By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
On Tuesday, October 19 three local leaders held a special press conference at Promenade Park speaking out against the policies of Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The leaders spotlighted his policies that they state are not in the interest of Ohioans and unanimously expressed their support of Dr. Amy Acton, MD, for governor of Ohio.
Ohio Senator Paula Hicks- Hudson, State Representative Erika White and UAW Local 14 President Tony Totty addressed Ramaswamy’s policies, leadership and the current state and future of Ohio.
Tony Totty (UAW Local 14 President)
“Before we used to look at who can get us ahead. And now, sadly, our members are just looking to survive,” said Totty.
“Vivek Ramaswamy, he recently said that affordability is a buzzword. That’s not true to our members. Every time they go pump gas or go to the grocery store, that’s a real issue. And they know that. Affordability isn’t just a buzzword. Higher prices at the grocery store and the gas pump, and the doctor’s office feel consistently having to rearrange their life, and that’s not right. Not only do our members have to worry about their job, they have to worry about the future for their kids.” Totty noted that Ramaswamy moved his company from Ohio to Texas which removes job opportunities.
“We know if he’s elected, his failed policies will do damage to Ohio and our members. And that’s why we firmly support Dr. Amy Acton,” Totty added.
Representative Erika White
“Vivek Ramaswamy likes to pretend he understands what every day Ohioans are going through. But his tax proposals, raise serious questions about who ultimately pays the price in what’s ahead,” remarked White.
“Take his property tax scam. He called it tax relief. But relief for who? And at whose expense? …That’s not tax relief. That’s trading one affordable bill for another, and every day Ohio will be left paying the price….When the budget doesn’t add up, who gets stuck paying the bill? The workers, retirees, families already struggling to make ends meet… that isn’t tax relief, for people who end up paying for it somewhere else. That’s tax shifting. Ohioans deserve more than promises. They deserve answers.
“I’ve listened to Ohioans tell me what they’re struggling with, and I want a governor who listens to them too. And that’s why I’m voting for Amy Acton. She’ll make lowering cost a priority from day one and partner with us in the state house to fight for Ohio from every corner of the state, including right here in northwest Ohio.”
Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson
“I want to talk about receipts…” said Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson, “I hold in my hand gas receipts, and these receipts show how back in March, I paid $30 for eight gallons of gas, and just two weeks ago, I paid $55 for that same amount of gas. So, we can talk about theoretically what affordability is. I’m able to pay that, but there are so many working families and other families in Lucas County, northwest Ohio, and throughout the state of Ohio that cannot afford to be swindled or lied to by Vivek Ramaswamy.
“If he’s elected as our governor, you can imagine, and I believe, there’ll be more of these types of things that are happening to us, because for too long, billionaires and special interests have been running our state. And we cannot afford to,” she continued.
“Dr. Amy Acton has as a plan to include an earned income tax credit that will support up to 775,000 working families, Dr. Acton is committed to fighting for a child tax credit of $1,000 a year for children, aged 0 to 6, and $500 for children, aged 7 to 18, for families making up to $85,000 in annual income, which will help ease the burden for more than 14 million children and their families. A married couple with 2 children, earning $60,000 a year, could receive an additional. $1,778 back into their pockets.
“Toledo cannot afford to have Vivek Ramaswamy as our next governor. We need Dr. Acton who is a clear choice, who has a clear plan to lower our cost, and I can’t wait to elect her governor in just 15 days,” concluded Hicks-Hudson.