Here in Ohio, the presidential campaign for Barack Obama is hitting the airwaves. Within an hour's time, a TV viewer will normally see at least four campaign commercials for Sen. Obama. This evening there was even a commercial that asked viewers to send a text to the Obama campaign to get more information. This was absolutely brilliant! Not only are they getting young voters to support them, but they are also getting those valuable numbers for the future. The Obama campaign is using the tools young people use everyday to enlist their support.
I wonder if members of the GOP (Grumpy Old Party) know how to send a text message? Would they try to do it on their rotary phones?
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pryce Still AWOL
While people in Ohio's 15th district are suffering from the latest Bush recession, our elected Republican member of Congress, Deborah Pryce, sits at home instead of doing something to help us. Pryce, who is not up for re-election, has apparently started a semi-retirement program of her own. She shows up to work in Washington, DC whenever she damn well feels like it. Unfortunately for us, Pryce hasn't felt like working and would rather hang out in her home in the affluent suburb of Upper Arlington.
Pryce has missed many votes (Washington Post) and now has missed 170 votes (13.8%) from the current Congress (just since January 2007).
Call Pryce's local office ( (614) 469-5614 ) and tell her staff that you are offended and upset that she has missed so much time in the Congress. They'll try to say that she is working in her Columbus office, but remind them that she was elected to serve in Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Steve Stivers, should be asked if he favors continuing the troop strength at 140,000 in Iraq. Does Stivers support Sen. McCain's plans for Iraq? Someone needs to find out where he stands.
Pryce has missed many votes (Washington Post) and now has missed 170 votes (13.8%) from the current Congress (just since January 2007).
Call Pryce's local office ( (614) 469-5614 ) and tell her staff that you are offended and upset that she has missed so much time in the Congress. They'll try to say that she is working in her Columbus office, but remind them that she was elected to serve in Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Steve Stivers, should be asked if he favors continuing the troop strength at 140,000 in Iraq. Does Stivers support Sen. McCain's plans for Iraq? Someone needs to find out where he stands.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
They Don't Get It
This is from the Chillicothe Gazette:
Former Ohio politician and television personality John Kasich announced he is interested in getting back into Ohio politics and exploring the possibility of a gubernatorial bid in 2012.....
Here is my take on this.....
1. The state is in trouble because of the corrupt Republican Taft administration.
2. The Republicans who control the state legislature are more concerned with getting re-elected than helping out the citizens of Ohio.
Former Ohio politician and television personality John Kasich announced he is interested in getting back into Ohio politics and exploring the possibility of a gubernatorial bid in 2012.....
"I think the state is in trouble, and I don't think we have the dramatic leadership we need," Kasich said, adding he had hoped for more job growth under Gov. Ted Strickland. "I was hoping we'd see it out of the governor, and we haven't really seen it yet. So I'm very seriously looking at running in the governor's race."
Kasich is currently a best-selling author and contributor to Fox News, and has served as chairman of the House Budget Committee during his 18 years in congress representing Ohio's 12th District.....Here is my take on this.....
1. The state is in trouble because of the corrupt Republican Taft administration.
2. The Republicans who control the state legislature are more concerned with getting re-elected than helping out the citizens of Ohio.
3. After a year in office and no cooperation from Jon Husted and the rest of the self-centered Republican members of the legislature, Gov. Strickland is still working through the mess left by the Taft administration (a. mismanagement and millions of dollars lost in the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation; b. no-bid contracts in Taft's Ohio Dept. of Transportation; c. a mess in the election boards across the state; etc., etc., etc.)
4. Kasich works for the right wing propaganda machine, Fox News.
I could go on, but I'd only make myself puke.
>>> Keeping with her hardly working retirement tour, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is still putting out little effort for her constituents. According to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Pryce missed three votes yesterday. Way to go!!!!
4. Kasich works for the right wing propaganda machine, Fox News.
I could go on, but I'd only make myself puke.
>>> Keeping with her hardly working retirement tour, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is still putting out little effort for her constituents. According to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Pryce missed three votes yesterday. Way to go!!!!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Republicans Worry About Vote
Kevin Dewine, Ohio GOP's "big macher" is worried about voting in Ohio. Dewine and the rest of the Republicans are concerned that their ability to "control" counting the votes, election machines, the availability of paper ballots, and even who gets to vote, is being threatened. They have demonized Jennifer Brunner. In the past in Ohio, votes were "counted" in back rooms and behind locked doors.
Do you remember these Republican voting manipulations?
1. Bernadette Noe (wife of Republican "Coingate" scandalmeister, Tom Noe): (Raw Story---->)
In yet another surreal twist in Ohio's coin-gate scandal, the wife of Bush's chief Ohio fundraiser, Tom Noe who is currently embroiled in campaign finance and money laundering probes surprised poll workers and observers alike by disrupting the ballot count during the 2004 general election, RAW STORY has discovered.
Do you remember these Republican voting manipulations?
1. Bernadette Noe (wife of Republican "Coingate" scandalmeister, Tom Noe): (Raw Story---->)
In yet another surreal twist in Ohio's coin-gate scandal, the wife of Bush's chief Ohio fundraiser, Tom Noe who is currently embroiled in campaign finance and money laundering probes surprised poll workers and observers alike by disrupting the ballot count during the 2004 general election, RAW STORY has discovered.
