DeWine- 'Out of Touch'

>>>At the Huffington Post, David Sirota, writes about Mike DeWine. Here are a few excerpts:

....Brown running against the out-of-touch, lobbyist-in-politician's clothing - Sen. Mike DeWine (R). The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently documented how DeWine has racked up a record as one of Corporate America's most obedient puppets on Capitol Hill. On all sorts of issues, DeWine has pocketed tens of thousands of dollars from Big Money and then gone down to the Senate floor to sell out his constituents - all while claiming with a straight face that the huge wads of special interest cash hanging out of his pocket have nothing to do with his votes.

Trade is no exception for DeWine. For example, he's running around Ohio telling people that NAFTA has been a "big success from Ohio's point-of-view." He's making this claim in a state that has lost hundreds of thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs since NAFTA passed. In fact, he's saying this less than two years after studies were released showing Ohio has lost at least 45,000 jobs specifically because of NAFTA alone. But that's Mike DeWine - a guy so totally out of touch he thinks its a good campaign strategy to insult voters intelligence with lobbyist-packaged dishonesty.

Make no mistake about it - DeWine's defense of America's sellout trade policy will be backed up by his Big Money donors, media pundits and editorial boards. And Sherrod Brown will likely be the target of more hit pieces like this Associated Press story. Why? Because Sherrod Brown is a threat to the Establishment that is making a killing off the status quo. That makes him a target - but it also shows why his candidacy is so important.

Sherrod Brown is a guy who has made his career standing up to the corrupt forces in both parties, even when it means a political risk for him personally. He's a guy running in the biggest Senate race in the country in the most politically important state in America, and running openly as an unabashed progressive populist who is willing to go up against Big Money interests even on an issue like trade, where these interests are unified. He's not hiding from the word "progressive" by pretending to be Republican lite. In fact, he's doing the exact opposite. As he told the Washington Post, he's going to "show a progressive Democrat can win in a state like Ohio."

We need more Democrats like this - because in their courage, they speak to the deeper issue of character and conviction. They define themselves as actually standing for something, even when it might be politically difficult. If Democrats had more Sherrod Browns, we would have more winning campaigns, and more winning legislative fights that would change this country for the better.

>>>The Republicans have really ruined Ohio. The Akron Beacon Journal has an article about Ohio's problems:

...In the last five years, Ohio's population grew less than 1 percent. Each year, 31,000 more moved out of the state than moved in.

But why are they fleeing? The economy is sputtering. Household income isn't keeping up with other states. And the overall tax burden has skyrocketed to one of the highest in the country....

• Ohio's median household income in 2004 was $42,240, ranking the state 25th. Ohioans earned nearly the same amount as they did in 1989 and lost ground since 1999 when inflation is factored in.

• The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Ohio's real gross state product -- the measure of the total value of goods and services produced -- grew just 1 percent between 2004 and 2005, ranking the state 47th in growth. Despite that meager rate, Ohio continues to be an important part of the U.S. economy, ranking sixth in the nation for gross state product.

• Ohio's unemployment lost pace with the rest of the country. While the national unemployment rate for 2005 was 5.1 percent, Ohio's was worse, at 5.9 percent. The state's unemployment ranking dropped from 22nd in 2001 to 43rd last year.

• Fewer jobs are available in Ohio than there were in 2000. The number of people working in the state dropped by more than 150,000 between 2000 and September 2005, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

More than 210,000 -- one in five -- manufacturing jobs were lost during that time....

For the rest of the depressing life style that the Ohio GOP has given us, read the rest of the article HERE.

If Ohioans want to move forward, we've got to vote for change.

Change the Direction

From the good people at Teambio

Pryce + GOP: Against Minimum Raise Hike

Why is it okay for Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce and her Republican Party to vote for their own pay raises yet continue to block minimum wage increases? Does Pryce hate the working poor? Are Republicans only out for filling their own pockets with money? Why has the Republican Party opposed minimum wage hikes time and time again? While the Republican-controlled Congress has voted for their own $31,000 pay increase over the last nine years, they have not pushed for an increase in the minimum raise. I find this morally wrong.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Democrats will be pushing for an increase in the minimum raise if they win control of Congress. This is reason #459 to vote for Democratic candidates in the next election.

The AFL-CIO has a report card on elected officials called Who's on Our Side? The AFL-CIO works for all Ohioans and all Americans to improve wages and working conditions. (The Republicans, on the other hand, work to stop wage increases and improved safety conditions.) Here is Pryce's 'report card' from the AFL-CIO: (click on 15th district-Pryce)--

PRYCE ON JOBS AND WAGES:
• Supported a trade agreement that will send jobs overseas and worsen conditions for workers [CAFTA, Vote #443, 7/28/05]• Blocked a vote to increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour [Vote #365, 7/12/05]
• Refused to support the reinstatement of Davis-Bacon community wage standards for workers on federal construction projects in states affected by Hurricane Katrina, which President Bush suspended [HR 3763]
• Supported giving Wal-Mart a sweetheart deal—after it violated child labor laws—that would weaken wage and hour protections [Vote #318, 6/24/05]
• Refused to support a bill that provides protections for workers to form unions [Employee Free Choice Act, HR 1696]

PRYCE ON RETIREMENT SECURITY:
• Opposed protecting pension benefits for more than 120,000 United Airlines workers [Vote #309, 6/24/05]

PRYCE ON HEALTH CARE:
• Supported slashing funds for Medicaid, which provides low-income families, children and seniors with health care [Vote #601, 11/18/05]• Supported a health care plan that would strip away critical consumer protections and raise premiums for the majority of small business employees [Vote #426, 7/26/05]

PRYCE ON TAX FAIRNESS:
• Supported a budget that uses the Social Security trust fund surplus to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans [Vote #149, 4/28/05]• Voted for $56 billion in tax cuts mostly for wealthy investors—even though the House earlier voted to cut $50 billion from Medicaid, food stamps and student loans [Vote #621, 12/8/05]

PRYCE ON EDUCATION:
• Supported cutting $14.3 billion from federal student financial aid programs that help middle-class families afford to send students to college [Vote #601, 11/18/05]• Supported cutting $784 million in funding for America’s public schools [Vote #598, 11/17/05]

Politics As Usual in Ohio

Ohio Sec. of State Ken Blackwell has done it again: He has managed to put party politics ahead of the good of the state. We are not surprised.
Columbus Dispatch:
A former Republican primary challenger can’t run against U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce as an independent candidate this fall, Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell ruled yesterday....
...Blackwell’s ruling runs counter to one that he benefited from in 1984 when he was a candidate for Congress. He filed that year to run as a Republican, even though he voted as a Democrat in the 1980 primary election....
...The ruling late yesterday from Blackwell, the Republican nominee for governor in the Nov. 7 election, immediately brought accusations of partisanship from Morrison and Democrats.
"It’s a shame that democracy was denied to Charles Morrison by Ken Blackwell and the Republican Party," Kilroy said in a written statement...

Also in Ohio politics..... Republican Sen. DeWine has unleashed 9/11 pictures in his campaign ads. DeWine, who is behind in polls, is trying to use a campaign tactic promoted by Karl Rove. Ohioans are not as stupid as DeWine thinks. Ohioans know that DeWine and the Republican Party have ruined stripped Ohio of ethics, jobs, and a future. We know DeWine and the Republicans are responsible for the mess in our state and our country.

Meanwhile, from the Plain Dealer---
Raising lots of money has helped two-term U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine win elections. But in Ohio's poisonous political climate this year, it could also put him on the defensive -- or so hopes Sherrod Brown, the Democratic congressman challenging DeWine's re-election.

