teachers laid off due to state budget shortfalls & cuts
- Providing for repair and replacement of 35,000 crumbling public schools
Click here to email your member of congress and tell them to support the President's American Jobs Act.
Democrats asking voters to block GOP actions
Out numbered in the General Assembly and statewide offices, Democrats are asking to voters to overturn key reforms pushed by the GOP.
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said that this week Democrats will file petitions with more than 300,000 signatures from voters who want a referendum on a GOP-sponsored election reform package and the state Democratic party will appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court for the right to seek a voter referendum on new congressional maps that Republicans put in place.
Led by former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, the campaign to repeal House Bill 194 faces a Sept. 29 deadline to turn in 231,154 valid signatures. Redfern said he expects that threshold will be met and exceeded.
House Bill 194 shortens the window for early voting, makes it more difficult for local boards of elections to promote early voting, and restricts poll workers from assisting voters find the right polling place or fill out forms.
2 more days left. Have you signed the petition yet?
Let's show these Columbus politicians that we the citizens of Ohio want our voices heard!
Families, churches, and communities are excited about sending a loved one to a college or university but fail to ensure that they have the proper information to be successful at an institution. This intensive and interactive program provides participants with the truth about academic advising, student services, financial aid, potential pitfalls, and other "secrets" of success.
The Truth About College: Back to School Edition
Thursday, September 29, 2011
6pm to 8pm
Improved with new information for the 2011-2012 academic year!!
ProgressOhio
172 E. State St. Suite 203
Columbus, OH
(free parking in lot on Young Street, look for raised white gates)
Free to attend!
For more information and to RSVP for this event, contact DevonshireSmith at 513.418.3917.
Today, a group of Patriotic Millionaires released a video challenging several of Ohio's prominent politicians and their Republican Millionaire Politician colleagues for their opposition to the Buffett Rule.
The message of their video is simple: Millionaire Politicians who vote for themselves over their country are unpatriotic and unworthy of the offices they hold.
Watch It:
Registered voters can sign the HB 194 - STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION petition NEXT SUNDAY (September 25, 2011) after church.
President Obama just visited the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati. It's one of the busiest trucking routes in North America, but it is outdated and has been designated "functionally obsolete".
That's why the President has proposed investing $50 billion toward repairing and modernizing bridges, roads, and transit systems - such as this bridge - that would result in hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.
But, some Ohio lawmakers - including US House Speaker John Boehner, Congressman Steve Chabot, and Congresswoman Jean Schmidt - are not convinced that Ohio could use the approximate 13,700 local jobs that would be created by this plans investment in infrastructure such as the Brent Spence Bridge.
OHIOANS, STAND UP! BE COUNTED!
MEDICAID MATTERS!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE! WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
Medicaid is under attack. Talk of cuts are everywhere. Congress' "Super-Committee" will make decisions about the nation's debt in coming weeks that will have long-term impact on the lives of people with disabilities, the poor and the elderly.
Ohio Senator Rob Portman is part of Congress' "Super-Committee" He needs to know that Medicaid touches the lives of thousands of Ohioans.
Instead of "reforming Medicaid" by cutting services and shifting the costs to the states we need REAL Medicaid reform that not only contains costs but also protects the civil rights of the poor, of seniors and of people with disabilities.
A large group of national organizations representing a cross-section of populations including disability, aging and civil rights organizations are holding a "My Medicaid Matters" Rally in Washington DC, September 21, on Capitol Hill.
Despite the risks, Governor John Kasich is moving forward with all sorts of dirty energy including Fracking and Coal.
In fact, this week, Gov. Kasich is holding a "Energy Summit" at OSU to push his dirty energy dream and provide the first step in reversing Ohio's clean energy renewable standard.
Clean energy jobs are the way to grow the economy and protect our environment and the renewable standard has already brought investment and jobs to Ohio.
Don't let Kasich ruin our communities to reward his buddies in big Oil, Gas, and Coal.
Join us to stand up for renewables, energy efficiency and bringing good paying clean energy jobs to Ohio.
Registered voters can sign the HB 194 - STOP VOTER SUPPRESSION petition NEXT SUNDAY (September 25, 2011) after church.
All across Ohio, tens of thousands of concerned citizens just like you are protecting their right to vote by signing and circulating the HB194 Citizen Veto Petition.
Ohio was the laughingstock on the country in 2004 due to the long lines on election day, with some students waiting up to 15 hours just to vote. By 2008, we hard reformed our electoral system to be more open and more transparent, shining a good light on our state and making Ohio the envy of the country. Now leaders in the Statehouse want to bring us back to the darkness of the past. But they are not just settling with rolling us back to the lines of 2004, with their heavy handed tactics and nonsensical reforms, they are threatening to return us to 1904, when only those with wealth and privilege could vote. We will not stand for that. Not in Ohio.
The momentum behind this petition is growing every day. Although great progressive organizations and coalitions are coming out to help in the repeal effort, it is by no means just coming from the left. The Libertarian and Green parties are also helping on this repeal effort because they understand this is not about election reform, this is about surprising the votes of anyone who doesn't vote how Kasich wants.
Join Congressman Tim Ryan at the Short North Tavern in Columbus Thursday evening for a meet & greet and HB 194 petition signing event.
Just as we did with Senate Bill 5, we are now collecting signatures to repeal House Bill 194, the Republican voter suppression bill. Republicans are trying to rewrite the rules to steal the election from President Obama in 2012 and make it harder for us to repeal Senate Bill 5 in November. The only way we can stop them is to collect 231,147 signatures from across Ohio.
Details for this event are as follows:
Thursday, September 15, 2011
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Short North Tavern
674 N High Street in Columbus
Signatures will be gathered starting at 6:00 p.m. Congressman Tim Ryan will join and greet volunteers and signers at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome. Even if you have signed, come to show your support for the effort.
Ohio House Democratic Leader Armond Budish and members of the State Government and Elections Subcommittee on Redistricting hold a press conference to discuss the huge disparities and community divisions in the Republican proposed Redistricting map.
Yesterday Ohio HB 319, a bill that will determine Ohio's Congressional district lines for the next 10 years, was introduced and had its first hearing at the Statehouse and is expected to be on the House floor for a vote tomorrow!
But this bill is moving way too quickly and the proposed maps weren't even revealed to the public until yesterday. The maps have wildly distorted district lines that will negatively impact the fair representation of Ohio voters into the next decade.
Call State Rep. Matt Huffman, Chair of the State Government and Elections Committee TODAY at 614-466-9624 to tell him to slow down.
Tell Rep. Huffman that we need time for more public input and that we need districts that are more compact and fair.
The Ed Show will be traveling to Ohio for live shows next Wednesday (9/14) and Thursday (9/15).
The show will be broadcasting live in Toledo on Wednesday on the corner of South Huron and Washington streets just across from the home of the Toledo Mud Hens, Fifth Third Field.
On Thursday the show will be broadcasting live from the Columbus Professional Fire Fighter's, IAFF Local 67 Union Hall.
The shows are first come first served and will broadcast live at 10pm EDT.
Both shows will be all about working middle classers and their fight to repeal SB 5 (Issue 2).
If the gun lobby and their extremist allies in Washington, D.C. get their way, Ohio will no longer be able to make its own decisions about who can legally carry a hidden, loaded gun.
Dangerous people we currently prohibit from carrying concealed guns -- including violent criminals and people who've never passed safety training -- could be granted a concealed gun permit in a state with looser standards, and Ohio would have to honor it -- no matter what.
A coalition of more than 600 mayors from across America is mounting an aggressive campaign to stop this dangerous legislation before it becomes law, and I'm asking you to step up and help out.
Join ProgressOhio and Mayors Against Illegal Guns in telling Congress: When it comes to carrying guns in our communities it's OUR LIVES, so states should decide OUR LAWS.
Courtney Foley of United Food & Commercial Workers Union is one of 5 finalists for the Maria Leavey Tribute Award.
The fifth annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award will be presented at the Take Back the American Dream conference. The award goes to a person whose tireless, behind-the-scenes work has been critical to the success of the progressive movement in the past year.
A Maria Leavey Tribute Award winner is:
A Convener who builds connections among diverse members of the progressive movement, cultivating networks of old and new leaders and activists;
A Persistent Advocate who overcomes obstacles and marches forward with an enduring commitment and passion for social justice;
A Selfless Organizer who works behind the scenes without seeking the limelight or credit for his or her efforts, while lending credit to others; and
An Idea Generator who pushes forward creative new ideas, a strong analysis of important issues, or helps build specific new capacities and infrastructure for the progressive movement.
Join us in honoring Maria's memory by heralding the work of those tireless organizers in our midst who light a fire under the rest of us.
The unemployment rate remains incredibly high and we think Congressman Stivers needs to get to work putting people back to work. And we have a way that you can help him out.
Send your "resume" to Congressman Stivers to help him do his job in Washington, which includes job creation - not by voting for bills that cuts funding for critical social programs and kills jobs, destroys the middle class, and has a devastating effect on Ohio's economy.
We'll make sure he gets your "resume" so that he knows to start working on job creation, not job killing, when he's back in Washington.
Thank you for all you do!
ProgressOhio
As a result of today's global marketplace, parents need to seek creative ways to empower and prepare their children for the rigors of adulthood. Unlocking the Power of the Parent will be a free interactive workshop that offers parents and families culturally relevant tips and strategies designed to build skills and to develop confident and academically engaged students.
Saturday, August 20 from 12pm - 2pm
ProgressOhio
172 E. State Street, Suite 203
Columbus, OH 43215 [directions]
As a participant of this session, you will receive the following tips and strategies on how to: help bolster self-esteem in your child; assist your child in developing a life plan; assist in creating high but reasonable expectations and goals for your child; monitor your child's academic performance; promote and develop effective academic skills; prepare your child for life after athletics; and hold the community and school district accountable in a responsible manner.
If you oppose the following measures:
- Making it easier to purge to voter rolls.
- Eliminating early voting on Sunday and reducing Saturday access, making it harder for working people to get to the polls.
- Banning the addition of more easily accessible early voting locations.
- Stopping the mailing of absentee ballot request to voters.
- Not providing return postage on absentee ballots.
- we need a moment of your time.
A bill recently passed in Ohio will do all this and more to restrict our right to vote. Last month, over 1,000 signatures were collected to start the process of letting voters decide the matter. However, the movement was almost ended before it started when Attorney General Mike DeWine sat on our request for the maximum amount of time before denying it.
Thanks to help of activist like you, we were able to come back and get the required signatures once again. However, if the Attorney General and Secretary of State once again take all 10 days to deny our petition, then the bill may take effect before voters have a chance to decide.
Please contact Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted and ask them to make a fair, prompt decision on Fair Elections Ohio.
- First contact the attorney general here
- Then email the secretary of state's office by clicking here
Ask them to make a quick and fair decision on the Fair Elections Ohio petition.
The Ohio Apportionment Board has scheduled 11 hearings across Ohio for Aug. 22-26 to allow the public to testify about the state legislative redistricting process.
This is your opportunity to demand a fair and nonpartisan redistricting process, that maps should be published two weeks before they are voted on, and that maps generated by the public should be seroiusly considered.
Click here for the schedule
Across the country extremist governors have launched coordinated attacks against the middle class by decimating public services and failing to create jobs, all while giving handouts to the wealthy.
With so many reactionary governors it is hard to tell which one is the worst!
Cast your vote for the Worst Governor Ever in this special summer election.
COLUMBUS - At the first meeting of the state Apportionment Board, Secretary of State Jon Husted unveiled ReshapeOhio.org, a website sponsored by the Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, the Ohio Apportionment Board and the Ohio Secretary of State's office that is designed to give Ohioans an opportunity to engage in the effort redraw state and congressional district boundaries.
"The new legislative districts, and the leaders who will be elected to represent them, will help to shape Ohio for the next 10 years and beyond," Secretary Husted said. "It was an important priority for us to provide an open and interactive means to educate the general public and get Ohioans more involved in the process."
At www.ReshapeOhio.org, Ohioans can:
- Learn more about the two separate but parallel processes of redrawing Statehouse and Congressional districts, which takes place only once every 10 years;
- Follow the proceedings of the state Apportionment Board and the legislative committees the Ohio House and Senate have established to take testimony from the general public on redistricting, and
- Soon try their hand at drawing their own maps using the same technology those legally responsible for drawing the maps will be using.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office rejected the ballot language for the H.B.194, Voter Suppression Bill repeal.
We need to collect 1,000 signatures, TODAY, Wednesday, August 3, 2011 in order to submit the new ballot language. Spread the word!
Please bring a friend and sign a petition tomorrow at one of the following locations:
"Help wanted."
For millions of unemployed Americans, these two words are a beacon -- a light at the end of a dark tunnel in which they found themselves after Wall Street speculators wrecked our economy. For the unemployed, "Help wanted" means there is hope.
But we've recently learned an outrageous fact -- many employers are discriminating against the jobless by prohibiting them from even applying for open positions. Their "Help wanted" signs come with a caveat -- if you are unemployed, you need not apply.
For millions of U.S. workers, such discrimination is shocking and devastating. And we must make it stop.
So now we need your help. We've started a petition asking major employment websites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder to refuse ads from companies that prohibit the unemployed from applying - and it's already having an impact.
On Saturday, August 20th, the biggest free concert to hit Ohio this summer will take place at the Ohio Fairgrounds.
The Ohio Players, Grand Funk Railroad, Nikki Giovanni, and others will be performing, while informative speakers touch on a range of issues important to our jobs and communities. Van Jones has recorded a special video message inviting you to the event and more details.
Watch It:
Make sure to mark your calendars for a free day of family fun on August 20th.
Together we can rebuild the American Dream of good jobs and strong communities.
Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro is currently developing a proposal for designating Ohio's public institutions of higher education as "charter universities." He will release his proposal no later than August 15, even though there are still valid concerns over what charter universities could mean once put into practice. Other states that have enacted similar systems have had dismal results. That's why Chancellor Petro needs to hear the concerns and input of faculty, staff, students, parents, and others now as he develops this plan.
The conversion of public colleges and universities to charter universities could mean loss of collective bargaining rights for campus unions (even if SB 5 is repealed in November), higher tuition costs for students and parents, a lack of taxpayer oversight of public dollars, and the abandonment of a commitment to an affordable and accessible public college education.
It's time to support a simple, clean and immediate vote to extend the debt limit beyond November 2012, without conditions. No spending cuts, no tax increases, no gimmicks. Just a clean vote that keeps the economy running and guarantees millions of working Americans won't get caught in the partisan crossfire.
If Congress does not vote to raise the debt ceiling, within a week we may have to stop mailing out Social Security checks, paying veterans benefits, and effectively shut down the federal government as America defaults on its debt.
Make three calls now to the Congressional switchboard at 1-800-830-5738, and ask to be connected with your Representative and two Senators.
Tell each of them: "Reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Raise the debt limit now, without conditions."
In the next few days, the Secretary of State will announce that the Ohio Project has enough valid signatures to get onto the ballot, but with barely any padding for errors.
With such a small number of extra signatures, we are very close to get them knocked off the ballot, but only with your help. Please sign up to volunteer this week. Its your last chance to help stop this ballot amendment and protect our healthcare!
We will be filing challenges to the petitions but putting it together takes time. If we are going to file our challenges in time, we only have until the end of the day this Sunday July 31st to review the signatures. That is only 6 days left to make a difference!
Please come in for only a few hours during the next 6 days.
Maurice Thompson, Executive Director of the 1851 Constitutional Law Center, explains how the 1851 Center's Health Care Constitutional Amendment effort is motivated by their hope to get a big payday as Special Counsel to the Attorney General's Office.
Watch It:
Don't let them get a payday off the backs of the poor and sick!
Sign up to help keep the amendment off the ballot today!
Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 7:30 pm
Sat/Sun 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
(2 Hour Shifts requested)
Denise@progressohio.org
614-441-9145
You are warmly invited to attend a town hall I am hosting at the Esquire Theatre, Thursday, July 21st at 7:30. We will be viewing "Gasland", a movie that depicts the impacts of drilling and a new process that is due to increase in Ohio called high volume slick water horizontal fracking.
The event is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there!
Representative Denise Driehaus - Cincinnati
Free Gasland Screening and Discussion
Thursday July 21, 2011
7:30 pm
Esquire Theater
320 Ludlow Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
Below please find below an op-ed that I sent to the Enquirer this week:
When We Are Ohio filed 1.3 million signatures to repeal SB5 with the Secretary of State, we showed Gov. Kasich and his allies that we are united against his extreme policies. Polls have shown again and again that the overwhelming majority of voters are against SB5. In fact, polls have also shown that if the November 2010 Election were held today, John Kasich would not have won.
So what can Gov. Kasich, Speaker Batchelder, and the rest of the "Anti-Middle Class Boys" going to do when the entire State of Ohio is united against them?
Cheat.
House Bill 194, sponsored by the now infamous Rep. Mecklenborg and signed by Gov. Kasich, would make it harder to vote in Ohio, hurting access to voting and foiling voters' efforts to express their views through the ballot box.
The bill was forced through the legislature and has been drafted, adopted and signed to benefit one party's voters and to exclude others. In any competition, changing the rules to benefit one team over another is tantamount to cheating, which in elections, is the most egregious form of voter fraud.
Columbus Families Gather at AEP Headquarters to Protest Corporation's Air Pollution
On the very day that AEP announced they were stopping a $650 million carbon capture project, concerned Columbus residents and community groups gathered to protest American Electric Power's (AEP) opposition to the clean air laws that protect the health of families across Ohio.
If AEP is successful at blocking sensible limits on toxic air pollution, as many as 17,000 lives could be lost every year. In response, activists delivered almost 40,000 petition signatures to AEP's headquarters all asking the question: "How many lives lost is too many? AEP - What's your number?"
The utility giant has been lobbying to block new sensible regulations that would lower the amount of dangerous pollution, like mercury, that power plants can emit. Columbus-area residents at today's rally said they were worried -- and angry - at their electricity providers' actions.
"AEP and their high priced lobbyists wrote draft legislation that would weaken and delay new clean air rules. If passed, it would permit the release of mercury, acid gases and arsenic that would contribute to as many as 17,000 deaths, 110,000 asthma attacks and 850,000 missed work days every single year. We want to know, AEP: what's your number?" asked Andrew Sidsigner, the Columbus organizer for 350 Ohio.
"In 2008, AEP emitted more mercury than any other American utility. This is a serious concern because mercury harms the brains and nervous systems of babies and developing children," said Brian Rothenberg, Executive Director of Progress Ohio. "I'd ask AEP to spend less time lobbying for toxic emissions and more time reducing them," continued Rothenberg.
Group effort called, "Fair Elections Ohio" is currently collecting signatures to put referendum on the ballot in 2012
COLUMBUS - Legislators, voting rights advocates, labor unions, progressive organizations, and concerned citizens across the state of Ohio have begun a referendum petition drive to overturn parts of a measure passed by the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature that would limit access to voting and make less votes count.
"Ohioans worked hard the last four years to shake off the state's national reputation for poorly held elections," said Jennifer Brunner, Ohio's former Secretary of State. She continued, "This bill doesn't take us forward; it's a giant leap backward."
Brunner's successor, Republican Jon Husted, has publicly stated he does not support limited voter identification, which was stripped from the bill at the last minute but is referenced in the bill as another imminent change to supersede it. H.B. 194 was forced through the legislature, with gestures of bipartisan cooperation rejected. The bill's opponents say the bill was drafted, adopted and signed to benefit one party's voters over others. Brian Rothenberg, executive director of ProgressOhio said, "In any competition, changing the rules to benefit one team over another is tantamount to cheating, which in elections, is the most egregious form of voter fraud."
Millions of Americans rely on Medicare and Social Security to get by. These folks didn't create the deficit. They shouldn't have to be the ones sacrificing to fix it. And they certainly shouldn't have to pony up for more giveaways to the wealthy and oil companies reaping billions in profits.
Join me right now and send a powerful message to Washington: We can't force seniors and the disabled to foot the bill for this mess.
Simply put, seniors and the disabled didn't decide to wage two wars and pass massive tax breaks for the wealthy without paying for any of it. And now that our deficits have skyrocketed, Republicans are asking seniors and the most vulnerable among us to bear the burden of closing that budget gap--not to mention funding more giveaways to millionaires and billionaires.
It is incredible, but after their reckless policies racked up monumental debt and ran the economy in the ditch, Republicans now have the gall to claim the debt limit is President Obama's problem. Unless we win this argument with a show of our strength, we'll be forced to choose between letting our nation default on its debt or making our seniors bear an unfair burden.
