Monday, March 28, 2011

Do consumers need protection in Ohio?

While Gov. John Kasich, Republican of Ohio, moves through the budget slashing education, programs that help the elderly, disabled, and poor, he turns his attention to a new area----consumer protection.  Keeping with the Republican mantra that business does no wrong, Kasich has new plans.


Facing a 50 percent cut in state funding in Gov. John Kasich's proposed budget, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel will begin fighting the proposed reduction before lawmakers this week, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Kasich outlined the cut in his two-year budget proposal, arguing that many of the functions in the consumer utility watchdog's office are duplicated within the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. A former chairman of the PUCO told the Plain Dealer the cut could be Kasich's attempt to “pay off the utilities for their support of him in the last election.”


How true!!!!

A quick look at InfluenceExplorer.com, shows that Republicans John Kasich and Mary Taylor did receive some big money from those corporations that might face complaints by consumers.  According to InfluenceExplorer  (Includes contributions from an organization’s employees, their family members, and its political action committee), Kasich and Taylor received the following large campaign contributions from people who allegedly might not like consumer protections and regulations  ------>>

First Energy contributed ...$83,150
Plaskolite contributed ...... $156,245
Boich Companies contributed .... $101,161
Ariel Corporation contributed .... $73,791


(Note: This is a partial list of contributors.)

Is Kasich just helping out his contributors by protecting them from consumers, and questions about safety, rising costs, and environmental laws?  Is this how Kasich helps out business at the expense of consumers?  What do you think?


* If you haven't seen it yet, you might want to run to see the movie, Casino Jack, which is currently being shown at the Grandview Theatre, 1247 Grandview Avenue. (It is the only showing in Ohio.)  Casino Jack is the dramatic movie about Jack Abramoff that features actor, Kevin Spacey.  It shows you the backroom deals made by lobbyists with some elected officials.  Former member of Congress, Bob Ney, also is portrayed in the movie.


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WARNING!  WARNING!  WARNING!


>DO NOT PLAY THE FOLLOWING YOUTUBE VIDEO WITHOUT EARPHONES.<

From Plunderbund and posted at YouTube, a song by Denis Leary: