Saturday, June 14, 2008

Just a few notes....

Republican candidate and former bank lobbyist, Steve Stivers, voted to ban funds for stem cell research. What kind of draconian thinking is that? Here is a release from Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district:

Mary Jo Kilroy, Franklin County Commissioner and candidate for Congress in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, congratulated Governor Ted Strickland on Thursday’s signing of the economic-stimulus bill that provided $1.57 billion for job growth in Ohio and his veto of a provision added to the bill that would restrict important research into stem-cells that could potentially cure diseases and save lives.

Kilroy noted that her opponent, former corporate lobbyist and now-State Senator Steve Stivers, voted to ban funds for stem-cell research. This vote exhibits his eagerness to follow in the footsteps of President Bush and politicize the work of Ohio’s doctors and scientists. [Ohio Senate Journal – Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Page 21, http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/JournalText127/SJ-05-28-08.pdf].

“It’s unfortunate that my opponent refuses to follow the lead of Governor Strickland and so many scientists and medical experts who point to the benefits of stem-cell research. In Congress, I would work with members of both parties, medical professionals and families to prioritize this critical research and keep special interest politics out of it,” said Mary Jo.....

Stivers is so out of touch. This type of backward thinking is so reminiscent of the current Bush administration. Haven't we had enough of those kind of policies????

---------------------------------
--- Ohio Speaker of the House, Republican Jon Husted, is doing his best to further his own political career. Every single time he criticizes Gov. Ted Strickland, Husted does it to make himself appear more important. Husted wants to hold a statewide office one day. However, considering the legacy of the past Republican governor and his administration, Ohioans are very, very skeptical of Republicans. We cannot forget Republicans like Bob Ney, Tom Noe, the "Coingate" scandal, the millions of dollars lost at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and Bob Taft. Strickland is still untangling the mess they left behind.

--- With over 150,000 American military personnel still in Iraq, John McCain thinks that it isn't important when they come home. I'm sure that military families are not enjoying the 3rd, 4th, or 5th tours of duty that their loved ones are serving. At least we how McCain feels. McCain was against expanding the education benefits for today's vets, but McCain's entire education was paid for when he attended a military academy.

---McCain was an enthusiastic supporter for Bush's social security privatization plans, but now he denies it ever happened.

--- Republican John Boehner was on CSPAN the other day speaking against expanding unemployment benefits. I guess Boehner hasn't met too many unemployed people on those private golf courses he favors. Perhaps some unemployed people should start showing up at Boehner's offices and on the fancy-schmancy private golf clubs to let him see the faces of the unemployed.

--- I wonder how much money Republican candidate Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, raised at that huge fundraiser with the Ohio Bankers League (part of BANKPAC). I'm sure that those bankers are just thrilled with the possibility of having a former bank lobbyist doing their work for them in DC.