So now is the time to fight for Social Security and Medicare.
Join me by clicking here and signing my petition.
Now is the time for us to show our strength. Now is the time for us to raise our voices. Now is the time for us to stand together and oppose the Republican plan to hand seniors and the disabled the bill for their failed policies.
Destroying Social Security and Medicare to pay for wasteful giveaways past and future would be selfish and short-sighted. But the only way Republicans will get away with it is if we let them. So join me today and send a clear message: Not this time.
Thank you for standing strong.
Sherrod
Join Today's National Call Congress Day at 1-866-251-4044
Tell your U.S. Senators:
Stop the Social Security Cuts now! Don't raid Social Security to give corporations another tax break!
ACT NOW! We are counting on you!
Social Security faces an immediate threat from politicians in Washington.
They want to:
- Cut Social Security's COLA to reduce the deficit. But Social Security doesn't contribute a penny to the deficit.
- Raid Social Security to give corporations a tax break, jeopardizing the Social Security benefits you and 54 million other Americans rely on. Corporations shouldn't get another handout.
We can stop these cuts and this raiding of Social Security. Join thousands of Americans calling their U.S. Senators today to stop this outrage.
Call your Senators RIGHT NOW at 1-866-251-4044. Simply follow the prompts to connect to them. It only takes a minute.
Tell the person in the Senate office who answers the phone:
I am a voter/constituent living in [your city and state]. I am calling to tell the Senator:
NO CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY!
NO CUTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY'S COLA!
NO SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY!
Call 1-866-251-4044 now.
Don't let politicians in Washington cut or raid OUR Social Security.
WASHINGTON, DC-- Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) made the following statement today:
"[In Ohio] We have one of the most draconian voter suppression bills in the United States. If we are going to have a society that involves all of its citizens, we cannot allow for these kinds of bills to be passed by legislature after legislature... Across this country, 11% of all people who are eligible to vote do not have a government issued ID. That's 21 million people. Every time we take one step forward, we take two steps back. And we're not going to allow it to happen. "
Watch It:
State Legislators, voting rights advocates, labor unions, progressive organizations, and concerned citizens across the State of Ohio have begun a referendum petition drive to overturn parts of a measure passed by the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature. HB 194 would limit access to voting and make less votes count.
A statewide referendum on HB 194 would allow Ohio voters to vote "yes" or "no" on the harmful parts of this law and to stop it from becoming law until a vote can be taken at the November 2012 presidential election.
Following is a preview of the changes that would be imposed beginning in this fall's election unless we succeed in this referendum effort -
We've joined groups such as Stand Up for Good Jobs and Strong Communities, and dozens of national groups in the effort to Rebuild the Dream. This new project is dedicated to creating an economy that works for ALL of us--and to stopping attacks on the middle class and working Americans.
Rebuild The American DreamToo many of us have stopped talking about our dreams--stopped thinking in terms of what we're really capable of achieving in this country. And we believe that's actually part of the problem.
That's why we're so excited to invite you to take part in the next step in building the American Dream movement. This Friday, State Representative Ted Celeste will join others in neighborhoods across the country that are gathering at more than 1,000 American Dream house meetings to share our stories, express our hopes, hone our best ideas and craft a plan for working together to fix our broken economy.
We need to stop reckless greed at the top from killing our dreams. That's the inspiration behind Rebuild the Dream. Our shared path to the American Dream begins with a conversation among concerned friends and neighbors at hundreds of American Dream house meetings this weekend. These simple house meetings will launch a grassroots agenda-creation process that we'll use to drive the American Dream movement forward.
Sign up now to help us fight against Health Care Repeal!
Repealing the health care law would get rid of important tax breaks for small businesses.
We need your help to keep the Health Care Repeal Issue off of the Ballot this fall. Could you plan on donating some of your time this summer to review petition signatures to ensure their validity?
The Federal Health Care Law (ACA) is already allowing individuals with preexisting conditions to get health insurance, allowing young adults to get insurance on their parents plan until they are 26 and it is also already assisting seniors with free preventative health visits and financial assistance to those seniors in the donut hole.
The Tea Party has been circulating a petition for some time to put an issue on the ballot blocking the implementation of the Federal Health Care Law here in Ohio. They filed on June 6th with the Secretary of State's office to get the issue on the ballot.
We are recruiting volunteers to verify the validity of the signatures. We will need volunteers beginning on July 16th until Mid-August.
We are putting the schedule together now.
We have shifts available from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm Monday - Friday and 10:00 AM-8PM Saturday and Sunday beginning Saturday, July 16th until August 7th.
There will be a training session on Wednesday July 13 at 5:30 at 3886 North High Street, Columbus (Clintonville), Ohio 43214. The office is located in Clintonville across from the Park of Roses and has free parking. Please contact me at denise@progressohio.org or 614-441-9145 of 614-562-4768 to RSVP for the training. If you can't make the training you can still sign up to volunteer. We will make sure that you have an individual training. All volunteers will receive free training.
Can we count on you?
To volunteer please contact Denise@progressohio.org or 614-441-9145 or Cell-614-562-4768.
Everyone knows what's at stake in 2012: SB 5--a bill that eliminates the collective bargaining rights of more than 350,000 public employees--will be on the ballot. Some politicians are willing to go to extreme measures to influence the outcome of the citizens' veto.
Last week the legislature passed HB 194--a voter suppression bill that cuts down on early voting and makes it harder for Ohio voters to cast their ballots. Not satisfied with making it more difficult to vote, some senators are saying they will take up HB 159--a voter ID bill that would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Ohioans--as soon as this week. Previously, they'd said it would not be voted on until the fall.
Call your senator at 1-888-218-5931 and tell him or her you oppose HB 159 because it will disenfranchise nearly 900,000 Ohioans.
"What is Your Number?" Day of Action
Date: Thursday July 14th
Time: 10am - 11am
Where: AEP Headquarters, 1 Riverside Plaza (Marconi and Long)
Meet: North Bank Park (Neil Ave and Spring St)
What: After a short walk from North Bank Park, we will have a press conference/ demonstration to ask AEP "How many is too many?"
Join us on Thursday to support clean air in Ohio and nationwide!
Banners and signs will be provided.
Sign up today!
As the Tea Party and conservative right continue to strengthen their infrastructure and advance their agenda, the progressive movement is building momentum to take back power in the 2011 elections. Progressive campaigns and organizations are continuing to build a deep bench of leaders and candidates to build political power and swing the pendulum back in their favor.
As part of this effort, over 100 progressive candidates, community organizers and citizen activists will take part in a political "boot camp" in Columbus from August 12th through August 14th. Participants in Camp Wellstone, a grassroots training program that provides practical skills in community organizing to citizen activists, campaign workers, and candidates for elected office, will take part in 2 and a half days of interactive learning, exercises, and networking.
Our new billboard running in Columbus, OH, across the street from AEP's headquarters
Ohio-based AEP is #1 in most major air pollution categories. But, instead of cleaning up its act, AEP is pushing a dirty air bill that would gut clean air standards and cause up to 17,000 premature deaths per year.
