[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9781-H9782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            VOTE DOWN OHIO'S WORKERS COMPENSATION INITIATIVE

  (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday the people of Ohio will vote 
against Issue 2 to overturn a number of destructive changes that have 
been made in the State's workers compensation system. Those who favor 
Issue 2 argue that these changes are constructive reforms. Nothing 
could be further from the truth. The real intent of these changes is to 
block legitimate applicants from receiving the benefits they deserve 
because they have been hurt on the job.
  Issue 2 would impose upon applicants a burden of proof that would be 
almost impossible to meet. It would allow employers to keep their 
injury, disease and accident reports hidden from the public. It would 
cut in half the amount of time that claims would remain open for the 
payment of compensation and medical benefits.
  If this law had been in effect in 1995 in Ohio, 9 out of 10 persons 
who received total permanent disability would have been rejected.
  It is a total fraud to call Issue 2 a reform of Ohio's workers 
compensation system. It is a takeaway law that tries to convince 
working people in Ohio to take away rights and benefits they have had 
for 80 years. Stand up for injured workers. Vote down Issue 2.
  Issue 2 is opposed by a broad-based coalition of citizens and 
municipal organizations such as the Parma City Council. I request that 
this Emergency Resolution from the Parma City Council be entered into 
the Congressional Record.


                         Resolution No. 306-97

       By: Susan M. Straub, Deborah Lime, Sam C. Bonanno, Dean E. 
     Depiero, Roy J. Jech, J. Kevin Kelley, Paul T. Kirner, John 
     R. Stover, Anthony Zielinski.
       A Resolution opposing Senate bill 45--Workers' Compensation 
     Reform Bill and urging voters to vote ``No'' on Issue 2 on 
     November 4, 1997, and Declaring an Emergency
       WHEREAS, the Ohio legislature and Governor Voinovich have 
     decided to tap compensation payments to workers injured or 
     diseased on the job; and,
       WHEREAS, the most severe benefit cuts are: 1) decreasing 
     benefits to those with permanent partial disabilities; 2) 
     denying coverage to workers who contract occupational cancers 
     and other occupational diseases; 3) denying coverage for 
     those who suffer from carpal tunnel or other repetitive 
     motion injuries; 4) decreasing non-working wage loss from 200 
     weeks to 26 weeks; and,
       WHEREAS, a coalition of public interest, labor, and injured 
     worker organizations turned in 415,000 signatures on 
     petitions to the secretary of state on July 21, 1997, forcing 
     a referendum on the so-called Workers' Compensation Reform 
     Bill (SB 45) signed by Governor Voinovich in the spring; and,
       WHEREAS, the signatures mean that for the first time since 
     1939, Ohioans will be able to go to the polls and VOTE ``NO'' 
     on anti-injured workers legislation;

[[Page H9782]]

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY 
     OF PARMA, STATE OF OHIO:
       Section 1. That this Council of the City of Parma has 
     determined that Senate Bill 45--Workers' Compensation Reform 
     Bill will negatively impact those citizens who have suffered 
     injuries and diseases as a consequence of their employment, 
     and thus, urging voters to vote ``no'' on Issue 2 on November 
     4, 1997.
       Section 2. That the Clerk of Council be, and he hereby is, 
     directed to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to 
     Governor George V. Voinovich, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, 
     Senator Gary C. Suhadolnik, Senator Patrick A. Sweeney, 
     Senator Judy B. Sheerer, State Representative Ron ``Mickey'' 
     Mottl, and State Representative Dale Miller.
       Section 3. That it is found and determined that all formal 
     actions of this Council concerning and relating to the 
     adoption of this Resolution were adopted in an open meeting 
     of this Council, and that all deliberations of the Council 
     and any of its committees that resulted in such formal action 
     were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all 
     legal requirements.
       Section 4. That this Resolution is hereby declared to be an 
     emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of 
     the public health, safety, and welfare of the City of Parma, 
     and for the further reason that this measure is necessary as 
     the general election will be held November 4, 1997, and this 
     Resolution shall become immediately effective upon receiving 
     the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members elected to 
     Council and approval of the Mayor, otherwise from and after 
     the earliest period allowed by law.
       Passed: September 22, 1997, Charles M. Germana, President 
     of council.
       Attest: Michael F. Hughes, clerk of council, approved: 
     September 23, 1997.
       Filed with the Mayor: September 23, 1997, Gerald M. Boldt, 
     Mayor, City of Parma, Ohio.
       I, Michael F. Hughes, Clerk of Council, City of Parma, 
     County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, hereby certify this to 
     be a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 306-97, passed 
     by Parma City Council on the 22nd day of September, 1997.

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