As police, fire fighters, teachers, nurses, professors, college students, and public employees, held rallies at the Ohio Statehouse yesterday, some Republicans seemed unswayed about their support for SB 5.
Business-Journal:
...The reform, as introduced by state Sen. Shannon Jones, the majority whip, would end collective bargaining for state employees (including faculty and classified employees at the 13 public universities) and severely curtail collective bargaining for employees of county, municipal and township governments and school districts.
Public school teachers, for example, could no longer bargain about class size. Police and firefighters would have to submit to binding arbitration should they be unable to sign a new contract before their old contract expired...
.....Despite opponents' claims that Jones just put her name on SB5 as the sponsor, that it was really written by lobbyists and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the majority whip says she is the primary author. Yes, she had help from the LSC [legislative service center] and our legal counsel, "But I wrote it," she said....
In the article, State Senator Jones said that she anticipated some discussion about the legislation "but I don't think anyone expected this level." Seriously? She is dealing with people's lives and their ability to feed their families. Didn't she think those being targeted would have something to say?
With regard to the accusations that the legislation was written by pro-business individuals and groups, Jones claims to be the "primary author."
According to Project Vote Smart, State Senator Shannon Jones had these ratings:
Business and Consumers:
2010 Senator Jones supported the interests of Ohio Business Votes 100 percent in 2010.
2010 Senator Jones supported the interests of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce percent in 2010.
2007-2008 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to Ohio Business Votes's position, Senator Jones received a rating of 80.
2007-2008 Senator Jones supported the interests of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce 87.5 percent in 2007-2008.
2007 Senator Jones supported the interests of the Ohio Business Votes 100 percent in 2007.
The Boro Report discussed some of the campaign contributions that Shannon Jones received from some high-powered names and that was in March 2010:
Shannon Jones has been running some pretty expensive ads lately. I went to the Ohio Secretary of State website and pulled a list of contributors (go here and enter candidate last name Jones) to the Friends of Shannon Jones. Below is a list of contributions $2500 and up.
I was surprised to see the amount of money an incumbent can raise over the course of a few years, and if money is a measure of a politicians influence then Jones has a lot of influence. I’m not suggesting anything improper here, but it's interesting to see most of the big money coming from outside the district. I would like to know about the agendas these power brokers are pushing and whether that is influencing Senator Jones. I found a few links that tell a little about some of these folks. Over $100,000 from various Boich family members, companies and employees. $50,000 from the Brennan family. $40,000 from the DolanMathile Family. family. $40,000 from the (UPDATE: Looking through the contributions made by Friends of Shannon Jones $40,000 was refunded to the Boich companies. Also Jones has donated more than $650,000 of the money she raised to the Ohio Republican party.)...
She has indeed received quite a lot of campaign money from some very interesting names. Hmmmm. Hey, I'm just saying......