Watch Our New TV Ad
Join the on-the-ground fight against AEP's outrageous dirty air bill, which would block life-saving clean air standards and cause 17,000 premature deaths every year!
Over the next couple of weeks, we will be organizing local events in Columbus to increase the pressure on the big polluter.
"What is Your Number?" Day of Action
Date: Thursday July 14th
Time: 10am - 11am
Where: AEP Headquarters, 1 Riverside Plaza (Marconi and Long)
Meet: North Bank Park (Neil Ave and Spring St)
What: After a short walk from North Bank Park, we will have a press conference/ demonstration to ask AEP "How many is too many?"
Join us on Thursday to support clean air in Ohio and nationwide!
Banners and signs will be provided.
Sign up today!
Send Representative Renacci Your Message
Even with Rep. Renacci's crowd control tactics
last week at his Town Hall Meeting,
it was clear that our voices were not going to be stifled
Rep. Renacci's security and staff controlled the debate at his recent Town Hall. He used tactics such as distributing Red Cards and Green Cards for the crowd to use and then he asked them questions in a way that confused them on how to use the cards to respond. Renacci also kicked individuals out of the meeting and his staff decided which questions would be discussed during the town hall.
Citizens both outside and inside the hall struggled to make their voices heard over the Congressman's stifling tactics.
Now you have your chance to send Representative Renacci a message and REALLY have your voice heard.
Click on this link to share your concerns on his cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
See excerpts of the Canton Repository Article:
The march to repeal SB5, the worst attack on Ohio's middle class in a generation, is reaching a critical milestone today.
To celebrate having gathered enough signatures to get the repeal of SB5 on the ballot, hundreds of people like you are marching through the streets of downtown Columbus.
This historic event will kick-off outside COSI at 10 AM. We will march to the Secretary of State's office to turn in hundreds of thousands (1,000,000+?)of signatures to repeal SB 5 that have been collected by volunteers all across the state.
After the march, we will have food and refreshments at a people powered party at the new Columbus Commons to celebrate this milestone in the campaign.
Watch It:
Why is Congressman Steve Stivers gambling with the future of Medicaid for Ohio's citizens?
Politicians are currently negotiating a deal in Washington that would cut Medicaid for seniors, people with disabilities, and children while at the same time giving millionaires another tax break. Their schemes could cost Ohio billions of dollars and thousands of jobs!
Medicaid is how most of us pay for long-term care in our homes, assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes. Do we want to go back to the days of the poor farms and old folks homes?
Earlier this month, Congressman Steve Stivers voted for the Republican budget that would slash Medicaid spending by one third and would end Medicare as we know it.
Join Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Ohio Coalition organizations, retirees, and activists on June 30th in Columbus to send a message to Rep. Steve Stivers that we won't stand for him gambling with Ohio's future.
- What: Hands Off Medicaid!! Rally and Press Conference
- When: Thursday June 30, 2011 11:30-12:15
- Where: John W. Bricker Federal Buildling- 200 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio (click here for directions)
- Participating Organizations: Ohio Communities United, Alliance for Retired Americans and ProgressOhio
- RSVP: Christine Kozobarich, Ohio Communities United - christine@ohunited.org
The 1951 war film, "Go for Broke!" introduced the American public to the nation's most decorated regiment in the history of the U.S., the 442nd. It was comprised of mostly Japanese American soldiers, many of whom had family interned during World War II. Its motto was, "Go for Broke."
That seems to be the motto for the Republican controlled state budget which came out of the conference committee late last night and will likely see floor votes this afternoon and tomorrow. But this legislature is not fighting for freedom; it's fighting for large corporate tax giveaways, and it's wagering everything presumably in the hope it will bring jobs.
GO FOR BROKE CHALLENGE #1: The Ohio legislature is poised to forgive millions in unpaid taxes by Ohio businesses under a new amnesty program that lets them off the hook if they file and just pay what they owe for 2010. It doesn't matter how many years before they didn't pay these taxes.
"Use taxes" are essentially sales taxes that would have been paid if someone bought the goods or services in Ohio instead of another state. Bottom line--buying out of state may help some avoid the state's sales tax, but Ohio law requires that if the other state doesn't collect the equivalent of Ohio's sales tax, consumers and businesses who didn't pay it still owe it to Ohio as a use tax.
In March of this year, the Ohio Department of Taxation had already begun an amnesty program for an estimated 380,000 businesses that had not been paying use taxes. Under that program, if they fessed up by August 1, 2011, they were subject to only three years of back taxes. Now the Senate says one year is good enough.
The march to repeal SB5, the worst attack on Ohio's middle class in a generation, is reaching a critical milestone this Wednesday.
To celebrate having gathered enough signatures to get the repeal of SB5 on the ballot, hundreds of people like you will be marching through the streets of downtown Columbus.
This historic event will kick-off outside COSI at 10 AM. We will march to the Secretary of State's office to turn in hundreds of thousands of signatures to repeal SB 5 that have been collected by volunteers all across the state. After the march, we will have food and refreshments at a people powered party at the new Columbus Commons to celebrate this milestone in the campaign.
WHAT: The People's Parade to the Secretary of State's Office
WHERE: Line up at COSI, 333 West Broad Street [map]
WHEN: June 29th at 10 am
AFTER-PARTY: Columbus Commons, 4th and Rich St, Columbus from 1 pm to 4 pm
JOIN US! Click here to sign up today!
Rep. Nickie Antonio and others will be joined by NARAL's Kellie Copeland and Planned Parenthood's Gary Dougherty to demand the Ohio House reject House Bill 125, the "Heartbeat Bill," which would outlaw abortion in Ohio.The House will likely vote on the bill during session on Tuesday.
WE NEED YOU to join us and demonstrate to our lawmakers that they MAY NOT ban abortion rights in Ohio!
Sign Up To Help Fight To Stop
The Tea Party's Health Care Referendum!
We need your help to keep the Tea Party's Health Care Referendum off of the Ohio Ballot this fall. Could you plan on donating some of your time this summer to review petition signatures to ensure their validity?
The Federal Health Care Law (ACA) is already allowing individuals with preexisting conditions to get health insurance, allowing young adults to get insurance on their parents plan until they are 26 and it is also already assisting seniors with free preventative health visits and financial assistance to those seniors in the donut hole.
The Tea Party has been circulating a petition for some time to put an issue on the ballot blocking the implementation of the Federal Health Care Law here in Ohio. Although their past attempts have failed to gather enough signatures, it appears that they may have enough signatures this year to file.
We need to recruit volunteers to verify the validity of the signatures. We will need volunteers from beginning on July 13th until Mid-August.
All volunteers will receive free training.
Can we count on you?
To volunteer please sign-up here!
Let's celebrate. Due to your hard work, We Are Ohio has already collected at least 714,137 (1,000,000?) signatures. We Are Ohio will deliver the signatures to the Secretary of State on Wednesday, June 29th, one day prior to the deadline.
