Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

*** Why did so many Republicans vote against TSA funding?

Politico:

....the largest impediment to change at the agency: South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint has a hold on the appointment of a TSA chief, over his concern that the new administration could allow security screeners to unionize.

Republicans have cast votes against the key TSA funding measure that the 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security contained, which included funding for the TSA, including for explosives detection systems and other aviation security measures. In the June 24 vote in the House, leading Republicans including John Boehner, Pete Hoekstra, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan voted against the bill, amid a procedural dispute over the appropriations process, a Democrat points out. A full 108 Republicans voted against the conference version, including Boehner, Hoekstra, Pence, Michelle Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn, Darrell Issa and Joe Wilson.

The conference bill included more than $4 billion for "screening operations," including $1.1 billion in funding for explosives detection systems, with $778 million for buying and installing the systems.....

These Republicans need to be asked why they voted against security measures that protect the American public.

* Did you know that Republican State Sen. Jon Husted (of Kettering for voting purposes) considers Brookside County Club (sandwiched between Worthington and Dublin) his "home" country club? It appears that he golfs there frequently. Why doesn't he belong to any country clubs in Kettering?

GHIN.com:

Name:

Jon Husted

Club	Handicap Index	Effective Date	Low H.I.
Brookside Golf & CC Columbus District Golf Assoc	13.1	12/1/2009	12.4

Revision ScoresRecent ScoresH.I. HistoryC.H. Calculator

Used	T	Date	Score	CR/Slope	Diff.
	H	6/09	94	72.0/134	18.6
*	H	6/09	86	72.0/134	11.8
*	H	5/09	90	72.0/134	15.2
	H	5/09	93	72.0/134	17.7
	H	8/08	100	72.0/134	23.6
	T	8/08	94	72.0/134	18.6
*	T	8/08	89	72.0/134	14.3
*	H	8/08	87	72.0/134	12.6
*	H	8/08	86	72.0/134	11.8
	H	8/08	98	72.0/134	21.9
*	H	8/08	86	72.0/134	11.8
	H	7/08	95	72.0/134	19.4
*	H	7/08	89	72.0/134	14.3
*	H	7/08	89	72.0/134	14.3
	H	7/08	96	72.0/134	20.2
	H	6/08	95	72.0/134	19.4
	H	6/08	94	72.0/134	18.6
*	C	5/08	90	71.1/131	16.3
	H	5/08	99	72.0/134	22.8
*	H	5/08	89	72.0/134	14.3

According to golflink.com, there are plenty of golf courses in the Kettering area. There appears to be well over 25 places to golf around Kettering, but Husted has listed Brookside as his home country club. I really feel bad for the residents of Kettering. Not only does their state senator not live in or near his district, he doesn't even spend money, flush the toilet (according to water bills), or pay country club membership fees in the district. Doesn't he care about creating jobs and contributing money to his "home" district?

Wednesday's News

* I offer my condolences to the family of Mark Losey. Mark was very active in the community and had been a Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th district in 2006. More recently, Mark served as the coordinator for the Veterans Honor Flights, which took veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials.

* Buckeye fans are serving duck this New Year's Day, instead of the traditional pork (Dispatch).

* I wonder which elected officials will catch a ride on lobbyists' private jets to go to the Rose Bowl. Do you remember this little nugget from 2005 from Ohio Citizen:

"When incoming House Speaker Jon Husted needed a way to get to San Antonio on Dec. 29 to represent Ohio at the Alamo Bowl, he asked Tim Day of Dayton-based NCR Corp., if he could help. Day, vice president for NCR government affairs, based in Washington, did. He arranged for Husted, R-Kettering, to travel on the company's Lear 55C, seven-seat corporate jet, to watch Ohio State play Oklahoma State, and to reimburse NCR...Catherine Turcer, legislative director for Ohio Citizen Action, a government watchdog group, said the arrangement should have raised this question for Husted: 'Would they be doing this for me if I were not speaker of the House?'...This is the second time in less than a week that Husted's relationship with lobbyists he also regards as friends has drawn attention," William Hershey, Dayton Daily News...

