Monday, December 29, 2014

What economic success?


It doesn't take an economist to figure out that Ohio's job growth remains in the toilet. Layoffs continue, as recorded at ODJFS, and there are many people that are experiencing longterm unemployment.  Just because Gov. Kasich and his spokesman say that Ohio's is doing well doesn't make it a fact.

The good people at Plunderbund have documented the lagging Ohio economy. In a recent post, Plunderbund reported that Ohio's experts have had plenty to say about the lack of job growth. If you need the truth instead of the b.s. from Kasich & Co., read Plunderbund's website.

>>> It is time for the Cleveland Browns to send Johnny Manziel back to preschool. If the Browns really want a winning record, they'll cut him and Josh Gordon. They are both idiots!

Monday, December 15, 2014

Is this even legal?


It appears the Ohio Gov. John Kasich is forcing schools districts to work with faith-based groups in order to get tax money for programs.

Raw Story:

A newly launched mentoring program funded with taxpayer dollars requires Ohio school districts to partner with a faith-based organization and a business in order to have access to the money, reports Cleveland.com.

The mentoring program, championed by Republican Governor John Kasich, provides $10 million to Ohio schools to work with at-risk students, however school districts are discovering a religious requirement inserted into the program.

Any school district that wants state money from the program must partner with both a church and a business,  or with a faith-based organization and a non-profit set up by a business to do community service. Failure to incorporate a faith-based group will leave a school district out in the cold.....

This puts an unfair burden on school district and restricts students from receiving the help they need if they do not partner with a church or religious group. Are some religious groups better than others? Are certain groups excluded? How does the governor know that no conversion tactics will be used? Have the religious groups been screened?

This is just another Kasich attempt to cut money to schools! If church buildings and faith-based personnel are used for certain programs, can Kasich be certain that no conversion attempts will occur? He can't.  Time to call the ACLU!

Monday, December 08, 2014

Buckeyes!


 O-H-I-O! Go Buckeyes!

Congratulations to our Ohio State Buckeyes for their victory against Wisconsin! Go Buckeyes!
Working with a third string quarterback, and after the death of a team member, Ohio State clearly overcame a tough season to win the game.

Many sportscasters were wondering how Ohio State manages to have so many talented quarterbacks. It is a secret and we'll never tell!

--------------------

The layoffs just continue in Ohio. According to the warn site of ODJFS, more Ohioans are being notified of layoffs by their companies. Gov. John Kasich's 'Ohio miracle' of job creation continues to be a fabrication. According to the W.P. Carey School of Business, Ohio's job growth remains in the toilet ( at 35). Ohio's 12 month ranking of job growth has the state at 45.

Monday, December 01, 2014

Sad News


We have heavy hearts here in Buckeye Country....

Dispatch:

Kosta Karageorge, a defensive tackle on the Ohio State University football team, left his apartment early on Wednesday, just after he sent a cryptic text to his mother.

His family reported him missing and, throughout the holiday weekend, searchers combed Columbus looking for him .

Yesterday afternoon, a woman and her son were sifting through a dumpster near 6th and Courtland avenues when they found his body. The dumpster is around the corner from Karageorge’s apartment on E. 7th Avenue, close to the Short North Kroger.....

Our condolences to Kosta's family and friends.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Just Say No to Pipeline


The U.S. Senate did not approve the bill allowing for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The measure failed by one vote. Americans should realize that the information about massive job creation from the pipeline construction is nothing more than propaganda.

The construction of the pipeline would only create 50 permanent jobs and 9,000 temporary jobs. The oil from the pipeline would flow to Texas where it would then be exported to other countries. The owners of the pipeline have waged a large campaign that is being handled by a public relations firm.

Opposition to the pipeline has come from Native Americans, farmers, environmentalists, and others. One of the more vocal groups has been Canadians http://tinyurl.com/ld62tlu.  

We should not rest until we have completely stopped this pipeline. Those behind the pipeline have not given up their fight (http://tinyurl.com/oukuph8) and neither should we.

If you need a reminder of what an oil spill can do to a community, let me refresh your memory about the tragedy in Kalamazoo (http://archive.freep.com/article/20130623/NEWS06/306230059/Kalamazoo-River-oil-spill).

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Numbers Don't Add Up


John Kasich claimed that he was creating a massive number of jobs. But.....

Plunderbund:

Ohio’s 25-percent governor, measured by the percentage of registered voters who actually voted for John Kasich last Tuesday, will no longer have to face electors. But he cannot escape facing undeniable statistics that show what a poor job creator he has been over the last four years.

Both the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services [ODJFS] and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] released a weekly update to new claims for unemployment this morning in a timely fashion, according to George Zeller of Cleveland, a long-time trusted economic analyst.  The numbers again show the Buckeye State performing badly, especially when compared to job growth nationally, which according to the Wall Street Journal is the true measure of job performance.....

...As a result of this week’s newly unfavorable figures, six of Ohio’s seven large multi-county metro regions currently have elevated “job destruction” levels of current new unemployment claims, with only Cleveland-Akron-Lorain-Elyria in the not elevated “job growth” range. Youngstown-Warren soared astonishingly from a favorable figure three weeks ago to the highest elevated job destruction level among the urban regions this week for the third consecutive week....


