Portia Boulger hosted a successful house meeting in her hometown of Chillicothe. Here’s what Portia has to say about why the meetings are so important:

To create good jobs, we must first fight back against the attacks on labor and the working middle class and the lack of taxing the wealthy and corporations. Those in city, county, state, and federal offices, be they Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, who are not legislating and voting the will of constituents MUST be put on notice and voted out of office. Until these processes take hold, good jobs will not follow.

Voter disenfranchisement legislation must be stopped or those elected will continue to legislate the Koch Brothers’ agenda and boilerplate legislation.

Protect the right to collectively bargain and increase labor organizing of Wal-Mart, fast food and other chain stores, tax the multi-millionaires and billionaires, and end corporate welfare tax subsidies and loop holes.

Do not diminish the tax base by enacting legislation and policy that will, increase cost for benefits, or cut social security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

What was the response of your house meeting guests?

Sharing the story of self connected the group immediately and all committed to attend our next meeting on August 7th.

More than 20 guests, who most had met for the first time, mirrored the majority of the faces of our community. Young, elderly, black, brown, and white along with those who have fought the good fight for many decades and those who have just entered the arena came together. They ranged in age from 16 to 85 years old and included a city council member (the second black woman to serve on council), Ohio University Chillicothe students and professors, the president of the NAACP and Ross County Ministerial Alliance, long time labor organizers and leaders in economic development along with unemployed and disabled.

What do you hope are the next steps to the house meetings?

Work with the editors of our local paper and radio to increase coverage to educate the public about the facts behind the decline in good jobs due to the Koch Brothers’ and ALEC agenda to crush labor, strip benefits, and kill the prevailing and minimum wages.

Write letters to the Chillicothe Gazette, the only local newspaper. Four volunteered to write letters to the editor. It is hoped that many more will do so.

Most committed to canvas on July 30 & 31 to GOTV to insure progressives are elected and Senate Bill 5 is defeated at the polls on November 8, 2011, the 2012 election and beyond. Ramp up the process of educating those who vote against their own best interests - rebut the Fox News and right wing media.

All pledged to either attend or donate money so others could attend a rally for good jobs and strong communities in Columbus, Ohio at the fairgrounds on August 20^th from noon to dusk. Stand Up For Ohio Good Jobs and Strong Community are sponsoring the event with a goal of mobilizing 50,000 people across Ohio. Guests committed to mobilize a minimum of 100 people by renting buses, car-pooling, and providing gas vouchers.

What advice would you give lawmakers on creating jobs?

Assist in local economic development that will increase local business, possibly begin the renovation of a shoe factory in our community, and build a year round food co-op with greenhouses that will provide year-round home grown vegetables, fruit, chicken, beef, and pork. Increase the publicity of the ancient burial grounds and nature preserves in our county to increase tourism.

Tap in to the local Ohio University Chillicothe talents and develop leadership and relationships with students to ensure they choose to spend their talents here at home instead of moving away.