Congressmen Demand Full Disclosure On Plan for Delphi Pensions

"Angry salaried retirees protesting Delphi Corps plan to dump responsibility for their pensions on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. are gaining the support of political leaders.
The representatives state their concern with the inequitable decision to default the Delphi Corp.s salaried retiree pension plan to the Pension Benefit Guarantee [sic] Corp., while General Motors agreed to assume the auto parts suppliers hourly retiree pension obligations, and ask that Geithner direct the Auto Task Force to make public all documents concerning how this decision was reached."

Business Journal Daily story.

Let's see here. Unions support democrats with union member dues. UAW gets bailed out with taxpayer's money and salaried employees don't. Makes perfect sense in a democrat run Treasury department with a Socialist President.

Congressman Charlie Wilson's and others "demand" for full disclosure is humorous. They know exactly why the too groups are treated differently.

Don't ever let anyone tell you democrats are against discrimination.

Space Failed East Ohioans (The Intelligencer)

The Intelligencer

Editorial

June 29, 2009

We don't know what favors, if any, U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, was promised by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and possibly President Barack Obama. We do know that Obama and Pelosi lobbied intensively to convince members of Congress to vote in favor of the Waxman-Markey Bill - otherwise known as "cap and trade" - on Friday.

By the thin margin of 219-212, the House of Representatives approved "cap and trade." All three members of the House from West Virginia - Democrats Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall and Republican Shelley Moore Capito - voted against the bill. So did U.S. Rep. Charles Wilson, D-Ohio. Wilson, an early opponent of the measure, defied party discipline to vote in the best interests of his East Ohio constituents. We believe they will remember that when he comes up for re-election.

We hope East Ohioans will remember how Space voted, too. With knowledge of how badly thousands of families in his district will be hurt by the bill, if it becomes law, Space turned his back on his constituents. He chose to vote with Pelosi, D-Calif., and with Obama, who had made "cap and trade" one of his top priorities.

The dishonesty and politics used to pass "cap and trade" were truly astounding - to those of us in America's heartland, at least. In Washington, such tactics are accepted, even encouraged and rewarded.

One example of the frantic rush to "spin" the issue during the last few days before the vote on Friday is illustrative. On Wednesday, liberals released part of a Congressional Budget Office study claiming "cap and trade," if enacted, will cost American families an average of only $175 a year. That simply is not true. It will cost families in our area much, much more. It will cost some their jobs.

But the $175 figure was not low enough. So, on Thursday, "cap and trade" supporters claimed the Environmental Protection Agency had set the cost at an average of $140 a year.

Still not good enough. So, on Friday, the very same liberals who previously had used the $175 and $140 figures claimed that, well, the cost would only be $80 to $110 - according to the EPA.

It was that process of lying to the American people - and that is exactly what happened - that Space rewarded with his "aye" vote on the Waxman-Markey bill.

Congressman Charlie Wilson getting a lot of media attention

Rep. Charlie Wilson, Other Lawmakers, Traded Bank Stocks On Same Day Those Banks Were Getting Bailed Out

Stock Trading Tips

The Huffington Post

The Plain Dealer

Truthout.org

Opednews.com

Tribes.net

Protected class on highways

Awhile back a new law was passed requiring motorists to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles along a roadway. Now, we've added another protected class to this list, tow truck drivers.

2 comments:

1. Are law enforcement personnel, EMT and now tow truck drivers live's more valuable than anyone else that is parked along side the roadway?
2. Why not take the leap of a law requiring folks to move over or slow down when anyone is parked along the roadway? If we keep adding new requirements all the time, that will be the result because we can't remember who we have to pull over / slow down for and who we don't.

OK, 2 more comments:

1. Isn't it a good practice to pull over into the other lane anytime you approach a parked vehicle on a roadway...no matter who it is? Yes, we can do that even if there is no law requiring it.
2. We need to emphasize that slowing down (if there is not an opening to move over) is an option. I've been almost wrecked twice when driving in the left lane and the driver I'm passing in the right lane sees emergency lights ahead and swerves to the left without looking....one time when motioned to do so by a Highway Patrolman. Maybe law enforcement doesn't realize that once they give folks a hand signal to do something, generally, they just do it, without thinking....apparently just trusting the officer to know what he's doing. Slowing down would be a good option under these circumstances.

Are we asking too much of our drivers? After all, we have to send text messages, talk on the cell phone, read the paper, drink our coffee, eat our breakfast and tailgate the car in front for crying out loud!

Congressman Charlie Wilson gets it right, votes for 6th district jobs

Though our debt increasing, inflation causing Congressman still needs replaced, It's only fair to give him credit for the one or two things he's done right.

Dear Friends,

Today the U.S. House of Representatives voted on H.R. 2454 – The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. This month alone I heard from thousands of residents of Ohio's Sixth District via email and phone and I wanted to let you know that I voted "no" on the bill.

Members of the House worked very hard to come up with the kind of energy reform bill that will both reduce greenhouse gases and lead our country to energy independence. Both are goals that I support, and progress on the bill in the House was encouraging, but I felt it didn’t go far enough to protect energy consumers and industries in my district.

I believe that coal must and will play a major role in our nation’s transition to energy independence. In Ohio, 86 percent of our electricity comes from coal. And the vast majority of that coal comes from Appalachian Ohio. Because we are located in an area of the country that heavily relies on coal to turn on the lights and heat our homes, Ohio families and her energy intensive industries, like steel, will bear the brunt of the cost from this version of climate change legislation.

This legislation is still being worked on by the Senate and I’m eager to see what that bill looks like.

Sincerely,

Charlie Wilson
Member of Congress
Ohio's Sixth District

Senate Republicans need to stick to their (and the voters) principles

Make Strickland (you know, the Governor candidate that was against gambling) go it alone. He wants more gambling? Let him do it. The Senate should not endorse more gambling as it has been turned down by the voters time and time again.

We are finally seeing some differences between the two parties in Columbus, and I, for one, like it.

"COLUMBUS — If Gov. Ted Strickland wants slot machines at Ohio's seven horse racetracks, he should use his authority to make it happen, just as he did when he brought Keno to the state, Republican lawmakers say.

Ohio Senate President Bill Harris, an Ashland Republican, told reporters Wednesday that his GOP caucus, which controls the Senate, has a "point of concern" with adding the Democratic governor's proposal to install slots at racetracks to the operating budget for 2010-11.

Harris said Republican senators probably would vote to put the slots-at-racetracks issue before voters but aren't willing to make it part of the budget."

Rest of story here.

Zach Space votes for largest tax increase in US history

What is he thinking? He votes for this EnviroNazi, job killing, rate hiking bill....

He really must not want to be re-elected.

His district is in the heart of Ohio coal country and he votes to kill coal mining and the jobs that go with it. Is the UMW listening?

Not only did he vote to kill coal jobs, he also voted to raise your electric bill, your gas bill.

Why do I call it a tax? Because it is government (idiocy) induced rate increases. Just when the economy needs a boost, Obama and Space slap it back down by increasing costs on businesses...which mean higher prices and less jobs for you.

Here's what the Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation said about this bill:

"When the Heritage Foundation did its analysis of Waxman-Markey, it broadly compared the economy with and without the carbon tax. Under this more comprehensive scenario, it found Waxman-Markey would cost the economy $161 billion in 2020, which is $1,870 for a family of four. As the bill's restrictions kick in, that number rises to $6,800 for a family of four by 2035.

Note also that the CBO analysis is an average for the country as a whole. It doesn't take into account the fact that certain regions and populations will be more severely hit than others -- manufacturing states more than service states; coal producing states more than states that rely on hydro or natural gas. Low-income Americans, who devote more of their disposable income to energy, have more to lose than high-income families."

Link to rest of this story here.

This is what Congressman Zach Space voted for!

Here's the alternative to anti-American Zach Space: Jeanette Moll

Members of U.S. House Financial Services Committee snapped up or dumped bank stocks as bottom fell out of market

Unbelievable, what business does Congressman Charlie Wilson have owning stock in companies that he oversees on Committee? At the very least this is very poor judgement..........it gets worse from there.

Cleveland.com story here.

WASHINGTON -- As financial markets tumbled and the government worked to stave off panic by pumping billions of dollars into banks last fall, several members of Congress who oversee the banking industry were grabbing up or dumping bank stocks.

Congressman Charlie Wilson


A representative for Rep. Charlie Wilson said the congressman leaves day-to-day investment decisions to a money manager.

Anticipating bargains or profits or just trying to unload before the bottom fell out, these members of the House Financial Services Committee or brokers on their behalf were buying and selling stocks including Bank of America and Citigroup -- some of the very corporations their committee would later rap for greed, a Plain Dealer examination of congressional stock market transactions shows.

Financial disclosure records show that some of these Financial Services Committee members, including Ohio Rep. Charlie Wilson, made bank stock trades on the same day the banks were getting a government bailout from a program Congress approved. The transactions may not have been illegal or against congressional rules, but securities attorneys and congressional watchdog groups say they raise flags about the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Continue reading the entry...

complete mismanagement and incompetence in the governor’s office

State Senator Jimmy Stewart lays the blame for Ohio's library funding mess at Strickland's feet.....right where it belongs.

Pomeroy Daily Sentinel story

"When contacted by The Daily Sentinel, Sen. Stewart said he hopes those in support of maintaining library funding don’t hesitate to contact Gov. Strickland’s office.

“I believe this is a result of complete mismanagement and incompetence in the governor’s office in managing this budget,” Stewart said. “The governor comes out 11 days before the budget has to be signed and passed with a laundry list of irresponsible fiscal decisions. They’ve known for months there’s a problem...we should’ve been discussing these options for months. It just shows a complete dereliction of duty on Gov. Strickland’s part and I’m extremely disappointed in his performance and that of his staff.”"

Zack Space not sure on cap and trade

How can one be unsure if he'd vote to put many in his own district out of work?
How can one be unsure if he'd vote to:

1. Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion
2. Destroy an average of 1-3 million jobs, every year
3. Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation
4. Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent
5. Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent
6. Raise an average family's annual energy bill by $1,500 annually
7. Increase the federal debt by 26 percent, which is $29,150 per person

From Heritage Foundation. May 18, 2009.


He voted for this bill in committee:

Vote by Ohio Reps. Space, Sutton for Waxman-Markey Bill Disappointing in Light of Ohio's Economy

Charlie Wilson still a hold up on Auditing the Fed bill

Again, if the Federal Reserve has nothing to hide, great. Why not be sure?

Why is Congressman Charlie Wilson against auditing the Fed? He needs to separate himself from Barney Frank and do what's best for the 6th district.

Link to story here.

Cleveland Plain Dealer story on Stickland's conversion on gambling

Plain Dealer column here.

"I don't know whether the governor uses numbers books as he sets about running the state. But his approach to governing seems as ragged and helter-skelter as a degenerate lottery player clutching a dream book."

I do disagree with one comment Phillip Morris says: "When he reversed his principled -- but wrong -- stance on casinos in mid-June and announced that he has suddenly become a proponent and wants to place slot machines at Ohio's seven major race tracks, it became clear that our governor is an impulsive problem gambler."

Ted Strickland was not wrong to oppose gambling in the past. His problem is he didn't keep his word. He said he was against gambling, up to earlier this month, for crying out loud. Now he's all for it. It's unbelievable the changes in a supposed principled leader when faced when cutting spending.

Fannie, Freddie asked to relax condo loan rules

Reuters "story".

"Two U.S. Democratic lawmakers want Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to relax recently tightened standards for mortgages on new condominiums, saying they could threaten the viability of some developments and slow the housing-market recovery, the Wall Street Journal said.

The legislators asked the companies to "make appropriate adjustments" to their underwriting standards for condos, the paper added."

What they need to do is disband Freddie and Fannie (and the Federal Reserve while we're at it), let the market set the interest rates and get the government / Fed out of the business of creating boom / bust cycles in our economy. At the very least, the Fed needs to focus on preventing inflation...instead of causing it, then contracting the money supply to combat it. Let the market decide.

Haven't they learned? Barney Frank helped get us into this financial mess by forcing Freddie and Fannie Mae to lower requirements to obtain loans.

"Free" money and easy credit is what got us into this mess and Frank and his democrat cronies had a huge hand in it to begin with. The Fed had a bigger hand, but Frank has culpability galore.

Now he wants to do it again!!!??? Only Massachusetts could keep voting these idiots back into office.

Edward Kennedy, Ed Markey, Gerry Studds (for real), Barney Frank, John Kerry.

It's like a walking freak show!

Obama the hypocrite

CNSNews.com story

"However, after Obama announced the firing, several members of Congress, including Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), said the president may not have complied with the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008. The act, which Obama co-sponsored as a senator, requires the president to give Congress 30 days notice that he is terminating an inspector general and to provide an explanation for the firing."

