COLUMBUS—State Representative Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati) today announced that the Ohio Environmental Education Fund has awarded a grant in the amount of $46,000 to the Mill Creek Restoration Project for its Green Careers and Urban Environments Program.
Through the project, environmental professionals will be able to mentor up to 500 local high school students in careers dealing with the environment and green technologies. Additionally, up to 500 students in grades six through nine will be able to monitor land use and water quality in the Lick Run sub-basin of the Lower Mill Creek watershed, as well as design urban stream restoration strategies in the South Fairmount neighborhood.
“I’m very pleased that this grant money will go toward the Green Careers and Urban Environments Program,” Representative Terhar said. “Ohioans have always cared deeply about our environment. Getting our area young people interested in these careers at a young age is sure to benefit them as individuals, as well as our community as a whole.”
The Environmental Education fund is administered through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Statewide, only 10 grants were awarded.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
St. Rep. Terhar Announces Environmental Grant
Release:
BUTLER COUNTY: Furmon Deserves Butler County GOP Support for Re-Election
Seeing this reminded me that I needed to jump back in here after my extended holiday weekend to reiterate that The Butler County Republican Party really owes Chuck Furmon a debt. If not for Furmon's action in calling law enforcement attention to the Dynus scandal, the scandal-plagued corruption and filth from that era would not only still be surviving, but thriving.
While I may not agree with every decision the commissioner has made over the years, I have come to know him as a thoughtful and considerate man who has the best interests of the county at heart. He has always acted with the highest levels of integrity and decency. These are qualities that are to be supported and encouraged when found in politicians because they are as rare as any precious metal.
I fully support and endorse Chuck Furmon for re-election and it is my sincerest wish that the BCGOP would do the same.
UPDATE: This just came in to the mailbox from a reader. I wanted to pass it along because this is just another reminder of the kind of guy Chuck Furmon really is:
While I may not agree with every decision the commissioner has made over the years, I have come to know him as a thoughtful and considerate man who has the best interests of the county at heart. He has always acted with the highest levels of integrity and decency. These are qualities that are to be supported and encouraged when found in politicians because they are as rare as any precious metal.
I fully support and endorse Chuck Furmon for re-election and it is my sincerest wish that the BCGOP would do the same.
UPDATE: This just came in to the mailbox from a reader. I wanted to pass it along because this is just another reminder of the kind of guy Chuck Furmon really is:
Saw your recent posting about Commissioner Furmon and I must say I agree 100% with what you said. Having had the opportunity to work with Commissioner Furmon for 20 plus years, I to had disagreements and differing opinions from time to time with him but he was always willing to talk, LISTEN and discuss my concerns. What I found was a man who really had the best interest of Butler County in mind. Most importantly I found a man who appreciated all of the county employees and the hard work they do. I hope the Executive Committe has the wisdom to see what you and I see when they make their endorsement.
Batchelder Addresses Caucus Vacancies, Outlines Process for Appointments
Release:
COLUMBUS—Today, Speaker William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statements regarding the current and pending vacancies in the House Republican Caucus and the process for replacing each member:UPDATE: **Please note that the deadline to apply for the 43rd district seat is Friday, December 2nd**
House District 43 (Vacant)
Former Rep. Todd McKenney (R-New Franklin) was appointed earlier this month to serve as Summit County Probate Judge, creating a vacancy in the 43rd House District.
Residents of the 43rd House District who wish to be considered for the appointment should provide a letter of interest to Speaker Batchelder at 77 South High Street, 14th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 by this Friday, December 2, 2011 at 5:00pm. Applicants may also email their letter to Speaker Batchelder at District69@ohr.state.oh.us.
The panel of five Republican House members, which the Speaker will name at a later date, will begin interviewing applicants in Columbus who meet the December 5 deadline next week at a time to be announced. A full vote will be taken by the Republican caucus and the new member is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in the week of December 12 during a scheduled House Session.
House District 87 (Rep. John Carey)
It was announced today that Rep. John Carey (R-Wellston) has been hired as the assistant to the president for Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives at Shawnee State University, effective January 1, 2012.
“John Carey is a dear friend and has been an incredibly valuable member of our caucus this session and in his previous service in the legislature,” Speaker Batchelder said. “The only person to serve as the chairman of the both the House and Senate Finance Committees during their legislative career, Rep. Carey’s expertise on the budget, education, and a host of other issues will be sorely missed. Our loss is Shawnee State’s gain. Our entire caucus and I are very grateful for his service and wish him and his family all the best in the future.”
The Speaker will convene a screening panel at the beginning of 2012 after the seat becomes vacant. Details on panelists and a timeline for a subsequent appointment will follow at a later date.
House District 98 (Rep. Richard Hollington)
On November 8, 2011, Rep. Richard Hollington (R-Hunting Valley) was elected to serve as Mayor of Hunting Valley beginning in January.
“I have known Dick Hollington since my first term in the Ohio House over 40 years ago and I have been honored to have him as a member of our caucus,” Speaker Batchelder said. “He has answered the call to service not once, but twice, in the 98th House District in recent years and his leadership on a host of issues, particularly in finance, has been extraordinary. I am grateful for his service to the people of the 98th House District and I know he is honored for the opportunity to serve the people of Hunting Valley as mayor.”
As with Rep. Carey’s pending departure, the Speaker will convene a screening panel at the beginning of 2012 after the seat becomes vacant. Details on panelists and a timeline for a subsequent appointment will follow at a later date.
Speaker Batchelder Releases Statement on Ohio Military Medal of Distinction
Release:
COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) today joined members of the House and Senate in a joint convention to honor Ohio’s fallen soldiers by awarding them the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction.
Following the conclusion of the joint convention, Speaker Batchelder released the following statement:
“Today I had the great honor of joining Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Senate President Tom Niehaus, and my colleagues in the Ohio Legislature in presenting the Ohio Military Medal of Distinction to the families of those service members who have given their lives in the line of duty. These men and women are modern-day heroes, brave patriots who have sacrificed themselves in defense of our nation and our communities. Although they were unable to join us today, they were alive in our hearts and spirits as we commemorated the legacy they left behind.
“As Speaker of the House, there are many things I have the privilege of participating in while serving in this capacity. But honoring our fallen Ohioans and showing their families that their sacrifices have not been forgotten or taken for granted is truly one of the most humbling. As a veteran myself, paying tribute to these brave individuals and their families is an important honor that is especially close to my heart.”
The Medal of Distinction honor was established by the Legislature in 2009.
Supposed Pro Life Conservative Brad Wenstrup Approves of Giving Kids Birth Control Without Parental Consent
Oh No, Brad Wenstrup is at it again. Brad seconded the motion for the city health board to approve nearly $800,000 in taxpayer money to fund free birth control for children - and parental consent is not needed. Guess who is in charge of the program? None other than our old friend Dr. Victoria (I support a woman’s right to control her own body) Wulsin.
You know, Dr. Victoria "I want to inject AIDs Patients with malaria" Wulsin. The same Vic Wulsin who was so radical she had to be beaten back twice by real conservatives. Apparently, Brad Wenstrup thinks her logic is flawless. He seconded the motion to give money for free birth control for children...without parental consent. This guy just loves him some baby killin' planned parenthood....That doesn't seem pro life to me, does it you? And remember, he uses George Soros groups to attack Jean Schmidt. Doesn't sound conservative to me....Sounds more like Paul Hackett...remember that clown?
From Ch. 19:
Sources at the Board of Health confirm Wenstrup 2nded the motion to give money for this....
Don't vote for a liberal in conservative wrapping papaer who sucks up and fools tea party groups and COAST. Vote for someone who, while not perfect (no one is), is rated the 6th most conservative person in Congress, Jean Schmidt.
Mr. Wenstrup has a problem with figuring out what a conservative is, and what pro life is. Wonder what else he isn't sure about....
You know, Dr. Victoria "I want to inject AIDs Patients with malaria" Wulsin. The same Vic Wulsin who was so radical she had to be beaten back twice by real conservatives. Apparently, Brad Wenstrup thinks her logic is flawless. He seconded the motion to give money for free birth control for children...without parental consent. This guy just loves him some baby killin' planned parenthood....That doesn't seem pro life to me, does it you? And remember, he uses George Soros groups to attack Jean Schmidt. Doesn't sound conservative to me....Sounds more like Paul Hackett...remember that clown?
From Ch. 19:
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
Access to free birth control is now a reality for women in Cincinnati.
A new reproductive health grant will test the waters of how well this will help low-income women meet certain health needs.
But it's also a move that's generating some controversy. The grant focuses on all areas of women's health, not just birth control. The free birth control is just one component.
It started in July and can be renewed for up to four more years after this year.
At Monday night's town hall meeting with Congressman Steve Chabot, there were plenty of people wearing pink t-shirts saying, "Stand-Up For Planned Parenthood," a group very much "pro" women's health rights.
A gentleman got up and made a statement about a potential link between the birth control pill and breast cancer and that generated a lot of boos.
"Contraception, the birth control pill, will now be offered free to everybody who wants it," said the gentleman who got up and spoke at the town hall meeting. "It's a known carcinogen."
The man claimed the pill was responsible for increasing the risk of breast cancer by 42 percent.
Dr. Elizabeth Kelly with the Cincinnati Health Department says that has not been proven.
"With the formulations we're using now, there's absolutely no link with breast cancer and it's been widely studied," she said.
Dr. Kelly is the Medical Director of the Division of Maternal and Infant Health, for the City's Health Department.
