National Health Care Coalition Introduces Nationwide Effort

Today, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller (D-Columbus) has scheduled a news conference along with a coalition of groups to introduce a $40 million nationwide drive in support of providing “quality, affordable health care.”  The group called Health Care for America Now is scheduled to outline the campaign’s mission and how it will affect Ohio residents.  Labor participants in the effort include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union, and the United Food and Commercial Workers. 

OAHU will update you concerning the mission of this group as further details become available.

 

Payday Lenders File Lawsuit Concerning Ohio’s Petition Law

As reported previously, the payday lending industry is attempting to gather enough signatures to put a referendum of H.B.545 before the voters this November to stop the legislation from going into effect.  The legislation significantly reduces the amount of interest that a payday lender may charge for a loan.  Several payday lenders have stated that enactment of the law would put them out of business.

One of the first steps before being able to collect signatures to put the referendum on the November ballot is to have the Ohio Attorney General approve the petitioner committee’s summary of the proposal.  Recently, newly appointed Attorney General, Nancy Rogers, rejected the committee’s initial petition language, saying it was not a fair and truthful explanation of the new law. The committee subsequently submitted two additional petition summaries which are still pending before the Attorney General.

As a result of this delay, payday lenders have sued the Attorney General and Secretary of State arguing that the law granting ten days to certify a ballot issue summary language is unconstitutional.  The lawsuit was filed in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court in which the payday lenders request a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions against the Attorney General and Secretary of State.  The case is set for a hearing today.

Bill Faith, Executive Director for the Ohio Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, stated that “Ohio law clearly requires the Attorney General to determine whether referendum petitions accurately explain the law they are seeking to overturn.”  Payday lenders spokesperson, Kim Norris, stated that “The right to vote is one of our most basic rights – and this lawsuit will help ensure that Ohio voters will have a voice in deciding which issues make it to the ballot.”

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