Here is additional information about layoffs in Ohio because of Kasich's cuts to cities and counties.

>  The Vindicator reports that cuts and layoffs are planned in Youngstown.
 
>   ODJFS has added to the list of planned closings and layoffs in the state.

Sadly, a man has been killed at an Ohio fracking well (see 10TV).


oungstown firefighters walked from the downtown fire station with firefighters from nine other area departments to a city council meeting to protest Youngstown’s plan to reduce its ranks.
Mayor John A. McNally said the city will take a firetruck off the road, starting in January, and not replace eight firefighters who will leave through retirement. It’s a key component of his plan to save the city $1 million annually.
Dave Cook, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 312, said the walk Wednesday was “to bring more awareness and express our displeasure with the disturbing decision to close a firetruck. Why would you shut down a fire truck in the city with the highest arson rate in Ohio?”
- See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/nov/13/firefighters-protest-plan/#sthash.qDFC6Jx9.dpuf
oungstown firefighters walked from the downtown fire station with firefighters from nine other area departments to a city council meeting to protest Youngstown’s plan to reduce its ranks.
Mayor John A. McNally said the city will take a firetruck off the road, starting in January, and not replace eight firefighters who will leave through retirement. It’s a key component of his plan to save the city $1 million annually.
Dave Cook, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 312, said the walk Wednesday was “to bring more awareness and express our displeasure with the disturbing decision to close a firetruck. Why would you shut down a fire truck in the city with the highest arson rate in Ohio?”
- See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2014/nov/13/firefighters-protest-plan/#sthash.qDFC6Jx9.dpuf

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Paying Attention?


Once again, Ohio parents, teachers, professors, and taxpayers will need to offer their opinion of the latest cockamamie idea to come out of the halls of the Ohio Board of Education.

Plunderbund:

Social media blew up this weekend over proposed changes to Ohio’s Operating Standards by the State Board of Education.  The major issue is a change that seems to eliminate a requirement for districts to have specialists to teach the arts and physical education....

...So as you call and email the members of the State School Board tonight, tomorrow, and for the next month (changes are set to be considered until that time), don’t stop there.  The School Board’s actions are a symptom of the problem that exists at the legislative level where Kasich & Co. simply don’t care about funding public schools adequately.  As long as his kids in a private school are doing okay….

Never stop contacting your legislators about fixing Ohio’s underwhelming school funding “model”.


Taking away the specially certified teachers in the arts does several things:
 (1)  It eliminates the opportunity for students to express themselves through art, music, and movement.
 (2)  It squashes creativity.
 (3)  It puts an unfair burden on principals, classroom teachers, and communities to provide outlets for children.
 (4)  It creates suspicion that the state plans to make further cuts to schools.

Let school board members know exactly how you feel about this proposal.

Monday, November 03, 2014

Word of advice!

I have one word for you:

Vote!


Bring your friends and relatives to vote. If you know of someone that needs a ride to the polls, offer them a ride. Encourage co-workers to get out there and exercise their right to vote!

 




Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Not Kidding!


A judge is supposed to be fair and impartial, but......

An appointee of Ohio Republican Gov. John Kasich has provided information on how she'll help Republicans.

Dispatch:

...Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith L. French gave pro-Republican remarks while introducing GOP Gov. John Kasich at an event early this evening in Powell. She even seemingly talked of  "backstopping” Republican decisions she may rule on.

“I am a Republican and you should vote for me,” she said. “You’re going to hear from your elected officials and I see a lot of them in the crowd.

“Let me tell you something, the Ohio Supreme Court is the backstop for all those other votes you are going to cast....

According to Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith L. French, she will support whatever the Republicans do or say. Objectivity does not exist for French!

Instead of Republican-loving French, vote for Democrat John P. O'Connell.

* Gov. John Kasich poor performance at the Plain Dealer endorsement conference has resulted in a previously available video to be removed from public view. Seriously.

Plunderbund:

The closest thing Ohioans got to a televised debate int this year’s race for Ohio governor was a video posted by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The PD recorded their joint editorial board interview with John Kasich, Ed FitzGerald and Green Party Candidate Anita Rios and posted it online....

...FitzGerald’s campaign took offense at the removal of the video, especially the part where “Kasich refused to answer why he put a gag order on rape crisis counselors.”

As the FitzGerald campaign pointed out in a press release today, “Governor Kasich signed a law that threatens to cut state funding from rape crisis clinics if counselors tell victims impregnated by their rapist that abortion is a legal option.”

Plunderbund has part of the video:



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Ohio


Ohio's job creation is now officially in the toilet!

Plunderbund:

The last time Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business ranked states according to their job creating record, Ohio was already ranked pretty low at 41st. But in its latest updated ranking released Wednesday, Ohio’s ability to create jobs under Gov. John Kasich and his widely touted but poorly performing job development group JobsOhio dropped eight slots to 45th. More mirage than miracle? It appears so....

