The Ohio GOP, back to the tax raising good ole' days.

Here's the perfect time for Ohio's GOP to stand up and show the state of Ohio that they're now beyond that tax raising that they did in the past. You know, the tax raising that made the GOP base so mad that the GOP lost the governorship and eventually the house.

Now, instead of learning from their mistakes of the past, they want to resurrect Bob Taft one more time and make a deal on raising our taxes again.

Just when our economy and families need the extra money to help them get by. One does not help an economy by confiscating more money from the job creators! You don't help a state by taking money from those that contribute to society and pay taxes on their wages. You definitely don't help a state's economy by taking money from the productive members of society and giving it to the leaches on the state payroll. How does that improve our economy? It doesn't!

Dispatch story here:

"Harris, R-Ashland, has offered to provide five votes to delay the 4.2-percent income tax cut that took effect this year, in exchange for some extras"

What do you mean "offered"? How about just saying that the Senate Republicans do not believe that raising taxes on what working families we have left in Ohio is a wise or fair thing to do. Also, raising taxes on businesses is a completely insane thing to do when we actually want them to hire people. Let me explain this a little more for you tax raising Republicans in the Senate. Employers can't afford to hire more workers if they are spending their money paying taxes.

I'm not much for term limits, but since Ohio has them, how many more years does Harris have left?

Reforming construction laws in Ohio is a great idea, who's time came about 100 years ago. Why didn't the GOP tackle this when they had...let's see....the House, the Senate and the governorship???
Now we want to make deals to make this happen and our negotiating position is trading away a (GOP) promised tax cut? Give me a break!

Yes, a delayed tax cut is a tax increase! Our state government's promises are no good.

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.

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)

Senate Bill 380

This is a good change. Not sure why it took a catastrophe like our last election to bring this change about, though....someone should have seen this coming. Strickland needs to ignore the partisan Brunner and sign this bill.

"• Senate Bill 380, which would reduce early voting from 35 days to 20 days before an election and make other election-law changes that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has said should not be rushed this year. Strickland, a fellow Democrat, has not specifically said he will veto the measure but will "take into consideration the secretary of state's concerns about the bill," said spokesman Keith Dailey.
By reducing early voting, legislative Republicans hope to eliminate "Golden Week," during which Ohioans were able to register and vote on the same day. The bill, which passed the Senate on a party-line vote, also addresses absentee ballot envelopes, voter database mismatches and partisan poll observers."