Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland and Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today offered strong support for SEIU’s and the Healthy Families Act Coalition’s decision to remove the paid sick day initiative from the November ballot. 

“In my judgment, this initiative was not the right way to pursue the worthy goal of obtaining paid sick leave for working people,” Strickland said.  “While I support providing paid sick leave to working families, I was deeply concerned that a divisive public campaign about Ohio’s business climate as well as the enactment of new requirements that would put Ohio at a competitive disadvantage would both negatively impact Ohio’s economy.”

“We need to be doing everything we can to help Ohio’s businesses and industries grow to retain and create new jobs,” Fisher said. “We’re pleased the SEIU and all of the Healthy Families Act proponents have taken this step today.”

Strickland made it clear that he supports the enactment of federal legislation that would establish required paid sick days nationally, adding that he and his staff are ready to provide input to craft a thoughtful federal bill, drawing upon their recent experiences working to devise a workable compromise bill in Ohio.