Kasich Preparing to Sell Off More State Stuff

Gov. John Kasich may have said that he would not allow lobbyists to dictate events in the state government, but actions speak louder than words.  Plunderbund has a must read article about how a lobbyist provided the written legislation to privatize the state lottery.  Plunderbund cites an article by Mark Naymik in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on how the operation was handled.

Plain Dealer:

....The Ohio Senate's latest version of the state budget bill includes language to privatize the Ohio Lottery that is nearly identical to legislation drafted by a gaming company hoping to manage the $2.5 billion agency's day-to-day operations. 

The language, drafted by GTECH, an industry giant that once ran the Ohio Lottery's back-office operations, was added to the massive budget bill virtually unchanged and without any public hearing. The inclusion of the ready-made language, submitted to Senate Republicans by GOP operative and GTECH lobbyist Mike Dawson, raises questions about the relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists and illustrates the power that special interests can have over the budget-writing process, critics say.....

.....And like GTECH's proposal, the Senate budget bill would exempt the company that wins the lottery contract from paying taxes on its fees.... 

Imagine that!  Lobbyists writing legislation for the Republicans!  We wouldn't expect anything less from the Ohio GOPers.

>>>>Toledo's workers don't want to see Kasich in town when the President is scheduled to appear later this week.

ToledoOntheMove:

.....George Tucker is the executive secretary of Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO union said Kasich “was against the loans to the auto indutry that created over 600,000 jobs nationwide.”  Tucker said the governor should not attend because he “didn’t have a part in” the jobs saved and created because of the bailout. 

Shortly before the crowd gathered, Kasich's camp responded stating he would not be at the plant on Friday, because the governor had pre-existing plans.

    But it didn't stop the group of union workers and city officials from “calling the governor out" on what they believe are inconsistencies.  Just last month Kasich appeared at the Toledo GM Transmission Plant, and even though he campaigned against government bailouts, Councilman Dean Collins said Kasich “spoke as if he played a major role in the salvation of GM,” Collins.....

*** Republicans just don't seem to get it that Americans like Medicare.  A new poll, CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, has the numbers. 
Politicalticker:

.....According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, a majority also don't think the GOP has cooperated enough with President Barack Obama and, for the first time since they won back control of the House last November, the number of Americans who say that Republican control of the chamber is good for the country has dropped below the 50 percent mark.

The poll indicates that 58 percent of the public opposes the Republican plan on Medicare, with 35 percent saying they support the proposal. The survey's Wednesday release comes as the president met with House Republicans to discuss, among other things, Medicare reform....

...."Half of those we questioned say that the country would be worse off under the GOP Medicare proposals and 56 percent think that GOP plan would be bad for the elderly," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Opposition is highest among senior citizens, at 74 percent, suggesting that seniors are most worried about changes to Medicare even if those changes are presented as ones that would not affect existing Medicare recipients."

Today, on the news, I saw Republicans say that Democrats did not have a plan. The Democratic plan is called MEDICARE.  The Republican plan is called an end to Medicare.  Besides, the Republican voucher plan would add $5 to 6 BILLION TO THE NATIONAL DEBT!!!!!!  A vote for a Republican, is a vote to end Medicare.