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Coronavirus Hurts Minimum Wage Ballot Effort

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Karen Kasler
/
Ohio Public Radio

In this week's episode of Snollygoster, Ohio's politics podcast from WOSU, hosts Mike Thompson and Steve Brown discuss how the state is handling the coronavirus pandemic, and why the backers of a $13 minimum wage ballot initiative are suing to ease state law requirements. James Hayes of the group Raise The Wage Ohio joins the show.

Listen to Snollygoster on the WOSU Public Media mobile app, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And make sure to leave a rating and review!

In this week's episode:

My-My-My My Corona

Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday extended the state’s stay-at-home order to May 1, keeping folks from spreading the coronavirus, and getting tough on those not-so-essential businesses who remain open despite the order.

Though the state is being lauded for its quick and decisive actions, a vocal minority still believe that the risk is being overblown by the government and the media.

Minimum Wage Ballot Woes

This election cycle, several groups launched efforts to get on the fall ballot. One campaign was the effort to increase the state’s minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2025.

Of course, to get on the ballot, all of these groups had to collect hundreds of thousands of signatures from registered voters by July 1.  It's a tough task in idea conditions, but when everyone is ordered to stay home, it becomes virtually impossible.

The group Raise The Wage Ohio is now asking a judge to change the rules to extend the deadline, lower the number of signatures needed and allow for it to collect signatures online.

Mugwump Of The Week

Ohio's First Lady, Fran Dewine, has appeared at the governor's daily breifings a couple times with a calming maternal presence. She's given advice for keeping kids busy while they're cooped up at home, plus offered homemade recipe suggestions.

Send questions and comments to snollygoster@wosu.org.

Mike Thompson spends much of his time correcting people who mispronounce the name of his hometown – Worcester, Massachusetts. Mike studied broadcast journalism at Syracuse University when he was not running in circles – as a distance runner on the SU track team.
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