Time Sensitive: Energy policy expert to speak at UAPA Earth Day event
Time Sensitive: Energy policy expert to speak at UAPA Earth Day event
Energy expert Michael Jung, adviser to Gov. Ted Strickland, will discuss environmental policies at the Upper Arlington Progressive Action monthly meeting, Sunday, April 6, at 7 p.m. in the west cafeteria, Upper Arlington High School, 1650 Ridgeview Road. The event is part of the UAPA celebration of Earth Day, which promotes environmental citizenship and action worldwide.
Jung is assistant to the governor's energy adviser for the State of Ohio . He brought experience and innovation to his role as a member of Gov. Ted Strickland's policy team. In addition to his involvement in signature environmental initiatives at leading companies, he has earned fellowships from the Hitachi America Foundation, the U.S. Fulbright Program, and the Institute for Humane Studies. He is a graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy , Yale College , and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Please RSVP
UAPA Supports Payday Lending Bill
Recently the executive committee of UAPA voted to support the passage of Ohio House Bill 333. It limits the annual interest rate charged on a typical two-week loan (from payday lenders such as Check Into Cash and Always Payday) from the current 391 percent (about $15 per $100 borrowed) to 36 percent. They are called payday loans because that is the interval between paychecks at most employers.
Statewide, the number of payday lending offices rose nearly 15-fold between 1996 and 2006 to 1,562. That is more than the combined total of restaurants operated by the McDonalds, Burger King, and Wendy's chains in Ohio. The industry has fought hard against a lower interest-rate cap, arguing it would put them all out of business. Industry officials say they offer a valuable service to those who can't get a loan anywhere else and are a better option than late fees or bounced checks.
Opponents say the two-week loans trap too many people in a cycle of debt, where they need a new loan to pay off the previous one.
Steve Stivers, former bank lobbyist, appointed State Senator and candidate for U.S. Representative, 15th District, weighs in with a typical Republican response by saying setting caps that low would be an overreaction to the issue and shut off credit to those who need it. "Most of these people are in the payday lending marketplace because their credit is not very good," he said. "Those people are not going to get the best interest rate." He has also said, "You can't take away people's ability to screw up their own financial situation by taking away the legal loan products, because they'll move to the illegal loans."
Ohio Attorney General Mark Dann is conducting a public hearing on the issue on Wednesday, April 9, 4:00 p.m., at Good Shepard Baptist Chrch, 1555 E. Hudson. For more information, contact Cathy Johnston at 280-1984 or cathyjohnston@cohhio.org.
The Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending has set up a web site chock full of great information.
As Ohio goes, so goes the nation --- or not?
On April 9, hear from a panel of experts who have followed Ohio politics for several decades, how Ohio became the "decider," how Ohio will impact the race in '08, and the historical context for Ohio's role in national politics.
Darrel Rowland, public affairs editor for the Columbus Dispatch; Bill Cohen, Statehouse reporter for WOSU-radio: Sandy Theis, former bureau chief of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: and Brian Rothenberg, founder of Progress Ohio will discuss these topics and more. In addition, meet many candidates for the November election.
Join UAPA and area clubs on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 683), 23 West 2nd Avenue. The union hall is in the short north area in the first block west of High Street. Ample parking is in the rear of the building.
This event is sponsored by the Coalition for Democratic and Progressive Organizations of Central Ohio of which UAPA is a founding member. All member groups will be introduced with an award to the group bringing the most members. RSVP to jkress@columbus.rr.com by April 2nd, if you plan to attend.