"We started out with some higher-dose pills, 50 micro-grams of estrogen," said Dr. Kelly. "Now, we're down to lower doses of 20."
Dr. Kelly said there is some speculated association with breast cancer, with the old higher-dose formulas, but those are no longer used.
She is excited about the reproductive health grant, because it focuses on the wellness of all reproductive-age women, not just teens, with screenings for cervical cancer, gynecological care, testing for STD's, counseling and contraception education, immunizations and free birth control.
"We see adolescents, and children age 11, 12, having intercourse and then we see pregnancies in women, adolescents, sometimes a little bit older, 13, 14, 15," said Dr. Kelly.
And with this new, nearly $800,000 reproductive health grant, parental consent is not needed, but strongly advised.
"Why should everyone in this room pay?" asked the man, of Congressman Steve Chabot.
Dr. Kelly said it's vital in a city with a staggering infant mortality rate and strong risk factors.
"Which is teen pregnancy, closely-spaced pregnancy, and unintended pregnancy," said Dr. Kelly.
Their goal is to help women plan for good reproductive health.
"So they can make decisions about employment, about spacing of pregnancy, about timing of pregnancy, about education, and about the economic reality of raising children," she said.
Right now, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Noble Maseru and Dr. Victoria Wulsin, who is the primary investigator on this project, are finalizing their collaboration.
Sources at the Board of Health confirm Wenstrup 2nded the motion to give money for this....
Don't vote for a liberal in conservative wrapping papaer who sucks up and fools tea party groups and COAST. Vote for someone who, while not perfect (no one is), is rated the 6th most conservative person in Congress, Jean Schmidt.
Mr. Wenstrup has a problem with figuring out what a conservative is, and what pro life is. Wonder what else he isn't sure about....
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wenstrup Doesn't Get His Pro Abort Excuse Timeline Right....
Per Fact Checking Sources I have found...
In his attack letter against Jean Schmidt, good ol Dr. Wenstrup says he only voted to give a grant to Planned Parenthood because no one else was going to offer AIDS screening as they were....WRONG-O!
Early March, Stop AIDS was told by officials at the Ohio Department of Health that it would not receive a $715,000 grant by the end of the month. Stop AIDS needed the grant as of April 1 or have to terminate its case worker program. The HIV positive people served by Stop AIDS will be quickly transitioned to a new agency in the area and not be affected by the change, said House. Stop AIDS failed to pay federal payroll tax of about $125,000 in 2008 and 2009 calendar years.
March 17, 2011
Stop AIDS case management funding shifted to Caracole
Funding for Stop AIDS Cincinnati case managers will be redistributed to Caracole, a Cincinnati nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to people living with HIV/AIDS. Case managers help clients obtain affordable medication (and manage the mountain of paperwork that comes with it), maintain their health and utilize other services like temporary housing.
May 24, 2011 meeting, the Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention. Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood. Board of Health members who voted to give taxpayer money to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, included Dr. Brad Wenstrup.
Two months prior to Brad voting to give $85,000 In taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood the Ohio Department of Health shifted the funding to Caracole.
OOOPS! Brad's excuse for blood testing to give money to Planned Parenthood just went out the window....
Is there no depth he will not descend to in order to try to fool Oh-2 voters he is a "strong conservative" who is "pro-life"?
In his attack letter against Jean Schmidt, good ol Dr. Wenstrup says he only voted to give a grant to Planned Parenthood because no one else was going to offer AIDS screening as they were....WRONG-O!
Early March, Stop AIDS was told by officials at the Ohio Department of Health that it would not receive a $715,000 grant by the end of the month. Stop AIDS needed the grant as of April 1 or have to terminate its case worker program. The HIV positive people served by Stop AIDS will be quickly transitioned to a new agency in the area and not be affected by the change, said House. Stop AIDS failed to pay federal payroll tax of about $125,000 in 2008 and 2009 calendar years.
March 17, 2011
Stop AIDS case management funding shifted to Caracole
Funding for Stop AIDS Cincinnati case managers will be redistributed to Caracole, a Cincinnati nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to people living with HIV/AIDS. Case managers help clients obtain affordable medication (and manage the mountain of paperwork that comes with it), maintain their health and utilize other services like temporary housing.
May 24, 2011 meeting, the Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention. Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood. Board of Health members who voted to give taxpayer money to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio, included Dr. Brad Wenstrup.
Two months prior to Brad voting to give $85,000 In taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood the Ohio Department of Health shifted the funding to Caracole.
OOOPS! Brad's excuse for blood testing to give money to Planned Parenthood just went out the window....
Is there no depth he will not descend to in order to try to fool Oh-2 voters he is a "strong conservative" who is "pro-life"?
Friday, November 25, 2011
GUEST COLUMN: "Remember Those Less Fortunate This Thanksgiving"
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| Rep. Jean Schmidt |
I set down a plate packed with turkey and all the trimmings before a homeless man, one of about 350 people fed Wednesday afternoon by Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. He smiled and said thank you.
It was the first plate served up at the 13th annual Thanksgiving Feast that the agency, also known as GCB, held at its Walnut Hills headquarters in Hamilton County.
I was one of about 30 people who volunteered a couple hours of their time to try to make the day before Thanksgiving a little brighter for the GCB clients, who have severe mental illnesses.
“A lot of these people have so little, and therefore are so appreciative,” said Dr. Tracey Skale, chief medical officer. “A lot of indigent and homeless people.”
Some of the agency’s 4,400 clients are found living under bridges in Hamilton County, she said. GCB also has an office in Clermont County’s Batavia Township, where efforts focus on helping young people ages 16 to 22.
Wednesday’s meal was free – with the turkey, greens, biscuits, and pumpkin pie donated by local companies – said Joe Johnston, chief operations officer. Staff members did the cooking, while volunteers carried trays to enough tables to serve about 90 people at a time.
Some of the diners gave hugs to volunteers. It resembled a family gathering, but on a bigger scale than most of us are used to at Thanksgiving.
This is a time to give thanks to God for our blessings.
I have many – including a loving husband of 35 years, a wonderful daughter and terrific son-in-law, and two adorable grandsons.
And yet, I couldn’t help thinking about those dinner tables at homes in the Second Congressional District where a chair might be empty this Thanksgiving. Some lost loved ones through military conflict, illness, or accident.
Others are experiencing tough times because of the economic downturn. Too many people have been laid off from jobs through no fault of their own.
My heart goes out to such families.
Earlier Wednesday, at the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, about 300 people volunteered to pack food for the needy. It was an assembly line. I was among those who toted 10-pound sacks of potatoes, five-pound bags of Ohio apples, and onion sacks that weighed about two pounds.
Some of the food we packed would end up with families as far away as Scioto County, said Anna Hogan, communications manager. The Freestore Foodbank helps people in 20 counties through food pantries, including residents of Clermont County, Brown County, Adams County, and Pike County.
About 2,000 boxes of food – including a turkey or chicken in each one – would be distributed Wednesday to needy families, she said. Over a three-day period, about 700 volunteers would pack 10,200 boxes for distribution – enough to feed more than 25,000 individuals, including 13,000 children.
“There is no way we could do this with just our staff,” she said. “It would be complete and total chaos without our volunteers.”
It has never been more important for those of us who have been blessed to reach out to help our fellow Americans.
As a nation, we need to come together – the same way families do.
This Thanksgiving, if you are able to feast on turkey and pie, please say a prayer for those less fortunate.
May God bless each and every one of us.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Greater Cincinnati Right to Life Doesn't Agree with Dr. Wenstrup
From the Greater Cincinnati Right to Life Website:
So, is Doc Wenstrup going to say Greater Cincinnati Right to Life is not really pro life? The good doctor needs to go back to school. He couldn't even beat Mark Mallory for Mayor. Now, he wants to misrepresent the record and claim he is a pro life conservative when this vote and his use of George Soros attack dogs shows he is not conservative or a follower of the 11th commandment. He is not worthy of endorsement.....
City Board of Health Funds Planned Parenthood - Approves Subgrant Up to $85,000
November 16, 2011--At its May 24, 2011 meeting, the Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to abortion provider, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention. Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood.
Though no government funding is to be used for abortion, funds to Planned Parenthood for any reason frees funds for other programs. (Note: Congress and some states are investigating Planned Parenthood because of this plus other concerns, such as increasing evidence of ignoring suspected statutory rape of minor girls seeking abortions, as well as covering for sex traffickers; evidence and confirmation in some states of Medicaid fraud, and more.)
Significantly, both Planned Parenthood and Stop AIDS support and do not discourage the sexual practices that give rise to the terrible disease of AIDS. This funding simply applies a bandaid to a gaping wound.
Board of Health members present at this meeting were Ms. Joyce Kinley, Dr. Jeff Lange, Dr. Wael Safi, Dr. Richard Schwen, Dr. Donna Shambley-Ebron (left at 7:40 p.m.), and Dr. Brad Wenstrup.
So, is Doc Wenstrup going to say Greater Cincinnati Right to Life is not really pro life? The good doctor needs to go back to school. He couldn't even beat Mark Mallory for Mayor. Now, he wants to misrepresent the record and claim he is a pro life conservative when this vote and his use of George Soros attack dogs shows he is not conservative or a follower of the 11th commandment. He is not worthy of endorsement.....
While Wenstrup Gives Grants to Child Rape Cover Up Artists at Planned Parenthood.....
