Ohio Senate Passes Bill Restricting Collective Bargaining Rights

The Ohio Senate Wednesday voted 17-16 to restrict collective-bargaining rights for public employees. The bill moves on to the GOP-controlled House, where it's expected to pass, and after that, GOP Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign it. The 644-page bill restricts collective-bargaining rights, requires workers to pay at least 15 percent of health-care premiums, institutes a merit pay system, and outlaws strikes. It will affect about 360,000 teachers, cops, firefighters, prison guards, and more. The bill’s primary sponsor, GOP Sen. Shannon Jones, was flanked by plainclothes state troopers when she delivered a speech in favor of it. The vote was greeted with boos and shouts of “shame of you!”