It appears that Jon Husted likes hanging out and traveling with lobbyists (see Freerepublic).

A Banker's Friend Indeed!

* Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Steve Stivers, former bank lobbyist and state senator, quoted This Week News Marysville on his campaign website:

....Stivers will challenge incumbent Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, whom he narrowly lost to in the 2008 election.

"Kilroy may talk a good game about how she wants to protect Ohioans and represent their needs, but she just doesn't deliver," Stivers said. "The people want someone who won't just talk the talk, they want a representative who will walk the walk. I'll do that in Congress and I'll work hard each day to make my constituents proud of the work I accomplish."

Is he serious? "Walk the walk."????????? Stivers will deliver..........for the bankers! Kilroy has forced Chase to keep jobs in town instead of moving them overseas to India. (See Kilroy.house.gov)
Kilroy saved thousands of Ohio jobs. Stivers, the former bank lobbyist, will schmooze and pander to his pals in the banking industry. That is why bank PACs and their employees continue to contribute money to the Stivers campaign. (See individual contributors ----FEC)
Those PACs and non-party contributors (see FEC.gov) include:
JPMorgan Chase & Co. PAC $5000
COMERICA Bank PAC $1000
...and other insurance, health insurance, oil, utility PACs. It is early and more money will come to Stivers from these groups as the 2010 election gets closer. They want to invest campaign money in Stivers to help their various industries.

After the mess that banks got this country into, do we really need someone in Congress who will protect those greedy bankers? I don't think so.

Hope Your Christmas Was Merry!

Sorry I haven't posted over the last few days. In trying to tie up all the loose ends for Christmas, I did not get a chance to sit, think, and write!

* Did you get a Christmas card from state Sen. Jon Husted? Plunderbund has a copy of the Husted Christmas card. I don't know if the picture was taken at his home (for voting purposes) in Kettering or his family's home in Upper Arlington. You might also note that the card was paid for by the Ohio GOP.
(pic posted at Plunderbund)















I don't recall Christmas cards being paid for by political parties. Somehow it seems like a waste of money considering that campaigns are so expensive.

* What is going on in the Lucas County Republican Party? Seems as though there has been some in-fighting about who exactly controls the party. Check out the story at the Toledo Blade.

* Despite the fact that they Republicans did not support it, health care reform passed the Senate. Although I'm not completely happy with the final product, I'm pleased that it is a start. Sometimes you just can't get everything. People will remember that the Democrats were responsible for passing Social Security, Civil Rights bills, and health care reform. The Republicans, of course, stood in the way of all of these important measures.

Crime Lab to Get Funding

Things are progressing. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy made an announcement recently that will certainly help law enforcement.
Dispatch:

The Columbus police crime lab is so cramped that there isn't enough room to conduct tests on some of the forensic evidence collected by investigators....
....The city is a step closer to correcting the problem. Congress approved an appropriations bill last week that includes $300,000 to begin design work on a new crime lab and property room. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill.

Public Safety officials and U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy of Columbus touted the funding yesterday during a tour of the current crime lab at 520 King Ave., which they called crowded and outdated.....

I'm sure that those working in the crime lab are excited about the improvements.

Now You Know Where They Stand

* Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12-R) doesn't seem to believe that there is a climate crisis.
Dispatch:

....The Dispatch asked Ohio lawmakers: Do you believe that global warming is a scientifically proven fact? And if so, do you believe global warming is a man-made phenomenon? Is it such a serious threat that legislation is needed to mandate reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases in the U.S.?

GOP Rep. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township doesn't think there is a consensus among scientists about whether global warming is proven....

Not a consensus? I guess the fact that 99.99% of scientists agree in global warming isn't a consensus to Tiberi. Elected officials, mostly Republicans, who don't agree that there is a climate crisis, are willing to gamble the future of your children and grandchildren to advance their political agenda.

*** Firedoglake has this about Republican Sen. Inhofe, a climate change denier:

...When Sen. James Inhofe showed up in Copenhagen to spread the truth about the global warming hoax only he can see, a reporter for Der Spigel rightly told Inhofe "you’re ridiculous."...

The rest of the world can see Inhofe's ignorance.

>>>> The Union of Concerned Scientists has this to say about Sen. Lisa Murkowski's "disapproval resolution" to block the EPA:

...Below is a statement by Lexi Shultz, deputy director of UCS's Climate and Energy Program:

"Senators need to quit posturing and start making progress on climate legislation. At a time when states, the executive branch, and the House all have taken action, the Senate is lagging behind because of obstructionist tactics like this resolution. Senators should be spending their time and energy putting solutions on the table, not throwing wrenches into the works at EPA. The best way for senators to address their concerns about EPA authority is to pass their own climate and energy bill.....

"...This resolution would block EPA and 14 states from implementing standards for vehicles and power plants. EPA would not be able to finalize new vehicle standards that will save Americans money at the gas pump, curb tailpipe emissions, and cut America's oil dependence. Likewise, it would prevent the agency from curbing global warming emissions from coal-fired power plants and other facilities that emit massive amounts of pollution....".....

What is it with Murkowski, Inhofe, and Tiberi? Do they enjoy being ignorant? Do they like trying to ruin the environment?

Friday's Notes

* BusinessFirst:

A Columbus technology developer has clinched $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce for a project with applications in the medical imaging trade.

Hyper Tech Research Inc. was one of 20 companies to receive funding from the department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, said U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus. The grant is aimed at continuing work on the development of magnesium diboride wires, which can better conduct electrical currents....

....The company, which employs about 20 workers, has told Columbus Business First it plans to add employees and expects to triple its $2 million 2008 revenue by 2012.

As we know, every job is precious.

>>> The Toledo Blade is reporting that the budget fix for Ohio has a lot of people breathing easier today:

.... Lawmakers and Gov. Ted Strickland yesterday broke a long-awaited deal to patch an $851 million hole in the state's education budget by delaying for two years the final 4.2 percent installment of a total 21 percent cut set in motion in 2005....

When former Gov. Taft and the Republicans passed those tax cuts in 2005, they knew that they'd make the next governor's term a tough one. The Republicans were laying the ground work for a disaster that they thought would guarantee that they'd win back the governor's office. The Ohio GOP just wants power and money. They don't care what happens to ordinary people.

* With the midterm elections just under a year away, Ohio's Democrats are sizing up their opponents and getting ready for a tough road ahead. Democrats in Congress have worked hard to pass legislation to stop our country from going into a financial depression, while the Republicans have voted "NO!" on job creation, help for homeowners, financial incentives to get employment going, etc., etc.

Cleveland.com:

Democrats who won GOP-held congressional seats in Ohio last year have a good shot at retaining them despite the state’s continued economic slump, says Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen.

At a Thursday morning briefing with reporters, Van Hollen said that John Boccieri of Alliance, Steve Driehaus of Cincinnati, Mary Jo Kilroy of Columbus, and Zack Space of Dover (who won a GOP-held seat in 2006) have all been “focused on their districts” and maintained the active legislative agenda and outreach to constituents they need to win re-election....

Americans know that President Obama was left two wars, and a nearly catastrophic financial disaster by the Bush administration. President Obama and Democrats have tried to do something to fix the mess and halt a complete collapse of our nation. The Republicans have done N-O-T-H-I-N-G, but try to protect the banks, their lobbyists, and go negative. The GOP has offered nothing but the same old same old.

An Ohio Budget?

It appears that there might be a deal on the Ohio budget. The Chillicothe Gazette:

State lawmakers ended an impasse over a budget gap late Wednesday by agreeing to combine Gov. Ted Strickland's tax cut delay with a pilot project to test new construction rules, averting cuts to school districts and a working holiday....
.....The main pieces of the deal include a delay in the final 4.2 percent planned reduction in income taxes to fill an $850 million budget gap, a pilot program for proposed changes in state construction procedures and a plan to make it easier for school districts to get out of a requirement that they provide all-day kindergarten, said Keary McCarthy, a spokesman for House Speaker Armond Budish, a Beachwood Democrat.
Strickland's tax cut delay had run into a wall in the Senate, with the majority of Republicans refusing to vote for any plan that contained it because they viewed it as a tax increase. A small group of Republicans -- likely around five -- is expected to vote for it Thursday in return for the all-day kindergarten measure and the construction rules pilot program....