Jean Schmidt is recognized as actually being pro life:
Again, how can someone who gets a 100% voting record on life issues not be pro life, but someone who voted to give a grant to an organization that covered up child rape and kills babies call themselves pro life? Wenstrup is not telling the truth, or he is deluded, or he is just another Schmidt hater. Whichever, not deserving of the office or ANY endorsements!
Rep. Schmidt praised for perfect voting record on pro-family issues
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt has been named a “True Blue Member” of Congress for her perfect voting record in favor of pro-family and pro-life issues.
Representative Schmidt scored 100 percent on recorded votes in the first session of the 112th Congress, according to Family Research Council Action and CitizenLink. She was one of only 54 of the 435 House members to receive a perfect score. Of the 18 House members from Ohio, Congresswoman Schmidt was one of just four to score 100 percent.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, commended Congresswoman Schmidt and the other True Blue Members for voting “consistently to defend faith, family and freedom.”
"I applaud their commitment to uphold the institutions of marriage and family," Perkins said. Congresswoman Schmidt has “voted to repeal Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, end government funding for abortion within the health care law, (and) uphold the Defense of Marriage Act.”
Congresswoman Schmidt, a Republican from Miami Township, said she was honored to be recognized for her stalwart support of issues important to families throughout Southern Ohio.
“I’m proud to represent the values of people who live in the Second Congressional District, and I will not waiver in my commitment to them,” Congresswoman Schmidt said.
Again, how can someone who gets a 100% voting record on life issues not be pro life, but someone who voted to give a grant to an organization that covered up child rape and kills babies call themselves pro life? Wenstrup is not telling the truth, or he is deluded, or he is just another Schmidt hater. Whichever, not deserving of the office or ANY endorsements!
Supposed "Strong Conservative" Wenstrup Uses Soros Attack Dogs to Smear Jean Schmidt
Would a conservative ever use a group funded by George Soros and proven to be nothing more than muckrakers as sources against a fellow Republican? Would someone who believed in Reagan's 11th commandment use such a source? The answer to both questions is no. However, Brad Wenstrup continues to say he is a strong conservative and a follower of the 11th commandment, even as he engages in hyperbole and using a George Soros funded group to attack Jean Schmidt. I mean, this guy is looking more and more like Paul Hackett all the time. The guy is trying to be one thing while his record shows something entirely different. In his letter seeking the endorsement of the Brown County GOP central committee, Mr. Wenstrup says that "Congresswoman Schmidt was recognized by a prominent non-partisan group in Washington (Citizens for Repsonbility and Ethics) as one of the most corrupt members of Congress." Well, who is this group? Glad you asked. Firstly, they are actually known as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW. The are also an arm of George Soros's liberal attack machine:
Why anyone who claims to be a conservative would trust an organization with such a shoddy record is beyond me...unless that is all he has....but wait, check out these looks at Wenstrups letter:
Mr. Wenstrup lashes into Jean for supporting the debt ceiling deal....but many republicans and conservatives did as well....his reason? "It virtually guaranteed that taxypayer dollars would continue flowing to planned parenthood."
This is an awful hypocritical position, especially, as WMD has reported, that as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, he gave money to Planned Parenthood, money that allows them to spend their other assets on covering up child rape and killing more babies. However, that is a noble compromise to Mr. Wenstrup, who sinks to using his sister's plight with leukemia as a crutch to defend his sorry position. Sorry, Brad, not buying it. And neither should the good people of the 2nd district, especially those in central committees with endorsement power. Wenstrup doesn't know what pro life is, uses Soros attack dogs, and makes circular arguments with great moral equivalency. Sounds exactly like someone who couldn't even beat pathetic Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.....
If you haven’t heard of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), then consider yourself lucky. They are a George Soros funded leftwing organization who push the limits of their nonprofit status on a daily basis.
Their main responsibility as an attack dog for George Soros is to take down as many Republicans, especially conservatives, as humanly possible by accusing them of blatantly false indecencies. Recently, the Center for Consumer Freedom launched an attack of their own, challenging CREW’s proclaimed impartiality. The Daily Caller reports:
“An analysis of CREW’s activities demonstrates that it disproportionately targets conservatives by a ratio of more than 8-to-1,” the Center’s site explains. “At the same time, the corresponding federal oversight agencies responsible for investigating CREW’s complaints indicates that, historically, Democrats have been investigated far more often for ethics violations.”
The Capital Research Center’s Fred Lucas points out, too, that CREW has not disclosed its roster of donors. “What is known about CREW’s funding does not cast it in an independent and nonpartisan light,” Lucas wrote. “Two groups affiliated with George Soros have been big contributors to CREW. In a 2006 interview Sloan revealed that the Open Society Institute, a grantmaker founded by Soros, contributed $100,000 to CREW. The Democracy Alliance, another Soros creation, helped launch CREW.”
To further illustrate their partisanship, take a look at a typical headline that you will find on CREW’s website:
Senator John Kerry Does the Right Thing
Compared to:
CREW Congratulates August’s Scoundrel of the Month: Governor Rick Perry
Very impartial, isn’t it?
CREW is headed by Melanie Sloan, a Democratic operative. She is a smarmy loud mouth cut from the same cloth as Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She has spent her lifetime working for Democrats and Democratic causes.
They also have a history of sticking up for disgraced Democrats. They were one of the few organizations who backed Rep. Anthony Weiner after his perverted Internet sex scandal. Now they are sticking up for disgraced former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards. Remember him? He’s the guy who had a love child with his mistress behind the back of his cancer stricken wife. He was indicted in June for using illegal campaign contributions to hide his mistress from the public.
Just hearing the name “John Edwards” makes my skin crawl. But CREW thinks he’s just peachy:
“Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, requested Wednesday to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of dismissing an indictment against Edwards for alleged violations of campaign finance law.
This is the first time that CREW has supported dismissal of a case against a politician.
“In June, a federal grand jury indicted Edwards on six counts: conspiracy, four counts of illegal campaign contributions and one count of false statements. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count if convicted.
“The indictment claims that the payments Edwards’ mistress, campaign videographer Rielle Hunter, received from his two friends, Rachel Mellon and Fred Baron, were campaign contributions intended to keep her and their baby in hiding during the 2008 presidential election.
“Here, the government argues Ms. Mellon and Mr. Baron paid Ms. Hunter’s expenses to allow Sen. Edwards to maintain his image as a ‘family man’ by hiding his affair from the American public,” she [Melanie Sloan] said.
“So under this theory, paying the expenses of the mistress of a known philanderer wouldn’t be a campaign contribution, while covering such costs for the girlfriend of someone who presents himself as a loyal husband is. That can’t be right.“
Even if you believe the charges are phony, what is the motivation to go out of your way to file motions for him? John Edwards is a millionaire and a lawyer and doesn’t need the help of some fly by night Soros Attack organization. CREW is making a point where they stand politically. They are throwing it in the face of the IRS and the American people by continuing their charade as a “nonpartisan” and “nonprofit” organization. They want the publicity and they want other liberal public officials to know that CREW and George Soros will have their back in times of need.
It just isn’t that shocking anymore to see how low the left will go to protect their own but it is still quite sickening.
Why anyone who claims to be a conservative would trust an organization with such a shoddy record is beyond me...unless that is all he has....but wait, check out these looks at Wenstrups letter:
Mr. Wenstrup lashes into Jean for supporting the debt ceiling deal....but many republicans and conservatives did as well....his reason? "It virtually guaranteed that taxypayer dollars would continue flowing to planned parenthood."
This is an awful hypocritical position, especially, as WMD has reported, that as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, he gave money to Planned Parenthood, money that allows them to spend their other assets on covering up child rape and killing more babies. However, that is a noble compromise to Mr. Wenstrup, who sinks to using his sister's plight with leukemia as a crutch to defend his sorry position. Sorry, Brad, not buying it. And neither should the good people of the 2nd district, especially those in central committees with endorsement power. Wenstrup doesn't know what pro life is, uses Soros attack dogs, and makes circular arguments with great moral equivalency. Sounds exactly like someone who couldn't even beat pathetic Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory.....
Monday, November 21, 2011
Best Clips of the Weekend...God bless NASCAR fans and Newt
Unlike you, Mrs. Obama, NASCAR fans have always been proud of their country and don't appreciate our Armed Forces and families being used for photo ops:
Newt tells it like it is re: Occupy Degenerates, aka the Give Fleas a Chance, Pro-Lice Movement:
Newt tells it like it is re: Occupy Degenerates, aka the Give Fleas a Chance, Pro-Lice Movement:
COAST Chooses Vendetta over Its Own Principles...
But then again, don't they always? What am I talking about? The primary battle between incumbent US Congresswoman of the 2nd District Jean Schmidt, versus her abortion supporting but yet proclaimed pro-life challenger "Dr." Brad Wenstrup. COAST hates Jean Schmidt because she is a woman and they so wanted Tom Brinkman in the US Congress. COAST supposedly stands against wasteful spending by governments and government agencies. By this very nature, they should oppose Dr. Wenstrup. To wit:
So what does COAST think about the $85,000 in taxpayer money that Dr. Brad Wenstrup and the rest of the Cincinnati Health Board recently gave to the same Planned Parenthood?:
Can you say cop out, boys and girls? I thought you could. COAST just hates Jean Schmidt, they don't care about funding. They just want somebody to take her down.
Planned Parenthood said the tax money also will go for outreach to what it called the “men who have sex with men” population – including those in local jails.