Brown's campaign spent part of last week promoting the idea that DeWine has engaged in "pay to play," taking more than $1 million in donations from corporate interests and supporting their agenda in bills dealing with energy, prescription drugs and trade....

Those Republicans certainly love that special interest money!

Pryce May Have Money, But Does She Have Voters?

Today's Columbus Dispatch has an article that reports the Ohio Republicans are still bringing in the dough to their campaigns. However, as I've written before, the money that goes to these Republicans does not necessarily come from individual voters from the district.

Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate for the Ohio's 15th congressional district is a fundraising magnet. Here is an excerpt from that same Dispatch article:

...Kilroy raised more than $571,000, a big jump from the first three months of the year when she received $318,000. The surge in contributions, aided by such developments as an endorsement from the Democratic women’s fundraising group Emily’s List, left Kilroy with nearly $776,000 on hand as of June 30.

Kilroy "now is a fundraising force to be reckoned with," said Amanda Wurst, her spokeswoman...

Could it be that women voters are looking to Kilroy for leadership? Why is Kilroy grabbing the attention of voters in the 15th district?

It is a simple answer. Kilroy, as a Franklin County Commissioner, knows how to respond to the needs of citizens. Pryce, on the other hand, is a party-liner who often forgets her constituents in favor of supporting the GOP and her President.

The Akron Beacon Journal also has an article that mentions the Kilroy vs. Pryce campaign:

...This is uncharted territory for Pryce, whose closest election in more than a decade was a 20-point victory in 2004 against a candidate who never filed a campaign finance report because he didn't raise the $5,000 minimum.

"These numbers indicate that Democratic donors are seeing great opportunities in Ohio this year," said Alexander Lamis, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland...

I think that people in OH-15 just are fed up with the direction that Pryce and her party have taken us and want change.

Cook Report: Pryce "in trouble"

This morning Bloomberg.com has an article concerning the problems surrounding Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's campaign for re-election. Pryce is viewed by many as a big 'party-line' supporter. Here are some quotes from the article:

Pryce is ``in trouble,'' said Amy Walter, who analyzes House contests for the Cook report. ``It's going to be a close, competitive race.'' ...This time out, her Democratic opponent, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, is making an issue of Pryce's leadership role. The incumbent's support for Bush's policies, including oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and spending cuts in some domestic programs, are key issues for voters this fall, Kilroy said in an interview. ``As a leader in Congress, she's been responsible for moving much of that agenda through, so it certainly makes her more vulnerable,'' Kilroy said....

And as one voter in Ohio's 15th congressional district said in the article----``I don't think she votes in Ohio's best interests.''

How true! Those of us who live in the 15th district have not seen Pryce support issues that are 'in Ohio's best interests.'

If Pryce and the Republicans retain the majority, President Bush and the Republican Party plan to work on Social Security 'reform.' The Republicans call it 'reform.' However, many people worry about the GOP plans to dismantle and destroy Social Security. Pryce has let it be known that she supports Social Security reform. If she wins re-election, will Pryce and the Republicans destroy Social Security? Do you want to vote for her and gamble on it? I don't.

Why are Pryce and the Republicans against voting rights?

The Republicans in Congress have halted the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. Those of us who lived through the Civil Rights Movement are shocked that any political party would deny Americans the right to vote even in the 21st century. However, the right wing Republicans are apparently trying to turn back the clock so that people who are not their supporters will not vote for Democrats.

This whole movement in the Republican Party is frightening. Will we be seeing more people questioned about their ability to vote? We've already had interference in Ohio with voting. If the Republicans maintain power, will they strip more people of their right to vote? Why are Republicans against voting rights?

The Orlando Sentinel has an an opinion about why we should be concerned about this latest ploy by the Republican Congress. Here are some excerpts:

.....Congress has failed to renew key parts of the Voting Rights Act. They've had time to vote on flag burning and gay marriage, mind you, but not on this.

Here we Americans are preaching about, and dying for, democracy in Iraq and other foreign lands. But we have shown ourselves to be hanging-chad-challenged when it comes to carrying out elections. Think Florida. Think Ohio. Think Georgia, the state of my birth, where new rules requiring state-issued photo identification are expected to make it harder for rural, elderly and minority people to vote....

..."It is unfortunate and disappointing that we have encountered a setback in the passage of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization," said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., in a statement, adding, "Georgia is the last place that should seek to relieve itself from the commitment to fully empowered, equal participation that democracy implies."

Lewis should know. This is a man who nearly lost his life fighting for the right to vote in Georgia and throughout the South. He was beaten in Alabama during a March 1965 demonstration that was designed to force that state to permit blacks to vote without having to jump such hurdles as being able to recite segments of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution....

..."The evidence shows that voting discrimination in America is not dead, and the Voting Rights Act must retain its original power in order to assure that democracy prevails in every hill and valley, every city and suburb, on every fertile farm and every desert plain in America," Lewis says....

Where does Deborah Pryce stand in all this? Pryce is a Republican leader and is responsible for this hold up of the Voting Rights Act. Why are Pryce and the Republicans against the Voting Rights Act? Why are they against your right to vote? Isn't it time that Pryce and the GOP stop denying us our rights?

More Layoffs in Ohio

The Republicans and Deborah Pryce are doing such a horrible job with the economy in Ohio. Now there have been more layoffs announced in the state. Can't these Republicans get anything right? They've been in power in Ohio for umpteen years and they only things they can attract to the state are more unemployment and corruption. Here are some of the more recent WARN Notices announced by the state Jobs and Family Services:
date rec'd.................company........................................................................location......# affected.......layoff date

7/6/2006	Veolia Transportation	Columbus	82	7/31/2006
7/6/2006	QualChoice	Cleveland	268	9/1/2006
7/6/2006	NuTone, Inc	Cinicnnat	414	8/30/2006
6/26/2006	Sears, Roebuck and Company	Columbus	122	8/25/2006
6/26/2006	E and L Transport Company; a.k.a. PTS, Performance Transportation Services	Fostoria	69	7/16/2006
6/23/2006	Fluor Fernald	Cincinnati	528	8/17/2006
6/16/2006	Plastech	Andover	182	8/13/2006
6/6/2006	Kmart Corporation	Toledo	57	8/11/2006
6/6/2006	Ottawa Rubber Company	Bradner	71	6/29/2006
5/3/2006	General Motors - Lordstown Complex	Lordstown	770	6/30/200
5/25/2006	Engineered Plastic Products, Inc.	Lima	179	7/1/2006
5/22/2006	Caraustar	Mentor	106	7/16/2006
5/22/2006	Mead Westvaco Corporation	Dayton	300	8/1/2006
5/22/2006	Mead Westvaco Corporation	Miamisburg	140	8/1/2006
5/12/2006	Comprehensive Logistics	Austintown	113	7/15/2006
5/8/2006	Maverick Tube, a.k.a. Republic Conduit	Elyria	62	Between 7/8/06 and 7/22/06
5/5/2006	PMC Specialties Group, Inc.	Cincinnati	103	7/3/2006

Pryce In the News

*There is a new site dedicated to exposing Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce and her support for the war in Iraq. Take a look at PryceWar.Org and you will see exactly how Pryce feels about the war, her president, and even Abu Ghraib.

*From the Open Secrets, we have these numbers:
Total Raised and Spent (Ohio's 15th District)
*Deborah Pryce (R)
PAC's 63%
Individuals 36%

*Mary Jo Kilroy (D)
PAC's 25%
Individuals 75%

The good news is that in the coming election, only individuals can vote. As you can see, Pryce gets more of her money from special interests and big corporation PAC's. Kilroy, on the other hand has a larger percentage of political contributions from people.

