Tuesday, March 29, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Democratic lawmakers have delivered boxes containing more than 65,000 opponent signatures to an Ohio House committee that is preparing to vote on a bill to curtail collective bargaining for 350,000 public workers.
The House labor committee is preparing a vote today on the legislation. Democrats set the boxes in front of the committee chairman’s desk, but they were quickly removed.
The committee planned to adopt at least 10 substantive changes to the legislation before voting. The changes include removing jail time as a possible penalty for public workers who participate in strikes and making clear that public safety workers could negotiate over equipment.
A vote of the full House could come as soon as Wednesday. The Senate would have to consider any changes made.