....By the latest calculations, Ohio under John Kasich now has a record 23 consecutive months in which the state has underperformed the national job creation rate. Not much of a job creation record for a politician whose main claim to fame is that he knows how to create jobs....

Get the word out there: Ohio's job growth under Kasich has been a nightmare!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Have you voted yet?


Early voting has started but the hours are shortened because of Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted's attempt to discourage voters. Make certain that you support Nina Turner for Ohio Secretary of State! Nina has run a first class campaign and believes in the rights of all voters.

Mary Jo Kilroy, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, is a candidate for Judge! Kilroy's opponent is Luper-Schuster (a friend of Husted and Kasich). Mary Jo has always been a fighter for equality! Kilroy for judge!

Vote for Democrats!

> People in Ohio are very concerned about the possible exposure of Ebola in the state. Everyone is worried because Kasich's appointee to the Ohio Department of Healthy is NOT a medical doctor and has NO experience in public health. In case of an full outbreak, he would not know the first thing to do. Also, some of the appointments Kasich made on the Ohio Medical Board are those that are not physicians. Kasich filled positions with people that supported his right wing ideology.




Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Looking Ahead?


Did you know that Ohio Gov. John Kasich was in New York City with other Republican presidential candidates? Kasich appeared in NY at a fundraiser with Chris Christie, Rand Paul, Kelly Ayotte, Marco Rubio, and Mitt Romney. Politicalpartytime has the invitation for the October 6th event that had a price tag of $32,400 per person!!!! And you thought Kasich really cared about average Ohioans???

Some people even believe that Kasich is starting to give speeches that indicate his leanings toward a presidential run (Cincinnati Enquirer). Wow! It looks like Kasich's ego has just reached even larger proportions!

Don't forget to vote for Democrats! Stars are reminding you to vote.

> There is a very frightening story that will give you chills------ Mitt Romney might run for President again. The man that brought us 'binders full of women' and 'the 47%' is considering another campaign.

Friday, October 03, 2014

Qualified?


With the teachers strike continuing in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, parents are very concerned about what exactly is going on in the schools. Pictures of sleeping substitutes, massive class sizes, students being warehoused in gyms, and a reluctance of the Reynoldsburg School Board to negotiate a limit to class size, are all major concerns.

I have a few questions:

- Why does the Reynoldsburg School Board refuse to address their lack of interest in reducing the number of students in a classroom?

-Are they just ignorant about educational research as it relates to class size?

-Are they following the instructions of some out of town interest group in order to change the district into an online school program?

-How much money is being paid out to the suppliers of substitutes and security?

-What types of 'teachers' are they using in the classroom?

I saw the following ad in This Week News and posted at Monster:

Substitute Teachers and Specialists

About the Job

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS and SPECIALISTS EARN $175/​DAY Altemative Workforce, Inc.​ is accepting applications for LONG and SHORT TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER POSITIONS currently available due to an ongoing labor dispute in the Reynoldsburg City Schools.​ ALL specialty areas are needed including: AP Classes, Special Education, Music, Band/​Orchestra, Foreign Language.​ Also recruiting for: Speech Language Therapists, and Interventional Specialists (MM/​ MI).​ Must have valid Ohio certification Licensure, or be eligible (minimum of Bachelor's Degree or higher) to obtain a substitute certification.​ Criminal background checks will be enforced.​ CALL 888-742-5023 IMMEDIATELY.​ EOE APPLICANTS CAN ALSO SEND RESUMES TO STAFFING@​HUFFMASTER.​COM
This listing brought to you by The Columbus Dispatch and www.​columbusjobs.​com/​monster.​



Please note that basically any person with a college degree could get a substitute certificate:
"...or be eligible (minimum of Bachelor's Degree or higher) to obtain a substitute certification.​..."
 
In other words, not everyone in the classroom is a qualified TEACHER. What is a qualified teacher?
Those that graduate with a teaching certificate have had classes in child development, psychology, instructions on teaching methods, managing classroom behavior, etc., etc. Many teachers have specialty certifications in math, reading, science, and special education. The people subbing in the classrooms of Reynoldsburg are obviously not the highly educated teachers that the students have worked with over the years.

When then candidate John Kasich said he wanted to "break the back of organized labor in the schools...", people wondered how he would do it. The people of Reynoldsburg are witnessing it now with a superintendent that worked in Kasich's Department of Education and the hiring of right wing, anti-labor suppliers, online charter education, and law firms to represent the board.

It is time for the people of Reynoldsburg to stand up to the school board and the superintendent and demand honest negotiations to end the strike.

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Stand with Reynoldsburg


It is important that the people of Ohio look at what is happening in Reynoldsburg Schools. With teachers striking for smaller class sizes, the school board is playing games with children's lives. Inattentive, poorly qualified substitutes are in classrooms, online lessons are being used by students, and guards are on patrol in buildings and on school grounds. This is no way to run schools.