*Everybody is talking about Ohio's politics. The Washington Post had an article about the Ohio Republicans who are being closely monitored by Democrats and Pryce's name was included:

For much of the last year, Democrats have been touting Ohio as a key state in their hopes of winning back majorities in the House and Senate. The Buckeye State is seen as a strong playing field for Democrats in part because of ethics problems surrounding the GOP governor, Robert Taft. With Taft's problems hurting his party overall, Democrats are heavily targeting several prominent GOP incumbents, including Sen. Mike DeWine and Reps. Steve Chabot, Deborah Pryce and Bob Ney....

Hamilton County GOP: Stealing from Children, Families, and the Unemployed?

A story in the Columbus Dispatch is just another example of Republican corruption in Ohio. Here are some excerpts:

A possible state bailout of a Hamilton County agency serving children and the poor for misspending nearly $1 billion could become a major issue in Ohio’s November elections.

Democrats pounced yesterday after a Dispatch story revealed that the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services allegedly misused funds for a three year period ending in 2004, calling it the latest example of mismanagement by the state’s all-Republican government.

"The bottom line is that we wake up to more news about the way Republicans have mismanaged government over the last 15 years, and as much as you shake your head and wonder when it’s going to change, it never does," said Brian Rothenberg, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party.

He and other Democrats accused state Auditor Betty D. Montgomery, the Republican nominee for attorney general, of being asleep at the wheel, questioning why it took her office so long to uncover the misspending, allowing it to continue for three years.

"The job of the state auditor is not just to find things after they happen, but to prevent them from happening," said state Sen. Marc Dann, of the Warren area and the Democratic nominee for attorney general....

It appears that the Ohio GOP and their elected party members have just corrupted everything they touch. The Ohio Republicans have had the reverse "Midas Touch"-----everything they control they destroy only to gain money and power for their own benefit. This is really just plain sick and unethical because, according to the article above, "...the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services allegedly misused funds for a three year period ending in 2004..."

Q: Is there a limit to Ohio Republican corruption?
A: Apparently, not, if you are allegedly misusing funds designated for children, families, and the unemployed.

More Problems for Taft?

Ohio Republican Gov. Bob Taft may have more problems ahead if he is issued a public reprimand. Here is an excerpt from the Chronicle:

Gov. Bob Taft faces a public reprimand for ethics violations under an agreement his attorney has reached with the state office that monitors lawyers’ behavior.
Taft, a Republican who has been an attorney since 1976, pleaded no contest last August to failing to report golf outings and other gifts while in office and was fined $4,000.
The Supreme Court’s disciplinary counsel, Jonathan Coughlan, filed a complaint this April saying Taft’s actions violated Ohio’s code of professional conduct for lawyers.
“I admit the violation ... as outlined in this agreement,” Taft wrote in an affidavit attached to a copy of the deal obtained Friday by The (Toledo) Blade.
The agreement faces approval by a disciplinary board and the Ohio Supreme Court.....

Taft and his Republican Party have been running this state into the toilet. How much more will Ohioans take before they throw these guys out of office?

DeWine: Dreaming

The Tribune-Chronicle has this little fable about Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine:

Republican Sen. Mike DeWine says he’s the candidate who has done something to combat gas prices and bring jobs to Ohio.....

"...I got a president to impose steel quotas that saved the steel industry,’’ DeWine said....

Where the hell are the jobs that DeWine has brought to Ohio? Ohio has lost nearly 200,000 jobs since Bush became president. DeWine is combating gas prices????? If he is combating gas prices, why are gas prices at $3/gal. down the street?

Obviously, DeWine must not be dealing with the same reality that the people of Ohio deal with on a daily basis. Someone needs to tell DeWine to wake up and smell the coffee!

.....In the latest Survey USA 50 state poll, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft has a special distinction! He has the lowest approval rating of all the governors:
He has an 18% approval rating. Wow!.

Gas Prices Soar

As I drove by my local gas station this afternoon, I noticed that gas had gone to $3.05/gal. With the Republicans controlling the House, the Senate, and the White House, you wonder why they refuse to do anything about gas prices. The American people are hurting. Businesses are feeling the results of the higher gas prices with a reduction of customers. What is the response of the Republicans? Here it is:___________ Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The GOP likes the money flowing into their campaign war chests and they are not going to do anything to anger their good pals from oil/energy companies and PACs.

If you are interested in gas prices, check Gas Buddy. According to Open Secrets, 83% of money contributed by oil and gas PACs have gone to Republicans. Only 17% went to Democrats. This explains why Republicans aren't interested in punishing their fat cat friends in the oil and gas corporations.

Pryce's Record

On Monday, July 3rd, the Columbus Dispatch printed a Letter to the Editor that was critical of Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce's record on military veterans. Here is part of that letter:

..Pryce voted against expanding the military’s Tricare health insurance to cover all Reservists and National Guard members....
....voted against a $30 million increase for veterans’ health care that would have provided more funding for combat-related trauma care to support wounded troops when they return home. Pryce voted against additional military health-care benefits. She voted against providing job-training assistance to troops returning from overseas....

I cannot recall another time when the Dispatch published a letter that was critical of Pryce. There are a few possibilities as to why they may have published the letter on July 3rd ---(a.) it was the day before a holiday and readership would be down, (b.) they've received many letters critical of Pryce's real record on vets, (c.) the Dispatch, known as conservative and pro-GOP, wants to appear objective. It really doesn't matter why the Dispatch decided to run the letter because it is important that the truth gets out. Pryce says she supports our troops and our vets but her voting record does not support her rhetoric.

The Dispatch has a story today about the homeless Iraq war vets in our nation. Here is an excerpt:

...Across America on any given evening, hundreds of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are homeless, the government estimates.

The reasons are many. For some, residual stress from daily insurgent attacks and roadside bombs makes it tough to adjust to civilian life; some can’t navigate government assistance programs; others simply can’t afford a house or apartment....

...There are about 200,000 homeless veterans in the United States, according to government figures. About 10 percent are from either the 1991 Gulf War or the current one, and about 40 percent are When I Came Home, which was named best New York-made documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival this year....

This is very sad. Why does this administration want our young men and women to go to war but then abandon them when they return?

More Reasons to Thank Republicans

>Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, will cut 750 civilian jobs. WDTN-TV has the story.

>It appears that the next voting problems could appear in Ohio in November. This time the problems could be caused by some of the ruling of current Ohio Sec. of State, Kenneth Blackwell, who is also a Republican candidate. Here is an excerpt from the CBS report:

...Ohio was, of course, ground zero of the 2004 presidential election, and now it's the battleground of one of the most hotly contested governor's races in the country. The Republican candidate this November is none other than Kenneth Blackwell, Ohio's Secretary of State, a man vilified by voting rights activists for a string of baffling and, to all appearances, nakedly partisan rulings in the 2004 presidential race, when he also doubled as co-chair of George Bush's state re-election campaign. Now he's at it again — issuing draconian guidelines on voter registration that carry the threat of felony prosecutions against grassroots get-out-the-vote groups, especially in Democratic-leaning urban areas, for even the slightest procedural irregularity. Despite denials from Blackwell's office of any malicious political intent, the guidelines have had an immediate chilling effect on groups like the activist community organization ACORN, which has suspended registration efforts pending urgent consultations with its lawyers. Several leading Democrats have urged Blackwell to step aside from all election-supervising responsibilities, a proposal his staff has greeted with near-derision.

