Ohio’s anti-union SB 5 headed for a ‘People’s Veto’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

FAUX News host Ohio Gov. John Kasich was the poster child for breaking the back of organized labor, including traditionally GOP-friendly police and firefighter associations, with his Senate Bill 5 (SB 5).

More than one million Ohians stood up to be counted and to say "No!" to Governor Kasich by signing a petition for a "People's Veto" referring SB 5 to the ballot for a referendum.

With three weeks to go to Election Day and early voting under way, a new poll from Public Policy Polling, which has consistently been the most accurate in the Wisconsin recall elections and the SB 5 referendum in Ohio, shows that SB 5 is headed for a "People's Veto." Daily Kos: Poll finds Ohio's Issue 2 headed for defeat:

Polling for Issue 2 (the ballot measure formerly known as SB 5):

Public Policy Polling (PDF). 10/13-16 (8/11-14). MoE ±4.1%.

Q: This fall, Ohio will have a referendum on whether to approve or reject Senate Bill 5, which was passed earlier this year and limits collective bargaining rights for public employees. If the election was today, would you vote to approve or reject Senate Bill 5?

Approve: 36 (39)
Reject: 56 (50)
Not sure: 8 (11)

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Independents are evenly divided on the issue, 46/46. And Republicans want to uphold it 61/30. But Democrats have unified in their support for repealing SB 5.  In August they were only planning to overturn it by a 69/21 margin. Now that figure is 80/13. That increase in Democratic support for repeal may be indicative of voters becoming increasingly aware what the implications of a 'yes' and 'no' vote are on this somewhat complicated referendum.

With state tea party leaders talking about how Issue 2 is really about defunding unions and defeating Democrats, no wonder Ohio Democrats are coming together to vote it down.

20 points is a big lead to overcome in three weeks, even for Karl Rove's big money and his dirty campaign tactics.

UPDATE: In a related development, the Tea-Publican dominated Ohio legislature's redistricting maps will be subject to a referendum petition drive for 90 days, inclusive of Election Day on November 8, where most of the necessary 231,147 valid signatures can be collected. Court ruling throws 2012 elections into chaos | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com:

[On Friday] the Ohio Supreme Court – in a 7-0 vote – told Secretary of State Jon Husted that he must accept a referendum petition that a Democratic group called Ohioans for Fair Districts plan to submit to challenge the GOP redistricting plan by putting it on the November 2012 ballot for an up-or-down vote.

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Saturday morning, Redfern guaranteed that his group would come up with enough signatures. He said his group would go to the Ohio Supreme Court and Husted on Monday asking that they begin the 90-day window for collecting signatures.

“We will have people out at every polling place in Ohio on the Nov. 8 election gathering signatures, and you know that there will be a high rate of valid voters signatures, because those are people going to the polls to vote,” Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern said.

The last time an Ohio congressional district map ended up on the ballot was in 1915, when Democrats forced a vote and Ohio voters rejected a Republican-drawn map.