If you need an example of what schools would be like under a Kasich-Koch-right wing 'school reform' plan, Reynoldsburg is a clear illustration. Students are unhappy and facing a curriculum that is 'dumbing down' what they learn. This is the agenda of the righties---- simplify materials, reduce discussions, and eliminate highly qualified teachers so that young people will grow up and support Republicans.

Call the Reynoldsburg School Board members, the media, and your neighbors and voice your opposition to the Kasich brand of 'school reform' we see. Stand with teachers and for quality education for students.

For more info on what is happening in Reynoldsburg Schools, check Plunderbund and Twitter.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Reynoldsburg Schools


The Reynoldsburg School district is experiencing a strike by the teachers. Do you know what they want? Teachers in Reynoldsburg want a limit on class size. The Reynoldsburg BOE has refused to sit down and discuss the number of students in a class, which can range from 30-45 students. That is outrageous! While Reynoldsburg schools have seen cuts to programs, less teachers, the students are the ones suffering. It is nearly impossible to have a quality education, help individual students, maintain discipline, and follow IEPs, when you have classes with more than 25 in a room.

Meanwhile, there are reports that students are using ECOT in class today. ECOT is the online, electronic classroom that is owned and operated by a millionaire and Republican campaign contributor. Surprise! (ECOT's graduation rate: )


If Ohioans don't watch out, Kasich will bring his charter and electronic school owners to every student in Ohio with the same results.


The following was posted by JointhefutureOH:

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

No Debates???


Those of us that are familiar with John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, know that he is an arrogant person.
Now that he has refused to debate Democratic candidate, Ed Fitzgerald, more people might realize it.
After the Kasich campaign announced that they would not participate in any debates, the Fitzgerald campaign released some info.

MSNBC:

...On Tuesday,  Kasich’s campaign announced it was walking away from debate negotiations with Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald....
  
“He’s not accepting the challenge because his handlers know that when the Governor is forced to speak on his feet he reveals his disdain for working Ohioans and he is unable to defend his record of helping his wealthy friends at the expense of Ohio’s middle class,” says Laura Hitt, FitzGerald’s campaign spokesperson.  

But Kasich isn’t the only Ohio Republican ditching debates this year.  Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted, and State Treasurer Josh Mandel have all declined to participate in the City Club of Cleveland’s debate series....


This should make every voter in Ohio very suspicious of what the Republican Party has in their plans that they are unwilling to share with the people. Are the Republicans are so certain of their re-elections that they are afraid to be exposed to questions submitted by the press and the people?


Vote against the hubris of the Republicans. Vote for Democrats.



Monday, September 15, 2014

Ohio #47 in Job Growth?


What numbers are being used to Ohio Gov. John Kasich on job growth in the state? Here is something that will knock your socks off immediately!

Scroll down to see where Ohio ranks in job growth.

WPCarey:


Total Nonfarm 1 month change: July 2014 over June 2014


StateRank% ChangeJob Growth# of Jobs
Alabama
39.0013.001,919.80
Alaska
49.0044.00333.00
Arizona
12.003.002,572.50
Arkansas
30.0022.001,188.90
California
9.0023.0015,492.50
Colorado
6.0021.002,452.20
Connecticut
45.0028.001,670.30
Delaware
8.0016.00439.50
Florida
4.0041.007,795.90
Georgia
14.0020.004,108.40
Hawaii
31.0029.00623.90
Idaho
38.0011.00647.70
Illinois
46.0024.005,824.50
Indiana
16.0040.002,991.30
Iowa
23.0037.001,550.20
Kansas
28.0026.001,387.10
Kentucky
44.004.001,863.70
Louisiana
36.0010.001,981.30
Maine
27.0045.00610.10
Maryland
42.0049.002,610.20
Massachusetts
21.008.003,422.10
Michigan
40.007.004,161.50
Minnesota
18.0046.002,814.60
Mississippi
35.0031.001,121.30
Missouri
20.005.002,781.60
Montana
24.001.00457.90
Nebraska
33.0042.00981.90
Nevada
2.0039.001,217.40
New Hampshire
26.0033.00646.90
New Jersey
47.0027.003,950.60
New Mexico
50.002.00812.00
New York
25.0025.009,042.20
North Carolina
15.0012.004,139.80
North Dakota
1.0035.00465.30
Ohio
34.0047.005,288.90
Oklahoma
17.0043.001,663.70
Oregon
7.0036.001,717.60
Pennsylvania
41.0038.005,793.00
Rhode Island
22.0018.00477.80
South Carolina
11.0048.001,928.40
South Dakota
37.0017.00421.60
Tennessee
13.0030.002,800.70
Texas
3.009.0011,607.80
United States
0.15209.00139,004.00
Utah
5.006.001,338.30
Vermont
43.0014.00307.60
Virginia
48.0015.003,788.20
Washington
10.0019.003,062.10
West Virginia
32.0050.00771.70
Wisconsin
19.0032.002,859.90
Wyoming
29.0034.00292.90

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Trying to Stop Voters in Ohio?