It would be bad enough if Blackwell were acting merely to benefit his party, as he did in 2004. But in this case he's taking advantage of his office to act on behalf of his own ambitions. Unless something changes between now and November, he will remain in charge of counting the votes — his own and everyone else's. In a pivotal election in a pivotal state, this is far from reassuring. As Peg Rosenfield, an elections specialist with the League of Women Voters of Ohio who spent twelve years working in the secretary of state's office in the pre-Blackwell era, put it, "If you think '04 was a mess, just wait. I anticipate a debacle..."

These Republicans sure know how to make a mess of things!

Pryce and GOP Can't Solve Energy Problems

The vote for off shore drilling that passed the Republican-controlled Congress is a clear indication of how the Republicans view problems. Republican Deborah Pryce (OH-15) and her Republican Party believe that it is fine to destroy our beaches, marine life, and the ocean in order to help their big oil contributions drill for oil. According to HR 4761 ( Title: To provide for exploration, development, and production activities for mineral resources on the outer Continental Shelf, and for other purposes.), the Republicans passed a bill to allow drilling off the coast. This allows those Republican-friendly oil companies a free admission to our entire coastlines. Rep. Pryce voted in favor of the bill.

What is so wrong with this type of legislation?
1. It gives the oil companies the right to drill anywhere on the coast.
2. It does not put any pressure on the American automakers to produce more energy efficient cars. (FYI: Europe is far ahead in creating cars that use less gasoline and are better for the environment.)
3. This legislation rewards Republican donors. Deborah Pryce and the Republican Party are the major benefactors from the oil company contributors and their PACs.
4. This legislation will cause pollution of our waterways, destruction of animal life, and destruction of our beaches.

This bill, just like the other Republican plan to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, shows that Republicans are more interested in catering to the needs of their campaign contributors rather than helping their constituents.

Aide to Ney Subpoenaed

A senior aide to Republican Rep. Bob Ney (OH-18) has been subpoenaed in the ongoing investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his ties to the Republican Party. Here are some excerpts from the Columbus Dispatch:

...Matt Parker, who has served as district director for Ney’s office in Ohio as well as an adviser to the re-election campaign, was ordered to turn over documents to federal prosecutors and testify before a grand jury in Washington.

Parker’s subpoena was made public yesterday in an announcement on the House floor, as required when lawmakers or staff members receive subpoenas. Parker could not be reached for comment.

Also announced yesterday were the departures of Brian Walsh, a longtime Ney spokesman; Will Heaton, Ney’s chief of staff; and Chris Otillio, a senior legislative aide.

Heaton was with Ney on a lavish 2002 golf trip to Scotland arranged by Abramoff. That trip is part of what federal prosecutors are examining in an investigation of Ney’s ties to Abramoff...

It is clearly not a good indication when a large number of staff members bolt for the door. You just have to wonder how long it will take for the investigation to finally get to Ney. I wonder what the people of Ohio's 18th congressional district are thinking now.

****The Coingate investigation continues------
The Toledo Blade has a great article on the latest development in the Tom "Coingate" Noe investigation. Here are some excerpts:

...Investigative reports released yesterday after the convictions of Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber, Toledo City Councilman Betty Shultz, former Toledo Mayor Donna Owens, and former state Rep. Sally Perz show that Noe had treated Ms. Thurber and Ms. Owens on several occasions — and neither had disclosed those contacts.

The women pleaded no contest in Toledo Municipal Court yesterday to the misdemeanor charge they faced of failing to disclose a meal — from the October, 2003, fund-raiser — paid by Noe. Visiting Judge Mark Reddin of Bowling Green Municipal Court found them guilty and fined them $1,000 apiece, plus court costs, and the cost of the investigation, which has not been determined. He could have imposed a jail sentence of up to six months....

Do you need any additional proof about the Republican culture of corruption here in Ohio? The citizens of Ohio have had enough!

Grand Oil Party = GOP

With gasoline prices at or near $3/gal. here in central Ohio, drivers are getting upset. It was not surprising to see a protest against rising gas prices. Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce has received political contributions from PACs and people associated with the oil companies. According to Open Secrets, Oil and Gas PACs gave 83% of their 2006 campaign contributions to Republicans. For the 2006 campaign, a large source of Pryce's campaign funds come from PAC's (special interests). (Note: This does not include what she has received in past years.) Pryce and the Republicans have a cozy relationship with the oil and gas corporations. This is why the Republicans refuse to do anything to regulate gas prices. Pryce and the Republicans benefit by getting those contributions and, in turn, we suffer by having to pay these extremely high gas prices.

Families and businesses are hurt when gas prices go up. People are paying higher prices at the grocery store and for other services. It seems the only people who benefit with high gas prices are the people at oil companies and Republicans, like Pryce, who get their contributions. Call Pryce's office (614 469-5614) and let her know that you are unhappy with gas prices.

Isn't it time to change from a Congress controlled by corporations to a Congress controlled by the people?

15th District: From Red to Blue?

All indications are that Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce is in deep trouble in Ohio's 15th district. She started her television ads 4 months. According to The Hill, Pryce has also beefed up her campaign staff. Will it be enough???? Here are some excerpts from The Hill article.

...Democrats have suggested that Pryce’s close alliance with the Bush administration as a member of House Republican leadership could be her Achilles’ heel in a district that gave him only 50.3 percent of the vote in 2004. Franklin County, which makes up a large portion of the 15th District, went Democrat in 2004.

The Pryce campaign says that the race is about local issues and her record as a longtime representative. DeStefano said links to Bush would not impede Pryce, who received many more votes than the president in the district in 2004.

“Our focus is her and her record of accomplishment here — why she is a perfect fit for the 15th District,” he said....

People in the 15th district are very unhappy with the culture of corruption here in Ohio and the lack of leadership. We have not seen a 'record of accomplishment' and we are not pleased with Pryce's support of this administration's policies. We need a change in direction for this country and we need to bring our troops home. The only way this will happen is if Pryce is defeated.

Protests at Gas Stations

Update: The new Google Video has a video on Pryce's ties to corporations. See it HERE.

There are planned protests at gas stations tomorrow and Republican Deborah Pryce is one of the reasons for the protests. Here is an excerpt from US Newswire:

This Wednesday at more than 300 gas stations across the country, thousands of MoveOn members will hold "Rallies for An Oil-Free Congress," exposing Republicans in Congress for accepting campaign contributions from Big Oil companies while they do nothing to ease the burden of Americans who are paying more at the pumps.

The rallies are part of a National Day of Action, echoing the "Caught Red Handed" theme of MoveOn's latest TV ads that tie the Republican-controlled Congress to the culture of corruption. MoveOn.org Political Action just completed three rounds of a $1.3 million campaign in the districts of Republican Reps. Chris Chocola, Thelma Drake, Nancy Johnson and Deborah Pryce.

"Big Oil companies have given millions in campaign contributions to the Republican controlled Congress, but that pales in comparison to the billions they've received in tax breaks and subsidies. Republicans have consistently rejected Democratic attempts to move toward energy independence and a national clean energy policy. With gas prices soaring and global warming a deepening threat, it's time to stop America's addiction to oil -- by curing Republicans' addition to oil money," said Nita Chaudhary of MoveOn.org Political Action.

Since 1990, Big Oil has given more than $190 million to members of Congress -- 75 percent of which has gone to Republicans...

Should be interesting!!!!

Americans: Bring Troops Home/ Pryce: Let Troops Stay in Iraq Forever

The Republicans just don't get it. Americans want out of Iraq! The latest USA Today/Gallup poll shows that Americans want our military home within the next 12 months. Here are some excerpts from the article:

A majority of Americans say Congress should pass a resolution that outlines a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday. Half of those surveyed would like all U.S. forces out within 12 months....

