Some good news in the internet tax scheme

House Speaker Boehner unlikely to support Internet sales tax bill

 This is good news.

 Too bad Rob Portman voted for this tax raising bill.  Which probably means that Bill Johnson will vote for it.

 How in the world can we say that states "loose 24 billion a year" by not collecting this tax.  They never lost it, they never had it to begin with.  If this isn't government think, I don't know what is.

 The reall story is, if this passes, $24,000,000,000 will move from citizens to the government.  That's really not lost, it's just in our pockets and the states want it, including Ohio.

 Our tax and spend Ohio GOP Governors try to act like democrats when in office.

Voinovich (soda pop isn't food, so we'll tax it) and Taft and Kasich (lets tax our newly found natural gas out of business), all increased taxes.

 Can't blame the democrats on this as they had only a 2 year window with a majority in the house in the past 20 or so years.  Strickland was the only democrat sandwiched between Taft and Kasich and that was only for 4 years.

Is it any wonder why Ohio is rated as the 47th least business friendly state in the Union?        

Looks like Bob Taft's GOP is back!

It looks like the Ohio GOP is going to enable a tax hike.

They can say what they want, it is a tax hike and it will be the GOP that enables it.

Previous post

I'm beginning to think I'd like to see the GOP start a used car lot, because they are limp wrist-ed negotiators.

Just received a fund raising letter for the House GOP leader bragging about all the House Republicans voting against this tax hike.....yet it's the GOP (this time in the Senate) that will provide the votes to do the tax raising.

This would have been the perfect time to really differentiate the parties.

Here's who runs Ohio: Librarians, Teacher's Unions and Job and Family Services.

I'm too mad to keep typing. Looks like Bob Taft's GOP is back after all.

Dispatch story here.

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.

Ohio credit rating could drop again

Dispatch story

The short sightedness of the Strickland administration is staggering.

Now we will pay more to service our debt. Yes, the debt that politicians are addicted to with your tax money.

"The lower a state's credit rating, the more expensive it becomes to borrow money to finance a variety of infrastructure projects."

"Moody's analysts noted that Ohio has a strong history of reducing spending to respond to economic challenges but said the state is increasingly using one-time cash solutions to fill continuing budget obligations."

Which makes one wonder what happens the next time we have to deal with the budget again. Will there be massive spending cuts or massive tax increases (driving more people to Florida and Texas).

My guess is, if the dems are in control, there will be massive tax increases. We all saw how frightened Strickland became when little old librarians got mad at him. He will continue to try to make Ohio into Las Vegas.

If the GOP is running the state government, who knows? If it's the old low tax, low spending GOP we'll be in good shape. If it's Bob Taft's GOP.....well I'm not going there, it's too nice of a day to get mad.

Ohio Highway Patrol has issues with just enforcing the law

What is it with the Ohio Highway Patrol that they feel like they need to have a say in law making?

Remember awhile back their opposition to the concealed carry law gave Governor Taft cover for not signing the bill for quite some time?

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-27604.html

"Since taking office in 1998, Taft, a Republican, has opposed concealed weapons bills introduced in two sessions of the Legislature. He said he could not support any bill that was opposed by law enforcement groups.

The Fraternal Order of Police, the state's largest police union, and the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association, whose members would issue the permits, previously dropped their opposition.

However, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police have remained opposed."

The Patrol finally dropped their opposition to the bill (after it was extremely watered down) and they then allowed Governor Taft to sign the bill.


Now they are against raising the speed limit on rural highways.

nbci4.com story here

Don't we (the citizens of Ohio) elect State Representatives and Senators to represent us? They are the lawmakers on our behalf. Then law enforcement (which the Highway Patrol is part of) enforces the laws that the general assembly passes and the Governor signs.

However, lately anyway, it seems the Ohio Highway Patrol wants to make the laws also. This seems highly....unseemly.

Strickland, Just when you get mad at him..........

He turns around and governs like the GOP SAY THEY WILL.

Not much to comment on this. Other than why is it when we want a fiscal conservative, we have to look to Strickland?

"Gov. Ted Strickland said he will not support increases in the state's motor vehicle fuel taxes, as outlined in a task force report submitted to his office this week, and he also isn't backing down from postponing $200 million in state public works projects. "

The last time we had an economic slow time, Gov. Taft raised gas taxes and here!

The GOP needs to do what they say they will do when elected.

Another thought on this "task force". Do you ever remember a time when a "task force" supported a tax cut in their final report? No, because these "task forces" are filled with those with vested interests....interested, that is, in sucking more money out of your wallet.

Anytime you read phrases like this,

"Create a diverse and expanded portfolio of funding sources to finance all transportation modes"

or this

"Create a new bond financing program, complemented by an enhanced set
of financing tools, to provide increased and dedicated funding for all modes of transportation"

it's an attempt to divert your attention from what they really are, TAX hikes.

Here's their final report.

One of their ideas is to add a chip to your vehicle and tax you for the amount of miles you drive. On one hand this seems fair, since those who drive more potentially cause more damage to the roads. However, doesn't the gas tax accomplish this already without having George Orwell in your back seat?

Here's the paragraph:

"3. Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax:Ohioans understand that the state motor fuel tax is used to maintain roads and bridges. They know that for many years this tax has been the preferred method of funding highways in Ohio and elsewhere. As a consumption-based “user fee,” this tax collects money from those who use more motor fuel, and from those who presumably make greater use of the transportation system. Yet, consumption may not increase as fast as inflation, and therefore the purchasing power of the tax may decline over time. Also, with the increasing popularity of fuel-efficient vehicles, the yield of this tax can once again decline.
Therefore, the Task Force recommends that Ohio begin to explore moving to a vehicle-miles-of-travel (VMT) tax, which would maintain – perhaps be even more faithful to – the user-fee concept embedded in the motor fuel tax. Some states have begun to explore VMT taxes and U.S. DOT is already promoting pilot programs. In fact, Ohio has submitted a request to become one of the initial pilot states. As part of a move to a VMT tax, consideration should be given to vehicle weight, so that heavier vehicles that impose greater cost on both the highway system and the environment pay more. Most Task Force members agree that this innovative revenue generating program has substantial long-term potential."

In other words, they think they can take more of your money with a "VMT" tax vs. the current gas tax.

One last thought on "task forces". My belief is they are a waste of money. We already have experts at ODOT and our County Engineer garages (yes, I left Township garages out intentionally). Let them make their decisions without the input from folks that all want their special interests filled.

So much for not having much to say about this.............

Amen!

"It is very, very clear that authenticity matters. We can no longer afford to talk one way and behave in another."

Blackwell would be a great RNC Chairman.

He did so poorly in the 2006 Gubernatorial election because we have a bunch of wine and cheese / Bob Taft Republicans that will not support a conservative. Especially one they know will do what he says after election day.