Ohio Protest to greet Kasich 'State of State' - House Dems unveil "Compact with the Middle Class"

[1776Forever]

SB 5 opponents plan rally nearby during Kasich's legislative address today
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 02:55 AM
By Jim Siegel

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/08/protest-to-greet-state-of-state.html?sid=101

Gov. John Kasich's first State of the State speech today will clash with thousands of Statehouse protesters who will urge the governor to abandon his efforts to weaken collective-bargaining power for public workers.

The tense and highly unusual scene - State of the State speeches are usually greeted by supporters of the governor, rather than crowds of angry chants - will again put Ohio in a national battle pitting Republicans who say change is necessary against union workers who see it as an attack on the middle class.

"They say this is going to be a shared sacrifice. I'm not seeing any of the corporations sacrificing," Carla Schoch of Columbus, a 31-year tax agent for the Ohio Department of Taxation, said during a union news conference yesterday billed as a State of the Worker address.

...House Democrats unveiled a "Compact with the Middle Class" yesterday that includes pledges to hold down tuition increases, "adequately" fund schools, fight the sale or privatization of such state assets as the turnpike and lottery, and avoid cuts to local governments.

(more at link)

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:kick:

[Marr]

1. This is more like it.

If we see any change, it's going to be from the bottom-up, not from corporate servants installed at the top by big money. This "compact" at the state level is the first encouraging thing I've seen in US politics in a long time.

[1776Forever]

2. More on that from this

Monday, March 07, 2011
Democrats unveil compact with the middle class
While Kasich delivers his budget, Democrats tell state lawmakers their priorities
by WKSU's STATEHOUSE BUREAU CHIEF KAREN KASLER

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/27770

[liberal N proud]

3. The state of the state has gone from stable to extreme danger since Kasich took office

So many short months ago. (2)