Does that make it less of “misuse of tax funds”?
COAST has shown time and again that except when it comes to defeating school levies, they don't much care about their principles, especially if it means getting rid of their hated enemy Jean Schmidt. Yes, the very same Jean Schmidt who knows that supporting Planned Parenthood with tax dollars is not pro life. The same Jean Schmidt rated the 6th most conservative member of the entire US House! Somehow Dr. Wenstrup thinks supporting an institution that covers up Child Rape as Planned Parenthood sought to do (previously reported on WMD) is being pro life!
We all know that a taxpayer dollar into Planned Parenthood's front pocket allows for a dollar out of their back pocket to fund another abortion. Evidently, the good doctor Wenstrup does not...or he doesn't care....AND NEITHER DOES COAST.
Jean Schmidt may not be perfect, but she has worked hard to serve the people of her district and at least she seems to understand what the meaning of pro life is.
COAST statement:
http://coast-usa.blogspot.com/2008/10/pepper-portune-back-planned-parenthood.html
Planned Parenthood newsletter:
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/swoh/images/SouthwestOhioRegion/PPSWO_Newsletter_Fall2011_final2-lores.pdf
Board of Health minutes:
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/downloads/health_pdf43057.pdf
The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes criticized “liberal democrats” on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners who voted to approve $26,000 in funding to Planned Parenthood in 2008.
The “policy of funding the abortion provider (is) a misuse of tax funds,” COAST said.
So what does COAST think about the $85,000 in taxpayer money that Dr. Brad Wenstrup and the rest of the Cincinnati Health Board recently gave to the same Planned Parenthood?:
Wenstrup’s board specified that the tax money is to be used “strictly for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention.”
Can you say cop out, boys and girls? I thought you could. COAST just hates Jean Schmidt, they don't care about funding. They just want somebody to take her down.
Planned Parenthood said the tax money also will go for outreach to what it called the “men who have sex with men” population – including those in local jails.
Does that make it less of “misuse of tax funds”?
COAST has shown time and again that except when it comes to defeating school levies, they don't much care about their principles, especially if it means getting rid of their hated enemy Jean Schmidt. Yes, the very same Jean Schmidt who knows that supporting Planned Parenthood with tax dollars is not pro life. The same Jean Schmidt rated the 6th most conservative member of the entire US House! Somehow Dr. Wenstrup thinks supporting an institution that covers up Child Rape as Planned Parenthood sought to do (previously reported on WMD) is being pro life!
We all know that a taxpayer dollar into Planned Parenthood's front pocket allows for a dollar out of their back pocket to fund another abortion. Evidently, the good doctor Wenstrup does not...or he doesn't care....AND NEITHER DOES COAST.
Jean Schmidt may not be perfect, but she has worked hard to serve the people of her district and at least she seems to understand what the meaning of pro life is.
COAST statement:
http://coast-usa.blogspot.com/2008/10/pepper-portune-back-planned-parenthood.html
Planned Parenthood newsletter:
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/swoh/images/SouthwestOhioRegion/PPSWO_Newsletter_Fall2011_final2-lores.pdf
Board of Health minutes:
http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/downloads/health_pdf43057.pdf
Nick Owens Files Petitions for Candidacy for Statehouse
From the release:
For more about Mr. Owens, visit his website.
Editors' Note: WMD has not endorsed ANY candidate in this race at this time....
November 21, 2011
Batavia Township – Today, Nick Owens officially filed his petitions with the Clermont County Board of Elections for the 66th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. Nick Owens is running for the Republican nomination to be held on March 6th for the primary election. Nick Owens is a graduate of Batavia High School and the University of Cincinnati. Currently, Nick is in his last year of law school at the University of Dayton where he is scheduled to graduate this May. Prior to entering law school Nick Owens worked nearly five years for U.S. Representative Jean Schmidt with separate stints in her Cincinnati district and Washington, DC offices.
“Months ago when I announced my candidacy the number one issue was jobs. Unfortunately, this issue remains the same. Government does not create jobs it gets in the way of them. If elected as your state representative, I will work tirelessly for you to remove the excessive laws and regulations we have on the books in our great state that is preventing economic growth.”
“As your state representative I will not be shy to share the views we care so deeply about. Such as the common sense beliefs of lower taxes, less spending, and limited government. I will also bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to the Statehouse to get the job done from day one.”
“My message remains the same from earlier, the citizens of Clermont and Brown Counties deserve the opportunity to the live the American dream and should not have to leave the State and their loved ones to find gainful employment. It is time for Ohioans of all backgrounds to work together and put our state back in the right direction and I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and get right to work,” stated Owens.
For more about Mr. Owens, visit his website.
Editors' Note: WMD has not endorsed ANY candidate in this race at this time....
Friday, November 18, 2011
St. Rep. Bubp Receives Defender of Liberty Award
Release:
COLUMBUS—The American Conservative Union recently awarded State Representative Danny Bubp (R-Lake Waynoka) the 2011 Defender of Liberty Award, which honors the representative’s strong support of conservative principles on a wide range of issues during the 2011 session of the 129th General Assembly.
The award, which recognizes Bubp’s 100 percent score on the ACU’s first-ever rating for the Ohio legislature, was presented at the Ohio Statehouse by ACU National Executive Director Gregg Keller.
“I’m honored to receive this award that recognizes our work to preserve and protect our conservative principles,” Bubp stated. As a conservative, I will continue to work hard to protect the Constitutional rights and freedoms of Ohio’s citizens.”
Founded in 1964, the ACU represents the views of Americans who are concerned with economic growth through lower taxes and reduced government spending and the issues of liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values and national security.
St. Reps. Roegner, Hagan Introduce Legislation to Bolster Financial Accountability
Release:
COLUMBUS—In order to improve government transparency, financial forecasting, and accountability to the taxpayers, State Representatives Kristina Daley Roegner (R-Hudson) and Christina Hagan (R-Marlboro Twp.) recently introduced House Bill 368, which is designed to keep the public and the General Assembly better informed through a fact-based, four-year economic forecast.
The legislation calls for a four-year financial outlook report based on items such as current law, demographics, debt load, expected trends and other factors, including budgetary, economic, socio-economic and debt analysis. It will take into consideration both internal and external environmental demands and contingencies that could hinder or accelerate Ohio’s course to success. The financial outlook would project fiscal trends, including projected expenditures and expected tax revenues. The report, completed annually, will be posted on a state website to increase public awareness of the fiscal outlook of the state and keep the state’s finances accountable.
The financial outlook will keep lawmakers and Ohioans more fully aware of financial circumstances that would arise in the future. “The state currently operates on a two-year budget cycle,” Roegner said. “We as lawmakers need to be able to look beyond two years so that we can properly address potential problem areas before a financial crisis actually occurs. A four-year financial outlook is a tool we can use, like businesses do, to help us better plan for the future. It just makes common sense.”
Additionally, House Bill 368 would also create the non-partisan Long-range Financial Outlook Council, comprised of public and private-sector financial experts—serving as volunteers—who would ensure that the financial outlook each year is as complete and accurate as possible.
"I believe that a transparent approach to government, such as our financial outlook, is paramount to creating financial stability and success for our great state,” Hagan said. “Our generation's future depends on responsible policy today, and this is a step in the direction of long-term success that is non-partisan and in the best interest of all Ohioans. My goal is to demand efficiency and effectiveness, and transparency is the key to success and opportunity for my generation."
Other states such as Virginia, Florida and Kentucky have adopted similar processes in their commitment to fiscal responsibility and accountability. Florida's debt rating was recently upgraded to AAA, the highest rate possible.
House Bill 368 has been assigned to the House Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Niehaus Names New Senate Chief of Staff
Release:
(Columbus) - Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus announced today that Jason Mauk has been named as the Ohio Senate's new Chief of Staff.
"Jason offers the Senate a unique background in management and communications that I believe will serve our members well," said Niehaus. "We were fortunate to have several talented and qualified individuals apply for the vacancy, but Jason has the experience we need to build on the sound foundation within the Senate and to challenge us to do even more. I look forward to working with him and the rest of our staff as they continue to provide excellent service to our members. I know he will help them take advantage of all the resources available to improve their constituent services and communication."
Mauk most recently served as spokesman for the President of the Ohio Senate and director of communications for the 23-member Ohio Senate Republican Caucus. He previously worked as executive director of the Ohio Republican Party, where he was responsible for the daily management of one of the nation’s largest state political operations. Mauk also spent six years as an award-winning journalist, covering local, state and national politics.
Gov. Kasich Bringing More Jobs to Ohio
Governor John Kasich said that together we could get Ohio back to work. Despite the electorate not supporting him last week re: Issue 2, John Kasich is delivering on his promises. In addition to getting the budget in order, he is bringing employers back to Ohio and keeping existing employers here. Chrysler is adding 1100 jobs in Toledo. In Lorrain, over 400 jobs are expected to be created in the steel industry.
There are other stories out there, for example how Kasich has convinced employers to stay here, or to come back after relocating elsewhere. Despite what the Left and the unions may have told you, Kasich is all about job creation, not destruction.
There are other stories out there, for example how Kasich has convinced employers to stay here, or to come back after relocating elsewhere. Despite what the Left and the unions may have told you, Kasich is all about job creation, not destruction.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Does Brad Wenstrup Support Covering Up Child Rape?
