State of Ohio Archives: on Jobs


Tim Ryan: My experience is focusing on workers and their families

[On partisanship]: "My experience has been just focusing on the workers, their families, the issues that are important to them, recognizing how hard they are working and still not getting by and getting ahead," Ryan told CNN. "That is what people are going to vote for."

"They don't care what political party you are with," he added. "They want to know who you are for."

Source: CNN News on 2022 Ohio Senate race Apr 26, 2021

Tim Ryan: It can't be businesses versus workers; this is a partnership

[On pandemic recovery] "Right now our workers need a game plan. We're competing with countries around the world for jobs. So in my mind, there's nothing more patriotic than investing in our team, our people, our workers," Ryan emphasizes. And he stresses that "it can't be businesses versus workers. This is a partnership. But that partnership needs to be redesigned. We have to cut workers in on the deal. I will work with anyone to rebuild our economy but I'll never sell out our workers."
Source: Fox News on 2022 Ohio Senate race Apr 26, 2021

Mike DeWine: State can create job opportunities for disabled

Even though the economy is going well, many Ohioans still struggle. We have a shocking number of our fellow citizens with disabilities who are unemployed or grossly underemployed. This is wrong. And so, we are going to invest more resources into initiatives that increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. We are going to help businesses in Ohio through enhanced opportunity zones.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Ohio legislature Mar 5, 2019

Jim Renacci: No increase in federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr to $10.10

Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr?

Sherrod Brown (D): Yes. Phase in increase to $15.

Jim Renacci (R): Likely No. Rejected 2013 increase to $10.10.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mike DeWine: Let states decide on minimum wage

Q: Raise the minimum wage?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Fight to raise Ohio minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Will go to voters if needed.

Mike DeWine (R): Undecided. Says he's "`open to taking a look at' whether the question should go to voters." As US Senator increased to $7.25 when coupled with increased cap on estate tax. As Attorney General opposed Ohio cities' enacting minimum wage higher than the state's.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Richard Cordray: No right-to-work law (keep mandated union dues)

Q: Enact right-to-work law, eliminating the right of unions to mandate dues for workers they represent?

Richard Cordray (D): No.

Mike DeWine (R): "Should be decided by Ohio voters."

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Richard Cordray: Raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025

Q: Raise the minimum wage?

Richard Cordray (D): Yes. Fight to raise Ohio minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Will go to voters if needed.

Mike DeWine (R): Undecided. Says he's "`open to taking a look at' whether the question should go to voters." As US Senator increased to $7.25 when coupled with increased cap on estate tax. As Attorney General opposed Ohio cities' enacting minimum wage higher than the state's.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Sherrod Brown: Increase federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr to $15

Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25/hr?

Sherrod Brown (D): Yes. Phase in increase to $15.

Jim Renacci (R): Likely No. Rejected 2013 increase to $10.10.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Ohio Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Mike Gibbons: Opposes affirmative action hiring

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring more women/minorities"?

A: Strongly oppose

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Ohio Senate candidate Apr 24, 2018

Richard Cordray: Endorsed by unions: Give control back to workers

Big labor took sides in the battle for the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor, endorsing former federal consumer watchdog and AG Richard Cordray. "For years, leaders in Columbus have launched an ideological attack on the working men and women of Ohio and their ability to collectively bargain for good wages and safe workplace conditions," Mr. Cordray said. "That's wrong, and it has to stop. Betty Sutton and I will make it a point to put state government back on the side of the middle class."
Source: Toledo Blade on 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race Mar 6, 2018

Joe Schiavoni: Protect collective bargaining rights

As Governor, Joe Schiavoni will protect collective bargaining rights to ensure workers get paid a decent wage and are protected on the job.
Source: 2018 Ohio Governor website JoeForOhio.com Aug 17, 2017

Joe Schiavoni: Raise minimum wage

Raise the minimum wage to give more workers the ability to support their families;
Source: 2018 Ohio Governor website JoeForOhio.com Aug 17, 2017

John Kasich: No local vote on $15 minimum wage; keep $8.10

Kasich signed legislation blocking next year's special election vote on whether to raise Cleveland's minimum wage to $15 per hour. Senate Bill 331 prohibits communities in the state from raising the minimum wage beyond the state's minimum wage rate, currently set at $8.10 per hour. State lawmakers passed the bill earlier this month at the request of Cleveland city officials.

Raise Up Cleveland, the group sponsoring the proposal with the backing of the Service Employees International Union, had aimed to get a $15-per-hour minimum wage proposal on the November ballot. But Cleveland City Council held months of contentious hearings on the proposal, and the issue narrowly missed that ballot deadline, buying city officials and other opponents more time to try to quash the measure.

