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An Ohio protestor in early March. (photo: mmbooklover)
Earlier this year, Republicans in Ohio pushed through SB 5, which would extremely limit public sector unions’ collective bargaining rights, effectively crippling public labor unions in the state. Ohio unions have been gathering signatures to put the law to a public referendum this November, and a recent poll by Quinnipiac shows that if they manage to get the issue on the ballot, it will likely be repealed. From Quinnipiac:
Ohio voters disapprove 49 – 38 percent of the job Gov. John Kasich is doing, compared to 46 – 30 disapproval in March, while by 54 – 36 percent they say that SB 5 should be repealed, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
Registered voters disapprove of Kasich’s handling of the state budget 53 – 35 percent compared to 51 – 31 percent disapproval in a March 23 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
And by 53 – 36 percent they say the governor’s proposals are unfair to people like them, identical to the March 23 survey findings.
While there are still six months until the election (so plenty can change), the unions appear to be in a very strong position. In general, when it comes to issues on the ballot, people are nationally more inclined to vote to keep things as they have been.
In addition with Ohio Gov. Kasich the public face of SB 5, and naturally its most prominent spokesman, so deeply unpopular, it is going to be very difficult for him to campaign to significantly change public opinion about one of his signature pieces of legislation.
8 Comments
To bad David Broder never got a chance to meet the Everyman of this age:)/s
All the best to the citizens of Ohio. May they succeed in this worthwhile endeavor to protect the rights of Main St v. the predators on Wall ST and elsewhere in the upper 1%.
How long before the GOP stops trying to claim they represent Everyman and start attacking the poor and middle class with language they normally reserve for Dark People? Orin Hatch wants to cut SS in Utah Mormons live the longest among Whites I don’t think his ideas will be popular.
Do Mormons tithe their SS checks? If so that makes what Orin is saying worse for old Mormons trying to get by.
How many older Mormons have unemployed grown kids staying with them in this economy and SS is the cash the family has coming in?
Where oh where are the Tea Party counter demonstrators? Wisconsin has always been a bit left but Ohio well I believe that the GOP has never lost Ohio and won the Presidency.
I don’t watch Fox News or listen to Hate Radio but is the GOP trying to sell their anti union agenda at all or are these poll numbers happening despite a full court press from Fox and Hate Radio?
Is there a point where even Fox can’t get a Flying Monkey to drink the Cool Aid?
Given these poll numbers its going to be hard for Obama to say he has to cave in any more to Republican demands/ideas when the public really does not support the Republican’s demands/ideas.
Excellent post, Jon. Thank you for sharing. I also read today that the Wisconsin state GOP is backing down on some of their proposed cuts. For example, Wisconsin’s popular prescription drug program for senior citizens will not be changed as Gov. Scott Walker proposed, and a deal is being worked on to spare some schools from the level of aid cuts he put forth in his budget Republicans who control the Legislature said today.
Maybe Americans are waking up. I can only say that I hope they are REALLY waking up and that they will not settle for Corporate Centrist Democrats any more than they will settle for the Tea Party/Republican party members.
It is time to bury the myth of a two-party system and introduce a real third party onto the American landscape.
If the PDA were to really take control away from the Corporate Centrists and Blue Dogs, I would stay with the Democratic Party, but I don’t see that happening. do you?
He will find a way don’t worry about that. :)