Bush's approval rating is at 37%.

In the poll, 57% say Congress should pass a resolution that outlines a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops; 39% say that decision should be left to the president and his advisers....

The poll also shows that only 1/3 of Democrats and Independents and 2/3 of Republicans want to stay in Iraq as long as necessary. Clearly, if Americans want to end the war, they must elect Democrats. Otherwise, the war in Iraq will go on, and on, and on.

Republican Rep. Pryce wants to continue to stay in Iraq. She has no plan for bringing our troops home. She has no plan to end the war. Pryce just hopelessly supports an unending war with billions of dollars being wasted while we lose thousands of our troops. Pryce's motto should be ----Elect Pryce for War Without End!

Just a note---the Columbus Dispatch has yet to include any of Pryce's votes against veterans. Why are they covering up her votes????

Here is a sample:

1. *Representatives Ney and Pryce Opposed Expanding TRICARE to National Guard & Reserve Volunteers. Representatives Ney and Pryce voted against expanding access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to all reservist and National Guard members. The proposal would have expanded military health care to provide access to TRICARE to members of the Guard and Reserve and their families for a low fee, which would have helped 2,563 in Ohio.
[HR 1815, Roll Call #221, 5/25/05; Leadership Document, “DOD Authorization Previous Question on
Rule”; S. 2400, Roll Call Vote #105, 6/2/04]

2. *Representatives Ney and Pryce Voted Against $30 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care & Benefits. In 2005, Ney and Pryce voted against an additional $30 million for veterans' health care. The amendment have would added funding for combat-related trauma care to support wounded troops once they return to their homes, medical and prosthetic research and 100 additional staff to help process claims for compensation and pension benefits.
[HR 2528, Roll Call #224, 5/26/05; Leadership Document, “Medical Quality Democratic Amendment Final]

3. *Representatives Ney and Pryce Opposed $150 Million Increase for Military Personnel. In 2005, Ney and Pryce voted against a proposal to the budget to increase funding for military health care by $100 million and transitional job training for military personnel by $50 million. [HR 1268, Roll Call #76, 3/16/05; CQ.com vote reports]

4. *Representatives Ney and Pryce Voted Against Additional Job Assistance to Veterans Returning from
Overseas. Ney and Pryce opposed efforts to provide extra job training assistance to veterans who are returning
from overseas. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave their civilian
jobs for active duty, and many are self-employed or run small businesses. This means they face the daunting task
of reestablishing their businesses after their release from active duty.
[HR 27, Roll Call #47, 3/2/05; 109th Congressional Record, pg. H915, 3/2/05; 109 th Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05]


Additional information about Pryce's voting record can be found at http://www.uaprogressiveaction.com/archives/ohio_politics/ohio_15th_district/index.html

'Unprecedented Public Corruption'

With the midterm election just a few months away, it is hilarious to hear the Republicans tell us what a fabulous job they've done for us in Ohio. In reality, the Republicans have done absolutely N-O-T-H-I-N-G for the good people of Ohio! Ohio has lost 200,ooo manufacturing jobs. People have lost health insurance. Our country has lost over 2500 men and women in Bush's war. Ohio's reputation as a nice place to live has been ruined by Republican corruption and scandals.

The Plain Dealer has the results of the task force that was set up to investigate corruption in Ohio. Here is an excerpt from the PD article:

Over the last year, nine people, including six who were on the state payroll, have been charged in an unprecedented public corruption investigation by a federal, state and local task force, the largest undertaking of its kind in Ohio history. The charges have ranged from misdemeanor ethics violations to federal bribery and racketeering charges. The probe continues....

Isn't that a great paragraph? Read the rest of the article for all the details. The next time someone says they are voting for an Ohio Republican, give them three little words---'unprecedented public corruption!'

Ohio Politics

Ted Strickland, Democratic candidate for Ohio Governor, is gaining momentum and campaign money. Strickland is gaining support from Republicans who have been turned off by the extreme right wing bent of Republican candidate, Kenneth Blackwell. Here are some excerpts from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Democrat Ted Strickland, candidate for Ohio governor, said Saturday that Republicans keep coming to him and pledging their support because they have grown disenchanted with Republican-dominated government, nationally and locally.

"Ohio is headed in the wrong direction and is in need of a turnaround," Strickland told about 200 supporters at a rally in Hoffner Park, kicking off his general election campaign in this part of the state.

Among Strickland's supporters: Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory. He called incumbent Republican Gov. Bob Taft "about as popular as mad cow disease." A spectator shouted: "He has it!"

...Strickland, 64, acknowledged that he will need votes from Democrats, Independents and Republicans to beat his opponent, Republican Ken Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state. Strickland said he will need Ohioans to elect Democrats to other offices to advance Democrats' proposals on issues such as education, minimum wage and health care.

The crowd cheered when Strickland announced that the independent Rasmussen poll on Saturday reported he has a 13-point lead over Blackwell. Strickland has also raised more money than Blackwell so far - $2.6 million, about double what Blackwell has, a Strickland spokesman said...

It seems as though Republican candidate for state treasurer, Sandra O'Brien, has some problems. Here is an excerpt from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

...As the little-known O'Brien begins her underdog general election run for state treasurer, the recent letter underscores troubling lapses that have surfaced from her 12-year tenure as auditor in Ohio's far northeastern county.

The most serious questions about O'Brien's record arise from state audit findings spread over several years, including a 2003 finding that a lack of safeguards in O'Brien's office led to the embezzlement of $40,000.

Couple those findings with a series of costly court disputes with local officials, and a picture emerges of an auditor with a penchant for controversy a picture at odds with her pleasant demeanor.

With $11 billion in state assets riding on the state treasurer's job, O'Brien detractors question her fitness for office while O'Brien and her supporters shrug off the disputes as partisan politics and see her as a fierce watchdog of public money....

Ouch!!!!

The citizens of Ohio are extremely tired of the corruption that the Republicans have created throughout the state. If Ohioans really want change, they'll need to vote out large numbers of Republicans in the next election. The Ohio GOP controls all areas of the state government. Just voting for a Democrat for governor, is a start, but not enough to make significant change. We have to work together to get Ohio back on the right track and that means voting for Democrats instead of the corrupt GOP.

Kilroy: Demand a Plan

Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Mary Jo Kilroy, had this to say about the war in Iraq (US News):
...In Ohio, Kilroy, who is facing Rep. Deborah Pryce, says Congress should demand a plan from the president to bring troops home.
"There is a lot of language in this resolution that of course everybody agrees with, but I think they are using it for very partisan political purposes," says Kilroy. "I think they are refusing to allow a necessary real debate on the war and an appropriate timetable for withdrawing and redeploying from Iraq."

Kilroy has made it simple--Demand a plan from the president to bring the troops home.
However, Pryce and the Republicans would rather play lapdogs for the president. The Republicans don't want to discuss the causes and future of the war because they just want to repeat the Karl Rove mantra- Cut and run! Cut and run! Cut and run! What the heck does Rove know about war? He avoided Viet Nam. Didn't he cut and run when he dropped out of college?

House Republicans: Wrong on Immigration

The Republicans in the House of Representatives are headed in the wrong direction on immigration reform. Their planned sideshow has been noticed with an editorial in the New York Times. Here are some excerpts:

This was supposed to be the time that the House and Senate got serious about immigration — by working out the differences between their drastically opposing bills and sending a solution to President Bush, who has made repairing the immigration system one of his cornerstone promises to Americans. It was going to be a hard job, involving lots of focused attention and a willingness to compromise. A hard job, but that's what we pay these people for. But wait. Hold on. House Republican leaders have decided they don't want to negotiate just yet....

