Thursday, August 20, 2009

Ohio Politics

*** Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15-Democrat) had a tele-town hall meeting last night.
Dispatch:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy last night insisted that congressional Democrats are not considering "socialized medicine'" in their efforts to approve a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health-care system.

In a town-hall meeting she conducted last night by telephone, Kilroy said any reform of the health system will result in private insurance companies still covering two-thirds of Americans. "We want to be sure at the end of the day we will be lowering the costs of health care," she said. "Nothing to be afraid of there."

....During the one-hour conference call, Kilroy answered questions from 17 people. Aides to Kilroy said about 2,800 people were on the call....

Kilroy knows her constituents are depending on her.


*** It looks like the Ohio GOP is still trying to unseat one of Ohio's most popular members of Congress----- Rep. Zach Space (OH-18th-Democrat). According to an article in the Dispatch, the Ohio Republicans think Space is vulnerable. However, the Dispatch has this:

....Amy Walter, editor of the nonpartisan politics news service The Hotline, said if Republicans hope to have a big year, Space is a candidate they must beat -- so they will have to consider giving major support to any credible GOP candidate.

But Space, Walter added, remains the favorite, bolstered by his 60 percent winning margin in 2008 and a campaign bankroll of nearly $820,000 as of the end of June.

"Space still has the advantage, " Walter said.

The Ohio GOP continues to talk big, but they remain the party of "NO"---NO new ideas. Even Republican candidate for Ohio Governor, John Kasich, is offering the same old, tired, warn-out, platform offered by the likes of former Republican Governors Taft and Voinovich. Speaking of Kasich--people want to know when he'll release his tax returns.

>>> People are asking why Republican Jon Husted wants to continue to reward charter schools when so many of them fail at educating children.

The Vindicator:

...In the state’s 2008 report card, of 17 charter schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, one was unrated, one showed continuous improvement and the other 15 were in academic watch or academic emergency. That means 94 percent of the schools here are functioning at the two lowest levels of performance.

And against numbers such as those, State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, wants to lift the moratorium on new charter schools, claiming such a move would make Ohio more competitive in its bids for federal Race to the Top education grants....

Husted's cheerleading for charter schools might be tied to his large contributors from David Brennan and the entire Brennan family. David Brennan owns and operates the largest collection of charter schools in Ohio (White Hat) and is a faithful, generous contributor to Husted and the Ohio GOP.

Check out the Secretary of State's Political Contribution Page and type 'Brennan' in the Contributor Last Name Space and scroll down the page and type in 'Husted' on the Candidate Last Name Space. Hit "Run Report" to get the info. You'll be amazed.

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