Media Center
Cincinnati Residents Rally Against Mitt Romney During Fundraiser
More than 50 people led by the Service Employees International Union District 1199 met at the Great American Tower in Cincinnati to show their disapproval of Mitt Romney, as the former investment banker and Republican Presidential Candidate held a $2,500 a plate fundraiser in the building.
Organizers of the event feel Romney represents the wealthiest 1% of Americans and his fundraiser at the Great American Tower is further evidence that he is not concerned about the very poor.
On the campaign trail, Romney has boasted about being able to fire people, stood against labor unions, and even said he’s not concerned about the very poor.
Cincinnati residents protested Romney’s fundraiser to show they reject his message. While many Ohioans and people around the United States continue to struggle in their daily lives, Romney shows he is out of touch with ordinary people.
Mitt Romney: Not My President Day Protest
How rich is Mitt Romney? Combine the wealth of the last eight presidents then double it. Now you’re in Mitt Romney territory.
Mitt Romney, the protector of the 1%, is out of touch with ordinary Ohioans. As many of us struggle in our daily lives, Romney says he’s not concerned about the very poor. Now he wants to be president.
On Monday, February 20, Romney will be at the Great American Tower, 301 East Fourth Street in Cincinnati, meeting with wealthy donors to raise money for his presidential campaign. We plan to be there at 4:30 PM to let him know that Ohioans need a leader who will help the 99% rather than protect greedy corporate interests.
It’s no secret where Mitt Romney stands. He boasts about being able to fire people, stands against unions and is not concerned about the poor. Join us on Monday, February 20 and let Mitt Romney know we need leaders who will fight for us, not against us.
Obama Urges Congress to Extend Payroll Tax Cut for the Middle Class
In his weekly address, President Barack Obama urged Congress to pass the payroll tax cut extension to prevent a tax hike on middle class families.
“At the end of the month, taxes are set to go up on 160 millions working Americans,” said Obama. “If congress refuses to act, middle class taxes will go up. It’s that simple.”
For a family earning $50,000 a year, the tax cut amounts to about $1,000 a year or nearly $40 per paycheck.
“To a student or senior who’s trying to stretch the budget a little bit further. To a parent who’s filling up the tank and looking at rising gas prices. To them, $40 can make all the difference in the world,” said Obama.
A press release issued by the White House says, this is not the time for a self-inflicted wound on the recovery or placing an added burden on middle class families.
Obama is urging Americans to pick up the phone, send a tweet, write an email, and tell their representatives to extend the payroll tax cut before it’s too late.
Ohioans Rally Against Kasich During State of the State Address
Hundreds of Ohioans traveled to Steubenville on Tuesday to make their voices heard and protest the policies of Governor John Kasich as he delivered his State of the State address at Steubenville City School District’s Wells Academy.
Since taking office last year, the Kasich administration has attempted to bust unions, privatize public services, and create tax breaks for the wealthy, while turning his back on the 99%. Today, Ohioans made their voices heard and demanded Kasich stand up for all Ohioans, not just the wealthy.
Kasich broke nearly 100 years of tradition by moving the State of the State speech from the statehouse in Columbus to a location on the West Virginia border, nearly 150 miles from the capital.
Reverend Jackie Jackson traveled from Cincinnati to make his voice heard.
“He doesn’t seem to be for the average working man and woman in the state,” says Jackson. “I believe he’s trying to make it easier for those who have and not doing much for those who don’t have.”
As Kasich touted his successes and claimed that Ohio is turning around during his state of the state speech, Ohio Democratic Chairman, Chris Redfern says, “It doesn’t take courage to accept all of the credit. It takes courage to take some of the blame.”
Redfern says a lot of the credit for the improvements Ohio has experienced should go to President Obama and former Governor Ted Strickland.
Obama Administration Fuel Rules will Create 23,000 Ohio Jobs
The Lordstown, Ohio GM plant, which helps produce the Chevy Cruze, is operating at full capacity.
A report from Ceres, a nonprofit group that studies sustainability issues, finds that new fuel-economy standards mandated by the Obama administration could create more than 23,000 jobs in Ohio over the next decade.
