FreedomWorks, Statewide Tea Party Leaders to Support Senate Bill 5 and Governor Kasich

WHAT: FreedomWorks, Ohio Tea Party groups and limited-government activists will host a press conference at the state capitol to defend the taxpayers of Ohio and to offer support for Senate Bill 5 (SB5).

Following the press conference, grassroots leaders from across the state will deliver hundreds of letters of support from the citizens of Ohio, urging their state Representatives to vote YES on SB5. Senate Bill 5 is a piece of legislation that would remove automatic pay raises, introduce merit-based pay and reform the collective bargaining power of state and local employees.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10a.m.

WHERE: Capitol steps on the North Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio 43215

WHY: FreedomWorks strongly believes that Senate Bill 5 is the first critical step to alleviating Ohio’s budget crisis and lay the foundation for future job growth. Currently, the state of Ohio has a $10 billion deficit for 2011, and shed over 600,000 private sector jobs in the last ten years.

Governor John Kasich will be the latest recipient of the FreedomWorks “Legislative Entrepreneur Award,” for his dedication to restore economic competition in Ohio, rein in spending and shrink a bloated state budget.

As the debate picks up steam in the Ohio House, FreedomWorks will continue to mobilize members, along with conservative, limited-government activists in Ohio on FreedomConnector- a revolutionary, new online mobilization tool designed to quickly apply concerted pressure on elected officials- to call and email targeted Ohio House Members in support of SB5. 

In addition, FreedomWorks will be organizing numerous events on the ground throughout Ohio in the weeks ahead to advocate the passage of SB5.

 “Ohio is in a vicious cycle where the private sector shrinks and the public sector liabilities grow, forcing businesses, jobs, and citizens to become economic refugees to the Sunbelt states. We applaud Governor Kasich’s bold efforts to reverse nearly 50 years of economic stagnation and to build a foundation of growth and recovery in Ohio. It’s our mission to unite and mobilize a grassroots constituency in support of legislative entrepreneurs like Governor Kasich who look for long-term solutions instead of nearsighted gimmicky fixes.” – Matt Kibbe, President of FreedomWorks