US News and World Report story

"Walpin was a Bush pick who, allies say, ran into trouble with the administration when he criticized an Obama

pal. The 77-year-old was dismissed after appearing confused at a recent meeting, the administration said. A White House letter to lawmakers also alleged that Walpin had "engaged in other troubling and inappropriate conduct.""

"His firing came after he announced that he wasn't finished with a probe into alleged misuse of federal grants

to a school founded by Kevin Johnson, an Obama supporter, mayor of Sacramento, Calif., and former NBA star."

Where's the outrage in the so called media about this? Remember the faked outrage over the Attorneys General "firings"? (Even though the perjurer in chief (clinton) fired all the Attorneys General when he took office....that was different, you see)

Quality time like shootin hoops must make good friendships.

WTAP stretching it a bit

Trying to show that Strickland's approval in Washington County is good, Todd Baucher has to stretch logic....even with the quotes for the interviews he conducted.

WTAP story here

""One of these days, I think they're going to get everything straightened out," said Kenneth Berg."

""Not everybody gets to keep their promises," said Rick Boice. They try, but that's the way things go, sometimes.""

And this one is the most ringing endorsement of all:

""From what I see, he's doing all right," Virgil Berg said."

Yep, that's proof that uncle Ted has the "approval" of Washington County. And they wonder why no one takes the "news" seriously?

Fascist's Greed

Great comments about the "energy" bill being bantered about in Congress. As far as I know, Zack Space still can't make up his mind about this massive job killing bill. Previous post here.

The Intelligencer, Wheeling News - Register story. (don't you love it when newspapers try to keep all the names of those papers they've bought in the past in their new name? I'll bet they use a lot of ink trying to put all the names on their top fold.)

Comments from oldsteelmaker:

"Cap and trade will guarantee that blast furnace will never run again. It will also destroy Mountain State Coke. One ton of coke makes three and a half tons of carbon dioxide. Since the proposed "fee" will be more than the profit on the steel made, no one will make steel here anymore. If you have no blast furnaces, who needs coke?

Despite all the claims, no one has shown a cause-and-effect relationship between human generated carbon dioxide and climate conditions. There's a lot of handwaving and smoke and mirrors, but the recent data shows distinctly different results compared to the models. If it's supposed to be getting warmer, why is the average temp dropping? We did not see the peak temps get near the records in the 1930's, and they are going down.

So why is this happening? Pelosi's husband was a big investor in Boone Pickens' wind farm venture. She wants to see that make money. Gore will make millions trading the credits.

Greed."

Wilson supports paygo legislation

Isn't this akin to shutting the barn door after you forced the poor horse to leave?

"After voting" (without even reading it) "for a federal stimulus plan that cost nearly $1 trillion, U.S. Rep. Charles Wilson Jr. has announced his support for legislation requiring any new government spending be matched with budget cuts or savings elsewhere."

It's a little late now!

This bill is a smoke and mirrors circus trick.

"Also exempt from paygo is discretionary spending, which in 2010 is expected to account for 40 percent of the federal budget, with the House Appropriations Committee just approving a 12 percent increase in non-defense discretionary spending.

Congress also can take steps to exempt other spending from paygo. For example, the 2010 budget resolution passed last week reclassified as discretionary spending a $2 billion increase in heating assistance for low-income households, thereby making it exempt from paygo."

His votes for massive increased deficit spending will be a tax on us, our kids and our grandchildren (increased tax and inflation), but now he wants to be (viewed as, if people fall for this joke of a bill) fiscally conservative.

Seems pretty disingenuous.

Commissioner questions disbursement of stimulus funds

Ironton Tribune story

New ad from American Solutions.

New ad from American Solutions. Be sure and share this with your friends.

Congressman Charlie Wilson still against auditing the Federal Reserve, WHY?

Our so called "blue-dog"* democrat congressman is still against auditing the Federal Reserve. Why would anyone be against auditing the Fed? If they have nothing to hide, great....but why not ensure?

Previous post here

*A nick name given to democrats in conservative districts to make them look / sound like they are conservative themselves. The problem for them in today's world is that anyone can look up their voting record and see that Charlie Wilson is no conservative.

Ohio Senate Committee Passes Anti-FOCA Resolution

20th District Senator Jimmy Stewart votes to protect life. Thank you Jimmy!



