Josh Mandel Refuses to Answer Two Separate Questions on Collective Bargaining Bill; Tells Another Audience Member to "Go to the Web" for More Information
Yesterday As SB 5 Passed The Ohio House, Mandel Ignored The Topic Completely
COLUMBUS – Maybe Ohio’s (not quite) three month old Treasurer Josh Mandel is so busy planning his U.S. Senate run that he hasn’t been following a bill that would break the backs of 350,000 Ohio teachers, policeman, firefighters, and other public workers. Whatever the reason, Mandel’s determination to continue dodging one of the most important issues in our state was evident yet again when he couldn’t even bring himself to comment in a room full of Republicans at a Cuyahoga Valley Republicans meeting.
Even when two audience members spoke in support of the bill, echoing the anti-middle class views of Republicans like Governor Kasich, and right-winger Ken Blackwell, Mandel literally said nothing, and moved on to the next question. Later, when Another audience member asked about the status of the bill, Mandel suggested she “go to the web” to obtain more information on the legislation.
***NEW AUDIO: Josh Mandel Completely Ignores Questions About Senate Bill 5
Despite holding the position of Ohio's Treasurer for just 81 days of a four year term, it’s clear that Mandel is avoiding this critical issue because of what the Cleveland Plain Dealer calls an “obvious” and “well orchestrated” run for the U.S. Senate.
“Josh Mandel is hiding his position on Senate Bill 5 because he knows this bill would mean economic disaster for middle class families and local communities across our state,” said Ohio Democratic Party press secretary Justin Barasky. “It’s far past time for him to let us know where he stands on one of the most critical issues Ohio has faced in years. Does Josh Mandel stand with Ken Blackwell and Governor Kasich in eliminating the rights of teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public employees? Or does he stand with the working men and women of Ohio who have already made more than their fair share of sacrifices?”
EXCERPTS FROM TRANSCRIPT OF JOSH MANDEL IGNORING SENATE BILL 5 AT A CUYAHOGA VALLEY REPUBLICANS MEETING
Audience Member #1: This will be really quick. I’d like to take back one message, just my personal message some people may have heard of it. I watch with interest all this um… Bill 5, union thing, both here in Ohio and in Wisconsin… with very much interest. And I guess what I didn’t see is Republican folks standing up and explaining, you know, some of the real key issues that should be out there. Primarily, here’s one that I would like to make clear. I’m an employer. I employ all of these people. My taxes pay their salary. They work for me and everyone else in this room. And, there’s an election, every 2 years, 4 years… these folks, they don’t need a union representing them. If they have issues, they can come to the people of the state and we can and will elect leaders that will treat them fairly. But for them to say they have no representation is untrue and I would like to see us stand up a little bit stronger to tell them no you’re wrong, there is a process, this is a democracy, you have a vote, stop lying. And I’d like to say that strongly.
Mandel: (Silence) Moderator moves on to next audience member.
Audience Member #2: Hi Josh. I get into an awful lot of high schools and I talk to an awful lot of teachers, some of the best and the brightest teachers. Teachers who teach economics and teach free enterprise and yet, when I hear it from teachers what they are being told by the teachers unions about State Bill 5… and the lies and exaggerations about how it’s going to hurt them in every conceivable way. I find it deplorable. I find myself standing up trying to explain to them, particularly so much, you know, of this is now going toward incentive compensation, merit compensation as opposed to just step compensation for teachers. And I, I guess uh, I guess my comment I would like is these teachers have tremendous sway in what their students, what our kids hear. And I don’t think our government, our state government is standing up and making the arguments to the teachers on what is positive about this. The very teachers who have the most to benefit from an incentive, merit based are some of the most (inaudible) because of the lies and comments are being said by the NEA and such are not being refuted by anybody and I think we’re losing the public relations battle with our teachers. And I just wish someone in the state could stand up and explain these things and educate them so that they’re more positive to where, where you really want to go with the whole program.
Mandel: (Silence) Moderator moves on to next audience member.
Audience Member #3: What is your feel? Will SB 5 get passed? And do you know when it’s going to be scheduled for voting? Mandel: I don’t know when it’s going to be scheduled. The status is uh, it’s in the House, it’s passed the Senate and it’s in the House. I don’t believe it had hearings last week. I think they’re planning on reviewing here either this week or next week. But there’s not a uh, there’s not a set there’s not a set schedule for a vote. So, if you go, when you get home tonight, if you go on the web you can call the committee chairman’s office or you can call Speaker Batchelder’s office and they might be able to shed light on if there is a specific schedule. All of the public comments I‘ve seen and the private conversations I’ve seen I don’t think they have set a specific schedule to uh (inaudible). It’s unusual that there’s a schedule set (inaudible) whether you know it’s controversial, not controversial, big, small. In my time in the legislature I really didn’t see too many dates certain set for the passage of legislation. One of the reasons the vast majority of legislation that actually enters (inaudible).