Strickland officially completely out of touch with Ohio

I've always thought this guy was a little loony, but this proves it.

Dispatch story here.

He thinks it's wrong for people to keep their own money? He actually wants to make a campaign issue of this? How dumb are his advisors?

Ohio is the 47th highest taxes state in the nation. 1 being good. 50 being bad (unless your a democrat).

Mr. Strickland thinks your only a good Ohioan if you give him your money. So he, in turn, can give your money to more government leeches....

Didn't we fight (and win) a war over high taxes? (lower, BTW, than they are today).

Yet Strickland thinks it makes good political sense to bash those that don't want to pay taxes on death to the state and would rather give it to their children?

He thinks this is a winning issue? This guy is crazy!

Here's the winning quote: "Strickland said he found that comment revealing and disturbing, noting that Ohioans who grow up in the state and start successful businesses here benefit from the state's advantages."

So, because of this we have to pay up, just like the Mafioso? The state has many benefits in spite of the government, not because of it.

We need a governor that understands that people will move to locales that steal less of their money than Ohio does. Ohio has to compete with the Florida's and Texas' of this union or we'll keep losing good people to those states. This is not rocket science.

Mr. Strickland does not get it.

Athens County Sheriff Office move

A few comments on this Athens News story and this Athens News story:

1. We currently have new property between Canaanville and Athens that is owned by the county. The County Engineer is using part of it. Why not move the Sheriff's office there?
2. Hockingport and Torch are currently the farthest away from our Sheriff's office. Now we want to move our Sheriff's office even further away, to The Plains? Why, when we could move the Sheriff's office to a more central locale that is already owned by the county?
3. I'm disappointed in Mark Sullivan suggesting a temporary sales tax increase. Right now, when people need to keep their money the most.
   
4. Don't ever trust the government when they want to "temporarily" raise the sales tax. If the county is anything like the state government, when it's time for the "temporary" sales tax to end, they'll just cut it in half and tell you that you just got a tax cut.
5. I'm glad Lenny is against a sales tax. However, what does he think issuing a bond does? It's borrowing money and then we have to repay it. The payments with interest take money away from other priorities. Sometimes, the shortages caused by having to repay bonds are excuses to raise taxes. Which, if we were not repaying our bonds, we'd have the money to begin with. Here's an idea, if we see a cost / need coming in the future, why don't we start setting aside money now to pay for this future need. Instead of running to lenders every time we "need" something.
   
6. Larry Payne gets it. Now is not the time to raise taxes. The only thing I'd add is, there is never a good time or reason to raise taxes. the less government we have, the better we are. One way to force less government is not feeding it.
   

One more reason Ohio is losing people to Florida and Texas

The death tax.

Forbes.com story here

Scrooge was the good guy

Here's a Mises.org story telling us that it was Scrooge and his ilk that actually improved the lives of many poor folks.

It's pure greed that makes us lust after other's money. The fact that the object of the envy has more money than you doesn't make it any less envious.

Pretty sure it's one of the 10 Commandments.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."

AND if that one doesn't get it, this one sure does. Ohio's state government needs to read this, because they just stole from us!

Thou shalt not steal.

However, today, along with their constituents, politicians want to confiscate the "fat cats on Wall Street" for making money. This when we have no right to that money.

No wonder Comrade Wilson votes the way he does, I'm beginning to think his constituents are socialists too!

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.

Debbie Phillips bragging about raising your taxes

$871 million gap in the state's current biennium budget by delaying the final phase of a planned tax reduction until 2011, Phillips said. The state would raise about $844 million in revenue, she noted.

Story here.

One more example of why you should never trust the government. Promising to reduce tax rates after raising them somewhere else.

However the reduction part is incremental over time. That's pretty handy when a government made "crisis" evolves and we "need" more of your money. We just won't give you the tax cut we promised.

By the way, the tax increase is in full effect.

Never trust the government when they tell you they'll cut your taxes over time. They lie. Even if they keep their word (laughing), the money is artificially inflated by same government, making it worth less.

Yes, I know that the CAT tax had to be incremental due to loss of funding if we just "gave" all the tax money back to the people all at once. Right. Here's the reason why governments make tax cuts gradual over time. So your attention will be elsewhere when they cut the promised tax cutting short.

Never trust the government. Especially one (Ohio) some in bed with the teacher's unions that they can't take care of their own citizens needs....like letting them keep their own money.

Does no one care that Texas and Tennessee are filling up with ex-Buckeyes?

Who wants to wager that we'll never see the "final phase of a planned tax reduction"?

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.

Never trust the government

Strickland's latest deal with taking money from the blind reminds me of a few other under handed dealings recently, but in local government.

1. Federal Hocking Local School district's 20 year bond was about to be paid off. 20 years ago there was a tax levy voted on to pay off the bond. You'd think that after the bond was paid, the tax payers' tax rates would reduce the amount that corresponds with the tax for the bond, right? Wrong. The school board moved inside millage to outside millage and the state kicked in the rest. So, not only did the local tax payers receive a massive tax increase without a vote....the State of Ohio's (funded by taxpayers) costs increased to fund the school district.

2. Troy Township (in Athens county) did not have enough money in their roads and bridge account to pay for all the road work they desired to do. So, instead of deciding not to do so much road work, they raided the Cemetery fund! Took money that people specifically voted a tax on themselves to keep up the township's cemeteries. The State Auditor did not catch this, by the way.