To mark this historic movement, We Are Ohio is inviting our unprecedented number of volunteers and supporters to participate in the People's Parade on June 29th. The People's Parade is a celebration of your hard work and your role toward overturning SB 5, the unfair attack on employee rights and worker safety.
Please join us on June 29th to deliver petitions to the Secretary of State.
Summer Saturday Premier Petition Signing Events
Friday, June 24, 2011
ZANESVILLE
Muskingum County Drive-Thru SIgning
11am to 7pm
Keith Shrider Insurance Agency
2104 Maple Ave.
Zanesville, OH 43701
Saturday, June 25, 2011
WILMINGTON
Clinton County Courthouse
Noon to 2pm
103 E. Main St.
Wilmington, OH
TIPP CITY
105 Main St.
Noon to 2pm
Corner of Fourth and Main
Tipp City, OH
FINDLAY
Hancock County Courthouse
Noon to 2pm
308 Dorney Plaza
Findlay, OH
ASHLAND
Ashland County Courthouse
Noon to 2pm
142 West 2nd St.
Ashland, OH
DELAWARE
Farmer's Market
9am to Noon
12 Sandusky St.
Delaware, OH
WARREN
Trumbull County Courthouse
Noon to 2pm
161 High St.
Warren, OH
CANTON
Stark County Courthouse
Noon to 2pm
115 Central Plaza North
Canton, OH
View Full Map Of All Singing Locations Here
Let's celebrate!
Due to your hard work, We Are Ohio has already collected at least 714,137 signatures with thousands more coming in every day. We Are Ohio will deliver the signatures to the Secretary of State on Wednesday, June 29th, one day prior to the deadline.
To mark this historic movement, We Are Ohio is inviting our unprecedented number of volunteers and supporters to participate in the People's Parade on June 29th. The People's Parade is a celebration of your hard work and your role toward overturning SB 5, the unfair attack on employee rights and worker safety.
Please join us on June 29th to deliver petitions to the Secretary of State.
The People's Parade - We Are Ohio
Wednesday, June 29 · 10:00am - 1:00pm
Starling St. off West Broad near COSI in Columbus, Ohio
The parade will begin at COSI in Columbus and end at the Ohio Secretary of State's Building, where We Are Ohio will be holding a press conference to announce the FINAL SIGNATURE NUMBER.
The Senate Government Oversight Committee accepted a sub bill removing the Photo ID provisions from HB 194 at 10:15 today. The committee is moving forward with testimony, amendments and a vote on HB 194 (provisions limiting early voting, etc) today.
HB 159 (Photo ID bill) has been scheduled for a vote in Senate State Government committee tomorrow at 9:15am (Senate Finance Hearing Room).
We have four targets to try to switch or secure their no vote on HB 159:
Sen. Lehrner: 614.466.4538
Sen. Hughes: 614.466.5981
Sen. Grendell: 614.644.7718
Sen. LaRose: 614.466.4823
Learn more:
This morning, HB 159 (Photo ID bill) was included in a sub bill of HB 194 (Comprehensive Election Reform).
The Senate Government Oversight Committee will be voting HB 194 out of committee at 2:30. HB 159 was included in the sub-bill after:
- no public testimony in the Senate
- Rep. Mecklonberg, sponsor of both bills, said publicly at least 3 times that it would NOT be included in HB 194.
Join us in front of the Ohio Senate Finance Hearing room (State Senate Building, 1st floor) at 2:00 for a press conference.
Contact Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (SD14@senate.state.oh.us or 614-466-8082) and tell him to bring this voter suppression legislation out of the dark and to allow public testimony.
Help us send a message to the house that we won't be silent as they try to repeal Healthcare Reform. Ohio House leadership is railroading this bill through the legislature without even scheduling opponent testimony, but we won't let them stop the grassroots.
JOIN US ON JUNE 22nd TO FILL THE ROOM WITH OUR OPPOSITION TO SJR1.
HEALTH & AGING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
9:00 AM
Statehouse Room 116
If they repeal Healthcare Reform, millions of Ohioans will lose benefits that they are currently receiving right now:
- Under the Federal Health Care Law, 1.8 million Ohio seniors on Medicare receive free annual check-up visits and other preventative services including mammograms and colonoscopies.
- 109,102 Ohioans received a one-time tax-free $250 rebate to help pay for prescription drugs in the "donut hole" coverage gap in 2010. In 2011 Ohio seniors in the "donut hole" will be eligible for 50 percent discounts on covered brand name prescription drugs. Without the law, the burden of high prescription drug costs would hurt millions of Medicare beneficiaries across the country.
- 35,500 eligible Ohio young adults are able to stay on their parent's health care insurance plans until they are 26 to give them time to look for a job after they finish school.
- Nearly 6.7 million residents of Ohio with private insurance coverage would suddenly find themselves vulnerable again to having lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits placed on how much insurance companies will spend on their health care.
Don't let them sneak Healthcare Repeal through the Statehouse. Please join us at the Committee Hearing on Wednesday June 22nd at 9:00 and stand up for our health and our rights!
Right now, you are not allowed to tack up a clothesline on a tree in a State Park, yet just this week, the Ohio House and Senate passed a bill (House Bill 133) that would allow oil and gas drilling, including horizontal Fracking, in our State Parks and Public Lands.
That is not the worst part, HB 133 not only allows fracking in State Parks, but would also remove prohibitions against drilling under Lake Eire, our most precious resource!
Please attend a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), hear the facts on high-volume horizontal Fracking, and learn how to get involved in the fight.
FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion
Saturday, June 18 - 2 pm
Blue Ash Recreation Center
4433 Cooper Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-5614
Hosted by:
State Representative Connie Pillich, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org
Who's afraid of Kasich's big, bad bus? Not us!
Going to Comfest next weekend? Join ProgressOhio, labor leaders, workers and special guests on Saturday at Comfest for a special workshop. You won't want to miss it.
Standing Up to Kasich's Bus and Stopping SB 5
Comfest Solar Stage
Saturday, June 26 - 2:55 pm
We're also holding a contest for your chance to take part in this entertaining and interactive workshop. During the workshop, we will choose the best Kasich limericks, slogans, and anti-sb5 chants through audience participation. Winners will be presented with a special prize and get an opportunity to stand up to Kasich Bus during our top secret finale.
Click here to send us your best Kasich limerick, slogan, or anti-SB 5 chant.
Make it humorous, but keep it family friendly.
Here is a Limerick to get you started:
There once was a Gov'nr named John,
who half of Ohio did Con.
He hates all the poor,
and gives the rich more.
We can't wait until he is gone.
Send us your entry here and then attend the Comfest Workshop and see if you are the winner!
Help us stop the Tea Party's attacks against the Federal Health Care Law.
Sign up now to help us fight in July against Health Care Repeal!
We need your help to keep the Health Care Repeal Issue off of the Ballot this fall. Could you plan on donating some of your time this summer to review petition signatures to ensure their validity?