Ohio Right to Life news release:


" On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the Ohio Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee passed S.C.R. 6 by a vote of 6 to 3.

S.C.R. 6, which is jointly sponsored by Sen. Tim Grendell and Sen. Steve Buehrer, urges the President and Congress to oppose the federal Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and similar legislation.

S.C.R. 6 states that FOCA "is a radical attempt to enshrine abortion-on-demand into American law, to sweep aside existing laws that the majority of Americans support, such as requirements involving fully informed consent, parental involvement, and that licensed physicians perform abortions, and seeks to prevent states from enacting similar protective measures in the future".

The resolution also describes FOCA as "a cynical attempt to prematurely end the debate over abortion and declare 'victory' in the face of mounting evidence that the American public does not support the vast majority of abortions being performed in the United States each year and that abortion has a substantial negative impact on women".

"We are pleased that the committee has recognized and rejected the extreme nature of FOCA," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life.

Committee members voting the Pro-Life position FOR S.C.R. 6 were: Chairman Kevin Coughlin; Steve Buehrer; Karen Gillmor; David Goodman; Kirk Schuring; and Jimmy Stewart.

Committee members voting the Pro-Abortion position AGAINST S.C.R. 6 were: Ray Miller; Sue Morano; and Shirley Smith."

What is Congressman Zack Space thinking?

He actually voted for the job killing / tax increasing "cap and trade" bill in committee?

He represents the heart of Ohio coal country and he supports a bill like this?

Even our socialist Congressman Charlie Wilson (6th district) says he's against it....though he's so short sighted that one would think all Obama would have to do to change his mind would be to donate a couple of cans of sardines to a "food" bank in his district.

Jeanette Moll would be a much better Representative for the 18th district.

What I'd like to hear from John Kasich

"My vote for the 1994 so-called assault weapons bill was a mistake. I will not sign a bill or enforce a law that is against Ohio's Constitution."

I haven't heard that yet, have you?

Even Ted Strickland voted against that freedom killing bill.

If Kasich wins the GOP nomination for Governor, he will be hammered on this.

Who are Ohio's gun owners supposed to vote for?

A former congressman who has voted to take away their Constitutional rights? Or a Governor who as a Congressman, has always voted to uphold the 2nd amendment and as Governor has done nothing to limit gun rights? I'll guess the latter....with all his faults. Unless Kasich starts saying / doing something about this issue. He needs to do it NOW!

I'm betting there are a lot of NRA members that would love to be able to vote for him, they're just waiting to hear this themselves....from John.

Flip Flop Ted

He's against gambling, then he'd consider it, then he's against it (just 4 days ago) now he's going to increase it (without a vote) in Ohio by saying it's in his discretion to do so by calling it an expansion of the Lottery.

He must be under immense pressure from his union / liberal interest groups to not cut further spending that he'd do something that he knows is not healthy for a society. Increase gambling.

Ted apparently has strong convictions that he chooses not to follow. We need a leader that not only has strong convictions, but follows them.

"The proposal, officially an expansion of the Ohio Lottery, would not need a vote of the people, Strickland said.

The governor had said repeatedly that he opposed expanded gambling as a budget solution and didn't trust the revenue projections of gambling supporters. He also has noted that state voters have rejected gambling ballot issues four times since 1990, most recently in November.

"I think the people of our state have spoken on this issue clearly, multiple times, and until the people change their mind about the issue, then I am supporting what I believe to be the will of the people of Ohio," the governor told The Dispatch last month.

The governor said he wants to bypass a statewide vote because the state needs the revenue quickly."

Clearly Ohio needs a new Governor. Not a Bob Taft Republican, but a leader with convictions (yes, it's a pun). Ted needs to propose more spending cuts and forget more gambling, which will cost us more in the long run. He needs to tell his supporters NO. I don't think he can do it. One wonders if he's worried more about campaign contributions than he is for the cancer of gambling.

He's trying to lay a rotten egg in the Senate's lap by making them be (again) the adults and doing the hard work that needs to be done. That is, cutting additional spending.

A message to Bill Harris, you need to consider the will of the voters, who have time and time again voted down gambling schemes. Here is the Ohio GOP's chance to show a clear distinction between the two parties. The winning strategy would be to cut the necessary spending and leave the democrats on the record of supporting expanding gambling which the vast majority of Ohio's voters do not want.