Bernadette Noe, who served dual roles as chairman for the Lucas County Republican Party and the Lucas County Board of Elections, sent twelve partisans into a warehouse on Election Day, according a memo authored by Ohio's Director of Campaign Finance Richard Weghorst who was present at the time....
2. Ohio Election Fraud Blog: The Republican head of the Board of Elections in Franklin County, Ohio, manipulated the supply of voting machines on November 2, denying thousands of likely Democrats the right to cast their votes in a fair and timely manner.
As indicated in the sworn testimony below, offered here for the first time, the election was engineered to make voting as difficult as possible for inner city residents, and to drive away those who could not afford to stay away from work or families, or whose health made it imprudent or impossible to endure the long, cold, wet lines......
Of course there was a shortage of voting machines in those areas that were dominated by African-American Democrats.
3. How can we forget the mess the Republicans created in Gambier, Ohio at Kenyon College when hundreds of college students had to wait for hours to vote because of the purposeful lack of voting machines?
Kenyon College website recounts the voting problems:
.....At 12:36 a.m. on election night, CNN.com posted the news that, "Even at this hour, people in Knox County are still voting. At Kenyon College some people stood in line for up to seven hours."
Bloomberg.com also observed that, "Voting in Ohio was plagued by long delays at some polling places. Voters in Gambier, the home of Kenyon College, waited more than four hours to cast their ballots. At the 1,500-student college, some voters were waiting in line after midnight." They reported that according to English professor David Lynn, poll workers told voters they might have to wait as much as five hours in order to vote....
These are just a small sample of how the Ohio GOP's culture of corruption "managed" voting in this state. Obviously, we don't want a repeat of this.
The next time you hear Kevin Dewine complaining about Jennifer Brunner, just remember he is mad because he and his cronies can't continue their past "Block The Vote" activities.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
George W. Bush and the Republicans
When the historians sit down to analyze the administration headed by George W. Bush, the bad outcomes will outweigh the good: a suffocating national debt, an inability to get Osama in Afghanistan, diversion of troops and resources to Iraq to fulfill Bush's personal vengeance against Saddam Hussein, the miserable failure of NCLB (No Child Left Behind), the poor response by the federal government to Hurricane Katrina, the mess in the Medicare Prescription Drug program, the loss of efforts in foreign diplomacy, the loss of personal freedom, federal snooping without warrants, astronomical gas prices coupled with obscene profits by oil producers, etc., etc., etc.
What has the current Bush administration given to Ohio? Senator Hillary Clinton summed up the toll as reported in The Toledo Blade:
"More than 200,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since George Bush has been President," she said. "We have more than 1 million Ohioans without health insurance. We have 90,000, 95,000 homes in foreclosure right now, and more than 150,000 [if you] take all of last year."
She is absolutely correct. Ohio has had an unfair burden with Bush in the White House. However the most heartbreaking part is that we've had 165 Ohioans killed in Iraq ( http://icasualties.org/oif/USMap.aspx ) and a total of 3970 American military casualties.
However, the Republicans and especially the Ohio GOP want us to forget about that. They want us to keep our troops in Iraq f-o-r-e-v-e-r, rebuild Iraq with our tax money, continue to reward the obscene profit margins of drug companies and petroleum corporations, and stay on Bush's plan for total collapse of our financial markets. Do the Republicans have amnesia? Their elected officials kept this war going by giving this administration a blank check. Why would Americans want to continue this disaster for the future?
It is time for Americans to stand up and say to the Republicans, "We've had enough of your b.s."
By the way, according to the New York Times, the Bush presidential library will be housed at Southern Methodist University. It will tell the story of his "accomplishments." In my opinion, that would make the library the size of a cereal box.
What has the current Bush administration given to Ohio? Senator Hillary Clinton summed up the toll as reported in The Toledo Blade:
"More than 200,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since George Bush has been President," she said. "We have more than 1 million Ohioans without health insurance. We have 90,000, 95,000 homes in foreclosure right now, and more than 150,000 [if you] take all of last year."
She is absolutely correct. Ohio has had an unfair burden with Bush in the White House. However the most heartbreaking part is that we've had 165 Ohioans killed in Iraq ( http://icasualties.org/oif/USMap.aspx ) and a total of 3970 American military casualties.
However, the Republicans and especially the Ohio GOP want us to forget about that. They want us to keep our troops in Iraq f-o-r-e-v-e-r, rebuild Iraq with our tax money, continue to reward the obscene profit margins of drug companies and petroleum corporations, and stay on Bush's plan for total collapse of our financial markets. Do the Republicans have amnesia? Their elected officials kept this war going by giving this administration a blank check. Why would Americans want to continue this disaster for the future?
It is time for Americans to stand up and say to the Republicans, "We've had enough of your b.s."