The Federal Health Care Law (ACA) is already allowing individuals with preexisting conditions to get health insurance, allowing young adults to get insurance on their parents plan until they are 26 and it is also already assisting seniors with free preventative health visits and financial assistance to those seniors in the donut hole.
The Tea Party has been circulating a petition for some time to put an issue on the ballot blocking the implementation of the Federal Health Care Law here in Ohio. Although their past attempts have failed to gather enough signatures, it appears that they may have enough signatures this year to file.
We need to recruit volunteers to verify the validity of the signatures. We will need volunteers from beginning on July 13th until Mid-August.
All volunteers will receive free training.
Can we count on you?
To volunteer please sign-up here!
Last week, in a secret attack, right-wing leaders in the Ohio Senate added bans on abortion services and insurance coverage to the state budget (HB 153). By sneaking this in at the last minute they avoided any possibility for public comment or debate, and they even turned off their phones when pro-choice supporters started calling to object.
Now it looks like they are continuing their back door deals on the budget. The committee charged with ironing out the all of the details of the final budget before it is voted on by the Ohio General Assembly - is only scheduled for ONE meeting.
What does that mean? It means that all of the deals will be made in secret before anyone outside of the closed circle of right-wing leadership in the Ohio House and Senate has any knowledge or ability to weigh in.
We need your help now to make sure that the voices of pro-choice Ohioans are not lost in these closed door meetings. The Ohio Senate and Ohio House leadership will greatly influence the budget conference committee's decision which will be taking place very soon.
Call or email them today and let them know that the final version of the state budget should not include the Senate abortion amendments.
Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus:
Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder:
Tell them:
- The budget is not the place for policy. The two abortion restriction amendments improperly added to that state budget bill have absolutely no impact on the amount of money that our state is spending, and should be introduced as stand-alone legislation.
- The pro-choice majority in Ohio will not stand quietly by and allow them to roll back our rights behind closed door without any public comment or debate!
- The amendments would ban public hospitals from providing abortion care to women even when the abortion is completely paid for with private money, and will tell townships and municipalities that they must follow the dictates of the Ohio General Assembly and cannot be trusted to choose the insurance coverage that works best for their employees.
These amendments were added at the last minute, at a point where there could be no public comment or debate. We need to make sure that these provisions are removed before the state budget bill (HB 153) is returned to the House and Senate for a final vote, which is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
Thanks for all that you do!
PROTEST GOVERNOR KASICH
Ohioans demand Governor Kasich to stop killing jobs
STOP KASICH FROM DESTROYING JOBS
Governor John Kasich has relentlessly attacked Ohio workers and has attributed to job loss throughout all of Ohio. According to estimates by Innovation Ohio, Governor Kasich's budget will result in over 50,000 jobs lost in Ohio with one stroke of the pen. Ohio cannot afford this attack on middle class.
Join the protest to save jobs
Wednesday, June 15 at 11:30 AM
North side of Statehouse
(Kasich will be speaking at the National Federation of Independent Business luncheon in the Statehouse)
- Governor Kasich will eliminate an estimated 50,000 jobs with his proposed state budget cuts
- Governor Kasich continues to block Ohio's economic recovery by derailing passenger rail, eliminating jobs in his budget, and by delaying the casino projects
- Governor Kasich backed SB 5 attacking the rights of public employees
Testimony is being heard tomorrow (Tuesday, June 14th) on SJR1, the health care repeal constitutional amendment. The legislation could be voted out of committee and up for a full vote on the Senate floor as soon as Wednesday.
Call your State Senator and tell them to stop playing politics with our health care.
Vote NO on taking away the benefits that the Federal Affordable Care Act offers such as cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, free annual wellness visits and free preventative screenings for illnesses like diabetes, cancer and other serious health conditions that benefit from early detection and treatment.
This Saturday, We Are Ohio will host motorcycle riders from all across the state in a Biker Rally and 'Ride to Kill the Bill' around the Statehouse in opposition to Senate Bill 5, the unfair attack on employee rights and worker safety.
We're standing up for the middle class once again, but this time supporters of SB5 won't just hear our chants and songs.
They're going to hear the deafening sounds of motorcycle mufflers roaring through the streets of Columbus and we're going to be there to catch it all, LIVE!
LIVE! Stream: Ride to kill the bill
Location: http://fightforafaireconomy.org/category/live-stream/
Time: 12:00PM Saturday, June 11th
Entertainment will be provided by Mission, The Moonbats, and Mary's Crooked Box. Vendors from the Proud Ohio Worker program will be selling food and refreshments. T-shirts will be available for sale and bikers can sign petitions to repeal SB 5 at the rally.
Prior to the ride, bikers will gather at meeting points all across the state to motorcade into Columbus.
The rising wave of outrage against Republican cuts is coming to Columbus.
On Sunday, June 12th, Speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner will help explain how thousands of graduating students at Ohio State University's commencement should face their future.
Yes, the same John Boehner that wants to gut investments these graduates need for health care, education and green jobs. The same John Boehner that wants to revoke young people's ability to stay on their parent's health care until they're 26, cut Pell Grants for higher education, and destroy funding for green jobs programs that will build the economy of tomorrow.
The worst part? Boehner claims to speak on their behalf. He claims these cuts are in their interest. He said, "I hope that you will join us in the fight for our children and grandchildren's future."
This generation is speaking up for themselves and protesting these cuts -- but they need your help. Thousands of graduates are going to turn their backs on John Boehner's speech, just as he turned his back on them.
Will you join us for a protest in solidarity with this generation of graduates?
Thursday In Columbus 'Hands off Medicare - Don't Make Us Work 'Til We Die' Walk and Press Conference
Politicians in Washington are hatching a plan to tear apart retirement security for American workers. The budget and debt ceiling plans being discussed aim to hand over Medicare to private insurance companies, and cuts health care for women, children, and people with disabilities.
Join Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Ohio Coalition organizations, retirees, and activists on June 9th in Columbus to send a message to Rep. Stivers and Tiberi that we are against these proposals.
We are saying NO to "Work 'Till We Die" and Yes to supporting Medicare, and Medicaid! We want our members of Congress Pat Tiberi and Steve Stivers to know the health of real citizens is at stake.
Three signatures a minute.
That's what it will take to put an end to the biggest attack on Ohio's middle class in a generation.
SB5 hurts Ohio families, destroys jobs and lowers wages. In order to repeal it on the ballot this November, we need you to do your part by signing the repeal petition.
We're trying to make it easy for you to sign by creating a map of SB5 petition locations. Easily find out where you can sign a petition in your community.
New events are being added every day, so if there's not one in your neighborhood, bookmark it and check back. Don't wait too long though - we need your signature in the next few weeks.
Are you heading to downtown Columbus this weekend for the Columbus Arts Festival or the to see the new Columbus Commons? Take a break from the Heat and come see a special FREE screening of the award winning documentary Gasland this Saturday at the Columbus Main Library.
FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion
Saturday, June 4 - 3 pm
Columbus Main Library Auditorium
96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Hosted by:
State Representative Tracy Heard, State Representative Ted Celeste, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org
Kate is a freshman at the University of Cincinnati. Like most college students and their families, Kate can't afford a 24% increase in tuition. But there's a risk of that happening on campuses throughout Ohio.
That's because of a proposal in the Ohio budget bill (HB 153) to create "charter universities" - risky, gimmicky experiments that would allow colleges and universities to remove tuition caps and essentially charge whatever they want for students to attend their school. When Virginia tried this same experiment, tuition at Virginia Commonwealth skyrocketed to 24% in just one year. But there's something that you can do right now to keep this from happening here in Ohio.
Debate on the state budget bill - which includes this proposal - is expected to wrap up by next week in the Ohio Senate. So there's still time to act now.
Watch this video to find out what you can do today to keep Ohio colleges and universities more affordable for students and families.
Watch It:
The proposed state budget passed recently in the Ohio House includes an obscure provision that will allow student groups at taxpayer-funded state universities to discriminate and exclude students from membership and leadership positions based on religious beliefs or standards of conduct (Ohio Rev. Code §3345.023). This means that our state universities will not be able to withhold funding from student groups who exclude LGBT people; Jewish, Christian or Muslim people; women; people who have had premarital sex; and, anyone else that a particular religious student group deems unworthy of membership. Fair-minded Ohioans do not want taxpayer dollars to fund discrimination.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez upholding the constitutionality of a state law school's "all-comers" policy because it is reasonable and viewpoint neutral. Justice Ginsburg wrote that "by bringing together students with diverse views, [the policy] encourages tolerance, cooperation, learning, and the development of conflict-resolution skills." After Ohio State University changed its policy recently to require student groups to accept all-comers as members, the Christian Legal Society Chapter at OSU stated it was "yet one more opportunity to welcome all students to attend CLS's meetings and activities."
Join us! Come sign the SB5 Referendum Petition This Saturday in Steubenville!
No it isn't a headline from The Onion:
Enjoy the fourth season of Summer Fridays at the Statehouse, a free lunch-time performing arts series on the Statehouse West Plaza (High Street) each Friday between May 27 and August 26.
Summer Fridays at the Statehouse provides an opportunity for the central Ohio community to gather on Capitol Square to experience some of Columbus' diverse arts groups.
FIRST PERFORMANCE
Noon to 1 p.m.
June 3: IDIOT BOYS, acoustic bluegrass-folk
Hat Tip: CWeiser via Twitter
Transportation is a critical link to opportunity--connecting us to jobs, schools, housing, health care, and grocery stores. But for many, quality transportation options are unaffordable, unreliable, or nonexistent. On June 1, join community leaders and elected officials from across Ohio in a discussion about how federal transportation policies and investments can better advance economic and social equity.
"Where Ohio Needs to Go: A Statewide Conversation on Transportation Equity & Federal Policy"
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1 6:00pm-8:00pm
Ohio Statehouse (in the Atrium) Columbus, OH
Light reception to follow
Hosting organizations include: All Aboard Ohio, Amalgamated Transit Union, The Amos Project, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Ohio BlueGreen Alliance, The Ohio Commission on African-American Males, Ohio Environmental Council, Ohio Higher Education Rail Network Institute, Ohio Olmstead Taskforce, Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council, PolicyLink, Policy Matters Ohio, ProgressOhio, and Transport Worker Union of America, AFL-CIO.
Tomorrow in Cincinnati The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will hear oral arguments in the case of Thomas More Law Center, et al. v. Barack Obama, et al. This case is a challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and attempts to strike down the individual responsibility requirement.
This case is part of a broad political attack on the Affordable Care Act. But tens of thousands of individual Ohioans are benefitting RIGHT NOW from the Affordable Care Act and need to protect those benefits.
Attend a Forum tomorrow in Cincinnati to learn more on How Ohioans will be affected if the Affordable Care Act is repealed
Ron Pollack, President/CEO of Families USA will lead a discussion with consumer advocates, faith leaders, activist, and others from the community prior to the hearing and will comment on the hearing and talk about the real effects that invalidating the Affordable Care Act will have on Ohio and American families.
What is Fracking? How will it affect the health of yourself, your family, and your community? Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?
We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), followed by a discussion on fracking in Ohio featuring local state legislators and environmental experts.
FREE Gasland Screening and Discussion
Saturday, June 4 - 3 pm
Columbus Main Library Auditorium
96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215 (map)
Hosted by:
State Representative Tracy Heard, State Representative Ted Celeste, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org
Are you a biker who wants to do all you can to oppose Senate Bill 5? Then attend We Are Ohio's Ride to Kill the Bill: Thunder at the State House event on Saturday June 11.
Bike enthusiasts from all over Ohio will gather from noon-5 p.m. at the corner of Front and Rich streets in downtown Columbus to show their opposition to SB 5 and the harm it will cause to working families. An anti-SB5 ride around the Statehouse will take place from 1-2 p.m.
Food and drink will be available for purchase from Proud Ohio Worker small business vendors.
Download the flier and circulate TODAY.
Three signatures a minute.
That's what it will take to put an end to the biggest attack on Ohio's middle class in a generation.
SB5 hurts Ohio families, destroys jobs and lowers wages. In order to repeal it on the ballot this November, we need you to do your part by signing the repeal petition.
We're trying to make it easy for you to sign by creating a map of SB5 petition locations. Easily find out where you can sign a petition in your community.
New events are being added every day, so if there's not one in your neighborhood, bookmark it and check back. Don't wait too long though - we need your signature in the next few weeks.
Yesterday, the Ohio House passed HB133, which opens up our State Parks and public lands to oil and gas drilling, including fracking, with a vote of 54-41. The House rejected amendments to protect our health, communities, and our travel and tourism industry. (Don't miss great floor speeches from Rep. Teresa Fedor, Rep. Tracy Heard, and Rep. Debbie Phillips) Despite uproar from a vast majority of Ohioans, the bill is now moving to the Senate. We must stand up NOW if we are going to protect our State Parks for future generations. Please make every effort to attend the screening and then tell your Senator (800-282-0253) to stand up for people and not profits.
What is Fracking? How will it affect the health of yourself, your family, and your community? Why does it matter to Ohioans right now?
We will discuss these and other important questions at a special screening of the award winning documentary Gasland (http://youtu.be/dZe1AeH0Qz8), followed by a discussion on Fracking in Ohio featuring Cleveland area State Legislators and Environmental experts.
Gasland Screening and Discussion
Thursday, May 26th 6:00 pm
Lakewood Main Library
15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107
Hosted by:
State Representative Nickie Antonio, State Senator Mike Skindell, No Frack Ohio Coalition, ProgressOhio.org
Next week in Columbus!
Gasland Screening and Forum Saturday, June 4 - 3:00 pm
Sponsored by Rep. Heard and Rep. Celeste, No Frack Ohio, ProgressOhio.org
Columbus Main Library
96 South Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215