Who’s who in Ohio’s Senate Bill 5 debate

Ohio Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., talks with Senate Pres. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, as the Ohio Senate's Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee convenes in the Statehouse on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to hear testimony regarding Senate Bill 5, the controversial bill Jones introduced.

Chris Stewart/Dayton Daily News Staff Photogra Ohio Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Clearcreek Twp., talks with Senate Pres. Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, as the Ohio Senate's Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee convenes in the Statehouse on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to hear testimony regarding Senate Bill 5, the controversial bill Jones introduced.

ENLARGE PHOTO

New pool at 'The Heights' opens
5/27/12
Huber Heights suing consultant for more than $50,000
5/26/12
4 arrested for OVI at Kettering checkpoint
5/26/12
Man found dead at bar; police seek suspect
5/26/12
Turner adopts role for Romney campaign
5/26/12
> More headlines

Updated 9:46 AM Sunday, September 18, 2011

We Are Ohio is a coalition of labor groups that circulated petitions to put Senate Bill 5 up for a statewide referendum vote. The group raised $6.9 million for the campaign and collected nearly 1.3 million petition signatures from Ohioans.

Its campaign manager is A.J. Stokes. Its website: www.weare ohio.com

Building A Better Ohio is the campaign to keep Senate Bill 5. It is supported by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Businesses, and other business and conservative groups.

Its campaign manager is Vaughn Flasher. Its website:www.betterohio.org

Gov. John Kasich heavily supported Senate Bill 5 after its introduction, appearing at one of its early legislative hearings and voicing support for it since then. He signed the bill March 31.

House Speaker William Batchelder, R-Medina, and Senate President Tom Niehaus, R-New Richmond, are the top legislative leaders. They reassigned lawmakers on committees to assure Senate Bill 5’s passage and have voiced strong support for it.

State Sen. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, is the primary author of Senate Bill 5 and a member of the Senate leadership team.