By the way, according to the New York Times, the Bush presidential library will be housed at Southern Methodist University. It will tell the story of his "accomplishments." In my opinion, that would make the library the size of a cereal box.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
News Roundup
> Former Republican Congressman Bob Ney is out of prison and has taken up residence at a halfway house in Cincinnati, according to the Associated Press. It seems he didn't serve much time of his 2 1/2 year sentence.
> Democratic Congressman Zach Space (OH-18) is having quite a lot of success raising campaign money. The Dispatch is reporting that Space has raised more than $1.1 million.
> President Bush is behaving like a spoiled child. He refuses to compromise and he wants immunity for telecoms.
Raw Story has more.
> According to Iraq Coalition Casualties, 3969 Americans have been killed in Iraq.
> Democratic Congressman Zach Space (OH-18) is having quite a lot of success raising campaign money. The Dispatch is reporting that Space has raised more than $1.1 million.
> President Bush is behaving like a spoiled child. He refuses to compromise and he wants immunity for telecoms.
Raw Story has more.
> According to Iraq Coalition Casualties, 3969 Americans have been killed in Iraq.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Problems
>>> All done! The federal government says they've finished the nuclear clean up at Battelle's old nuclear place in West Jefferson. However, the Ohio EPA is worried that there will be leaks and other problems once the federal government leaves.
The Columbus Dispatch:
....The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sent the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission a letter yesterday requesting that more work be performed at Battelle's 1,200-acre research site near West Jefferson.
The Columbus Dispatch:
....The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency sent the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission a letter yesterday requesting that more work be performed at Battelle's 1,200-acre research site near West Jefferson.
Workers demolished six buildings there and carted away nearly 1.4 million cubic feet of radioactive waste and materials. EPA officials said NRC tests still detected levels of strontium 90 in a small bog on the property that exceed state health limits for drinking water.....
....But tests of the bog, located near Battelle Lake on the property, show levels of strontium 90 that exceed drinking-water standards set by the state and federal EPAs.
Joe Jacobsen, Battelle's radiation safety officer, said the bog is separated from drinking water aquifers by a thick layer of clay, and that there is no way for radiation to leak into the lake, nearby Big Darby Creek or drinking-water wells.....
I wonder if the Battelle radiation safety officer and members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission bring in their own bottled water from home or drink from the faucets inside the old Battelle facility.
>>> The Ohio Inspector General is scrutinizing contracts done by the Ohio Department of Transportation under the administration of former Governor Bob Taft, a Republican. Check out the list of current probes at the Ohio Inspector General's investigation list. Two managers in the real estate section of ODOT (both are left over from the Taft administration) are under investigation.
Here is an excerpt from the most recent investigation:
.....The mere fact that the same SW Region problems have been repeatedly reported to Central
Office since 1999, yet have persisted, is evidence of a historical void in accountability.....
We make three recommendations and ask ODOT to respond to this office within the next 60
days with a plan outlining how they will be implemented.....
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Husted Not Helping Vets
* Why does Republican Speaker of the Ohio House, Jon Husted, hate veterans?
According to Business First, Husted has the chance to help move legislation for a special veterans' bonus that has been approved by the Ohio Senate. Unfortunately, the Ohio House may not act on it because Husted doesn't like the way it is funded. However, State Treasurer, Richard Cordray, favors the veterans' bonus that would be funded by bonds. Why does Husted always play politics with people's lives? There are many veterans who could use that money, but Husted wants to delay any action. It might be a good idea for Ohio military veterans and veterans organizations to contact Husted's office and tell him to get moving on the veterans bonuses.
According to Business First, Husted has the chance to help move legislation for a special veterans' bonus that has been approved by the Ohio Senate. Unfortunately, the Ohio House may not act on it because Husted doesn't like the way it is funded. However, State Treasurer, Richard Cordray, favors the veterans' bonus that would be funded by bonds. Why does Husted always play politics with people's lives? There are many veterans who could use that money, but Husted wants to delay any action. It might be a good idea for Ohio military veterans and veterans organizations to contact Husted's office and tell him to get moving on the veterans bonuses.
Contact Jon Husted-----Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Real GOP
* Frank Rich talks about the politics of the Grand Old White Party in yesterday's New York Times.
* The Republican Party in Ohio is not even close to being multicultural.
Ohio.com:
More than 15 years have passed since the Ohio Republican Party boldly announced it would open its big tent to African-American voters and begin to run candidates of color.
The Ohio GOP's track record on this matter is unremarkable.......
.....The 99-member Ohio House of Representatives, the people's house as it is called, has no black Republicans and neither does the 33-member Ohio Senate.
* The Republican Party in Ohio is not even close to being multicultural.
Ohio.com:
More than 15 years have passed since the Ohio Republican Party boldly announced it would open its big tent to African-American voters and begin to run candidates of color.
The Ohio GOP's track record on this matter is unremarkable.......
.....The 99-member Ohio House of Representatives, the people's house as it is called, has no black Republicans and neither does the 33-member Ohio Senate.
Twelve of the 46 Democrats, about 26 percent, in the Ohio House are black. Five of the 12 Democrats, about 42 percent, in the Ohio Senate are black.....
When you see the members of the Ohio GOP, just think of the nearly all white political party.