Yes. You'd better believe it. The Republicans are doing their best to discourage women, minorities, and Democrats from voting. The GOP is against raising the minimum wage, reproductive rights for women, equal pay for women, marriage equality, solving the immigration problem, funding public schools, funding higher education, funding science, providing help for the poor and disabled, etc., etc. The Grand Old Party has become more interested in turning back the clock than progress. Since they are unwilling to work to attract new voters, they've decided to try to block people that traditionally vote for Democrats.

Democratic Underground and Cleveland.com:

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said it is "clear as a bell" that Republicans have a national plan to suppress voter turnout and that Ohio is a key part of it.
That's why Brown, who was Ohio's chief election official when he served as Secretary of State, says he plans to help Democrat Nina Turner's bid this year to win that position from Republican incumbent Jon Husted.

He said their efforts to cut back voting hours and repeal voting laws that GOP-controlled state legislatures passed 10 years ago show the Republican party has shifted to the right.....


The GOP can't win with you so they'll try to stop you from voting.




> Ohioans are wondering what the heck Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is doing inserting his nose where it doesn't belong.


•  When a woman accused DeWine's friend of sexual harassment, the Attorney General personally questioned the woman. The Republican-loving Dispatch even reported about DeWine's participation in the case. What did DeWine ask the woman? Did he tell her that such an accusation would hurt the man? Did he put doubt into her head by questioning her? What was his tone? Was the woman represented by an attorney? I know that if it were my daughter making such accusations, I'd not want someone like Mike DeWine pressuring her to drop the charge.


•  A young man was shot inside an Ohio Walmart . People across the state called for a special prosecutor. For some reason, DeWine got heavily involved and has refused to release the store's video showing the actual shooting. Plunderbund has raised lots of questions about this.


In other news, Ohio Medicaid has been screwing over the caregivers that visit and check in on the sick and elderly. Isn't just like a Republican administration to withhold paychecks for low income workers? There is more on this story at the Dispatch.

Did you know that Ohio ranks 36th in jobs growth? You can view the details here.





Thursday, September 04, 2014

The Reality


Ohio's economy is in the toilet under the leadership of Republican John Kasich:

> Ohio's job growth is so bad that now the state is ranked 36th in the nation.

> People are still out of work, college grads are forced to leave the state to find jobs, and Ohioans are more productive but losing out on payday. The only kinds of jobs that do appear are mostly minimum wage, part-time jobs.

> Women have lost reproductive rights with the Republicans now dictating what gynecological procedures and medications are available for women.

> Massive budget cuts have forced communities to lay off firefighters, police, and teachers. Communities have been forced to have citizens vote for operating funds to maintain services which has lead to higher local taxes.

> Public schools have lost millions of dollars in state support so that money can be diverted to an ever increasing number of charter schools.  Meanwhile, charter school owners are only getting wealthier, while the children in their charters perform at lower levels than their public school peers. 

> The wealthy have enjoyed massive tax cuts. The few extra bucks per month the middle class gets doesn't even cover the increase in sales tax signed into law by Kasich.

> Privatization in correctional facilities has produced problems with a lack of staffing and maggots in food.

> Kasich's disrespect for unions, teachers, firefighters, and police has demoralized the middle class.

> Despite his lack of support for the rescue of the American auto industry, Kasich is always available for photo opportunities at auto plants.

Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

We don't need four more years of John Kasich as Governor.


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Central Ohio Voters


Voters in Franklin County must make sure that they get out there and vote for Democrats. Here is what we face----

The Dispatch calls attention to the fact in the headline, 'All 4 incumbents in Franklin County's 8 judicial races are Kasich appointees'. Franklin County, which is heavily Democratic, does not need John Kasich to pick our judges.

Here are the Franklin County Democratic Party's endorsed candidates:

2014 Endorsed Candidates

Click on their names to go to learn more about our endorsed candidates!

FEDERAL
·         US Congress Ohio 3rd District: Joyce Beatty
·         US Congress Ohio 12th District: David Tibbs
·         US Congress Ohio 15th District: Scott Wharton

STATE·         Governor and Lt. Governor: Ed Fitzgerald and Sharon Neuhardt
·         State Attorney General: David Pepper
·         State Auditor: John Patrick Carney
·         Secretary of State: Nina Turner
·         State Treasurer: Connie Pillich
·         Supreme Court: Tom Letson
·         Supreme Court: John P O’Donnell
·         Court of Appeals (10th District): Tim Horton
·         Court of Appeals (10th District): Mary Jo Kilroy
·         Court of Appeals (10th District): Jennifer Brunner
·         Senate District 3: Star Johnson
·         Senate District 15: Charleta B Tavares
·         Senate District 19: Neil Patel
·         House District 17: Mike Curtin
·         House District 18: Michael Stinziano
·         House District 19: Michael Johnston
·         House District 20: Heather Bishoff
·         House District 21: Dawn Valasco
·         House District 22: David Leland
·         House District 23: Rick Redfern
·         House District 24: Kathy Hoff
·         House District 25: Kevin Boyce
·         House District 26: Hearcel Craig

COUNTY·         Franklin County Commissioner: Marilyn Brown
·         Franklin County Auditor: Michael Schadek
·         Court of Common Pleas: David Young
·         Court of Common Pleas: William H Woods
·         Court of Common Pleas: Thomas F Hayes
·         Court of Common Pleas: Chris Brown
·         Court of Common Pleas: Monica Hawkins
·         Court of Common Pleas Domestic Division: James W Brown


You might want to print the list or copy down the names for election day.