According to the Dayton Daily News, advocates say improved fuel economy standards will increase hiring at auto plants and suppliers of fuel-saving technologies.
Ceres also estimates the new standards will save automobile owners an average of $4,000 a year.
As automakers have begun to market smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles, automobile manufacturing jobs have started coming back to Ohio.
In 2010, the Lordstown, Ohio GM plan hired back all the workers it had laid off in the previous two years and brought in workers from closed GM plants to build the Chevy Cruze.
Additionally, Honda recently announced it would add 150 workers in Ohio to build and assemble transmissions that lead to higher fuel economy.
Alan Baum, who has produced an automotive forecast since 1990, says demand for fuel-efficient cars shows no sign of waning.
State of the 99% Ohio
Attempts to bust unions, privatization of public services, tax breaks for the wealthy – Since becoming Governor, John Kasich has been busy doing favors for his wealthy campaign contributors while turning his back on the rest of us. It doesnt have to be this way.
On Tuesday, John Kasich will deliver his State of the State Address in Steubenville and citizens from across Ohio will come together toprotest his attacks on the 99%.
You can make your voice heard! Join us outside of Stuebenville High School, 420 W. Fourth Street, Steubenville, OH on Tuesday, February 7 at 11AM and let John Kasich know that we will not sit back quietly while he gives away our state.
Free parking and transportation are available and we encourage you to RSVP at http://bit.ly/SOT99oh. Parking details and additional information are available at www.stateofthe99.com.
American Greetings Lays off Workers
American Greetings laid off about 30 employees from its world headquarters in Brookly, Ohio on Wednesday morning.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports American Greetings employs about 2,000 full and part-time workers at its Brooklyn world headquarters.
Last March, the greeting card maker decided to keep its world headquarters in Northeast Ohio after the state provided a package of grants, loans and tax rebates worth a potential $93.5 million over 15 years.
A spokesperson for the company said the cuts were part of American Greetings’ ongoing strategy of continually evaluating their structure.
Procter & Gamble to Eliminate 1,600 Jobs
Business Courier reported Cincinnati-based Proctor & Gamble will eliminate 1,600 nonmanufacturing jobs by June as a cost-savings measure. The company wouldn’t say how many of those job losses would be in the Cincinnati area.
Proctor & Gamble employs about 12,000 people in Cincinnati and 129,000 worldwide.
Many of the jobs will be eliminated through a voluntary early-retirement program, but a spokesman for the company declined to reveal how many employees have already taken the separation package.
Despite Questions, Controlling Board Approves JobsOhio
The Columbus Dispatch reports that despite the Kasich administration’s decision not to disclose the criteria being used to determine if Ohioans are getting a good deal with JobsOhio, a state legislative panel approved the contracts to get the privatized organization started.
Ohio liquor profits will be used to fund JobsOhio. Ohio House Democratic Leader, Armond Budish criticized the plan stating, “the deal takes $150 million a year from the general revenue fund for education, police, fire and critical social services, creating a structural budget deficit over the next 25 years.”
When panel members from the Departments of Development and Commerce were asked about the kind of results expected from JobsOhio, the answers were not clear.
“We do not have those goals solidified,” said Ohio Department of Development Director Christiane Schmenk. Director Shmenk expects to see a draft of the JobsOhio strategic plan by March.
State Budget Cuts will Cost School District Jobs
According to the Dayton Daily News, state budget cuts will cause Kettering City Schools to eliminate 13 teaching positions.
Superintendent Jim Schoenlein said the district lost $8 million in funding from state budget cuts and losses in local property tax revenue in 2011.
Employees at Kettering City Schools agreed to a contract freezing base salaries for three years, which allowed the district to recoup $6 million. The elimination of the 13 teaching positions is expected to produce $1.6 million for the district.
Ohio’s budget will cut school funding by $1.8 billon this school year and next. Policy Matters Ohio reports that 65% of respondents to a survey of Ohio School districts face budget shortfalls this year.
These cuts will affect students, as many districts plan to allow class sizes to grow, reduce course offerings, and reduce expenditures on materials, supplies and equipment.