* I was flipping through the cable channels when I came across some national political pundit who said he thought that Ohio Republican John Kasich would make an excellent Vice President for John McCain. I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Kasich, a former member of Congress, is an author and talk show host on Fox News. The Fox News ties should disqualify him immediately.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Money in Ohio Politics
How did I miss this??????
The Ohio Daily Blog had the scoop about Steve Austria, Republican candidate for congress:
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Mitchel (R-Beavercreek), now running for the seat of retiring Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) and a veteran of past campaigns for Governor and Congress, charges that opponent State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) and his spouse Eileen are co-conspirators in a scheme to steer no-bid contracts to campaign contributors of Hobson, who supports Steve Austria in the race and has paid Eileen Austria large consulting fees. Mitchel compares the scheme to the steering of federal contracts by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) that resulted in his resignation from Congress in November 2005 and guilty plea to federal conspiracy charges. Cunningham is serving an eight year prison sentence......
.....On the telephone yesterday, Mitchel further explained his accusation. Steve and Eileen Austria sit on the referenced advisory committee along with Sam Greenwood of the Greentree Group. They were instrumental in causing money transferred by Greene County to the Dayton Development Corporation to be used to award a large no-bid contract to Greentree Group, purportedly to assist in an effort to keep Wright Patterson Air Force Base open during the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) process. Mitchel contends, however, that the base was in no real danger of closing, so the transactions in reality amounted to no more than an enormous transfer of public wealth to private hands, and in any event the purpose of the contract was lobbying and that is not the business of Greentree, an IT firm. Greentree in turn awarded a $660,000 contract to PMA, which is in fact a lobbying firm. During the period for performance under these contracts, principals or employees of Greentree and PMA gave $50,000 in campaign contributions to Hobson. Eileen Austria was a district director for Hobson, and while so employed Hobson paid her $50,000 as a political consultant.....
Ouch! We'll see what happens.
Of course, these Republicans help each other all the time. Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Steve Stivers, is married to Karen Stivers. Mrs. Stivers is employed as the spokesperson for Republican Speaker of the Ohio House, Jon Husted.
According to the Federal Elections Commission, Stivers has $403,122 of cash on hand for his upcoming campaign (as of 12/31/07). Only 45.7% of his contributions have come from individuals (54.29% from PACs). The FEC reports that Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th, Mary Jo Kilroy, has $638,087 for the same time period. Of those campaign contributions for Kilroy, 66.8% has come from individuals (28.75% from PACs).
PACs don't vote, people do.
The Ohio Daily Blog had the scoop about Steve Austria, Republican candidate for congress:
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Mitchel (R-Beavercreek), now running for the seat of retiring Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) and a veteran of past campaigns for Governor and Congress, charges that opponent State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) and his spouse Eileen are co-conspirators in a scheme to steer no-bid contracts to campaign contributors of Hobson, who supports Steve Austria in the race and has paid Eileen Austria large consulting fees. Mitchel compares the scheme to the steering of federal contracts by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) that resulted in his resignation from Congress in November 2005 and guilty plea to federal conspiracy charges. Cunningham is serving an eight year prison sentence......
.....On the telephone yesterday, Mitchel further explained his accusation. Steve and Eileen Austria sit on the referenced advisory committee along with Sam Greenwood of the Greentree Group. They were instrumental in causing money transferred by Greene County to the Dayton Development Corporation to be used to award a large no-bid contract to Greentree Group, purportedly to assist in an effort to keep Wright Patterson Air Force Base open during the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) process. Mitchel contends, however, that the base was in no real danger of closing, so the transactions in reality amounted to no more than an enormous transfer of public wealth to private hands, and in any event the purpose of the contract was lobbying and that is not the business of Greentree, an IT firm. Greentree in turn awarded a $660,000 contract to PMA, which is in fact a lobbying firm. During the period for performance under these contracts, principals or employees of Greentree and PMA gave $50,000 in campaign contributions to Hobson. Eileen Austria was a district director for Hobson, and while so employed Hobson paid her $50,000 as a political consultant.....
Ouch! We'll see what happens.
Of course, these Republicans help each other all the time. Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Steve Stivers, is married to Karen Stivers. Mrs. Stivers is employed as the spokesperson for Republican Speaker of the Ohio House, Jon Husted.
According to the Federal Elections Commission, Stivers has $403,122 of cash on hand for his upcoming campaign (as of 12/31/07). Only 45.7% of his contributions have come from individuals (54.29% from PACs). The FEC reports that Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th, Mary Jo Kilroy, has $638,087 for the same time period. Of those campaign contributions for Kilroy, 66.8% has come from individuals (28.75% from PACs).
PACs don't vote, people do.
Ohio's Primary
Everyone is getting ready for the Ohio primary.
CentralOhio.com:
Congressional candidates are jockeying for position in March 4 primary contests lively, sleepy and brutal as Ohio's once mighty Republicans seek to retain their power in Washington while Democrats try hard to erode it.
CentralOhio.com:
Congressional candidates are jockeying for position in March 4 primary contests lively, sleepy and brutal as Ohio's once mighty Republicans seek to retain their power in Washington while Democrats try hard to erode it.