The House has a much more simple-minded solution: walling immigrants out and calling the rest felons...

A senior member of the Republican leadership, Representative Deborah Pryce of Ohio, called the Senate legislation the "Kennedy bill," a nasty bit of partisan mislabeling that would surprise Arlen Specter and the other Republican co-sponsors, including Mel Martinez and John McCain.

If the Republicans really wanted to listen, they would listen to a recent poll that found that Americans are coming around to President Bush's immigration views. Or to the more than 500 economists who signed an open letter to Mr. Bush arguing that immigration is a net plus for the nation's economy.

Given the topics that have preoccupied Congress lately, one wonders why the Republicans don't simply propose a catchall bill aimed at illegal gay liberal Mexican flag burners and be done with it. The immigration debate has been obscured for too long by a fog of distortion and fear, and the House Republicans are gambling that the public won't see through it. The American people deserve better. They deserve action on a good immigration bill, and if this do-nothing Congress won't give it to them, they should elect a Congress that will.

These Republicans, including Pryce, are just trying to make a show of things. They aren't actually interested in solving any problems. As a matter of fact, this Republican controlled House of Representatives has accomplished nothing. It is time to throw the Republicans bums out. We need members of Congress who will actually get the job done.

Update:
Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10th) is for staying the course in Iraq. Born in 1975, McHenry is still young enough to join the military. Now that the Army has raised the enlistment age to 42, McHenry could show his real support of the war by enlisting in the Army. Someone should send enlistment papers to McHenry. Why should McHenry advocate sending our sons and daughters to Iraq when he would be an excellent candidate for military service??????

Ohio's Unemployment Rate for May '06

Ohio released the unemployment numbers for May 2006. Here are the numbers:

Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in May, down from 5.5 percent in April, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio's nonfarm wage and salary employment remained relatively unchanged over the month, increasing slightly from 5,462,500 in April to 5,462,700 in May...

Among the state's 88 counties, the May 2006 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 3.1 percent in Delaware County to a high of 9.2 percent in Monroe County. Rates decreased in 87 of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio in May was 4.9 percent....

Keep in mind that this report does not include those laid off at the auto plants.

Money and Politics

Republican Deborah Pryce and other GOP members held a big fundraiser and collected almost $300,000.

Kenneth Blackwell has his hands on something again: Dispatch:

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell will decide whether a conservative supporter can continue an independent run for Congress that could hurt his own party’s nominee.

The Franklin County Board of Elections voted along party lines yesterday on a Republican challenge to the candidacy of Charles R. Morrison II, a Madison County business owner who wants to join the 15 th District race between GOP incumbent Deborah Pryce and Democratic challenger Mary Jo Kilroy....

According to the article, Morrison ran against Pryce in 2004 primary and managed to get 7,200 votes. Morrison's campaign scares the daylights out of the Pryce supporters because Pryce will need every vote to defeat popular Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy. Now Blackwell, suspected of having his hand in the 2000 and 2004 elections in Ohio, has to decide if Morrison stays or goes off the ballot. I don't think Blackwell can be objective on anything that challenges his friend, Pryce or the GOP.

President Bush's roadtrip to Europe bring more demonstrations. This time the protests were in Hungary. Pic #1
Pic #2

Bush Trip to Austria Met With Large Demonstrations

President Bush has a terrific ability to unite a lot of people-----against the U.S.A. A newspaper in Vienna, Der Standard, has a slide show of the demonstrations in Austria. (photo: APA/Guenter R. Artinger) Slideshow: http://derstandard.at/?url=/?id=2487727%26_index=2

Pryce Does NOT Support Troops

Need evidence of how much Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce supports our troops and veterans? Remember that actions speak louder than words. Read below:

1. Pryce voted against expanding access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to all reservist and National Guard members. The proposal would have expanded military health care to provide access to TRICARE to members of the Guard and Reserve and their families for a low fee, which would have helped 2,563 in Ohio. [HR 1815, Roll Call #221, 5/25/05; Leadership Document, “DOD Authorization Previous Question on Rule”; S. 2400, Roll Call Vote #105, 6/2/04]

2. Pryce voted against $30 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care & Benefits. In 2005, Pryce voted against an additional $30 million for veterans' health care. The amendment have would added funding for combat-related trauma care to support wounded troops once they return to their homes, medical and prosthetic research and 100 additional staff to help process claims for compensation and pension benefits. [HR 2528, Roll Call #224, 5/26/05; Leadership Document, “Medical Quality Democratic Amendment Final]

3. Pryce opposed $150 Million Increase for Military Personnel. In 2005, Pryce voted against a proposal to the budget to increase funding for military health care by $100 million and transitional job training for military personnel by $50 million.
[HR 1268, Roll Call #76, 3/16/05; CQ.com vote reports]

4. Pryce voted against Additional Job Assistance to Veterans Returning from Overseas. Pryce opposed efforts to provide extra job training assistance to veterans who are returning from overseas. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty, and many are self-employed or run small businesses. This means they face the daunting task of reestablishing their businesses after their release from active duty. [HR 27, Roll Call #47, 3/2/05; 109th Congressional Record, pg. H915, 3/2/05; 109th Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05]

-------------------------
The Republicans had promised to have major successes this term. However, it is very easy to see that the Republicans have been total failures. Here is the Republican report card:

Immigration Reform = F (The GOP failed to accomplish anything.)
Social Security Reform = F (They still plan to try to dismantle Social Security next year.)
Ending the Iraq War = F (There is still no exit plan. The Republicans want to continue the war forever.)
Domestic Spying Investigation = F (Sen. Specter (R-PA) changed his mind about having hearings.)
Lobbying Reform = F (Are you kidding? Do you think the Republicans want to give up their cash cow?)
Veterans Benefits = F (The GOP supports your kids fighting in Bush unending war. Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce has been a miserable failure in supporting our troops and veterans.)

Less than 1 Percent?

US News and World Report has a small article about Ohio's 15th district. Here is an excerpt from that article:

In the 15th Congressional District, centered in Columbus, Democrats may have a better shot. Incumbent Deborah Pryce, the fourth ranking Republican in the House, is facing Mary Jo Kilroy, a county commissioner. A proven vote getter and formidable fundraiser, Kilroy will most likely benefit from a decade-long exodus of conservative voters to the exurbs. That has made the increasingly suburban district more moderate. It went to Bush by less than 1 percentage point in 2004...

If Bush got this district by less than one percent, it means that Kilroy has a fighting chance to unseat Pryce. The people in the 15th district are extremely concerned about the war in Iraq. Pryce supports Bush's war without any reservations. However, many of us in the 15th are saddened by the many young people we've lost in Iraq. If Pryce is re-elected, she will continue to support this war and will refuse to change the course. However, if Kilroy is elected, we will have someone in Congress who is not a puppet of the administration, the GOP, and big business. Kilroy is our only choice for change.

Details, Details, Details

The Pryce campaign is a little red-faced today (besides being caught red-handed!). Here is an article from Myrtle Beach Online:
Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, goofed in a television ad: In the last frame, her first name is spelled "Deboarah."

