Ohio

Child-poverty rate increases

By Kelly Hassett
Columbus Dispatch, Sep 10 2006
 Study of rural areas shows Ohio one of 5 states with rise of at least 5%

Nearly one of every five children in rural Ohio lives in poverty, a new study of census figures shows.

Ohio is one of only five states in which child-poverty rates in rural areas increased at least 5 percent between 1999 and 2004, according to the report by the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. The data, which were collected in 2000 and 2005, reflect poverty for the preceding year.

Minimum wage wins space on Nov. 7 ballot

By Jim Siegel and James Nash
The Columbus Dispatch, Sep 6 2006
Although almost half the petition signatures were thrown out, a proposal to raise Ohio's minimum wage to $6.85 an hour is headed for the Nov. 7 ballot.

The Ohio secretary of state's office informed officials with the Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage campaign yesterday that the group has collected enough names to qualify for the statewide vote.

"I think we have a comfortable cushion of valid signatures," said Donald J. McTigue, the attorney representing the group. "It's time to get on with the campaign."

Voices of minimum-wage debate

By A. Johnson & R. Price
Columbus Dispatch, Sep 4 2006

Long-simmering minimum-wage debate heats up

By Rita Price & Alan Johnson
Columbus Dispatch, Sep 4 2006

For Theresa Patterson, the minimum wage isn't about politics or morality. It's about bus fare, grocery money and rent.

On a recent morning, the 52-year-old grandmother boarded COTA buses four times, piled into a temp agency van twice and cleaned bathrooms for eight hours at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

She earned $42.

Randy Sokol is proud of the $5 breakfast he serves customers at Tee Jaye's Country Place Restaurants. But the cost of the meal could change if a proposed minimum-wage amendment is enacted.

Studies show salaries aren't keeping up with inflation

By Jim DeBrosse
Dayton Daily News, Sep 3 2006
CENTERVILLE — — Ed Walters, a 36-year-old technician for a local car dealership, hasn't seen a raise in pay in four years. But that hasn't kept "everything else from going up," he said, especially his energy and health insurance costs.

"It's become a struggle to make ends meet," he said. "Like everybody else here at work, I can't always go to movies, I can't take vacations. All I can afford to do is to stay home with the kids and hang around the house."

Religious liberals join forces for political comeback

By Catherine Candisky and Alan Johnson
Columbus Dispatch, Aug 13 2006


Rev. Eric Brown speaking at minimum wage rally

By Rev. Eric Brown
Aug 8 2006
To view Rev. Eric Brown speaking at minimum wage rally, please click on link below.

Ohio can lead on minimum wage

By Rose Russell
Toledo Blade, Jul 29 2006
IF YOU are a registered voter who agrees that it's absurd that Ohio's minimum wage is only $5.15 an hour, you will want to sign a petition to put the issue on the November ballot to try to boost the state minimum wage to $6.85 an hour.
Reasonable people will concur that it's unrealistic to expect anyone to maintain even a semblance of a basic, let alone decent, standard of living earning $5.15 hourly.

Church groups push minimum-wage hike

By David Yonke
Toledo Blade, Jul 12 2006
Fifteen representatives from local churches and the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo stood together on the steps of an Old West End church yesterday, saying that Ohioans have a moral responsibility to raise the minimum wage.

"People who work should not make sub-poverty wages," said the Rev. Larry Clark, executive director of Toledo Area Ministries. "The prophets of old spoke with one voice in their demand for justice for the poor ... Jesus' concern for the poor was present throughout His ministry."
Syndicate content