Republicans hold an 11-7 edge in the Ohio delegation they have controlled for 14 years. But three seasoned Republicans - Reps. Ralph Regula, David Hobson and Deborah Pryce - aren't running for re-election, and the bellwether state's politics waxed Democratic in 2006, when voters delivered the then-powerless party a near sweep of statewide offices.
The fight for control takes shape on primary day. Of eight Democratic primaries, six are considered competitive. Of 10 Republican primaries, five will be meaningful - with two of the Republican winners slated to face a popular, well-funded Democratic incumbent in the fall....
Republicans are nervous in Ohio. They no longer are held in high regard by Ohioans. The Republican scandals are still fresh and the leading Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, is anxious to keep fighting the Iraq war forever.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Pryce Part of GOP Walkout
I think it is amazing that Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) has been missing many, many votes (according to Washington Post: 161 votes since Jan. 2007). Pryce, who is doing a great job avoiding work, had the nerve to be part of the Republican walkout today.
Washington Post :
Washington Post :
| Vote 60: H RES 982: Providing for the Adoption of H. Res. 979 and H. Res. 980, Contempt of Congress Resolutions. | Not Voting |
Updates from Buckeye Country
>Keeping with her tradition of not working too hard during her last year of her congressional term, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) continues to miss votes in the House of Representatives. According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed 156 votes during the current Congress (since January 2007). Pryce has missed the following votes this week (Washington Post):
February 12th: Votes 43, 44, 45; February 13th: Votes 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
>With the presidential primary just a few weeks away, we've seen lots of television ads for both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.
>Senator Hillary Clinton will be speaking at The Ohio State University today. Check here for information.
February 12th: Votes 43, 44, 45; February 13th: Votes 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52.
>With the presidential primary just a few weeks away, we've seen lots of television ads for both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama.
>Senator Hillary Clinton will be speaking at The Ohio State University today. Check here for information.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Taking A Look
> Keeping with her established work habits, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15), continued to skip votes on Tuesday. Pryce missed Roll Call Votes 43, 44, 45 on February 12th (Link).
> Have you noticed the rallies of the presidential candidates? The Republican presidential candidates seem to have most old white men at their speeches. There is a real lack of enthusiasm at the GOP rallies. However, the crowds at Clinton and Obama rallies are loud, multi-cultural, young/old, and men and women. It seems that the Democratic rallies represent the faces of the real America.
> Why should we be concerned about Sol Trujillo and his pals George W. Bush and John McCain? Read the article from the Sydney Morning Herald.
> Have you noticed the rallies of the presidential candidates? The Republican presidential candidates seem to have most old white men at their speeches. There is a real lack of enthusiasm at the GOP rallies. However, the crowds at Clinton and Obama rallies are loud, multi-cultural, young/old, and men and women. It seems that the Democratic rallies represent the faces of the real America.
> Why should we be concerned about Sol Trujillo and his pals George W. Bush and John McCain? Read the article from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Their Strategy
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the local newspaper and the Ohio Republicans are pushing their candidate for Congress. Since Republican State Sen. Steve Stivers announced his intention to run for Congress (after previously turning down the offer), he has sponsored new legislation in the Ohio Senate nearly every week. It appears that this strategy is being promoted by the Ohio GOP, the Republicans in the state senate, and the Columbus Dispatch. If some legislation is planning to be introduced, the Republican controlled state legislature is apparently allowing Stivers to be the sponsor. In this way, he appears to be actively participating in creating new laws and his name keeps appearing in the Republican-leaning Dispatch. By all accounts, Stivers, who previously was a no-name in the state senate, recently has had his name in the newspaper at least once per week.
Why has the newspaper suddenly become so important to the Republicans? It is free publicity! The Ohio Republican Party and the National Republican Party have had difficulty getting contributions. Their campaign war chests are a little empty compared to previous years. Therefore, they will maneuver the GOP's candidates' names in the newspaper through stories, announcements, and in Stivers' case, sponsoring legislation.
People have to realize that if they elect people like Stivers to the House of Representatives, nothing will get done. Stivers and the Republicans will continue to be pro-business, and let the rights of the consumers be trampled upon as they've done in the past. (Example: Stivers was against putting a top on the percentage rate that could be charged to customers at payday loan outlets.)
Why has the newspaper suddenly become so important to the Republicans? It is free publicity! The Ohio Republican Party and the National Republican Party have had difficulty getting contributions. Their campaign war chests are a little empty compared to previous years. Therefore, they will maneuver the GOP's candidates' names in the newspaper through stories, announcements, and in Stivers' case, sponsoring legislation.
People have to realize that if they elect people like Stivers to the House of Representatives, nothing will get done. Stivers and the Republicans will continue to be pro-business, and let the rights of the consumers be trampled upon as they've done in the past. (Example: Stivers was against putting a top on the percentage rate that could be charged to customers at payday loan outlets.)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Legislation from Steve Stivers in 2003
The News Bank has this article from the Dayton Daily News (originally published June 22, 2003):
Gov. Bob Taft and state Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, chose May 1 to unveil legislation that would radically change Ohio's system of civil justice and dictate how law is practiced in this state.