If this does indeed work out, we can chalk it up to common Republican tactics of delay, delay, delay.
While schools, colleges, parents, students, and educators were sent into panic mode, while the Republicans played games with people's lives.

More Baloney

* Don't believe everything he says! In an editorial posted at IrontonTribune.com, Republican candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, State Senator Jon Husted, is grateful for the support of the Republicans of southern Ohio. The kicker is that Husted, who lives with his family in Upper Arlington, posted his Kettering address in the piece. As everyone in Ohio knows by now, Husted does not live (use water, electricity, or heat) at the Kettering address but uses it for voting purposes (as designated by the Ohio Supreme Court, which is comprised of all Republicans). The title of the opinion piece is "Southern Ohio Will Never Be Forgotten." Hasn't already forgotten about his neighbors in Kettering? If the people reading the Ironton Tribune show up at Husted's Kettering address, he won't be there.

* As the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate plays games with the state budget, students, teachers, parents, and administrators are starting to worry about school funding. If the Ohio Senate refuses to pass Gov. Strickland's budget, schools and colleges might be forced to close and even lose federal funding.

Dispatch:

Gov. Ted Strickland says he will call the state legislature back to Columbus on Christmas day if necessary if they recess for the holidays without reaching agreement on how to resolve the budget deadlock....

....The Democratic-controlled House passed Strickland's plan to delay implementation of a 4.2 percent income tax rollback to fill the budget hole, but it has been stuck for weeks in the GOP-led Senate. Harris says his 21-member caucus will provide five votes if the income tax plan also includes changes to Ohio's 132-year-old public construction law.

That would require approval from all 12 Senate Democrats to pass the measure, and Democrats have insisted the budget fix not include additional major policy changes....

Call/email the Ohio Senate Phone: (614) 466-8086 Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us and tell those Republicans to get off their you-know-whats and pass the Governor's budget. I'm tired of these Republicans playing games with our lives.

Are the Republicans in the Ohio Senate trying to blackmail Gov. Strickland?

There is a huge budget gap in Ohio and Governor Ted Strickland has waited for the Republican controlled Ohio Senate to fix it. However, those Republicans are trying to blackmail Strickland. They won't work on the budget unless Strickland okays a huge tax cut that was set in place during Republican Gov. Bob Taft's administration. If Republicans refuse to meet and work on the budget, Strickland will have to trim over $850 million and most of that will have to come from education. The Republicans don't care because they are only interested in getting re-elected and making the Democratic Governor of Ohio look bad. Shame on those Republicans in the Ohio Senate. They are only trying to reward their rich contributors with a tax cut. (For more on the story, see the Phillyburbs.)

Contact Bill Harris and let him know that you demand that he and the rest of the Republicans in the Ohio Senate get back to work. Contact Harris----Phone: (614) 466-8086
Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us

Here is the page that lists the members of the Ohio Senate. You may want to contact each and every Republican and tell them to get off their behinds and fix the budget.: Here is a start of the contacts...

Buehrer: Phone: (614) 466-8150
Email: SD01@senate.state.oh.us

Wagoner: Phone: (614) 466-8060
Email: SD02@senate.state.oh.us

Goodman: Phone: (614) 466-8064
Email: SD03@senate.state.oh.us

Cates: Phone: (614) 466-8072
Email: SD04@senate.state.oh.us

Husted: Phone: (614) 466-4538
Email: SD06@senate.state.oh.us

Jones: Phone: (614) 466-9737
Email: SD07@senate.state.oh.us

Seitz: Phone: (614) 466-8068
Email: SD08@senate.state.oh.us

Widener: Phone: (614) 466-3780
Email: SD10@senate.state.oh.us

Faber: Phone: (614) 466-7584
Email: SD12@senate.state.oh.us

Hughes: Phone: (614) 466-5981
Email: SD16@senate.state.oh.us

Check out the rest of the GOPers at the Senate directory http://www.ohiosenate.gov/directory.html
and let them know what you think of them.

