YOU DID IT! Federal jobs bill to bring millions to Ohio

Aug. 11, 2010 - Thanks to OCSEA activists and AFSCME members around the country, the federal funding to states has passed in both the U.S. House and Senate and was signed into law by President Obama yesterday.

Thousands of phone calls to U.S. Representatives made by OCSEA and other AFSCME activists this week were instrumental in the U.S. House voting to approve House Resolution 1586, which will provide $26.1 billion to state and local governments to prevent massive job losses. This includes over $800 million to Ohio.

In the letter below to OCSEA activists, OCSEA President Eddie Parks thanks you for your hard work and efforts in getting over the last hurdle needed to get critical aid to state and local governments.

Letter from OCSEA President Eddie Parks

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last week, I called on you to help get a job done. And that’s exactly what you did!

You got us over the last hurdle needed in the fight for critical aid to state and local governments that will give Ohio the boost it needs to create more jobs and continue providing public services that Ohioans desperately depend on.

After a year-long fight with conservatives on economic recovery, Democrat members of Congress were able to make their true commitment to jobs and economic growth a reality this week. The U.S. House voted 247-161 in favor of House Resolution 1586, which will provide $26.1 billion to state and local governments to prevent massive job losses – including over $800 million to Ohio. President Obama signed it into law yesterday.

OCSEA is grateful for the leadership and determination of the Democrats of the U.S. House. Ohio Reps. John Boccieri, Steve Driehaus, Marcia Fudge, Marcy Kaptur, Mary Jo Kilroy, Dennis Kucinich, Tim Ryan, Zack Space, Betty Sutton and Charlie Wilson, all Democrats, voted in favor of economic recovery and job security for Ohio’s public employees. No Ohio Republicans representatives voted in favor of the legislation.

Here in Ohio, we face an $8 billion budget gap next year. This federal funding will give the state budget a needed boost by helping to provide health care to Ohio’s most needy citizens and, as a result, help thousands of public employees, including Corrections Officers, inspectors and regulators, direct care workers and many others keep doing what they do best.

I know it’s been a long fight, brothers and sisters, but the reward is great. As always, I knew I could count on you to get the job done. Thank you for all do! You do make a difference!

In Solidarity,
OCSEA President Eddie L. Parks

See Related

AFSCME’s statement on passage

How’d your representative vote?

How will this impact Ohio for the better? - a breakdown of the impact this funding will have on Ohio during the 2011 fiscal year