The first day of May had been set aside years before by President Dwight Eisenhower as "Law Day" - a time to celebrate the country's judicial institutions and equal justice under the law. But Gov. Taft and Sen. Stivers had other ideas on how to observe the day. They announced their legislative proposal - Senate Bill 80 - benignly describing it as a series of balanced reforms that would make Ohio more attractive to new and existing businesses. In fact, they launched a one-sided, cynical assault on the independence of the state's courts and the integrity of its legal profession - one that puts profit ahead of consumer protections and judicial independence....
....Sen. Stivers, the bill's sponsor, has no formal legal training and was a high-powered lobbyist for a bank. He's been an Ohio senator only since December, when he received one crucial vote - that of his pal, Senate President Doug White, who picked him to fill a vacancy created by a retiring senator.....
Known as Senate Bill 80, the bill tried to protect businesses and industry from lawsuits even if they had been negligent. Check out the entire article to see what Taft and Stivers had planned for the legal system in Ohio.
According to a website called thislawhurts.com Stivers' legislation was considered very controversial and dangerous to consumers. The original bill is posted here.
Is this bill an indication of the type of legislation that Republican Steve Stivers would vote for in the U.S. House of Representatives? Is Stivers more interested in protecting businesses and corporations instead of the consumer? Would Stivers sponsor a bill like this today? Is his recent rejection of a cap on interest rates on payday loans a predictor of his pro-business stance?
Gov. Bob Taft and state Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, chose May 1 to unveil legislation that would radically change Ohio's system of civil justice and dictate how law is practiced in this state.
The first day of May had been set aside years before by President Dwight Eisenhower as "Law Day" - a time to celebrate the country's judicial institutions and equal justice under the law. But Gov. Taft and Sen. Stivers had other ideas on how to observe the day. They announced their legislative proposal - Senate Bill 80 - benignly describing it as a series of balanced reforms that would make Ohio more attractive to new and existing businesses. In fact, they launched a one-sided, cynical assault on the independence of the state's courts and the integrity of its legal profession - one that puts profit ahead of consumer protections and judicial independence....
....Sen. Stivers, the bill's sponsor, has no formal legal training and was a high-powered lobbyist for a bank. He's been an Ohio senator only since December, when he received one crucial vote - that of his pal, Senate President Doug White, who picked him to fill a vacancy created by a retiring senator.....
Known as Senate Bill 80, the bill tried to protect businesses and industry from lawsuits even if they had been negligent. Check out the entire article to see what Taft and Stivers had planned for the legal system in Ohio.
According to a website called thislawhurts.com Stivers' legislation was considered very controversial and dangerous to consumers. The original bill is posted here.
Is this bill an indication of the type of legislation that Republican Steve Stivers would vote for in the U.S. House of Representatives? Is Stivers more interested in protecting businesses and corporations instead of the consumer? Would Stivers sponsor a bill like this today? Is his recent rejection of a cap on interest rates on payday loans a predictor of his pro-business stance?
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Campaign Money Will Boost Candidates in Ohio
Western-Star:
.....Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern predicted that at least $50 million will be spent on the Democratic side alone....
.....When asked about vice presidential candidates, Redfern said he thinks the dream ticket for the Democrats would be Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton....
.....When asked which congressional races in Ohio are truly competitive, Redfern said he thinks his party will capture two of four seats that are currently held by Republicans Ralph Regula, Jean Schmidt, Deborah Pryce and Steve Chabot.....
Besides well-qualified candidates, the Democratic Party has something else that Republicans are lacking------ campaign money. Citizens are not sending much money to the GOP campaigns. After the last seven years of an unpopular president, failing economic policies, failures in foreign policy, the unfunded federal mandates like the No Child Left Behind Act, Americans are running away from the losing Republican policies.
**** I've seen a few commercials for Steve Austria, a Republican running for Ohio's 7th congressional district (replacing Hobson). Austria, according to Project Vote Smart, is against a woman's right to choose and got a 66% rating on environmental issues from the Ohio League of Conservation Voters. Some news reporter needs to ask Austria how long he'd like to keep American troops in Iraq.
.....Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern predicted that at least $50 million will be spent on the Democratic side alone....
.....When asked about vice presidential candidates, Redfern said he thinks the dream ticket for the Democrats would be Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton....
.....When asked which congressional races in Ohio are truly competitive, Redfern said he thinks his party will capture two of four seats that are currently held by Republicans Ralph Regula, Jean Schmidt, Deborah Pryce and Steve Chabot.....
Besides well-qualified candidates, the Democratic Party has something else that Republicans are lacking------ campaign money. Citizens are not sending much money to the GOP campaigns. After the last seven years of an unpopular president, failing economic policies, failures in foreign policy, the unfunded federal mandates like the No Child Left Behind Act, Americans are running away from the losing Republican policies.
**** I've seen a few commercials for Steve Austria, a Republican running for Ohio's 7th congressional district (replacing Hobson). Austria, according to Project Vote Smart, is against a woman's right to choose and got a 66% rating on environmental issues from the Ohio League of Conservation Voters. Some news reporter needs to ask Austria how long he'd like to keep American troops in Iraq.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Update!