There They Go Again...

Even though Republican Rep. John Boehner has done nothing to help get people back to work, he is complaining about the President. The reply to Boehner's criticism came from Dan Pfeiffer, the White House Communications Director.

Gov. Monitor:

Unfortunately, what we heard from Congressman Boehner was more of the same, status quo, business-as-usual policies that led us to this crisis.

Just one year ago, the financial system was on the edge of collapse. The economy was in free fall....

....The President has always said there is an open door for good ideas and when Congressman Boehner and Republicans in Congress are interested in being a part of a conversation about how to move forward instead of rooting against the path to economic recovery—we look forward to having a productive conversation....

Boehner and the rest of the Republicans are against bank regulation. They must think it is fine for banks to make predatory loans and take advantage of people. Unfortunately, the Republicans still refuse to believe that their deregulations under the Bush administration created the banking failures we are having today. Republicans just want to give the bankers whatever they want and forget about the rights and privileges of the ordinary person.

*** Looks like there is more fallout from Republican Rep. Steve Austria (OH-7th) and his "blue ribbon commission" set up with his contributors to examine the contracts at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

XeniaCitizenJournal:

Steve Austria’s Blue Ribbon Commission on contracting is a classic example of “moral hazard,” or dishonest agents manufacturing a need that doesn’t exist. The tragic irony in Congressman Austria’s action is that he is asking special interests to “shed a light on the contracting process” that is dictated by Congress and Congress alone. Wright Patt acquisition professionals are bound by law to follow rules and regulations that emerge from Congress, so if Austria thinks he needs to alter or fix the process, he needs to go back to Washington and deal with the other 534 members of that “elite” body.

The simple truth is; Austria’s Blue Ribbon Commission is a reelection tool. He realizes he has done little to warrant a second term, and with the May 2010 primary approaching, he’s desperate to convince his constituents, not to mention his campaign contributors that he deserves the opportunity to get two years closer to qualifying for lucrative retirement and healthcare benefits, and other perks that go along with belonging to that elitist group known as “career politicians.”....


People know that Steve Austria has set up a game to win himself re-election.

Just another day...

* Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th) spoke in support of a bill, HR 4173, on insurance ratings. Lifeanhealthinsurancenews:

...Lawmakers spent little time discussing provisions that refer directly to insurers or insurance products, but they did spend some time debating provisions that would expose the major rating agencies, or "Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations," to increased legal liability....
.... Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio, said the rating agencies need to be held to better account.....
....(Rep. Barney) Frank said the liability provision is needed because of the reality that the rating agencies are paid by the companies they rate, rather than by the consumers of the ratings....

Why do the Republicans speak against this type of regulation? We cannot count on insurance companies to rate and set their own regulations. Do you remember what banking deregulation did to this country?


* Today we see that there is another Ohio Republican with residency "issues." Republican State Sen. Jon Husted who claims Kettering as his "home," but lives in Upper Arlington with his family, was allowed by the Ohio Supreme Court to use Kettering as his "home" for voting purposes. Now another member of the Ohio GOP has similar residency questions surrounding her.

Toledo Blade:

....Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D., Marietta) called for the change after an ethics complaint was filed against state Republican Sen. Karen Gillmor, who has been reimbursed for weekly 200-mile round trips between Columbus and a condominium she owns in Tiffin. The complaint was filed with the Joint Legislative Inspector General by James Patrick Leahy, an Ohio Democratic Party executive committee member from Dublin. He alleges that Ms. Gillmor really lives in the Dublin area of Union County where her children attend school. That house, while still in Ms. Gillmor's 26th District, would represent a round-trip commute of less than 50 miles....

How is it that these Republicans claim to be regular, average, working class people, but they own more than one house?

Tidbits

> Rep. Steve Austria's Democratic opponent for Ohio's 7th congressional district, Sharen Neuhardt, has accused him of plagiarism, according to a story in the Dayton Daily News.

> How close should a company that has received government contracts be with a member of Congress? Should they they throw parties for him or her? I'm just asking because I think that sometimes these relationships do cross the line. For example, Peerless Technologies Corp. threw a special get together with the retiring Rep. Hobson and then State Senator, Steve Austria.