>>> Plunderbund has found an interesting tidbit about Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine:

On multiple occasions Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has criticized his Democratic opponent David Pepper for lacking experience, claiming Pepper has a “lack of courtroom knowledge” and “precious little experience in any kind of serious litigation.”   

Funny stuff when you realize that Mike DeWine “was not allowed to practice law from Sept. 15, 1997, until April 10, 2007″ because his Ohio law license was inactive, according to today’s Plain Dealer.  

This may help explain the every growing list of legal mistakes DeWine has made since taking office as attorney general, including allowing troopers to operate on non-state property, declaring that Ohio’s voting restrictions were actually constitutional and claiming witnesses of the Steubenville rape were not actually breaking the law by not intervening or reporting the crime....

Wow! It is time for Mike DeWine to go take a refresher course in law.

**** Gov. John Kasich is returning to the location of a Romney rally---Stamco Industries.  Here is what was published in 2012 about that visit.

Cleveland:

...Stamco, where Romney will appear Monday, makes parts for truck manufacturers. Republican Rob Portman, often mentioned as a potential running mate for Romney, brought coffee and doughnuts to workers there in November 2010, a few days before winning his U.S. Senate seat.

Responding to Romney's scheduled visit, Jerid Kurtz, a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party, noted Romney's opposition to the federal government's bailout of Chrysler and General Motors.

"It's surprising that after opposing President Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown's rescue of the auto industry, Romney has the nerve to hold a rally at the type of tier II automotive manufacturer he might've harmed," Kurtz said. "One in eight Ohioans' jobs [is] tied to the auto supply chain, and had we followed Romney's advice to 'let Detroit go bankrupt,' manufacturers like Stamco might not be around today to continue to support Ohio's economic comeback."

Kasich wasn't in favor of saving the American auto industry, but he thinks it is okay to visit a place that survived because of it.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

What job growth?


Plunderbund has revealed the sad, ugly statistics about jobs in Ohio:

...According to new economic analysis performed by George Zeller, one of Ohio’s top data crunchers, Kasich and Taylor have more than a quarter million jobs to recoup to bring the level of working Ohioans back to pre Great Recession levels. It’s also unfortunate, now that we have Zeller’s detailed review of jobs data, that Ohio just isn’t getting the jobs done at a pace to bring Ohio’s workforce back to where it was at the start of the national recession that President George W. Bush also failed to cure during his eight years in the White House....

....In Ohio, Zeller tells us Ohio lost 12,400 jobs in July 2014, the largest job loss in July of any USA state. Further, July 2014 was the 21st consecutive month when Ohio’s job growth was below the USA national average, showing us that the dismal July 2014 job loss figure was not just a one month spike....

...Ohio gained 51,826 jobs during 3Q 2013, but as Zeller points out, that 1.1 percent growth was below the USA growth rate in employment during 3Q 2013 which was 1.7%. Furthermore, “that growth leaves Ohio 257,961 jobs short of the number of jobs that Ohio had before the 2007 “Great Recession. So, Ohio is growing, but that growth remains too slow, and we have over 250,000 Ohio workers who still cannot find a job because our growth is still too slow.”......

If you still can't find a job in Ohio, it is not your fault. John Kasich and Mary Taylor haven't restored Ohio's economy as they had promised.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Ohio's Job Crisis


Here is a frightening fact from Cleveland and the Associated Press:

"...Ohio still hasn't recovered the number of jobs lost since the recession began in December 2007..."



The latest state ranking on job growth from W.P. Carey ranks Ohio at number 40 in job growth. That is just awful. Despite Gov. John Kasich's claims to an 'Ohio miracle,' it is clear that all his talk is pure baloney.

Monday, August 18, 2014

On notice...


If you see this while you are shopping at Kroger, would you feel comfortable? In a story posted at
Huffington Post, it has been noted that Kroger is being pressed to ban open carry at their stores.

View this content on HuffPostBiz's website  
 

 As a lifelong Kroger shopper, I'd leave the store if I saw anyone carrying a weapon in the store that I frequent. I'd also let the manager know that I wouldn't be back until these open carry weapons were banned in the store. Contact the Kroger company and tell them to stand up to these gun people: http://www.thekrogerco.com/contact-us

> It appears that more and more college graduates from Ohio are leaving the state in order to get jobs. Apparently, the only types of jobs being created by Gov. John Kasich are those that don't require college degrees. Mothers and fathers across the state have seen their college educated sons and daughters leave the state in order to find jobs in their fields.




Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Kasich's secrets?


Once again the administration of Ohio Gov. John Kasich has refused a public records release.


Dispatch:

....In a blog post, the Checks and Balances Project accuses the administration of evading its request for records concerning Senate Bill 310, which weakened Ohio’s renewable energy standards. The law was crafted by majority Republican lawmakers and signed by Kasich.