3. Then we have Strickland doing the same thing with money that folks paid into a fund for a specific purpose, yet he chooses to ignore the will of the people and spend it as he sees fit.

Just a few of the many abuses of our tax dollars in Ohio. The media is no where to be found with most of the local issues / abuses that abound. About all the "reporting" they do is cut and paste Congressmen's press releases when it shows up in their in-boxes.

Strickland stealing from the blind!

One would think that when you buy your vehicle license and choose to pay an extra $1 to help with a fund for child blindness, well, the money would be spend for blindness programs.

Not so when Governor Strickland gets his hands on it. He used the money to balance the Ohio budget.

He also raided the organ donation fund!

This is money that people choose to specifically fund the stated / specific purpose, not balance the state's budget.

Dispatch story

State government took from funds to prevent blindness and promote organ donations in order to balance the budget.

Millions of Ohio motorists were blindsided by a June 9 raid on $2.7 million they had voluntarily paid to thwart blindness in children and help solve the critical shortage of organ donations.

The Save Our Sight fund relies on the generosity of Ohio motorists who are asked if they would like to contribute $1 to the fund when applying for or renewing license plates. Likewise, when motorists apply for or renew their driver's licenses, they are given an opportunity to donate $1 to the Second Chance Trust Fund.

More trinkets from our politicians

Ohio State Representative (92nd) Debbie Phillips pulling a publicity stunt of handing out back-packs.....what's worse than doing the stunt itself is that WTAP is giving it air time. Must be really slow in the news department!

"Commitment without cash is counterfeit,"

"No one has ever said where this money is going to come from. I commend them for trying to come up with a better model, but this is a false promise."

State Senator Jimmy Stewart commenting on the new "evidence based" school funding scheme.

This is the problem with liberals.....or big spenders....liberal or conservative. You can have all the so called, alleged, relative, "good intentions" in the world, but if you don't have the money for the program, it's just vote buying on credit.

The good thing about the state of Ohio is it's balanced budget requirement. The federal government is where the liberals really shine. They can actually print money and invent it out of thin air to fund their schemes. The problem, of course, is the inflation and higher taxes it causes in the future.

17,500 slot machines coming to Ohio, thanks to our "anti-gambling" Governor

Two editorials detailing the gambling vice being forced on Ohio without a vote.

Dayton Daily News

Ohio.com

Once this is done, it's only the beginning.

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)

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.

Ohio Senate has adults in charge

Republicans unveil revamped state budget proposal

Ohio's jobless rate tops 10 percent for first time in quarter-century

Dispatch story here

Does it surprise you that the media refuses to lay this mess at Strickland's feet, where it belongs?

We need to cut taxes and spur economic development in Ohio.....of course it's difficult for the dems to play the class warfare card if all their voters have jobs.

Previous post on Ohio's high taxes.

Another Strickland mistake

Tax debts bring down state official; Interim development chief confronts $158,000 in liens

This is the type of individual that Gov. Ted Strickland appoints to our Department of Development? And he can't pay his own taxes?

This guy makes $128,356 per year and he can't pay his own taxes? Obama should hire him to assist our other tax cheat, now in charge of the IRS, no less.....Treasury Secretary Geitner.

"The governor was not personally told until this week, Wurst said."

Not (allegedly) knowing is not an excuse. Strickland should have known, that's part of his job.

This tells us one of two things about Ted Strickland:

1. He pays no attention to character when he makes appointments to run the peoples' business.
2. He has such low esteem of the Department of Development that he thinks someone that can't take care of their own business can take care of the DOD's business.

If it's number 2, Mr. Strickland, would you now support eliminating this department and giving the tax savings back to the taxpayers?

Poverty "focus groups"

Government speak for pretending to care what you have to say.

Here's a recent story on this subject from the Pomeroy Daily Sentinel.

If Mr Strickland really wanted to reduce poverty in Ohio, he'd propose lowering our taxes.

See previous posts here and here about our outrageous taxes.

Another idea would be to eliminate the so called minimum wage. If people want to work for a lower wage, why should we keep them from doing that? Everyone knows that the so called minimum wage creates unemployment. It also forces employers to buy machines rather than employ people because the minimum wage law prices low skilled workers out of the job market.

This has to be a misprint

""State government must be growing now as we face the worst economic recession in 30 years," Sabety said."

This is either a misprint by the Dispatch, or the dumbest thing I've ever heard a government official say.

Mr. Strickland, where's your plan?

How long do we have to wait for Governor Strickland to present his "plan" he talked about when he was running for Governor?

“U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, A Democratic Candidate For Governor, Says His Turnaround Ohio Plan Will Rescue The State's Economy.” The Columbus Dispatch, 2/25/06

We are bleeding population to other states due to Ohio having no jobs....which is due to high corporate income tax rates (ranked 48th in 2006).

Having high personal income taxes also shoves people out of Ohio. (ranked 45th)

Here is a story from the Wall Street Journal comparing Ohio and Texas.

The cause of Ohio's woes are obvious:

• High corporate income tax rates.
• High personal income tax rates.
• High death taxes.
• Unions sucking the last drop of green from the auto companies, (and the OEA sucking the green out of the taxpayers, for that matter).
• High worker's compensation costs.
• Recently increased minimum wage....which costs jobs.

So, does Governor Strickland have a plan to correct any of these problems? He claimed to, where is it when we need it? Is the plan to gamble our way out of trouble?

It's time to lead, Governor, not beg the feds for a handout.