(Picture and info from the Peerless website)

Peerless Hosts State Senator and US Congressman

Peerless hosted a special event on December 10, 2007 to honor Ohio Senator Steve Austria and retiring US Congressman Dave Hobson. Left to Right: Peerless CFO Andrea Kunk, US Congressman Dave Hobson, Ohio Senator Steve Austria, Peerless President Michael Bridges

Peerless later contributed money to Steve Austria's campaign for Congress for 2008, according to Open Secrets. Open Secrets reports that Peerless has already been contributing to Austria for 2010. Of course, you may recall from a previous post that Michael Bridges is serving on Steve Austria's special "blue ribbon commission" to examine contracts at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Isn't that cozy?

Wednesday

* Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th) offers her support of President Obama's plans for jobs. Dispatch:

....Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus, said she agrees with Obama's plan.

"People in central Ohio know that we need to create jobs, not just retain jobs, which is why I agree that we should help the economy with fiscally responsible small-business loans, tax cuts and new infrastructure programs while also finding ways to reduce the deficit," Kilroy said.....

Kilroy has long championed job creation. Her Republican opponent who will run against her again in 2010, has long championed the protection of bankers.

>>> John Boehner offered an editorial on November 20, 2009, in the Journal-News about his ideas for job creation where he suggested tax cuts for small business owners. However, when President Obama delivered his plans for job stimulation which included tax cuts for small businesses and other programs, Boehner declared that the President was "...out of ideas and out of touch..." (see HuffingtonPost).

* The controversy surrounding Republican Rep. Steve Austria (OH-7th) and his blue ribbon commission's members continues to grab attention (see DaytonDailyNews). Questions have been raised before about Steve Austria's ties to contracts at Wright Patterson. The allegations from Ret. U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Mitchel about Austria's connection to contracts at Wright Patterson Air Force Base had been posted as far back as January 2008 at the OhioDaily:

...Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Mitchel (R-Beavercreek), now running for the seat of retiring Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) and a veteran of past campaigns for Governor and Congress, charges that opponent State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) and his spouse Eileen are co-conspirators in a scheme to steer no-bid contracts to campaign contributors of Hobson, who supports Steve Austria in the race and has paid Eileen Austria large consulting fees. Mitchel compares the scheme to the steering of federal contracts by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) that resulted in his resignation from Congress in November 2005 and guilty plea to federal conspiracy charges. Cunningham is serving an eight year prison sentence....

What do you think? Is it okay with you if Austria and his campaign contributors start bullying their way into contracts at Wright Patterson?

Austria's Contributors on Blue Ribbon Commission

* Republican Rep. Steve Austria (OH-7th) has finally released the names of those people serving on his blue ribbon commission that will examine the contracts at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Dayton Daily News:

Michael Bridges, president, Peerless Technologies

Arnold Fife, vice president, CACI

John Garland, president, Central State University

Deborah Gross, president and owner of D. Gross Consulting

Glen Hamilton, chair of emergency medicine, Wright State University

Nina Joshi, CEO, UES Inc.

Dave Judson, CEO, JJR Solutions

Gary Kowal, senior director, Sergo Inc.

Dan Kugel, vice president, Battelle

John Leland, director, University of Dayton Research Institute

Robert May, retired executive service member, Aeronautical Systems Center

Lt Col. John McCance, USAF retired

Deborah McDonnell, Fairborn city manager

Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, USAF retired

Barry Myers, president, Sytronics

Maj. Gen. Everett Odgers, USAF retired

Becky Rogers, contracts manager at Sytronics

Col. Colleen Ryan, USAF retired

Brig. Gen. Homer Smith, USAF retired...

Here is how much some of these people contributed to the Steve Austria campaign-

OpenSecrets.org: Michael Bridges of Peerless has contributed $5,804 to Steve Austria's campaign...

OpenSecrets.org: Arnold Fife contributed $2,261 to Austria's campaign...

OpenSecrets.org: Nina Joshi contributed $6,100 Austria's campaign...

OpenSecrets.org: David Judson contributed $1,000 Austria's campaign...

