OHIO FOLLOWS WISCONSIN – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:  Although there was less trauma, and far less theatricality, Ohio, following Wisconsin, has now passed legislation reining in the power of public-service unions.  A bill to that effect is about to be signed by Governor John Kasich.  It will be challenged in a public referendum:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A drastic overhaul of Ohio's nearly 30-year-old collective-bargaining law cleared the legislature on Wednesday after nearly two months of contentious hearings, raucous protests and passionate debate.

Now the fight comes to your doorstep.

Republican Gov. John Kasich will sign Senate Bill 5, which will spark a voter referendum effort by Democrats and unions to defeat the bill by putting it before voters on the Nov. 8 ballot.

"This isn't over," House Democratic Leader Armond Budish, of Beachwood, said on the House floor before representatives approved it, 53-44. "We've just begun to fight, and we're going to fight like hell."

SB 5 opponents booed and chanted "Shame on you" and "Repeal" from the House chamber's balcony after the House approved the bill . Two banners also were draped over the balcony and a few profanities could be heard before House Speaker William G. Batchelder, a Medina Republican, had Highway Patrol officers clear the gallery, which held about 200 spectators.

Democrats and unions are expected to spend up to $20 million to defeat the measure, an amount Republicans admit will be tough to match.

Republicans hailed the bill's passage in the House as a victory for Ohio taxpayers who have had to foot the bill for costly public labor contracts negotiated through a collective-bargaining process that favors unions.

COMMENT:  One of the things not generally noted in the media is that Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Governor John Kasich of Ohio are potential presidential candidates.  If either man can actually solve the desperate economic problems of his state, he becomes an instant star.   That is especially true of Kasich, who already is nationally known from his days as a TV commentator.  He also is governor of the swing state of Ohio.

Little by little, progress is being made in some states to provide some sanity to the issue of public-service employment.  We are certainly not anti-union here, but the idea of public-service unions negotiating with politicians they've helped put in power through campaign contributions is bizarre at best.

One state to watch is California, which is almost bankrupt.  Wisconsin and Ohio have Republican governors.  California has, in Jerry Brown, a Democratic governor holding, ironically, the same office he held in the 1970s and early 80s.  Will a Democrat be able to rein in union contracts?  It is exceptionally difficult for any Democrat to take on the interests that help support the Democratic Party.  However, Democrat Andrew Cuomo in New York has made a good start and is presenting a balanced budget.  Eyes are on Brown.

March 31, 2011