Chalk one up for everyday people. By defeating Issue 2, we beat back Governor Kasich’s Koch-funded massive attack on social and labor relations. It’s a major win, worthy of celebrating, but only for a couple days. Then, we MUST go back to organizing.

That’s because of three facts of political life. One is, power can not be bottled for later use: Use it, or lose it. Another is, Koch’s inherited billions can be saved for later use: That’s what banks and accountants are for. Finally, as the late US Senator, Everett Dirkson memorably observed: “A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon you’ve got BIG MONEY.”

When people say, as Governor Kasich did when I asked him a question at a press conference last Spring, “corporations and unions… and unions”, they are listing very different entities. Unions don’t have billions to buy banks, accountants and elections with, but corporations do. So, it’s our shoe leather, tenacity and enthusiasm against their billions.

The Green, Libertarian, Socialist, Constitution and American Elect Parties are all designated as official parties on the ballot for the 2012 presidential election in Ohio. On October 18, 2011 the Federal District Court in Columbus ordered Secretary of State John Husted to recognize the Libertarian Party, As a result of that order, Husted issued Directive 2011-38 on November 1, 2011 which placed the four other minor parties on the Ohio ballot.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit found Ohio’s minor party election laws unconstitutional in September 2006. In the case Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Blackwell, the court held that both Ohio’s laws involving minor party formation as well as ballot access were unconstitutionally restrictive.

In 2008, in the Green Party of Ohio v. Brunner, then Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner entered into a consent decree with the Green Party that allowed both the Green and the Constitution Party on the ballot. The federal judge set as a standard that the minor parties had to show a “modicum” of support in Ohio to stay on the ballot. The judge set the standard at 1% of the statewide vote.

Tuesday's most important vote is the repeal of Ohio's vicious anti-labor Issue 2.

Polls show the repeal winning by 25% or more. But will it---like the 2004 presidential election---be stolen by the 1% intent on crushing working people and stealing huge sums of money?

Like Wisconsin's millionaire assault on the bargaining rights of public unions, the thoroughly bought Ohio legislature has passed a draconian law aimed at crippling the organizing ability of working people.

The attack has the loud, persistent support of Wall Street's hand-picked Governor John Kasich, who made millions as a Foxist commentator and Lehman bond dealer. Among other things, Kasich helped pawn $400 million in Lehman's junk bonds onto the Ohio teacher's pension fund, making him a multi-millionaire. Control of that money would be directly affected by the outcome of this referendum.

To Whom It May Concern:

Repealing bad laws and preventing bad Constitutional Amendments:

Thank goodness that Ohioans have the right to vote down harmful proposed amendments to the Ohio Constitution, currently Issue 3. The U. S. Supreme will trump Issue 3, but it would immediately invalidate necessary Federal and Ohio laws and regulations passed since March 19, 2010 and prevent future ones.

Equally important are referenda which repeal harmful laws. Issue 2 would allow SB 5 to remain law. It unfairly harms public employees. All Ohioans would suffer because the economy would be damaged by loss of jobs. The shift of $ 4 billion in State taxes to schools and municipalities etc. would also increase the local tax burden.

The Issue to repeal HB 194, the voter suppression law, will be on the 2012 Ballot, so that law will not be in effect for the important 2012 election. Secretary of State Jon Husted has not certified that referendum. It would have some effect on the current election.