OpenSecrets.org: John Leland contributed $500 Austria's campaign...

OpenSecrets.org: People employed by Sytronics contributed $6,000 to the Austria campaign...

I haven't even finished all the research but I'm sure that you get the picture. If you want to check out the rest of the names, visit http://www.opensecrets.org .

* Update--- I've done a search of the Ohio Secretary of State's campaign finance site and many of these same names show up in Austria's previous campaigns when he ran for state office. What promises did Austria make these individuals? What do these companies hope to gain by serving on this commission? Is this a payoff for being a contributor to Austria's campaign?

Worth A Look

Update: Rep. Steve Austria (OH-7th-Republican) apparently made his speech this morning about his super special "blue ribbon commission", according to WHIO-TV. However, Austria has not yet released the names of the members of his super special "blue ribbon commission" that he alone appointed. On October 27, 2009, Austria and other Republican freshman members asked for more transparency (see news release from Austria's website). I believe that the public has the right to know the names of those commission members.


* The Dayton Daily News:

U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, is forming a “Blue Ribbon Commission” to examine the contracting process for Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Austria announced on Friday, Dec. 4. The launch will be on Monday, Dec. 7.

The commission’s charge will be to come up with recommendations to increase the number of contracts awarded to local companies to bring more jobs to the area, a press release said.

Commission members will include a “broad cross section of community leaders with extensive experience including those who worked on the base, business leaders and (those) in academia,” the release said.....

So far, the names of those on the "commission" have not been released. I'll check them when they become public.

* Plunderbund has some very interesting questions about the relationship between Republican candidate, John Kasich, and CHS, Inc.:

....From Vegas to Minnesota, Kasich is raking in up to THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS a piece for these gigs. That’s more cash for a single afternoon’s work than many Ohioans make in a whole year. Nice work if you can get it....

...John Schmitz, for example, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at CHS inc., the company paying Kasich big bucks to speak at it’s national meeting next week. Mr. Schmitz is also a big time Republican contributor, giving not only to local Republican candidates and the state party but also to national candidate and to the RNC.

So is it possible that Schmitz, knowing Kasich was strapped for campaign cash, worked out a deal where he could ‘pay’ him tens of thousands of dollars knowing he would be using the money for his campaign?...

It is no secret that Kasich has been begging Republican contributors for money. Is Kasich working the speaking circuit as Plunderbund indicated to get even more cash?

Voinovich

* Why did Sen. George Voinovich vote against legislation that would allow women to have their preventive medical procedures paid for by their insurance companies? According to the U.S. Senate website, Voinovich voted (Senate Vote 00355) against ---Mikulski Amdt. 2791 As Amended; To clarify provisions relating to first dollar coverage for preventive services for women. This is very pathetic, Voinovich. Apparently, Voinovich doesn't think women want and need mammograms, pap tests, and other preventive procedures to be paid for by their health insurance. What is wrong with Voinovich? Doesn't he care about women's health issues?

>>>> Speaking of Voinovich......Cleveland.com has this----

Despite rumors louder than a Tea Party rally, U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is ... wait for it ... NOT running for Cuyahoga County executive.

The two-term senator, who is retiring at the end of next year, is still planning to retire from elected office. Period. So says his spokeswoman Garrette Silverman, who's well aware of the all the chatter about the county job.....

Huh? Doesn't the Cuyahoga County Republican Party have any new, younger, men or women in their party? Do they have to turn to the same old politicians for multiple party positions? Haven't we had enough of Voinovich?????

There You Go Again....

*** Will David Ryon of the Constitution Party take votes away from Republican Steve Stivers? Is Stivers conservative enough for the Republican base and the teabaggers? Exactly what kind of consulting work is Stivers doing these days?

>>> Cincinnati.com reports that the Ohio Democratic Party held a planning session for next year's elections. Some tidbits include----

....There was no end to toilet jokes about State Sen. Jon Husted, the Kettering Republican who is running for secretary of state. Democrats have argued that Husted doesn’t really live in the Kettering home he lists as his legal addresses, although the Republicans on the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled that he can claim the Kettering address as his home. State Rep. Jennifer Garrison, the Marietta Democrat who is running for secretary of state, delivered a warm-up speech where she assured the Cincinnati Democrats that “I get a shower, use the water, and actually live in my residence.”