Previous posts on gambling here, here, here, here and here.

What Governor Strickland has said about gambling in Ohio in the not so distant past.

Press release from the Ohio GOP:

Strickland Defies 'Will of the People'

"The people of Ohio have spoken with a clear voice on this issue time and time again. They do not want an expansion of gambling in their state."
- Ted Strickland, 10/25/07

(Columbus) - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine accused Gov. Ted Strickland today of using the gambling issue as a political crutch to avoid making deeper cuts to Ohio's budget.

"This is another pathetic display of weak leadership by Gov. Strickland," said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine. "The governor has already said gambling isn't the solution to Ohio's economic problems, and the lottery expansions he's already proposed have fallen dramatically short of projections. This so-called budget fix rings about as hollow as the elaborate economic development stunt he pulled in Piketon."

Strickland has called gambling "an insidious condition that can ruin lives" and a "false solution to Ohio's economic-development needs." Asked last month whether he would support an expansion of gambling as a solution to Ohio's budget crisis, Strickland said:

"I would tell (supporters) what I have told them several times in the past, that my position remains unchanged, and that I do not believe that this is the right way for Ohio to deal with our budget or to try to fund education," the governor said yesterday. "I think the people of our state have spoken on this issue clearly, multiple times, and until the people change their mind about the issue, then I am supporting what I believe to be the will of the people of Ohio." (The Columbus Dispatch, 6/19/09)

In March, Strickland told The Plain Dealer:

"I don't think it would be accurate to sell this as an answer to Ohio's economic challenges. ... I really don't envision anything that is likely to change my mind."

In October of 2007, Strickland expressed his opposition to gambling when he signed legislation banning casino-style "amusement" machines:

"The people of Ohio have spoken with a clear voice on this issue time and time again," Strickland said. "They do not want an expansion of gambling in their state." (Office of the Governor, 10/25/07)

Despite his public opposition to an expansion of gambling in Ohio, Strickland had no problem taking contributions from the industry's major players, although he publicly assured voters that those contributors "are likely to be terribly disappointed."

According to campaign-finance reports, Strickland has received more than $50,000 from individuals and companies associated with gambling, including MTR Gaming Group Inc., which owns Scioto Downs, a harness-racing track near Columbus. Strickland also held two campaign fund- raisers at West Virginia racetracks. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/13/06)

Strickland acknowledged that he has gotten money at two fundraisers at West Virginia racetracks that operate electronic slots and has taken campaign contributions from gambling interests. But he said he has "received financial support and resources from a lot of people who, if they're giving me those resources because they expect a certain public policy out of me, are likely to be terribly disappointed." (Columbus Dispatch, 4/13/06)

Strickland on Gambling . . .

• Democratic Congressman Ted Strickland, a psychologist, warns of the social costs that accompany gambling addiction, which he called "an insidious condition that can ruin lives." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/24/06)

• Although the proposal includes money to treat gambling addictions, Strickland said its inclusion "points to my biggest concern as a psychologist: This is a difficult addiction to treat." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/24/06)

• "Quite frankly, if I'd been in the legislature when the Ohio lottery passed, I would have opposed it," [Strickland] said. "It amounts to a regressive tax. The benefits of casino gambling in my judgment are significantly outweighed by the negative consequences." (Toledo Blade, 4/10/06)

Strickland, the Democratic frontrunner, told The Plain Dealer's editorial board earlier this week that he is not supportive of expanding legalized gambling in the state. While he didn't bring up religion, his denomination's Social Principles, which are its guideposts of faith, are clear. They denounce gambling as "a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, and destructive of good government." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/25/06)

"I don't think an answer to Ohio's economic future is expanded gambling," [Strickland] said." (Columbus Dispatch, 4/13/06)

Strickland said he always has regarded gambling as a false solution to Ohio's economic-development needs. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/13/06)

Strickland ... opposes expanded state-sponsored gambling in Ohio as well as three proposed ballot issues this fall to allow casinos or slot machines at racetracks. Strickland, a six-term congressman from Lisbon and a Methodist minister, said his opposition isn't based on moral issues but on a belief that gambling isn't good for the state. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/13/06)

Buying union votes with tax money

You wanted change, you got it!

