[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 172 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING REPEAL OF ANTI-PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES LEGISLATION BY OHIO 
                                 VOTERS

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the voters of 
Ohio for standing up for working people in their state and across the 
country. On Tuesday, November 8, Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected 
another Republican attempt to infringe on the rights of working people 
and sent a strong signal to the House Republican leadership to get 
serious about addressing the jobs crisis in America.
  In a landslide victory for the rights of working people, Ohio voters 
overwhelmingly repealed S.B. 5, a measure passed by the Republican-
controlled state legislature in March. S.B. 5 would have severely 
limited the ability of public employees to collectively bargain by, 
among other things, revoking their ability of to strike. Tuesday's vote 
is but the latest rejection of Republican efforts to protect the top 
one percent at the expense of the bottom 99 percent.
  Ohio voters spoke loudly on behalf of everyday Americans across the 
country and strong opposition to Republican efforts to balance the 
budget on the backs of working people. Firefighters, police officers, 
teachers and other public employees did not cause the financial 
meltdown or the recession. They do, however, serve and enrich our 
communities every day by educating our kids, protecting our homes, our 
businesses and our people. Republican attempts to limit the collective 
bargaining rights of public employees--including their right to 
strike--represent how out of touch their agenda is with the American 
people.
  Over the past year, the House Republican leadership has repeatedly 
attempted to roll back the hard won gains of working people. I have 
consistently opposed these efforts and will continue to do so. Working 
people, including public sector employees, are the backbone of society. 
They deserve a decent wage, access to quality healthcare and the peace 
of mind that they will have a stable pension benefit as they head into 
retirement.
  In contrast, the American people are embracing President Obama's 
American Jobs Act, which is supported by wide margins. The American 
Jobs Act provides relief to state governments facing budgetary 
shortfalls. The President's plan, which I strongly support, would 
prevent layoffs and encourage hiring of teachers, firefighters, and 
police officers by investing $35 billion into state and local 
governments. That is why it is imperative that house Republican 
leadership bring the President's jobs bill to the floor for a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of being unfairly punished 
for an economic recession caused by he irresponsible and reckless 
conduct of some of those on Wall Street. I call upon the House 
Republican leadership to abandon efforts to protect Wall Street at all 
costs by punishing Main Street at every turn. It is time for the House 
leadership to compromise with Democrats and President Obama and adopt 
policies that will put people back to work and help our economy grow.

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