According to his votes to fund Planned Parenthood as a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, the answer is YES. WMD previously reported on Dr. Wenstrup voting with the rest of the board unanimously to fund Planned Parenthood, even in the face of very serious charges. From Lifenews:
So, let me get this straight...This "doctor" who claims to be pro life and is running against incumbent Jean Schmidt, who actually is pro life, by the way; voted to give money to an organization that openly violated the law...Hmmm....guess he really shouldn't be running on the GOP ticket. That sounds like something the Dems would do. Of course, this "doctor" couldn't even beat the pathetic Mark Mallory for Cincinnati mayor....
However, this is disgusting. All of the doctors on this board are saying OK to an organization that harbored and hid child rape. Disgusting!
This guy A)couldn't beat a guy who can't throw a baseball to home plate and was a national joke, and B) for being a doctor, does not seem to understand what pro life means and C)voted to give more money to an organization that covered up child rape.
Does this sound like someone you want representing you in Congress, citizens of the 2nd district?
I don't think so.
The Cincinnati Board of Health voted unanimously to give a sub-grant of up to $85,000 to the Planned Parenthood abortion business in the area, Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. This is the same abortion business that was caught covering up a case of sexual abuse of a minor.
“This is a reallocation of funds from Stop AIDS, which was defunded by the state after an independent audit, for Planned Parenthood to use for HIV/AIDS testing and prevention,” Right to Life of Cincinnati executive director Paula Westwood told LifeNews today. “Stop AIDS counselors will work for Planned Parenthood.”“Though no government funding is to be used for abortion, funds to Planned Parenthood for any reason frees funds for other programs,” Westwood said, adding that the grant comes at the same times as Congress is investigating Planned Parenthood in part because of misallocation and fraudulent usage of taxpayer funds. She said the probe also involves other concerns such as “increasing evidence of ignoring suspected statutory rape of minor girls seeking abortions, as well as covering for sex traffickers; evidence and confirmation in some states of Medicaid fraud, and more.”
“Significantly, both Planned Parenthood and Stop AIDS support and do not discourage the sexual practices that give rise to the terrible disease of AIDS. This funding simply applies a bandaid to a gaping wound,” she said.
The members of the Board of Health present at the time of the meeting approving the funding were Joyce Kinley, Dr. Jeff Lange, Dr. Wael Safi, Dr. Richard Schwen, Dr. Donna Shambley-Ebron and Dr. Brad Wenstrup.
In April, a lawsuit in which Planned Parenthood was recently found to have violated an Ohio informed consent law has been “resolved and dismissed,” according to the Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney who filed the suit.
ADF-allied attorney Brian Hurley represents the parents of a girl who, at age 14, was brought to a Planned Parenthood clinic for an abortion by the 22-year-old soccer coach who impregnated her.
“The health and safety of young girls is far more important than Planned Parenthood’s desire to make money on an abortion,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden. “This lawsuit was yet another clear demonstration of Planned Parenthood’s ongoing effort to put its profit margin ahead of the true needs of young women. If they truly cared about the girls who enter their doors, they would not be ignoring Ohio law and allowing statutory rape to occur so they can make money killing a baby. They also wouldn’t be trying so desperately to keep all of their records secret.”
In December 2010, the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas determined that Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region violated state law when it failed to meet with the 14-year-old girl at least 24 hours prior to giving her the abortion. Following this, a psychologist found that the abortion had caused her to suffer significant psychological harm, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The case was “resolved and dismissed” shortly thereafter.
Hurley, one of more than 2,000 attorneys in the ADF alliance, filed the suit Roe v. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio Region on behalf of the girl’s parents when they discovered that Planned Parenthood allowed her to undergo the abortion at the behest of her soccer coach.
Neither Planned Parenthood nor the soccer coach notified the parents of the abortion or the sexual relationship. Planned Parenthood also did not notify civil authorities, which is required in cases of statutory rape. The soccer coach was convicted of sexual battery and served three years in prison.
So, let me get this straight...This "doctor" who claims to be pro life and is running against incumbent Jean Schmidt, who actually is pro life, by the way; voted to give money to an organization that openly violated the law...Hmmm....guess he really shouldn't be running on the GOP ticket. That sounds like something the Dems would do. Of course, this "doctor" couldn't even beat the pathetic Mark Mallory for Cincinnati mayor....
However, this is disgusting. All of the doctors on this board are saying OK to an organization that harbored and hid child rape. Disgusting!
This guy A)couldn't beat a guy who can't throw a baseball to home plate and was a national joke, and B) for being a doctor, does not seem to understand what pro life means and C)voted to give more money to an organization that covered up child rape.
Does this sound like someone you want representing you in Congress, citizens of the 2nd district?
I don't think so.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
WARREN COUNTY: Duvelius First to File for Judge Position
Release:
Warren County Juvenile and Probate Court Chief Magistrate Carolyn Duvelius filed her petitions to run for the Common Pleas Court Judge seat currently held by Judge Neal Bronson. Judge Bronson has indicated that he does not plan on seeking re-election. Duvelius will be running in the Republican Primary scheduled for March 6, 2012.
Duvelius has served as a Magistrate for the past 8 years hearing over 11,000 cases and helping administer the Court. As Chief Magistrate, Duvelius handles a wide variety of criminal and civil matters including probate litigation and the highest level of felony offenses. Prior to serving as Magistrate, Duvelius served 15 years as an Assistant Warren County Prosecutor, personally handling over 50,000 cases ranging from sex offenses to traffic matters. Her husband, Mark, has worked in Law Enforcement for over 30 years, as a Sheriff’s Deputy and an investigator for the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office. He also has served as both a paid and volunteer firefighter/paramedic.
“This is a great opportunity to continue my career goal of serving and protecting the people of Warren County,” Duvelius stated. “Warren County needs judges that are conservative and just,” Duvelius noted. “My whole career I have been both.” “I have dedicated my career to keeping criminals off of our streets and protecting the people of this County and I will continue to do so as Judge.”
Magistrate Duvelius is an active member of the Warren County Community. She is the mother of two Lebanon teenagers, Tyler and Matthew; a parishioner at St. Francis De Sales church in Lebanon, a Board member for the Warren County Big Brother and Big Sisters organization and a member of the Warren County Republican Women.
St. Rep. Combs Receives "Defender of Liberty" Award
Release:
COLUMBUS—The American Conservative Union today awarded State Representative Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton) the 2011 Defender of Liberty Award, which honors the representative’s strong support of conservative principles on a wide range of issues during the 2011 session of the 129th General Assembly.
The award, which recognizes Combs’ 100 percent score on the ACU’s first-ever rating for the Ohio legislature, was presented at a reception at the Ohio Statehouse by ACU National Executive Director Gregg Keller.
Rep. Combs said; “I am truly humbled to receive this award. I promised the constituents in my district that I would bring conservative values to Columbus on issues like economic development, 2nd Amendment rights, and protecting the unborn. This award recognizes these efforts and shows the commitment of this General Assembly to those principles.”
The American Conservative Union gave the ranking based on a number of votes taken throughout the current General Assembly. One of the bills used to determine the ranking was HB 21, which opened up Ohio to the Teach for America program. Rep. Combs introduced the bill, which was ultimately signed into law by the governor in April.
Founded in 1964, the ACU represents the views of Americans who are concerned with economic growth through lower taxes and reduced government spending and the issues of liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values and national security. Additional information about the ACU and the rankings of Ohio legislators can be found at http://www.conservative.org/.
Congressman Gibbs Applauds Passage of Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011
Release:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bob Gibbs, Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, released the following statement following passage of H.R. 2838, The “Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011.” Gibbs assisted in crafting Title VII, the “Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011” portion of the legislation.
“I applaud the passage of HR 2838, a fiscally responsible reauthorization of the U.S. Coast Guard that will protect maritime industry jobs threatened by the current burdensome ballast water treatment regulations, improve the safety and efficiency of the maritime transportation system, and promote the flow of maritime commerce.
“Promoting maritime commerce is especially important to us here locally as the Port of Cleveland handles an average of 13.1 million tons of cargo per year and provides 11,000 Ohio jobs. We must protect our local interstate and foreign commerce industry from unnecessary, burdensome and sometimes impossible to attain requirements that inhibit the flow of maritime commerce.
“This legislation will immediately put in place a uniform, achievable nationwide standard for vessel ballast water treatment, resolving the current patchwork of varying and inconsistent ballast water regulations across states. This approach is endorsed by the EPA, the Coast Guard, the National Academy of Sciences, the EPA’s Science Advisory Board, maritime labor, manufacturers, farmers, energy producers and our largest and most strategic international trading partners.”
###
VIDEO: Congressman Bob Gibbs’ Statement During House Floor Debate of H.R. 2838
Transcript: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011, and in particular Title VII of the bill, the “Commercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2011.”
“Ballast water, while a necessity to maintain the stability of large vessels during waterborne navigation, has always recognized as one of the ways invasive aquatic nuisance species are transported globally and introduced into coastal waters where they did not live before.
“Numerous invasive species have been introduced into U.S. waters through ballast water discharges. One of the most well known is the zebra mussel in the Great Lakes, which has caused millions of dollars of damage to infrastructure.
“Current efforts to reduce the risk of invasive species being introduced through ballast water discharges are haphazard, contradictory, and ineffective.
“The management of ballast water currently is governed differently by the Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as by an assortment of international, state, and territorial regulations.
“As a result, vessels engaged in interstate and international commerce are required to meet several different standards for the management of ballast water, some of which are not technologically achievable or verifiable.
