>>>> Republican Rep. Stivers (OH-15), a former bank lobbyist, is one of those in his party who continue to push for "reform" on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Keep in mind that every single time that you hear Stivers and the GOPers say "reform" they really mean "privatize" these programs. If they ended these important programs, you'd have your parents living in your living room. Those rich Republicans are able to hire nurses and caregivers, but your lack of funds would not allow you to do the same.
Stivers has been getting big money from PACs for his next campaign.
Business-journal:
....Stivers, for instance, said through a spokeswoman that he "is influenced by the people of Ohio's 15th Congressional District" and that he is "focused on creating jobs and improving the economy in the district." The banking industry, which has fared poorly in public opinion polls in the wake of the financial crisis and recession, denies their campaign contributions can buy votes or get bills introduced or passed. Their donations only give them access so they can voice their concerns about pressing economic matters. "We believe that it is our responsibility to participate in the political process to ensure that we protect our shareholders' investment in our firm," Goldman Sachs says in its annual report to stockholders.
Goldman Sachs spent more than $1 million on lobbying in the fourth quarter of last year in addition to its campaign contributions. Since the last election, it has stepped up its contributions to freshman Republican legislators in particular, giving at least $8,000 to Stivers....
Stivers continues to try to overturn regulations for the banking industry. Those regulations protect consumers.
* Ohio Gov. John Kasich continues trying to take over the entire public school system in the state. As Kasich removes parents and communities from local control of their schools, he alone grabs power away from them. By drastically reducing funding for the schools and targeting the teachers, struggling schools, and students, Kasich has set a road to failure for public education.
Dispatch:
....Damon Asbury, of the Ohio School Boards Association, said the governor's proposal to close chronically failing schools undermines the authority of elected school boards.
"This is unnecessary. School boards already have the authority to deal with low-performing schools," he said. "Boards of education are elected to oversee the public education program in the community. To put this in would bypass their authority."
...Teachers in the same schools at risk of being closed outright also would come under scrutiny. To be licensed in Ohio, teachers must pass a content-knowledge test. But if they're working in a struggling school, they'll have to pass it again, Sommers said....
By the way, Kasich is still waiting for the public school teachers in Ohio to take out their full page ads to apologize to him about what he thought were unfair attacks during the campaign. The truth of the matter is that Kasich has proved that he wants nothing more than to turn every public school into a charter school to reward his right wing charter school supporters.
Plunderbund:
....Is it smear when the teachers’ unions, correctly, and in proper context, simply inform their members that Kasich has promised to “break the backs” of those unions? Kasich apparently thinks so, as he’s insisted they take a full page ad apologizing to him if he wins...
(Visit Plunderbund for the audio of Kasich saying he won't meet with teachers until they take out those full page apologies in every newspaper in Ohio.)
Crooks and Liars has the TV news story:
Given the increasing cost of gasoline, Kasich's refusal to accept federal funds for the rail project proves that he does not have a comprehensive view of Ohio's future. His view of Ohio's future is based on his right wing ideologies. Not only did he stop the chance for alternative transportation for Ohioans, he also ended the possibility of thousands of construction jobs, economic growth along the rail lines, and an increased market for Ohio goods.