Proponents of a minimum-wage hike have said it would help the local economy by putting more money in the hands of poorer Clevelanders who are likely to spend it. Kasich signed the bill without comment.

Source: Plain Dealer on Ohio legislative records: Senate Bill 331 Dec 19, 2016

John Kasich: No strikes allowed for public employees

Gov. Kasich passed collective bargaining reform legislation that outlawed strikes for public employees, banned arbitration, implemented merit pay for teachers, and gave cities and school boards greater flexibility. Thousands of union activists stormed the Ohio state capital to protest the changes about the same time as the protests in WI.

One big difference between our bill and the bill in Ohio was that we exempted firefighters and police officers from our collective bargaining reforms. Kasich had not. This allowed the unions to cast Kasich as an enemy of public safety.

Kasich never got a chance to implement his reforms. Kasich's opponents simply needed to gather 230,000 signatures to trigger a referendum. By July 2011, they had gathered 1.3 million. That meant his reform law was immediately suspended and put on the ballot, where it was repealed before the changes could take effect. Ohio voters never got an opportunity to see whether or not the reforms had worked as Kasich promised.

Source: Unintimidated (Walker), p.156-7, on Ohio Voting Record SB5 Nov 18, 2013

Joe Biden: We value working class; Republicans value privileged class

We believe there are clear, stark differences between us and our opponents and what's at stake for the middle class. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich--these guys have a fundamentally different economic philosophy than we do. Our philosophy is one that values the workers in the success of a business. It values the middle class and the success of our economy.

Simply stated, we're about promoting the private sector, they're about protecting the privileged sector. We are for a fair shot and a fair shake. They're about no rules, no risks, and no accountability.

There's no clearer example of these two different views of the economy than how we reacted to the crisis in the automobile industry. It's sort of a cautionary tale of how they would run the government again and the economy again if given a chance.

Source: Automotive Industry speech in Toledo Ohio Mar 15, 2012

Lee Fisher: Incentive for Ohio jobs rather than breaks for jobs overseas

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.1% in August, placing it among the 10 states with the highest rates in the country. "People all around the state are mad," Fisher said. "They are mad as hell that we're giving tax breaks to large companies that send jobs overseas, but not giving tax breaks to companies that put their jobs right here."

Portman said the high unemployment rate is creating a "brain drain" for Ohio. "Ohio is falling behind," he said. "We're losing businesses to other states. Some of the bes and brightest young people in Ohio are leaving our state."

Fisher sought to deflect Portman's criticism that he wasn't personally involved in the effort to save jobs. He said you do so "one job at a time, one business at a time." He cited successful efforts to save jobs in his work with Gov. Strickland.

Portman said he is committed to direct involvement to save and create jobs and highlighted a recent encounter with an unemployed Cleveland mother looking for work.

Source: Business Week coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 8, 2010

Rob Portman: High unemployment rate creates Ohio brain drain

Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.1% in August, placing it among the 10 states with the highest rates in the country. "People all around the state are mad," Fisher said. "They are mad as hell that we're giving tax breaks to large companies that send jobs overseas, but not giving tax breaks to companies that put their jobs right here."

Portman said the high unemployment rate is creating a "brain drain" for Ohio. "Ohio is falling behind," he said. "We're losing businesses to other states. Some of the bes and brightest young people in Ohio are leaving our state."

Fisher sought to deflect Portman's criticism that he wasn't personally involved in the effort to save jobs. He said you do so "one job at a time, one business at a time." He cited successful efforts to save jobs in his work with Gov. Strickland.

Portman said he is committed to direct involvement to save and create jobs and highlighted a recent encounter with an unemployed Cleveland mother looking for work.

Source: Business Week coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 8, 2010

Lee Fisher: OpEd: In charge of job creation when Ohio lost 400,000 jobs

Fisher said Portman is responsible for the national recession due to his policies as budget director for former President George W. Bush. Portman says Fisher was in charge of job creation in Columbus when Ohio lost 400,000 jobs.

A big moment came when Fisher evoked the name of legendary Buckeye coach Woody Hayes when talking about saving jobs at plants like Cooper Tire in Findlay. "It means that we're going down that field, just like Woody Hayes did. Three yards and a cloud of dust, and we are not giving up," he said.

Portman responded by saying, "I think it's an insult to Woody Hayes' incredible record at Ohio State to somehow compare him to what's happening in Ohio the last four years. It hasn't been a successful game. We've been losing the game."

Source: WTOL-11 coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 5, 2010

Lee Fisher: Enforce collective bargaining and prevailing wage laws

Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, fisherforohio.com, "Issues" Dec 25, 2009

  • The above quotations are from State of Ohio Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Jobs:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021