“Complying with this patchwork of regulations is burdensome and unacceptable.
“Commercial shippers are the heart of our nation’s interstate and foreign commerce. As we all know, interstate and foreign commerce involving navigation is at the heart of Federal jurisdiction under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
“If we subject vessels visiting ports in more than one state to different permit requirements in each state that they visit, they will be forced either to violate state laws or cease making port calls in states with requirements that are inconsistent with the technology that the vessel has installed in response to an earlier-enacted regulation from another state.
“Vessels involved in interstate and foreign commerce are mobile and cannot be expected to comply with potentially scores of inconsistent State requirements as they navigate from one jurisdiction to the next.
“These inconsistent State requirements will impose serious economic burdens on interstate and foreign commerce.
“There simply is no reason to interfere with interstate and foreign commerce in such ways, particularly when a more sensible, uniform, and environmentally protective approach is available under this bill.
“Title VII of H.R. 2838 aims to address both the need for standards to reduce the risk of introducing invasive species in our nation’s waters through discharges of ballast water, and the need for vessels that navigate from one jurisdiction to another to have one uniform set of requirements to comply with.
“The bill establishes a common sense approach for regulating ballast water that will protect the environment, grow maritime jobs, and promote the flow of maritime commerce.
“I urge passage of H.R. 2838 and I yield back.”
Gov. Kasich Appoints Zehringer to Lead Dept. of Natural Resources
Release:
COLUMBUS—Today Governor John R. Kasich announced that Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Jim Zehringer will become Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) later this afternoon. Dr. Tony Forshey, the state veterinarian for the past six years, has been named interim director of ODA.
As Director, Zehringer replaces David Mustine who now oversees energy development efforts at JobsOhio. Assistant Director Scott Zody has served as interim director of ODNR since Mustine’s departure on September 7.
Prior to his service at ODA, Director Zehringer was the State Representative for the 77th House District and is the former owner and operator of the Meiring Poultry and Fish Farm in Fort Recovery, Ohio.
Dr. Forshey has 27 years of service in veterinary medicine, is on the Board of Directors of the United States Animal Health Association and the National Institute of Animal Agriculture, and is a past recipient of the Ohio Veterinarian of the Year Award from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Dr. Wenstrup Has a Funny Way of Being "Pro"-Life
Does self-proclaimed pro-life candidate Brad Wenstrup understand the definition of pro-life?
Dr. Wenstrup is a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, which voted unanimously in May to give up to $85,000 in taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. (see minutes below)
Yes, the same Planned Parenthood accused of not notifying authorities of suspected sexual abuse
Every tax dollar that helps keep the lights on at Planned Parenthood adds up to another opportunity to provide an abortion.
Pro-life groups oppose any taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood out of concern it could legitimize the organization. Apparently, Dr. Wenstrup didn't get that memo.....
Cincinnati Board of Health Minutes Page 1 & 5
Dr. Wenstrup is a member of the Cincinnati Board of Health, which voted unanimously in May to give up to $85,000 in taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. (see minutes below)
Yes, the same Planned Parenthood accused of not notifying authorities of suspected sexual abuse
Every tax dollar that helps keep the lights on at Planned Parenthood adds up to another opportunity to provide an abortion.
Pro-life groups oppose any taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood out of concern it could legitimize the organization. Apparently, Dr. Wenstrup didn't get that memo.....
Friday, November 11, 2011
TIB All Stars -- Show Notes and Live Blog
The TIB All-Stars Show is LIVE and DIRECT at 6PM-ish Eastern...
Click the link to listen; participate in the live blog...
Listen Now!
NOTE: In case the JavaPlayer doesn't work, try this one.
The TIB All-Stars Show is LIVE and DIRECT at 6PM-ish Eastern...
Click the link to listen; participate in the live blog...
Listen Now!
NOTE: In case the JavaPlayer doesn't work, try this one.
Link to Video on YouTube
Link to Video on YouTube
Click the link to listen; participate in the live blog...
Listen Now!
- Click the "Listen Now!" text above to listen to TIB RADIO.
NOTE: In case the JavaPlayer doesn't work, try this one.
The TIB All-Stars Show is LIVE and DIRECT at 6PM-ish Eastern...
Click the link to listen; participate in the live blog...
Listen Now!
- Click the "Listen Now!" text above to listen to TIB RADIO.
NOTE: In case the JavaPlayer doesn't work, try this one.
Link to Video on YouTube
Link to Video on YouTube
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Traitor Niehaus on Right To Work Proposed Amendment
Release:
(Columbus) - Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus issued the following statement today regarding a proposed Right to Work constitutional amendment:Sounds to me as if he is saying "Ah...thanks, but no thanks." This tool needs to retire sooner rather than later...
“We just finished a very divisive and contentious election, and Ohioans made it clear they want us to be more deliberate in our approach to major reform. We need to work to build consensus on the direction we take from here.
Job creation remains our number one priority. Too many Ohioans are out of work, and we need do to everything possible to make our state more competitive. We have made incredible progress this year in eliminating an $8 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes. Ohio has saved or created more than 40,000 jobs, and we now rank fifth in the nation in job creation. I look forward to working together with my legislative colleagues to keep that momentum going.”
GOV. KASICH ISSUES RESOLUTION HONORING OHIO’S VETERANS
Release:
COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich issued a resolution to honor the sacrifices and service of Ohio’s veterans and declared Friday, November 11, 2011 as Veterans Day. Veterans have contributed to our nation not only by serving in the military but also by serving their fellow veterans and citizens. They remind us of our obligations to our country and the price that is paid for our freedoms. Veterans Day provides all Ohioans the opportunity to pay tribute to veterans and their families for the many sacrifices they endure serving our country in times of war and peace.
For a copy of Gov. Kasich’s resolution recognizing Veterans Day, click here.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Issue 2 Update: Make Public Workers as Accountable as You and Me
In a message from Jeff Berding, former 3 term DEMOCRAT member of Cincinnati City Council and an Issue 2/SB5 SUPPORTER:
What article is Jeff talking about? It is here and below are some "highlights":
Wow. That seems a bit much compared to you and I, common working schleps who have to work private sector jobs. Listen to this contempt and lame excuse from a "union boy":
Wrong-O, bub. Unions distract with other issues on one hand while adding in perks like these with the other. When they come up later for discussion, the union is aghast and says, it was always in there. We aren't giving up this or that. How do I know? I have been in unions and have many people I know who have been on leadership teams of unions. Some even joke about misdirecting attention to get perks. You think these are a little much? Check out this stuff from the Enquirer article:
This stuff is what Jeff Berding was getting at in his message. Private sector workers don't get this amount of protection. Why should those who are, as the We Are(NOT)Ohio ads say, our everyday heroes, responsible for our lives? Should we let them walk when they are the ones who are supposed to enforce the laws they are breaking? Sound hypocritical? You betcha.
Issue 2 will help change things from this status quo and give cities and districts MORE MONEY and flexibility to hire more teachers, firefighters, etc. and hold them accountable. It will also open up formerly closed shops in the public sector.
Despite what the commercials say, think logically. If you make the public sector workers contribute a little more, that frees up money back to the government agencies, districts, cities, etc. That money can be used to hire more people. And if, as they anti-Issue 2 ads say, that staffing goes down to below preferable levels, the people have the ability to vote out govt. officials who cut staff and elect new ones who will get staffing up.
Now, if Issue 2 fails, let's think about it. Unions will continue to hold districts and cities hostage and demand more and more. If, as the unions say, they are all for negotiating for more teachers, then why have they not already made changes to allow more teachers? They haven't. That should tell you logically that it is not about staffing, but about their own pocketbooks. If issue 2 fails, spending will grow, budgets will have to be tightened. This means less activities for kids, larger class sizes, and teachers who long ago decided to mail it in. I don't think that is good for Ohio's future, do you?
Instead of leaving it in the hands of unions, who just want more money, let's give it back to the voters, eh?
Think about this comment:
“If you or I get pulled over, we get handcuffed and go to jail. But if a sheriff’s deputy shows up to work drunk, he can keep his job. Assuming it’s a first offense, he suffers no real consequence. He gets a clean record; we don’t.”
That's just a taste of what you'll learn in this Cincinnati Enquirer article about some of the fringe benefits and protections uncovered in government employee union contracts. Here are a few highlights:
· Health care coverage at NO COST
· Protections for employees who "repeatedly engage in misconduct"
· A clean record, even if you test positive for drugs or alcohol
· Cash bonuses for being in shape or for not missing work
It sounds ridiculous, but you'll find these provisions and more stuffed into government labor contracts all across Ohio. And YOU'RE PAYING FOR THEM.
The bottom line here is too many of these contracts are out of control, and they're costing us more than we can afford (not to mention protecting bad employees).
Opponents are fighting hard to keep these contracts in place. They are fighting for the 7% of employees in Ohio who work for government. Don't you wish they fought as hard for the 93% who are paying for the bill? Vote your pocketbook. Vote for fairness.
On Tuesday, November 8th, we can fix this. We can respect our government employees AND taxpayers by finally getting the system under control, stopping the wasteful spending and moving Ohio in new, more prosperous direction.
I hope you'll join me in voting YES on Issue 2.
Sincerely,
Jeff Berding
Former Three-Term Cincinnati City Council member
P.S. - I'm a registered Democrat, who's in this fight to help build a better Ohio for this generation and the next. Join me. Forward this message to your family and friends, and encourage them to look beyond partisanship and vote YES on Issue 2.
