Community members and activists wanted to present their theory of change to FirstEnergy executives, so they secured FirstEnergy stock shares to attend the meeting.  However, FirstEnergy executives unceremoniously left the meeting without speaking to their constituents. “Their abrupt departure leaves us to assume they are either do not know enough about their company to answer basic questions or they are afraid to acknowledge the truth to their shareholders” said Kate Patt.  “Either way, the company embarrassed themselves in front of their shareholders and the media.”

While FirstEnergy refused to answer to their consumers, this new coalition of community, faith and labor groups brought attention to the economic and environmental injustice and raised the voice of the 99%. They now know that the community will not allow them to put profits over people.

Friday, May 4 at 9:30 AM

University of Cincinnati
University Pavilion, Room 302
near the admissions office (directions)

Wednesday, May 2 at 11 AM

Battelle Fine Arts Center, Otterbein University
1 South Grove Street, Westerville, Ohio
Friday, April 27
Noon – 2:00 PM

Tuesday, May 15 – 10:00 AM

People from around Ohio rallied on Tuesday to oppose cuts to federal programs and promote fair taxation.

“We are protesting today to shine a light on the giant corporations that pay little or no taxes, the rich individuals who pay a lower tax rate than secretaries and teachers, and the politicians who are letting them get away with it by catering to the interests of the top 1%,” says Teresa Law, an activist at a Cincinnati rally.

According to Citizens for Tax Justice, the U.S. has one of the lowest corporate income taxes of any developed country.  Still, legislators like Rob Portman are in favor of reducing the corporate tax rate.

While wealthy Americans are paying taxes at one of the lowest rates in 50 years, communities are facing cuts to essential services.  Americans cannot continue to give tax subsidies to billionaires, while telling our seniors to live on less, ignoring dilapidated infrastructure, and cutting education.

Rallies were held in Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, and Youngstown.The 99% are uniting to demand the 1% pay their fair share in taxes, for an economy and a nation that works for everyone, not just the richest 1%.

Millionaire Mitt Romney paid a tax rate of only 13.9% in 2010–lower than many secretaries, nurses and firefighters. We need Congress to pass The Paying a Fair Share Act (aka the Buffett Rule), which stops millionaires from paying lower tax rates than working people.

Call your members of Congress at 866-816-5668 and tell them to support H.R. 3909 and S.2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act, and make millionaires pay their fair share.

The Buffett Rule, named after American investor Warren Buffett, would implement a higher tax rate for taxpayers in the highest income bracket.

When elected officials vote against the Buffett Rule, they are agreeing that billionaires and millionaires should pay a lower tax percentage than working, middle class families.

The Buffett Rule, named after American investor Warren Buffett and supported by President Obama, would ensure people earning more than a million dollars a year on investments will pay at least the same tax rate as middle class Americans.

Buffett, a billionaire member of the nation’s wealthiest 1%, believes it is fundamentally wrong that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.

During a 1985 speech in Atlanta Georgia, President Ronald Reagan expressed that he believed wealthy Americans should pay their fair share.

If a conservative like Ronald Reagan agreed with the Buffett Rule, why are our elected officials dragging their feet? It is time to tell your representative to support the Buffett Rule!