We all make spelling errors. However, when you are a professional politician with a big staff, and your message is out there for the voting public, you cannot make mistakes. Why? It shows your lack of attention and inability to focus on details. Pryce is really not concerned with details. Pryce just follows the orders of Bush, Rove, DeLay, Hastert, Boehner, and the rest of the high-living, business-loving Republicans. The average citizen has been forgotten. The rest of the article goes like this:

Her challenger, Mary Jo Kilroy, a Democrat, has exploited the gaffe.
"Deborah Pryce and her campaign are so 'wildly' out of touch, they don't even know who they are anymore, or even how to spell the candidate's name," Scott Kozar, Kilroy's campaign manager, declared in a statement.
Pryce spokesman John DeStefano was not amused. "We finally know Mary Jo Kilroy knows one issue - correct spelling. ... No matter how you spell Deborah Pryce, one thing is certain: Mary Jo Kilroy is a tax-raising liberal."

Really, Mr. DeStefano? I remember when the Republicans were fiscal conservatives. At the end of President Clinton's last term there was a surplus. Now our country is now faced with the largest national debt in our history. Pryce is not a fiscal conservative. Kilroy is more fiscally conservative than Pryce. As an Franklin County Commissioner, Kilroy has been balancing the county's budget for years. Who should we trust with our money----Pryce who rewards big business and the wealthy with tax cuts or Kilroy who knows how to balance a budget???

This just in: Looks like Republican Denny Hastert is under investigation. Oh, no! Not another Republican corruption scandal!!!!! Details here.

Pryce: Stay in Iraq for the Women???

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce gave a speech on the floor of the House to support "staying the course" in Iraq. In her speech, Pryce said that our troops should stay in Iraq to help the women of Iraq.

What? Many American mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and aunts have lost family members in Iraq. What about the American women? Is Pryce so cold-hearted that she would worry about the lives of others before she would worry about the families in her district and her country? Isn't she concerned about the American mothers who cry every single night? Isn't she worried about the American wives who will never have their husbands with them? Doesn't she think about those American boys and girls who've lost their fathers?

This country is on the wrong track. Pryce's thinking is wrong. Why do we women need to make any additional sacrifices for this war? Haven't we lost enough?

White House, Pryce, and GOP: 2500 Deaths Just a Number?

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) just doesn't get it and neither does the rest of the GOP. The people in the 15th district want our family members home. Americans want Bush's war in Iraq over. We want our sons and daughters home before another one dies. Too many lives have been lost and too many lives have been changed forever because Bush and the neo-cons decided to invade Iraq.

However, Pryce and the GOP want us to continue to stay in Iraq. Why? Why? How we will know when the war is won?

The disconnect that this administration has from the human cost of this war was displayed yesterday. This is from Think Progress:

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow was asked this afternoon if President Bush had any reaction to the death toll for U.S. troops in Iraq reaching 2,500. Snow responded: “It’s a number.” Watch it

If this White House and the Republicans think that the deaths of 2500 Americans is just a number, it shows their pure political purpose for keeping our men and women in Iraq: The Republicans don't want to admit that the reason for the war was a lie.

:> This takes the cake: Despite the fact that Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (GA-R) co-sponsored a bill about the Ten Commandments, Westmoreland can't name them. Steven Colbert visited Westmoreland and Crooks and Liars has the video. Video-WMP Video-QT

Re: the VFW endorsement of Pryce= It is goes against the bylaws of the VFW.
I found out that: No one in the VFW can endorse any political candidate except the VFW-PAC Board of Directors. This information came from someone in the VFW in DC.

Republicans vs. Move On

Did the Republicans threaten to sue TV stations that would broadcast Moveon.org ads against Republican Deborah Pryce??? A similar case in Virginia, made a TV station turn down a Moveon.org ad. It just may have also happened here in Ohio. The Liberty Post has the AP story. Here is an excerpt from that article:

A TV station and a cable network are refusing to run an ad sponsored by a liberal activist group that targets Republican U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce because of questions about material the group provided to back up the ad's claims.

The group MoveOn.org is spending $300,000 on ads targeting Pryce and other lawmakers. The ads say they accepted thousands of dollars in donations from defense contractors and then "opposed penalties for contractors like Halliburton who overcharged the military in Iraq."

Tom Griesdorn, president and general manager of WBNS-TV, said the station didn't air the ad because its attorneys "did not feel comfortable with the documentation provided by Moveon.org," he said.

In other words, the Republicans may have threatened to sue WBNS if they ran the ads. This is what is called pure and simple intimidation.

If you live in Worthington, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Columbus, Grove City, and other parts of the 15th congressional district, we are NOT getting the full truth about Pryce's big money defense contributors. Moveon.org has the facts and they are backed up with lots and lots of sources and records. Here are the Pryce (OH-15) ad | facts and an excerpt:

PAC contributions form defense contractors working in Iraq (not including contributions from PACs of defense contractors not working in Iraq):

Flour Corp. PAC.........$500
CH2M Hill Co. LTD PAC.......$2770
Science Application International Corp. Voluntary PAC.....$1000
Lucent Technologies, Inc. PAC.....$6000
Northrup Grumman PAC (contract awarded to Vinnell Corp, fully-owned Northrup Corp)....$6000
Motorola Inc. PAC.....$500
______________Total $16,750

......Then she opposed penalties for contractors....
Rep. Pryce voted against Higgins, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to add language that would impose stricter criminal and civil penalties on corporations who intentionally overcharge the federal government for the provision of goods and services in response to a presidentially declared major disaster, emergency or military action, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.[HR 1751, CQ Vote 584, 11/9/05]...

Go to Move ON and see the ad that the Republicans don't want you to see. The Republicans haven't told us the truth about Ohio's corruption problems and they haven't told us the truth about Iraq. Now Pryce and her party won't tell you the truth about their contributions from defense PACs.

If you haven't seen Pryce's ads claiming her endorsement of a local VFW, count yourself lucky. The local VFW could lose its charter because it endorsed a candidate. Also, Pryce's early ad may signal her desperation and indications that she is losing in her own private polling. It is just my guess.

Many Veterans Against Pryce

A recent endorsement by a Veterans group for Republican Deborah Pryce is causing a lot of anger among veterans. Pryce has voted against many veterans issues and many veterans believe she should have not gotten any endorsement. For example, here is a letter written by a veteran and posted at Veterans for America. The letter writer provides some information as to Pryce's real voting record on veterans benefits. Just between you and me, Pryce's voting record is pathetic. The voting record can be found here .

The Republican Strategy At Work

*Yesterday we saw all the glitz associated with the Republicans controlling the news. After President Bush showed up unexpectedly in Iraq yesterday, we are supposed to believe that everything is good. However, the heavily orchestrated event does not change the reality of the war. Our young men and women continue to be killed and THERE IS STILL NO EXIT STRATEGY. How does a short trip to anywhere provide information? The appearances had all the markings of Karl Rove-- cheering people in uniform, American flags, and lots of cameras. However, other than the self-congratulations offered by the president, did you hear any concrete details? No. This story shows the results of the Iraq War: Sgt. Mark Smykowski's death in Iraq.

*Ohio's golfing governor, Bob Taft, got some news yesterday: He was ordered by the Ohio Supreme Court to turn over his papers he claims are secret. The Toledo Blade has the story. I have to give a lot of credit to Ohio Sen. Marc Dann of Youngstown for his unyielding search for the truth in the Taft corruption matter. Why isn't anyone talking about the missing millions in the BWC's Coingate corruption scandal?

The Guessing Game

With the midterm election months away, political pundits are trying to guess if Democrats will pick up any seats in the fall election. The Canton Repository has and article and every researcher and writer has his or her own number. Here are some excerpts from the article:

Grover Norquist, president of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, breaks it down this way.

“Democrats must win 74 percent of all competitive races to gain the majority,” he writes in this month’s American Spectator. “Not impossible, but difficult.”