What article is Jeff talking about? It is here and below are some "highlights":
Contracts approved by Cincinnati City Council include benefits that, among other things, permit many workers to draw 13 sick days a year, grant three weeks’ worth of compensatory time to public safety employees for holidays whether they work them or not, and entitle veteran police officers to nearly 10 weeks of various leaves annually.
In Butler County, sheriff’s deputies can earn a $200 per year physical fitness incentive based on how fast they can run a mile and how many pushups and sit ups they can do. There are different standards based on age and gender.
The public employee contracts in Cincinnati and the counties of Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren, their municipalities and the state are laced with lucrative provisions, all approved by our elected representatives – township trustees, county commissioners, city councils – but seldom found in the private sector.
Wow. That seems a bit much compared to you and I, common working schleps who have to work private sector jobs. Listen to this contempt and lame excuse from a "union boy":
Don’t fault the unions, said Doug Stern, a Cincinnati firefighter who is active in the campaign against Issue 2. “We have always been willing to talk,” he said. “Good negotiations come from sitting down together.”
Wrong-O, bub. Unions distract with other issues on one hand while adding in perks like these with the other. When they come up later for discussion, the union is aghast and says, it was always in there. We aren't giving up this or that. How do I know? I have been in unions and have many people I know who have been on leadership teams of unions. Some even joke about misdirecting attention to get perks. You think these are a little much? Check out this stuff from the Enquirer article:
many examples exist where contracts diverge between the private to public sectors. Here are a couple:
• Provisions found in public safety contracts in Hamilton County remove prior discipline from employee records after a period ranging from one to five years. This means a police officer or deputy sheriff can repeatedly engage in misconduct involving the public or co-workers, such as excessive force or sexual misconduct, and as long as enough time passes between each incident, each time it’s treated as if it never happened. A similar provision appeared in the three-year contract that ended in 2008 for union employees of Hamilton County’s Head Start program.
• Hamilton County public safety employees suffer no discipline the first time they test positive on the job for drugs or alcohol, as long as they willingly submit to rehabilitation. The union contracts say the test results can’t be used for criminal proceedings.
This stuff is what Jeff Berding was getting at in his message. Private sector workers don't get this amount of protection. Why should those who are, as the We Are(NOT)Ohio ads say, our everyday heroes, responsible for our lives? Should we let them walk when they are the ones who are supposed to enforce the laws they are breaking? Sound hypocritical? You betcha.
Issue 2 will help change things from this status quo and give cities and districts MORE MONEY and flexibility to hire more teachers, firefighters, etc. and hold them accountable. It will also open up formerly closed shops in the public sector.
Despite what the commercials say, think logically. If you make the public sector workers contribute a little more, that frees up money back to the government agencies, districts, cities, etc. That money can be used to hire more people. And if, as they anti-Issue 2 ads say, that staffing goes down to below preferable levels, the people have the ability to vote out govt. officials who cut staff and elect new ones who will get staffing up.
Now, if Issue 2 fails, let's think about it. Unions will continue to hold districts and cities hostage and demand more and more. If, as the unions say, they are all for negotiating for more teachers, then why have they not already made changes to allow more teachers? They haven't. That should tell you logically that it is not about staffing, but about their own pocketbooks. If issue 2 fails, spending will grow, budgets will have to be tightened. This means less activities for kids, larger class sizes, and teachers who long ago decided to mail it in. I don't think that is good for Ohio's future, do you?
Instead of leaving it in the hands of unions, who just want more money, let's give it back to the voters, eh?
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Issue 2: Opportunity
Instead of just going on the attack against the lies and harm that has been done by the public sector unions, Governor Kasich and others want to discuss opportunity and stay about the fray, unlike the We Are (not)Ohio Liars club:
Lt. Governor Mary Taylor on Issue 2
From Lt. Governor Mary Taylor:
In days, we will decide the future of our state.
I hope you can take a minute to read this excellent summary of Issue 2 by Kevin O'Brien, a columnist at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland.
Here's a quick preview:
"Issue 2 opponents have worked hard to make this election about emotion. They have also ignored the inconvenient certainty that the financial situations of localities across Ohio will necessitate layoffs, whether or not Issue 2 passes. They are quite prepared, though of course they will not say so, to resort to the time-honored union practice of "eating their young" when layoff time comes, so as to protect union leaders and other senior employees. That's why any talk of merit is anathema to them.
If they win Tuesday, it will be because a majority of Ohioans do not understand the seriousness of an impending fiscal crisis at all levels of government."
Let's make sure that doesn't happen. We've made so much progress this year, from eliminating an $8 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes to saving or creating 35,000 jobs. We can't afford to turn back now.
Please share this email with your Ohio friends and family, and encourage them to get out and vote YES on Issue 2 now by early ballot or in-person at Tuesday's election.
Together, we can build a better Ohio for this generation and the next.
Sincerely,
Mary Taylor
Ohio's Lieutenant Governor
P.S. Have you seen the long list of organizations that have endorsed a YES on Issue 2? Check it out here.
Honest Police Officer Tells Truth (not Union Propaganda) on Issue 2
From Chief Deputy Sean Donovan:
There is also a video message from Chief Deputy Donovan
What he is saying is the truth....the facts...as opposed to propaganda and lies from the We Are (not)Ohio Liars club.......
If I thought for a second that the reasonable reforms of Issue 2 would put you or my fellow officers at risk, I wouldn't be anywhere near it. Frankly, I'm supporting a YES vote on Issue 2 because I know that your safety is threatened WITHOUT these reforms.
What opponents won't tell you is that the current, unsustainable system is forcing us to lay off good police officers and firefighters because our communities are struggling to balance their budgets. The reforms of Issue 2 will help them save public safety jobs and keep safety services without raising the tax burden on hardworking families.
Don't believe the scare tactics being used by people who want to defend an unsustainable system that puts union contracts ahead of taxpayers. Let's make sure we can protect the public by voting YES on Issue 2.
Sincerely,
Sean Donovan
Chief Deputy Sheriff
Hamilton County
There is also a video message from Chief Deputy Donovan
What he is saying is the truth....the facts...as opposed to propaganda and lies from the We Are (not)Ohio Liars club.......
Friday, November 04, 2011
Statements on October Jobs Numbers
Rep. Bob Gibbs:
Congressman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to today’s report that the economy created 80,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate is 9%:Rep. Jean Schmidt:
“This morning we received the news that the economy added 80,000 jobs in October. While job growth is better than job losses, this level of job growth is simply not going to get our economy turned around.
“It is clear that the threat of higher taxes, more spending, and new regulatory burdens from Washington have left employers paralyzed by uncertainty, unable to hire or invest because they simply don’t know what’s coming next.
“Only by passing legislation removing these threats, as the House of Representatives has done and will continue to do, will we get our economy turned around and creating jobs. But for the past 11 months, the House of Representatives has passed over 20 bipartisan jobs bills only to have them ignored by Senator Harry Reid and the Democratic controlled Senate.
“While these bills that would allow the private sector to begin creating jobs continue piling up on the doorstep of the United States Senate, unemployment remains unacceptably high. It is long past time for the Senate to act. I urge the Senate Democrats to join us in enacting real solutions to the challenges facing the American people and bring these bipartisan bills to a vote immediately.”
Congresswoman Jean Schmidt is pleased the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass a job-creating bill she co-sponsored, the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, but she said that today’s labor report indicates much more needs to be done to get the U.S. economy back on track.Crossroads GPS CEO Steven Law:
The bill, which passed 407-17 on Thursday with bipartisan support, will ease regulatory burdens to permit so-called crowd funding for start-up businesses.
“This is an innovative way for friends and family members to contribute small amounts of money into a pool to help entrepreneurs launch and grow a company,” said Congresswoman Schmidt, a Miami Township Republican. “Small businesses are critical to our local economy – and the creation of jobs.”
The national unemployment rate has been stuck at about 9 percent for over two years, which means nearly 14 million people don’t have jobs. “Those numbers are unacceptable,” Congresswoman Schmidt said.
“It’s now up to the Senate to approve the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act,” Congresswoman Schmidt said. “More than a dozen other bills that would create jobs have been passed by Republicans in the House but remain stuck in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It’s time for the Senate to put aside partisan differences and help get our great nation back to work.”
“President Obama's massive stimulus policies have failed to bring down unemployment, and his new ideas haven't learned from past mistakes,” said Steven Law, president and CEO of Crossroads GPS. “President Obama's tax, healthcare and regulatory policies have savagely attacked small businesses and entrepreneurs that create jobs, and instead entrusted job creation to unelected bureaucrats in Washington that hand out stimulus checks – and that's no way to run an economy.”
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Eklund Selected to Fill Vacany in 18th District
Release:
(Columbus) - Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) announced today that a Senate screening committee will recommend John Eklund to fill the vacancy in the 18th Senate District, which includes all of Geauga and Lake counties and a portion of Cuyahoga county.
"I am most grateful for this appointment and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate on behalf of the people of the 18th District and the State of Ohio," said Eklund.
The Senate screening committee selected Eklund following an interview process that began with 13 candidates for the appointment. He will be sworn in as the new senator for the 18th District during the next Senate session, currently scheduled for Wednesday, November 9.