Simply put, the Kasich administration said in its response letter to the group, no records exist concerning the Check and Balance Project's areas of inquiry and it failed to sufficiently identify records it sought concerning meetings between the governor’s staff and electrical (coal-burning) utility representatives.

The group was particularly interested in meetings between Kasich staff and conservative stalwarts such as the Koch brothers, the American Legislative Exchange Council and Americans for Prosperity.....

Read the rest of the article to see how the campaign responded.

What are they hiding???  Unfortunately, the sarcasm and arrogance coming from both the governor's office and campaign are just disgusting.

>>> Once again we can see that Kasich's 'Ohio miracle' is not reality. The layoffs in Ohio continue:
http://jfs.ohio.gov/warn/current.stm

Friday, August 08, 2014

Ohio's Water Problems


Toledo, Ohio, residents experienced the loss of drinking water last weekend because of the presence of toxic algae. Over 400,000 people were unable to drink water, wash dishes, and bathe because of the water danger. Some people might believe that the rest of Ohio is safe from future incidents, but they are mistaken.

Here are a few news items that should make everyone in Ohio nervous about how well the current governor is protecting our water.

>   Dispatch:  (6/30/2014)

The state is investigating a fish kill in an eastern Ohio creek near where a fire occurred at a shale-well fracking site on Saturday.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources learned yesterday of the fish kill in Possum Creek in Monroe County, said Jason Fallon, an agency spokesman. Fallon said he did not have details about the extent of the kill. “I can’t confirm if it’s related to the gas-well fire,” he said.

Phillip Keevert, director of the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency, said Division of Wildlife agents were inspecting the creek yesterday and confirmed that a kill occurred.....


>   Dispatch:  (8/7/2014)

State wildlife officials are trying to determine if turkey manure running in a northwest Ohio river is responsible for killing thousands of fish.
Officers from the Ohio Division of Wildlife were called in after more than 6,000 dead fish were found in the Little Ottawa River in Lima last weekend....


....Officers tracked the kill zone in the creek along an 8.8-mile stretch of the Little Ottawa River that connects to the Ottawa River. The dead fish included sucker fish, largemouth bass, sunfish, bullhead and darter....


>   PublicNewsService:  (June 24, 2014)
According to a new report released by Environment Ohio, the Buckeye State's rivers, streams and lakes are teeming with toxic chemicals.

The "Wasting Our Waterways" report found over seven million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into the state's waterways in 2012, making Ohio the 10th worst in the country. Ragan Davis, a field associate with Environment Ohio, says analyzing additional numbers from around the country reveals Ohio also has one of the nation's top five polluted rivers.

"Polluters dumped approximately 4.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Muskingum River watershed," says Davis, "making this particular watershed the fourth most polluted in the nation." - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-06-24/water/ohio-waterways-ranked-10th-in-the-nation-for-toxic-chemicals/a40095-1#sthash.2i7V3HVT.dpuf
According to a new report released by Environment Ohio, the Buckeye State's rivers, streams and lakes are teeming with toxic chemicals.

The "Wasting Our Waterways" report found over seven million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into the state's waterways in 2012, making Ohio the 10th worst in the country. Ragan Davis, a field associate with Environment Ohio, says analyzing additional numbers from around the country reveals Ohio also has one of the nation's top five polluted rivers.

"Polluters dumped approximately 4.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Muskingum River watershed," says Davis, "making this particular watershed the fourth most polluted in the nation." - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-06-24/water/ohio-waterways-ranked-10th-in-the-nation-for-toxic-chemicals/a40095-1#sthash.2i7V3HVT.dpuf

According to a new report released by Environment Ohio, the Buckeye State's rivers, streams and lakes are teeming with toxic chemicals.

The "Wasting Our Waterways" report found over seven million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into the state's waterways in 2012, making Ohio the 10th worst in the country. Ragan Davis, a field associate with Environment Ohio, says analyzing additional numbers from around the country reveals Ohio also has one of the nation's top five polluted rivers.

"Polluters dumped approximately 4.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Muskingum River watershed," says Davis, "making this particular watershed the fourth most polluted in the nation." - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-06-24/water/ohio-waterways-ranked-10th-in-the-nation-for-toxic-chemicals/a40095-1#sthash.2i7V3HVT.dpuf
According to a new report released by Environment Ohio, the Buckeye State's rivers, streams and lakes are teeming with toxic chemicals.
The "Wasting Our Waterways" report found over seven million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into the state's waterways in 2012, making Ohio the 10th worst in the country. Ragan Davis, a field associate with Environment Ohio, says analyzing additional numbers from around the country reveals Ohio also has one of the nation's top five polluted rivers.

"Polluters dumped approximately 4.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Muskingum River watershed," says Davis, "making this particular watershed the fourth most polluted in the nation."


One of Ohio's EPA experts was fired last summer.  (See Daily Kos for details.) Some people believe that Gov. Kasich caved to the desires of his campaign contributors that include coal companies.