GM plan really a UAW bailout

HR 1207, Audit the Federal Reserve

This has 224 co-sponsors as of today.



As far as I know, our Congressman Charlie Wilson has not signed on as a co-sponsor. This does not surprise me. I'm curious however, of how one can be against auditing the Federal Reserve. Probably the most important factor in our economy, and surely, with it's artificially low interest rates, the cause of our current recession.

Charlie Wilson is too busy using the Fed's funny money to buy votes than to actually support of an audit of the same.

Now he's even bragging about some sort of a new government ponzi scheme:

"Today the U.S. Treasury Department announced that $45,477,000 in bond authority will be immediately available for local governments in Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District under the Recovery Zone Bonds program. Recovery Zone Bonds, created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are targeted to areas particularly affected by significant job loss and will help county governments obtain capital for much needed economic development projects.

These bonds will help in so many ways. The program will make it easier for counties and private businesses to borrow money at a better rate. The counties and businesses that make up my district can then use that money to improve infrastructure, increase job training and help families struggling with this tough economy."

Does he not remember or is it that he doesn't care, that borrowing and increasing debt due to artificially low interest rates is what got us into this mess to begin with?

Charlie Wilson needs to sign as a co-sponsor of HR 1207. If the Fed has nothing to hide, great. However it's Charlie Wilson's job to ensure our money is sound* and the Federal Reserve has some oversight from the people.

Of course, our money will never be sound until it is based on something.

Dick Thomas will be missed

Thomas, a 1954 graduate of Belpre High School, died Monday at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Bishop, Republicans roll out energy vision

Sounds good to me, other than the obvious wind and solar bologna.

The Salt Lake Tribune story

A couple of comments:

"House Republicans unveiled their vision for the nation's energy policy Wednesday calling for 100 new nuclear plants, the expansion of renewable energy sources and fast track mining of oil shale in places like Utah. "

Nuclear is safe and cheap. Even the French have the courage to use Nuclear energy on a massive scale. Obama recently said he thinks it's OK for Iran to use Nuclear reactors to produce energy, but he's against it in our own country. Is his sole desire to destroy our nation? No coal, no nuclear, no oil from shale....but we have wind on windy days we can use and sun on sunny days......!

"Republicans are vehemently opposed to the bill, calling it "a national energy tax" or as Bishop says "a cap-and- tax" system that he warns could cost jobs."

Yes it will be a massive job killing tax increase. Again, is obama's plan to destroy our nation?

"New Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, of Colorado, has been an outspoken critic of oil shale development, saying the technology is not advanced enough to economically turn the rock into a usable fuel."

Um, that's up to the markets, not a Washington Bureaucrat.

30% increase in gas prices since Obama took office

30% increase in gas prices since Obama took office. Where's the outrage? Where's the media with their "gouging" stories?

The media Obama lap dogs need to get their stories straight

In their haste to bow down to the Obama and worship, they are giving conflicting fawning stories about what his holiness is doing and saying.

On the one hand you have the newly fiscal conservative obama. He is now "concerned" about our deficit that he and Charlie Wilson forced on us. After raising deficit spending to record heights, now he's "concerned".

"President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged Congress to pay for new increases in federal benefit programs as it goes rather than sink the nation deeper into a debt, calling it a matter of public responsibility. Republicans lashed back that Obama is no voice of fiscal restraint as the deficit soars.The president's plan would require Congress to pay for new entitlement spending, such as health care, by raising taxes or coming up with budget cuts — a "pay-as-you-go" system that would have the force of law"

Then on the same day he says it's OK to go deeper in debt, as long as he agrees with what the new deficit spending will go for. In other words, it's OK for him to spend like a drunken sailor for things he wants (to pay back his supporters), but the rest of us need to suck it up.

"President Barack Obama on Tuesday proposed budget rules that would allow Congress to borrow tens of billions of dollars and put the nation deeper in debt to jump-start the administration's emerging health care overhaul."

I'm beginning to like Eric Cantor more all the time:

"It's as if the administration and these Democrat leaders are living in an alternate universe," said House Republican Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia. "The quickest way to save money is to stop recklessly spending it."

""It seems a tad disingenuous for the president and Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi to talk about PAYGO rules after ramming trillions in spending through Congress proposing policies that create more debt in the first six months of this year than in the previous 220 years combined," said Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Minority Whip."

