Kasich Seeks To Stop SB5 Repeal Effort

Ohio Gov. John Kasich and top Republican lawmakers say they're offering to weaken Senate Bill 5 in an attempt to keep a repeal effort off the November ballot.

Kasich's administration Wednesday released a letter asking for a meeting Friday to discuss a compromise with 10 union leaders involved with We Are Ohio, the group pushing for a repeal of the law and collected about 1.3 million signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

We Are Ohio said Friday that the time for a compromise had passed.

Public employees said they wanted to talk months ago, and think Kasich's invitation is more political than polite.

"Let me just say, the timing is pretty suspect," Dayton Fraternal Order of Police President Lt. Randy Beane said. "You know, we're getting ready to go into national elections and certainly all eyes are on Ohio, and what's going to happen here."

Kasich denied that allegation.

"I don't think when they approached us they thought they were going to lose. We don't think we're going to lose."

The law signed in March bans public employee strikes for more than 350,000 workers. It also allows public worker unions to negotiate wages, but not health care, sick time or pension benefits.