Nuh-uh, says Amy Walter, who crunches House numbers for Cook Political Report. “They need to win 56 percent of all the competitive races.”

...“Fifty-seven,” says Bernadette Budde, political analyst for the Business Industry Political Action Committee.

“Two dozen,” says Scott Reiter, a representative of the Realtors Political Action Committee....

...We ask Rothenberg to put his expertise on the line: How many seats will the Democrats take?

“Eight to 12,” he says at first, then backs up. That’s what the science tells him, he says, but his “gut” tells him ”15 to 20...”

It should be an interesting four months.

Pryce Hearing More Local Opposition

Today's Columbus Dispatch claims that there are outsiders coming to Ohio to oppose Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce and Republican Rep. Bob Ney. I disagree. I know for a fact that there are lots and lots of people in central Ohio who volunteer for Move On and other groups and 99% of the members are locals. In the 2004 election, thousands of people in Ohio organized and joined groups in opposition to the ruling party (the GOP). Those local volunteers are out there again trying to change the status quo.

What kind of people volunteer for Move On and other political action groups? They are mothers, fathers, grandparents, business people, college students, retirees, high school graduates, college graduates, and your neighbor. People want to do something and that is why they are willing to get out there, talk to people, and work for change.

Pryce and the Republicans are trying to characterize their opposition as outsiders. However, the Republican opposition is made up of regular, ordinary Ohioans who are sick and tired of the corruption, lies, deficits, and the unending war. We've had enough and we are going to say it loud and clear---Vote Pryce and the Republicans out of office!


*>>>>Just a little reminder: The President, Rep. Deborah Pryce, and the Republican Party plan to work on reforming Social Security again starting in 2007. If we elect a Democratic majority, the Republican agenda will be altered because they will lose their power. Remember, Pryce wrote the text on how Republicans should sell the privatization of Social Security.

By the way, are you interested in where Pryce is getting all her political contributions? Well, since individuals in her district are not big supporters, PACs are her biggest contributors. According to Political Money Line, Pryce has gotten $418,498 from Finance and Insurance PACs, $157,020 from Health Care PACs, and other PACs which you can read about here. It is obvious that Pryce is getting her money from special business PACs. This shows that she really doesn't care about the regular citizen. Her priorities are set by big business PACs and big money groups. More campaign information on contributions is located here.


In case you missed it----Raw Story is reporting that Bob Herbert of the New York Times has written that ......In the 2004 presidential election, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) "almost certainly would have won Ohio if all of his votes had been counted, and if all of the eligible voters who tried to vote for him had been allowed to cast their ballots," writes columnist Bob Herbert for Monday's edition of The New York Times.....

Pryce and the Republicans want to know why Ohio voters are so upset! The Republicans stole the election. Why won't we just go crawl into a hole and never talk about it again? 1. It is a crime. 2. Look the damage the Republicans have done to our state and our country. 3. We will NEVER forget.

Pryce Has Been Republican Messenger

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce is very responsible for the mess that has been created in Ohio and our nation. As part of the Republican leadership in Washington, DC, she helps set the agenda and works to get the Republican agenda into law. That is precisely why it is time to vote for Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate for the 15th congressional district. For too long, Pryce and the Republicans have taken this country on a dangerous course. Under the Republican leadership, there is no accountability and no oversight. The Republicans refuse to question the Republican president's policies and his ignoring of laws. Our national debt is staggering. Our national priorities (tax breaks for wealthy, defense of marriage act, removal of estate taxes, waging an unpopular war, not funding the No Child Left Behind Act) creating laws that benefit corporations (medicare drug act, gas producer tax cuts) have set this country back. If we really want to get this country back on the right track, Pryce has got to be voted out of office.

There is an article in the Morning Journal about Pryce and Kilroy. Here are some excerpts:

...Alexander Lamis, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University who edits books on Ohio politics, said suburban voters are angry over the rise of cultural conservatism and less likely than in the past to separate Pryce from her party.

''She should be worried; despite the moderate image she's had, she's going to get caught up in the voter fury developing on the Democratic side,'' he said. ''She may hold on, but if you look at contested districts around the country, many of them are in these Democratic-trending suburban areas.''

...Kilroy says Pryce has stuck with the conservative line whenever moderate Republicans broke with the party leadership, as they did last year in rejecting Bush's plan for individual retirement accounts under Social Security. Pryce was out in front encouraging Republicans to stick with the president's plan....

We have a choice in the 15th district this November. If you really want change, you must work for it and back it up with a vote to change our representation.

Pryce Was In Favor of Term Limits Before She Was Against It

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce was for term limits when she signed the Republican document, Contract With America. According to the 'contract' there was to be a limit of no more than twelve years served in the House or the Senate. .............. Keeping that in mind, it is time for Pryce to retire. It is time to vote her out of office.

Here is an interesting picture of Pryce with Bush and other Republicans. This is one of the few pictures of Pryce and Bush you'll find online. Pryce's staff members have scrubbed most pictures that show her with Bush. She has ALWAYS supported Bush and his policies, she just doesn't want you to 'picture' that.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Another reason I don't shop at Wal-Mart: Toledo Blade--
A Georgia company was given $30,000 in proposed fines and cited three times by federal inspectors for unsafe working conditions at a new Wal-Mart store in Upper Sandusky.

Two of the three citations against Harco Services LLC, of Kennesaw, Ga., are willful, the most serious that can be issued, after an April visit from inspectors of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration found workers were exposed to cave-in hazards while working in a trench about 14 feet in depth....

Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Ted Strickland is bringing in the big bucks for his campaign.

Republican Rep. Bob Ney appears to be unable to handle the pressure of his scandals being printed in newspapers. I always thought that you know a person's character by how he/she handles stress. It looks like Ney is cracking under all the scrutiny.

Pryce Stopped the Ads

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce stopped the recent ads from Moveon.org. However, we can still get the facts out to the citizens of Ohio's 15th District. Listen up, everyone in central Ohio, because this is the ad Deborah Pryce doesn't want you to see: MOVEON.ORG

Dayton, Ohio is bracing for more layoffs. WHIO-TV has a story about additional layoffs. Here is an excerpt: Officials in the Dayton area warn that a "perfect storm" of layoffs is developing that could wipe out as many as 9,000 jobs....

This must be the "robust" economy that Pryce and the Republicans boast about all the time.

PRYCE IS RELIEVED ABOUT CALIFORNIA ELECTION!
From Ocala.com (by David Broder) comes this tidbit:
So, bottom line, both parties are going into the summer doldrums and the fall campaign with no idea how the midterm battle for control of Congress and most governorships will turn out.

The last big round of primaries, held in eight states on Tuesday, only added to the confusion. When I bumped into Rep. Deborah Pryce, chairman of the House Republican Conference, in the Capitol - 36 hours after Brian Bilbray had managed to hold a normally safe Republican seat against a fierce Democratic challenge in a San Diego area special congressional election - I asked her how she was feeling.

"Relieved," was her one-word answer. And when I inquired about her own election situation, she ruefully said, "Fine, except I am from Ohio"-a reference to the scandals that have enveloped Republican Gov. Bob Taft and created problems for Ohio's GOP ticket...

Are we to feel sympathy for Pryce? Didn't she create her own problems by associating herself with DeLay, Bush, Ney, Hastert, Rove, Noe, and the rest of the corrupt GOP? Why didn't Broder mention the rest of the Ohio scandals--coingate, election fraud, bribery, golf trips, etc???

I don't think she should feel relieved. Mary Jo Kilroy is a great Democratic candidate and she will provide Pryce with the political fight of her public life.