Since the last time I wrote about Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's (OH-15) voting record, she had missed additional roll call votes. According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed a total of 146 votes since January 2007, including Vote 32, Vote 33, Vote 34, Vote 35, all on February 7, 2008 (see Washington Post for details).
Here are some Vote Smart notes about Steve Stivers, Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district:
*Senator Stivers supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio 0 percent in 2004.
Here are some Vote Smart notes about Steve Stivers, Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district:
*Senator Stivers supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio 0 percent in 2004.
*Environmental Issues: In 2003 Ohio League of Conservation Voters gave Senator Stivers a rating of 0.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Want to Help?
Dependable Renegade suggested that those interested in helping storm victims should visit the Monkeyfister. Monkeyfister lists the following local charities to assist people:
American Red Cross
Mid-South Chapter
1400 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
901-726-1690
And:
United Way of the Mid-South phone in a donation at (901) 433-4300.
They take DIRECT donations, so you can skip all the National-level waste and delay, AND they
serve nearly every community in the effected radius.
We know that this administration really doesn't care about regular people. (Think of how they helped after Hurricane Katrina.) Donate a few bucks to help.
American Red Cross
Mid-South Chapter
1400 Central Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
901-726-1690
And:
United Way of the Mid-South phone in a donation at (901) 433-4300.
They take DIRECT donations, so you can skip all the National-level waste and delay, AND they
serve nearly every community in the effected radius.
We know that this administration really doesn't care about regular people. (Think of how they helped after Hurricane Katrina.) Donate a few bucks to help.
Is this what we want?
> In keeping with her hardly working campaign, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce is skipping those votes again. According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed more votes in the House of Representatives:
Deborah Pryce has missed 142 votes during the current Congress.
That is 142 missed votes since January 2007. Pryce must now be working just to increase the size of her congressional retirement check. No one is docking her pay for not showing up to vote. I'd like to see one of us try that. At this point, Pryce is a member of Congress in name only.
> Sen. George Voinovich (OH-R) had some critical things to say about President Bush's gazillion dollar budget for 2009. Here is part of an article from the Dispatch:
....critics included GOP Sen. George V. Voinovich of Ohio, who called the budget fiscally irresponsible, and a spokesman for Ohio hospitals, who said Bush's bid to curtail Medicare and Medicaid would gut the institutions' finances.
Bush was the first president to issue a $2 trillion budget, in 2002, and now becomes the first to propose a $3 trillion budget....
I find it incredible that Voinovich has just come to his senses. After spending the last seven years providing the Bush administration with blank checks, Voinovich finally raises his voice in opposition to the Bush budget. Is Voinovich looking at his re-election and just following the fad of criticizing an unpopular President or does he really care?
These Ohio Republicans have allowed this current administration to have free reign over everything. Part of the reason our country is in such a mess is that these GOPers put their loyalty for their party and their President above that of their country. It is time for change.
2/6/08: Vote 31-Not voting
2/6/08: Vote 30-Not voting
2/6/08: Vote 29-Not voting
1/29/08: Vote 28-Not voting
1/29/08: Vote 27-Not voting
Deborah Pryce has missed 142 votes during the current Congress.
That is 142 missed votes since January 2007. Pryce must now be working just to increase the size of her congressional retirement check. No one is docking her pay for not showing up to vote. I'd like to see one of us try that. At this point, Pryce is a member of Congress in name only.
> Sen. George Voinovich (OH-R) had some critical things to say about President Bush's gazillion dollar budget for 2009. Here is part of an article from the Dispatch:
....critics included GOP Sen. George V. Voinovich of Ohio, who called the budget fiscally irresponsible, and a spokesman for Ohio hospitals, who said Bush's bid to curtail Medicare and Medicaid would gut the institutions' finances.
Bush was the first president to issue a $2 trillion budget, in 2002, and now becomes the first to propose a $3 trillion budget....
I find it incredible that Voinovich has just come to his senses. After spending the last seven years providing the Bush administration with blank checks, Voinovich finally raises his voice in opposition to the Bush budget. Is Voinovich looking at his re-election and just following the fad of criticizing an unpopular President or does he really care?
These Ohio Republicans have allowed this current administration to have free reign over everything. Part of the reason our country is in such a mess is that these GOPers put their loyalty for their party and their President above that of their country. It is time for change.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Ohio GOP
> Here is an update--- According to the FEC's disclosure report, zero individuals have contributed to the Stivers for Congress Committee. Looks like Republican Stivers is really not popular among voters in Ohio's 15th congressional district.
> Why haven't the Republicans in the Ohio House moved on House Bill 333, which would put a cap on interest rates charged by pay day lenders?
Contact Jon Husted's office and demand action on HB 333:
Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us
It is time for Husted and the Republican controlled legislature to get to work on important business.
> Why haven't the Republicans in the Ohio House moved on House Bill 333, which would put a cap on interest rates charged by pay day lenders?
Contact Jon Husted's office and demand action on HB 333:
Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us
It is time for Husted and the Republican controlled legislature to get to work on important business.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Ohio's GOP-----Doing Nothing
* Do you remember the initiative to have paid sick days for workers in Ohio? Did you ever wonder what happened to the bill? Now we know: (Lancaster Eagle Gazette)
....Senate President Bill Harris said top lawmakers hadn’t discussed the proposal, which was submitted to the Legislature about a month ago after receiving the necessary number of signatures to put it before lawmakers.