Are Ohioans going to allow major polluter to dictate what items will be dumped into our waterways?
Voters have a chance to make a decision this election season.
According to a new report released by Environment Ohio, the Buckeye State's rivers, streams and lakes are teeming with toxic chemicals.

The "Wasting Our Waterways" report found over seven million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped into the state's waterways in 2012, making Ohio the 10th worst in the country. Ragan Davis, a field associate with Environment Ohio, says analyzing additional numbers from around the country reveals Ohio also has one of the nation's top five polluted rivers.

"Polluters dumped approximately 4.4 million pounds of toxic chemicals into the Muskingum River watershed," says Davis, "making this particular watershed the fourth most polluted in the nation." - See more at: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-06-24/water/ohio-waterways-ranked-10th-in-the-nation-for-toxic-chemicals/a40095-1#sthash.2i7V3HVT.dpuf

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Unqualified


Gov. John Kasich of Ohio seems to have made a big mistake in placing an unqualified person in charge of the Ohio Department of Health. Of course, this is not the first time Kasich placed an unqualified crony in a position of authority. Do you remember Mark Kvamme?

Cinncinnati.com:

The man Ohio Governor John Kasich appointed to lead the state's health department may not meet the state requirements for the position, critics say – complaints Kasich's spokesman Monday dismissed as "predictable, shrill attacks" from partisans.

On Friday, Kasichnamed Richard Hodges to be Director of Health. Hodges is not a doctor; he had been head of the Ohio Turnpike Commission - and his lack of health experience may violate Ohio law, which requires at least "significant experience in the public health profession."

The story was first reported by the liberal-leaning blog Plunderbund.....

Plunderbund:

John Kasich recently appointed Richard Hodges, his turnpike director, to head the Ohio Department of Health.  As we pointed out yesterday, Ohio law requires appointees to this position to either be a medical doctor or to have had “significant experience in the public health profession.”    Hodges is not a doctor and, according to every bio we could find, including his own LinkedIn page, nothing in his employment background provides any indication that he has had any experience whatsoever in a “public health profession.”

Then, suddenly, out of the blue, Third Base Politics “obtained” a copy of Hodges resume this afternoon that happened to contain a new position not listed on any of his other resumes:   “Director of Planning and Marketing” for the Fulton County Health Center, a small hospital in Wauseon, Ohio.  His time at this newly added job overlaps with his time as a state representative and his time serving as Executive Vice President of the Mechanical Contractors Assoc.  It’s unclear where this resume came from, who provided it, or when it was created.

And then… magically… this same position appeared on Hodges LinkedIn profile today.   (Yes, we have screenshots.)    Hodges also altered his profile on LinkedIn to include the word  “healthcare” on the Specialties section of his profile....

Incredible!

Friday, August 01, 2014

In case you missed it...........


The Huffington Post has an article about Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's method of running his office. If you are unaware of what is going on in DeWine's office, you should read the post. Here is a small sample from the HuffingtonPost:

...Now, Ohio's Attorney General, the official that's supposed to crack down on corruption, faces a deepening scandal surrounding campaign contributors winning contracts from his office in highly inappropriate ways.....

....Doing complex legal work on behalf of a state can mean big profits, so it's no surprise that lawyers, firms, and vendors make big campaign contributions hoping to influence the selection process. Since January, several Ohio media outlets have documented exactly that pattern: over $2.5 million in campaign contributions flowing to Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Ohio GOP while those same donors win lucrative contracts from his office. Throughout, DeWine has paid himself back $1.7 million of a $2 million personal loan to his 2010 campaign. 

The facts are disturbing. Many contributions were made during or immediately before or after bids were under consideration -- sometimes checks came on the same day as bids. DeWine met more than once with his campaign fundraiser in his official office, and in one meeting in the middle of a bid process, they reviewed the roster of those seeking state work. The office has little to no documented process for scoring bidders and actually dumped scoring systems put in place by Richard Cordray, DeWine's predecessor.... 

Many Ohioans thought that corruption had disappeared after Taft and the BWC "coingate" scandals, but apparently the Republicans continue to reward their friends and campaign contributors.

• • • • •

*****  The Republicans in the House of Representatives have refused to do anything about immigration and appear to be under the control of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, instead of John Boehner. The alleged interference is the subject of an article at the LA Times:

...Cruz had been steadily stirring up opposition to the House GOP plan to approve the $659 million, far less than the $3.7 billion sought by the White House and the $2.7 billion proposed by Senate Democrats to deal with the 57,000 unaccompanied youths who have been apprehended at the Southwest border since Oct. 1.....

...Cruz’s handiwork lighted up the telephone lines in the Capitol after an appearance on a tea party webinar. He further stoked opposition among House Republicans when he met with them privately over pizza on the eve of Thursday's vote....

....Before the chaos on the House floor, Boehner had succumbed to pressure to include a Cruz-inspired measure that would defund the administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program -- which has given 500,000 young immigrants legal status for meeting requirements that they remain in college or join the military....

It appears the Speaker of the House and the Republicans in the House are being controlled by Ted Cruz. You can read the entire article at LA Times.