Thoughts on today's election results...

 SB 5 voted down in Ohio, Buckeye voters reject Individual Mandate in healthcare, Mississippi votes no on personhood ballot...




1) SB 5: In a victory for union workers, SB 5 was voted down decisively today. Governor Kasich's legislation was defeated by a largely coordinated effort including several unions. Parts of the Bill may see a second life as part of a new piece of legislation, but for right now Gov. Kasich said "The people have spoken clearly. You don't ignore the public. Look, I also have an obligation to lead. I've been leading since the day I took this office, and I'll continue to do that. But part of leading is listening and hearing what people have to say to you."


NOTE: I voted against SB 5. While I agree our State has financial issues that need addressing, I don't agree that the path to fiscal health in through the various public workers collective bargaining rights/unions. There's plenty of other areas where Kasich can cut spending in Ohio. I think it was an unwise first step for the new Governor.


2) Issue 3: (Healthcare Referendum) Ohio voters convincingly voted against permitting the Affordable Care Act to be enforced in Ohio. It also states that the State will never vote an Individual mandate into law that would require citizens of Ohio to purchase health insurance. Largely symbolic, Federal Law trumps State law and should the Affordable Care Act make it past the likely Supreme Court ruling sometime next year in tact, it will remain the law of the land and be enforced. 


NOTE: I voted against this as well. This is old news, but we've seen how many Americans are left without access to quality healthcare when the free market is left to its own devices. Insurers don't want to take on sickly (read: costly) policy holders so they make it unaffordable for the sickest among us to get insurance. The only way everyone can get private health insurance is to have every one in the risk pool. (This isn't my idea, its a Republican one that came out of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank group who tried to use it to derail the Clinton attempt at healthcare reform in the '90's. I'd still love to hear an explanation of why it was exactly the right thing to do then, but now its un-Constitutional.) 


3) Mississippi's Personhood Amendment: This was a controversial amendment to the State Constitution that would've redefined life as beginning at the moment of conception. Endorsed by many religious groups and conservatives, if passed, it would've outlawed all abortions. The measure was voted down by over 55% of the voters in Mississippi. 


NOTE: I obviously couldn't vote in this election, but I was interested in seeing if it passed. I'm pleased it failed and failed convincingly. 






Sources: 


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/ohio-issue-2-_n_1083100.html

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/results/991971.html

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111108/NEWS04/111108042/Mississippi-voters-reject-personhood-amendment?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|Home

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/08/us/mississippi-personhood-amendment/index.html?eref=rss_politics&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+Politics%29