Report: Charter schools perform better than some suggest

No wonder the democrats in the Ohio House want to cut their funding, it's a program that actually works.

Dispatch story here

George Orwell, alive and well

How can you have it both ways?

State that you are going to "create OR save jobs". How can you measure "saved" jobs? You can't.

But here you have Reuters bleating Obama's talking points instead of asking, just how do you measure "saved" jobs?

I guess I'm going to start stating that I "saved" 1,000,000 jobs. This would have just as much credibility as Obama's false promise and funny accounting of "saving" jobs.

Again, media silence.

Can someone make sense of these two sentences from this "story"?

• "Biden said on May 13 over 150,000 jobs had been saved or created in the act's first 77 days."
• "The U.S. economy has lost 6.0 million jobs, including 2.9 million this year, since the recession began in December 2007."

So which is it?

The truth is the unemployment rate is up to 9.4%, the highest in 25 years. All under the democrat party's watch. The unemployment rate continues to rise, no matter how many jobs Obama claims to have saved. If he's actually saving jobs, wouldn't the rate go down?

All Reuters can do is a puff piece on Obama supposedly "saving" jobs. George Orwell is alive and well!

This reminds me of the EnviroNazis' change in terminology from "global warming" to "climate change".... you know, so they can always guess right. Their "global warming" bologna quit working when the earth actually started cooling.

Two stories about stone age EnviroNazis trying to keep us unemployed

From the Pomeroy Daily Sentinel:
Thunder rolls at AMP meeting

AMP reacts to latest hearing

I still here AMP and UMW folks talking like if you just compromise a little, like talking about wind and solar, that the EnviroNazis will see that coal is not the only energy being used for electricity by AMP, then lighten up.

Well, how many times do we need to remind folks, the EnviroNazis don't care about clean coal, they want NO coal. They don't care about you being unemployed, they don't care that coal is cheap and makes inexpensive electricity.

These are National Socialists and want control. They don't care one bit about us locally. They want to stop progress, period. Then when energy has to be rationed (like they want to do with health care BTW), they will be the ones telling us who gets the energy and how to use it,...."responsibly" you know.

Obama, the great Muslim Imam

The United States is a Christian nation, no matter what our Muslim President says or wants to believe.

Here is an excellent site that gives (in pod casts) a history of the Byzantine Empire and how it saved Christianity from the Muslim Hordes, how it made the Muslim expansion go around it instead of through it, thereby keeping western Europe Christian.

Stuff you won't be taught in school. Very interesting.

Debbie Phillips under fire for supporting higher taxes

Dispatch story here.

"the Fund for Ohio's Future is firing away at Democrats for approving a version of the two-year budget that contained 150 fee hikes."

I love how when we take more money out of people's pockets, it's called a fee hike. I guess it's a way to campaign that you've never voted to increase "taxes", but you voted to take more money from taxpayers. Sounds like a tax increase to me.

".........Democratic-passed budget also cut charter-school funding."

This, of course, surprised no one. Charter schools are generally non-union and are not run by government employees. They are also successful. So, you can see why the democrats would oppose them.

"The ads equate the fees to tax increases by using a 2007 statement by Gov. Ted Strickland, who shortly after taking office said, "I think higher fees are higher taxes."

"These days, Strickland is no longer equating fee increases to tax hikes, and legislative Democrats say there is a distinction between raising fees for certain licenses and raising, say, the income tax rate.

"I know he rues the day he did that," Garland said of Strickland's fee statement.

"They're not a tax. They are applied to the people who are using that service, or it gives them the right to do whatever it is in the state.""

Ted Strickland was right when he (originally) said that fee increases are tax increases. If you increase money taken from tax payers, it's a tax increase, no matter how specific.

""I do believe the government is here as a safety net, and in these times you need that safety net more than ever before," she said."

Of course you do, more money for government, more money to dole out to your union supporters so they can give you more money to campaign with.

"This is not the time for partisan politics," Carney said. "We are supposed to be trying to resolve problems for the state of Ohio. I don't have time to run negative ad campaigns."

Hilarious! The dems are in constant campaign mode. But when a GOP leaning group campaigns it's, of course, outrageous. What's outrageous is the democrat's pension for raising taxes and punishing successful programs.

Great editorial exposing EnviroNazis

The Right Stuff: Sustaining jobs more important than sustaining planet

OU Post Columnist writes about EnviroNazis.