Ohio Fraternal Order of Police call out Building a Better Ohio’s lies about Mt. Sterling and Issue 2

Normally, we don’t republish press releases verbatim here.  Then again, normally it’s not every day the Fraternal Order of Police issues a press release in response to something we originally wrote. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2011
Jay McDonald, President

FOP CORRECTS RECORD ABOUT MT. STERLING POLICE DEPARTMENT LAYOFFS

COLUMBUS — The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio (FOP) today expressed disappointment that some supporters of Issue 2 and Senate Bill 5 are claiming that the complete layoff of the Mt. Sterling, Ohio police department was a positive development for citizens there and for Ohioans.

“Building A Better Ohio” recently claimed that Senate Bill 5 could have prevented mass Mt. Sterling police department layoffs, giving the town the ability to restructure its operating costs.

Here are the facts: Mt. Sterling’s police officers aren’t a part of the Fraternal Order of Police or any other public union.  That’s because Ohio’s current collective bargaining law doesn’t apply to towns and villages with fewer than 5,000 residents.

The reality is that the mayor in Mt. Sterling reported that cuts to the local government fund, not Senate Bill 5 or unions, resulted in the layoffs.  What “Building a Better Ohio” should focus on is why the state made massive cuts to local government funds despite a revenue surplus.

Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President Jay McDonald says that the legislature and governor, not the FOP, must answer for these layoffs.

“The situation in Mt. Sterling is the direct result of the legislature’s budget, not Senate Bill 5,” McDonald said.  “The legislature and governor, not the Fraternal Order of Police members, must answer for making Mt. Sterling’s community less safe.”

McDonald continued that the FOP has actually helped local governments weather the economic downturn.

“Our members have made millions of dollars in concessions to help solve local budget difficulties across Ohio,” McDonald said.  “Unfortunately, instead of allowing police to be involved in the process, Issue 2 would ensure that politicians have the final say about how safe Ohio families remain.”

Please join with the FOP in voting NO on State Issue 2 in November.

Learn more about Issue 2 and the Fraternal Order of Police at  FOPVotes.org

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In other words, Governor Kasich, why don’t you accept responsibility for your own policies instead of scapegoating unions for every bad decision you and the Ohio General Assembly have made?

Sounds like Building a Better Ohio has some egg on its face.