Public employees are not your enemy. They are your friends and neighbors. This issue affects all public employees, not just union members.

The Ohio budget is already balanced by massive cuts to education, local government and seniors.

We all know from the press that the “Big Rich” pay no taxes. This is the same group that is attacking the teachers, firefighters, nurses and other public employees. After all, where do you think where all the money supporting Issue 2?

The “Big Rich” want us to ignore the real causes of our economic woes such as the endless war, the flight of our industry overseas and the $700 billon dollar bail out the “Big Rich” received from Bush. If you do poorly on your job, do you get millions of dollars in tax payer paid bonuses like they did?

Make no mistake about it. If you’re not a public employee and you don’t vote “no” on issue 2 —you’re next.

The Bible says, “The laborer is worthy of his hire.”

When you go to the library, see the school bus go by or sit next to a public employee in church, you need to remember they are under a merciless attack by the “Big Rich.”

Let’s make this real simple. All of you who are “Big Rich” and pay no taxes take your usual attitude. The rest of us should vote No on Issue 2 out of self-preservation.

Do not ask for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for you.”

Craig A. Allen

Ironton

 

People are living, working longer than ever before

As a result of the passage of House Joint Resolution 1 from the Ohio Legislature, Ohioans will soon decide whether the mandatory retirement age for judges should be increased from 70 to 75 years of age. There has been much discussion across the state on this issue and how such a proposal will impact the judicial process in Ohio.

As someone who wholeheartedly supported the resolution when it passed from the Ohio House, I would like to briefly discuss HJR 1 and why I believe it will be an enormous benefit for our communities.

Simply put, HJR 1 will allow our most experienced and seasoned judges to continue serving the people by bringing Ohio law in-line with the longer human lifespan.

Since the retirement age has not been updated since 1973, it is long overdue that the Ohio Revised Code reflect the fact that people are living and working longer than they perhaps were decades ago.

One question that has been asked with the passage of this resolution is what happens if a judge is 73 when they are elected. Do they get to finish up their term; are they forced off the bench on their 75th birthday or at the end of the calendar year of the 75th benchmark?

It is the intent of the resolution to allow these judges to finish the term that Ohio voters elect them to serve.

The Ohio Supreme Court has a disciplinary system—the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline—to deal with any judge who the public feels is not fulfilling their judicial responsibilities.

I voted in support of HJR 1 when it was in the House because I believe that our communities will benefit from having judges with ample experience presiding over court cases.

Terry Johnson

State Representative,

89th District

Portsmouth