Frustrated supporters of the policy — which would require businesses with 25 or more employees to provide them with at least seven paid sick days a year — vowed they would gather enough valid signatures to place the proposal on the November ballot if the Republican-controlled Legislature doesn’t act.....
....Harris, an Ashland Republican, said there had been no discussion of taking up the initiative, while Republican House Speaker Jon Husted of Kettering has not yet decided whether to address it, said spokeswoman Karen Stivers.
The initiative has not been assigned a bill number, and lawmakers have a full plate of complex issues to deal with in an election year, including a comprehensive energy bill and proposed changes to Ohio’s voting systems.....
I guess that Husted just doesn't think it is that important. I hope that Jon Husted and the rest of the Ohio GOP don't get involved in anything that involves actual work. It would interfere with all those fundraising parties.
UPDATE: Forbes has picked up the same AP article mentioned above. ^^^^
> Democrats only need 4 more seats to gain control of the Ohio House. However, Republican hatchet man, Kevin DeWine, says it won't happen (Western Star):
...Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine said if the Democrats couldn't take the House in 2006, they won't pull it off in 2008.
....Senate President Bill Harris said top lawmakers hadn’t discussed the proposal, which was submitted to the Legislature about a month ago after receiving the necessary number of signatures to put it before lawmakers.
Frustrated supporters of the policy — which would require businesses with 25 or more employees to provide them with at least seven paid sick days a year — vowed they would gather enough valid signatures to place the proposal on the November ballot if the Republican-controlled Legislature doesn’t act.....
....Harris, an Ashland Republican, said there had been no discussion of taking up the initiative, while Republican House Speaker Jon Husted of Kettering has not yet decided whether to address it, said spokeswoman Karen Stivers.
The initiative has not been assigned a bill number, and lawmakers have a full plate of complex issues to deal with in an election year, including a comprehensive energy bill and proposed changes to Ohio’s voting systems.....
I guess that Husted just doesn't think it is that important. I hope that Jon Husted and the rest of the Ohio GOP don't get involved in anything that involves actual work. It would interfere with all those fundraising parties.
UPDATE: Forbes has picked up the same AP article mentioned above. ^^^^
> Democrats only need 4 more seats to gain control of the Ohio House. However, Republican hatchet man, Kevin DeWine, says it won't happen (Western Star):
...Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine said if the Democrats couldn't take the House in 2006, they won't pull it off in 2008.
"In no way do I think 2008 will be a repeat of 2006. 2006 was the low point for the Republican party in the state of Ohio," said DeWine, who is also a House member....
DeWine certainly is arrogant. Wouldn't you like to prove DeWine wrong?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
How to Make a Postive Change in Ohio
I read an article from the Marysville Journal Tribune that let readers know that some Republicans had endorsed another Republican, Dave Burke, in his campaign for Ohio's 83rd General Assembly District. In his comments about the endorsements, Burke said the following:
Those endorsing him "....know I have the leadership skills and legislative experience necessary to make positive change in our state house. I welcome their support in my campaign and more importantly look forward to working with them to get Ohio back on track.”
The only way to "make a positive change in our state house" is to throw the Husteds and the rest of the do-nothing Republicans out of office. While the Republicans have controlled the agenda for the state legislature over the past years, nothing has gotten done. When Ohioans demanded that the legislature work on fixing school funding, Republicans decided to work on the 'Defense of Marriage Act' or some other totally worthless right wing item. While Ohioans looked for jobs, the Republicans worked on returning favors for their campaign contributors in the form of plush jobs or special projects or new highways in their district. (Coingate and the missing millions from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation all happened while the Republicans controlled the governor's office and the state legislature.) Republicans looked the other way while money floated out of state agencies. Even now the Republicans are stalling the work in the legislature as they seek to embarrass Gov. Ted Strickland and win back the governor's office.
Ohioans need change. If the same Republicans are returned to office, nothing will be different or improved.
Those endorsing him "....know I have the leadership skills and legislative experience necessary to make positive change in our state house. I welcome their support in my campaign and more importantly look forward to working with them to get Ohio back on track.”
The only way to "make a positive change in our state house" is to throw the Husteds and the rest of the do-nothing Republicans out of office. While the Republicans have controlled the agenda for the state legislature over the past years, nothing has gotten done. When Ohioans demanded that the legislature work on fixing school funding, Republicans decided to work on the 'Defense of Marriage Act' or some other totally worthless right wing item. While Ohioans looked for jobs, the Republicans worked on returning favors for their campaign contributors in the form of plush jobs or special projects or new highways in their district. (Coingate and the missing millions from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation all happened while the Republicans controlled the governor's office and the state legislature.) Republicans looked the other way while money floated out of state agencies. Even now the Republicans are stalling the work in the legislature as they seek to embarrass Gov. Ted Strickland and win back the governor's office.
Ohioans need change. If the same Republicans are returned to office, nothing will be different or improved.
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