June 28, 2011                            uaprogressiveaction.com

This is the perfect week to celebrate democracy in action!

Help hand in SB5 petitions June 29

Following unprecedented levels of support for the repeal of Senate Bill 5, the We Are Ohio campaign will deliver all of the petitions to the Secretary of State's Office in Columbus on Wednesday, June 29. We will celebrate the delivery of the petitions by holding a parade — The People’s Parade. We wanted to invite you to join this historic event.

Wednesday, June 29, at 10 a.m., thousands will march from COSI to the Secretary of State's office and turn over 700,000 signatures -- way more than enough to put Gov. John Kasich's anti-worker bill on the ballot this fall and let voters veto it at the polls!

Can you join the march? Click here for details and to RSVP.

And after the march and the delivery of signatures, there will be a people-powered celebration in nearby Columbus Commons -- hope you can make it!

Tell Stivers to keep hands off Medicaid June 30

Politicians are currently negotiating a deal in Washington that would cut Medicaid for seniors, people with disabilities, families and kids while at the same time giving millionaires another tax break. Their schemes could cost Ohio billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Earlier this month Congressman Steve Stivers voted for the Republican budget that would slash Medicaid spending by one third and would end Medicare as we know it.

Join Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Ohio Coalition organizations, retirees, and activists on June 30 in Columbus to send a message to Rep. Steve Stivers that we won’t stand for him gambling with Ohio’s future. We need to make sure our elected officials hear us loud and clear when we say "Hands Off Medicaid!"

What: Hands Off Medicaid!! Rally and Press Conference

When: Thursday June 30, 2011 11:30-12:15

Where: John W. Bricker Federal Buildling– 200 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio

[click here for directions]

Participating Organizations: Ohio Communities United, Alliance for Retired Americans and ProgressOhio

RSVP: Christine Kozobarich, Ohio Communities United - christine@ohunited.org

Coffee & Conversation takes a short break

We know our supporters are all set to enjoy the Independence Day weekend, so Coffee & Conversation will not be meeting this Saturday, July 2. 

However, that gives us more time to arrange another thought-provoking discussion for our next Coffee & Conversation on Saturday, August 6, from 9-10:30 a.m. at La Chatelaine on Lane Avenue.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Have a safe and fun 4th of July weekend!

www.uaprogressiveaction.com

December 5, 2010

Ted Strickland's wise words

Earlier this week, Governor Strickland said there wasn't enough populist discussion in the 2010 campaigns (Ted Strickland: Democrats Suffering From 'Intellectual Elitism').

"I think there is a hesitancy to talk using populist language," the Ohio Democrat said in a sit-down interview with The Huffington Post. "I think it has to do with a sort of intellectual elitism that considers that kind of talk is somehow lacking in sophistication. I'm not sure where it comes from. But I think it's there. There's an unwillingness to draw a line in the sand."...

...But his frustration was evident as the discussion progressed. Talking, unprompted, about the debate over the expiring Bush tax cuts, Strickland said he was dumbfounded at the party's inability to sell the idea that the rates for the wealthy should be allowed to expire.

In a timely coincidence, Democrats are now framing the tax cut issue in a populist way. From the NYTimes story entitled 'Some Democrats Count on ‘Millionaires’ Strategy on Tax Cuts':

“Just as the death tax sort of put Democrats on the defensive on the estate tax,” Mr. Schumer said in a telephone interview, “the millionaires’ tax is putting the Republicans on the defensive on tax policy.” He added, “I think it is a potent issue with the public.”

Unfortunately, Republicans have framed this issue long ago:

The strategy is hardly a slam-dunk, largely because it is late. Republicans have framed any eliminated tax cut as a pro forma increase. As such, failing to extend the current rates for millionaires may well be seen as less a cut for rich people than a tax increase on someone.

OSU's Dr. Lonnie Thompson to speak on climate change

Lonnie Thompson, OSU Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences and Research Scientist in the Byrd Polar Research Center will be the featured speaker of the Columbus Natural History Society monthly meeting on Monday, December 6, 7:45 p.m. at the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity, 1315 Kinnear Road on campus. Professor Thompson will present "Climate Change: The Evidence and Our Options".

Includes 17-minute video showing a research team actually drilling an ice core.

Rolling Stone magazine says that there is no person in the world that has spent more time above 18,000 feet than Lonnie Thompson.

Also featured, two short documentaries: Core Catchers filmed by Ryan Vachon on a 2009 Cordillera Blanca, Peru expedition and a recent May/June 2010 ice core drilling in New Guinea. Don't miss this opportunity to meet Professor Thompson, and learn about his world renowned work.

Full Steam Ahead, Ted!

Gov.-elect John Kasich has vowed to scrap a proposed passenger rail line linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland ('John Kasich Promises No 3-C Rail Project'), but Jennifer Brunner has a great idea --- tell Governor Strickland  to keep moving on passenger rail service in Ohio:

Earlier this week, Governor Strickland said there wasn't enough populist discussion in the 2010 campaigns, and now he's speaking freely about it.  I agree.  We need to advance policy that helps the most people in the most far reaching ways.  And our leaders need to hear from us.

With the state government passing from one administration to another, we stand to lose $400 million federal dollars (no state match required) to give Ohioans passenger rail service for the first time in decades. Other states are poised, waiting for Ohio to give up a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect our cities, reclaim our rich transportation heritage and give our diverse people more ways to literally come together. I'm asking you to tell Governor Strickland  to keep moving on passenger rail service in Ohio.

 More info:

• Columbus Dispatch: 'Other states clamoring for Ohio's 3C rail funds'
• To learn more about the '3C' Passenger Rail system click here.