Redfern, in his warm-up speech, chimed in, getting a big laugh when he said that “in six months, Jon Husted didn’t flush his toilet,” a reference to the absence of water usage in Husted’s Kettering home.

“Please support Jennifer Garrison, if for no other reason, every day that she is home, she flushes her toilet.”

HA! Husted still hasn't answered his critics in his "home" district of Kettering concerning NCR's move out of Dayton. Did the fact that Husted spends so little time in Kettering the reason he was blindsided about NCR's move out of the area? Has Husted lost touch with his constituents? Now that Husted is spending so much time visiting the entire state, have the people of Husted's "home" district fallen by the wayside?

> Hold onto your hats, Pilgrims! The Republicans are planning an "Economic Forum" to compete with President Obama's jobs summit. (Note: The difference between the President's summit and the GOP "forum" is that the President's efforts will produce jobs. The Republicans will just use their old rhetoric.)

RTT News:

After labeling President Barack Obama's plans for a jobs summit at the White House as nothing more than a publicity stunt, House Republicans announced they would hold their own forum focused on job creation Thursday.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced the summit Wednesday saying he would be bringing together several leading economists to consider policies that could jump start job growth....

Boehner and the Republicans will come out the same old Republican strategy to start job growth---- tax cuts for the wealthy, tax credits for businesses, reduce capital gains taxes, etc. There will be no new ideas from the Republicans. Nothing. Zippo. The Republicans will repeat their same old worn out phrases and old fashioned ideas.

*** The Nation is selling T-shirts that sum up the Republicans---Check out the shirt and other materials at The Nationmart. You've got to get one of these to irritate that right wing neighbor.

Boehner

Republican leader, John Boehner, finally got an answer to his questions about jobs created by the federal stimulus. Cincinnati.com:

House Minority Leader John Boehner received a sharply worded rebuttal today to his complaints that the Obama administration is using misleading and inaccurate job numbers to promote its stimulus package.

G. Edward DeSeve, who coordinates the day-to-day implementation of the Recovery Act, sarcastically agreed that the oft-quoted 640,000 figure for jobs saved or created is “not the best representation.” But not the way Boehner suggests.

Rather than inflated, DeSeve says it “only reflects a portion of what the Act has done.”...

Boehner just continues to try to find fault with everything from this administration. It is amazing he never complained when President Bush was in office.

Repeats

This morning, TheHill.com, reports that there is some uneasiness with repeat Republican candidates popping back the 2010 election campaign:

...While Republicans claim the enthusiasm to try again is a good sign of GOP momentum, it does have its drawbacks. Several of the repeat candidates face top GOP recruits in primaries, and their name recognition could threaten the party-preferred candidates....

Here in Ohio's 15th district, Republicans are happy that former bank lobbyist (now a "consultant" for what we don't know), Steve Stivers, has announced he intends to run again against Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy. Stivers apparently plans to run on the same platform he ran on previously. Many people expect Stivers to continue to support his banker friends, tax cuts for the rich, same old GOP mantra "cut capital gains taxes", blah, blah, blah, blah,..........

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has released her reasons for supporting health care reform----

...In Ohio's 15th Congressional District, the "Affordable Health Care for America Act" could:

. Improve employer-based coverage for 453,000 constituents.

. Provide credits for up to 165,000 households to help pay for coverage.

. Improve Medicare for 77,000 beneficiaries and close the "donut hole" that hurts seniors.

. Allow 15,900 small businesses to obtain affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce local health insurance costs for up to 13,300 small businesses.

. Provide coverage for 41,000 uninsured constituents.

. With better coverage, central Ohio families won't go bankrupt due to unaffordable health care costs.

. Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and health care providers by $220 million....

Obviously, Stivers and the Ohio GOP are against all of this because they are against any and all proposals put forth by President Obama and the Democratic Party. Stivers and the Republicans like the way things are in Ohio---- they have health insurance and they don't care if you do or not.