"We had a strong group of candidates for this appointment, but John clearly stood out as a dynamic, thoughtful and informed person who is eager to serve the people of the 18th District," said Senator Niehaus. "John's experience in the private sector and as a leader in the community makes him uniquely qualified for this position. His personal story is a testament that success comes through persistence and hard work. We value the perspective he will bring to the Senate and look forward to his active engagement in our caucus."
Eklund is a partner at the law firm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold in Cleveland, where he serves as chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation group and is head of the Antitrust Litigation practice. He has received national recognition for his work in antitrust law. Eklund is also active in the community, having served on the boards of the Geauga County YMCA and the United Way Services of Geauga County.
Eklund is a graduate of Union College and the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He and his wife Meg live in Chardon and have two daughters.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Occupy Squatters Should Squat at Bill Clinton's House
Don't blame the banks. The government pressured them to give loans to people who had no chance to pay them back, then rewarded them for their finanical irresponsibility. And now we might have the smoking gun that implicates feebs like Dodd, Frank, and especially Clinton and Reno for haranguing banks into meltdown. From Investors.com:
So, once again, liberals only looked at data that supported their view, and it took PRIVATE EFFORTS to uncover the truth, not government. Shocking. But wait, there is more:
Can you say: scapegoating private sector for doing what big government wants? I thought you could....
All under the guise of helping people, this was really about political and social engineering on a HUGE scale, damn the consequences:
So, government not only encouraged bad behavior, they rewarded it by buying up the subprime mortgages....But we can all be safe now, right? I mean, it's over...right? WRONG:
So, we are going to see another bubble...one that will be even more destructive...that is why we must make sure Obama and the libs are thrown out in 2012.
what if government encouraged, even invented, those "abusive practices"?
Rewind to 1994. That year, the federal government declared war on an enemy — the racist lender — who officials claimed was to blame for differences in homeownership rate, and launched what would prove the costliest social crusade in U.S. history.
At President Clinton's direction, no fewer than 10 federal agencies issued a chilling ultimatum to banks and mortgage lenders to ease credit for lower-income minorities or face investigations for lending discrimination and suffer the related adverse publicity. They also were threatened with denial of access to the all-important secondary mortgage market and stiff fines, along with other penalties.
Bubble? Regulators Blew It
The threat was codified in a 20-page "Policy Statement on Discrimination in Lending" and entered into the Federal Register on April 15, 1994, by the Interagency Task Force on Fair Lending. Clinton set up the little-known body to coordinate an unprecedented crackdown on alleged bank redlining.
The edict — completely overlooked by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and the mainstream media — was signed by then-HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, Attorney General Janet Reno, Comptroller of the Currency Eugene Ludwig and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, along with the heads of six other financial regulatory agencies.
"The agencies will not tolerate lending discrimination in any form," the document warned financial institutions.
Ludwig at the time stated the ruling would be used by the agen cies as a fair-lending enforcement "tool," and would apply to "all lenders" — including banks and thrifts, credit unions, mortgage brokers and finance companies.
The unusual full-court press was predicated on a Boston Fed study showing mortgage lenders rejecting blacks and Hispanics in greater proportion than whites. The author of the 1992 study, hired by the Clinton White House, claimed it was racial "discrimination." But it was simply good underwriting.
It took private analysts, as well as at least one FDIC economist, little time to determine the Boston Fed study was terminally flawed. In addition to finding embarrassing mistakes in the data, they concluded that more relevant measures of a borrower's credit history — such as past delinquencies and whether the borrower met lenders credit standards — explained the gap in lending between whites and blacks, who on average had poorer credit and higher defaults.
So, once again, liberals only looked at data that supported their view, and it took PRIVATE EFFORTS to uncover the truth, not government. Shocking. But wait, there is more:
The study did not take into account a host of other relevant data factoring into denials, including applicants' net worth, debt burden and employment record. Other variables, such as the size of down payments and the amount of the loans sought to the value of the property being bought, also were left out of the analysis. It also failed to consider whether the borrower submitted information that could not be verified, the presence of a cosigner and even the loan amount.
When these missing data were factored in, it became clear that the rejection rates were based on legitimate business decisions, not racism.
Still, the study was used to support a wholesale abandonment of traditional underwriting standards — the root cause of the mortgage crisis.
For the first time, Washington's bank regulators put racial lending at the top of their checklist. Banks that failed to throw open their lending windows to credit-poor minorities were denied expansion plans by the Fed in an era of frenzied financial mergers and acquisitions. HUD threatened to deny them access to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which it controlled. And the Justice Department sued them for lending discrimination and branded them as racists in the press.
"HUD is authorized to direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to undertake various remedial actions, including suspension, probation, reprimand or settlement, against lenders found to have engaged in discriminatory lending practices," the official policy statement warned.
The regulatory missive, which had the effect of law, advised lenders to bend "customary" underwriting standards for minority homebuyers with poor credit.
"Applying different lending standards to applicants who are members of a protected class is permissible," it said. "In addition, providing different treatment to applicants to address past discrimination would be permissible."
To that end, lenders were directed to "make changes in marketing strategy or loan products to better serve minority segments of the market." They were also advised to "change commission structures" to encourage brokers and loan officers to "lend in minority and low-income neighborhoods" — a practice Countrywide Financial, the poster boy of the subprime scandal, perfected. The government now condemns the practice it once encouraged as "predatory."
Can you say: scapegoating private sector for doing what big government wants? I thought you could....
All under the guise of helping people, this was really about political and social engineering on a HUGE scale, damn the consequences:
FDIC warned banks that even unintentional discrimination was against the law, and that they should be proactive in making "multicultural" loans. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," the agency said in a separate advisory.
Confronted with the combined force of 10 federal regulators, lenders naturally toed the line, and were soon aggressively marketing subprime mortgages in urban areas. The marching orders threw such a scare into the industry that the American Bankers Association issued a "fair-lending tool kit" to every member. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America signed a "fair-lending" contract with HUD. So did Countrywide.
HUD also pushed Fannie and Freddie, which in effect set industry underwriting standards, to buy subprime mortgages, freeing lenders to originate even more high-risk loans.
"Lenders should ensure that their loan processors and underwriters are aware of the provisions of the secondary market guidelines that provide various alternative and flexible means by which applicants may demonstrate their ability and willingness to repay their loans," the policy statement decreed.
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac not infrequently purchase mortgages exceeding the suggested ratios" of monthly housing expense to income (28%) and total obligations to income (36%).
It warned lenders who rejected minority applicants with high debt ratios and low credit scores to "be prepared" to prove to federal regulators and prosecutors they weren't racist. "The Department of Justice is authorized to use the full range of its enforcement authority."
It took a little more than a decade for the negative effects of the assault on prudent lending to be felt. By 2006, the shaky subprime mortgages began to default. In 2008, the bubble exploded.
So, government not only encouraged bad behavior, they rewarded it by buying up the subprime mortgages....But we can all be safe now, right? I mean, it's over...right? WRONG:
Clinton's task force survived the Bush administration, during which it produced fair-lending brochures in Spanish for immigrant home-loan applicants.
And it's still alive today. Obama is building on the fair-lending infrastructure Clinton put in place.
As IBD first reported in July, Attorney General Eric Holder has launched a witch hunt vs. "racist" banks.
"It's a more aggressive fair-lending enforcement approach now," said Washington lawyer Andrew Sandler of Buckley Sandler LLP in a recent interview. "It is well beyond anything we saw during the Clinton administration."
Tom Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights, recently testified that his division "continues to participate in the federal Interagency Fair Lending Task Force." And he and the task force are working with the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to "enhance fair-lending enforcement."
The fair-lending task force's original policy paper undercuts the notion the financial crisis was all about banker "greed," though it certainly played a role after the fact. Rather, it offers compelling evidence that the crisis evolved chiefly from government mandates and threats to increase lending to applicants who could not afford them.
So, we are going to see another bubble...one that will be even more destructive...that is why we must make sure Obama and the libs are thrown out in 2012.
Obama's Green Economy: Fail! Again
There was LightSquared. There was Solyndra. This time, the company that is Obama made a "high risk investment" in crony capitalism is Beacon Power Corp. From the Hill.com:
What protections? That money is gone...flushed down the crony capitalism craphole. Obama rails against Wall Street with its "risky investments." But look at what he has done with money that is not his! He has used our money recklessly. #OccupyWhiteHouse
A Massachusetts company that received a $43 million Energy Department loan guarantee last year filed for bankruptcy Sunday, a step certain to fuel criticism of federal green energy financing in the wake of the solar company Solyndra’s collapse.
Beacon Power Corp., which develops energy storage systems, filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
Beacon Power had received a federal loan guarantee to help build an energy storage plant in Stephentown, N.Y., that began operating in January. The Treasury Department’s Federal Financing Bank provided the loan.
Beacon sought bankruptcy protection two days after the White House ordered an independent 60-day evaluation of the Energy Department's loan programs aimed at ensuring effective management and monitoring.
The review, conducted by a former Treasury Department official, will include examination of how Beacon’s project is performing going forward, and whether there are additional steps that can be taken to protect taxpayers, according to the Obama administration.
The Beacon bankruptcy comes roughly two months after the California solar panel maker Solyndra, which had received a $535 million Energy Department (DOE) loan guarantee in 2009, went belly up and laid off 1,100 workers.
Solyndra’s collapse unleashed a torrent of GOP-led attacks on the Energy Department’s loan guarantee program.
Solyndra and the broader loan guarantee program are under investigation in the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“This latest failure is a sharp reminder that DOE has fallen well short of delivering the stimulus jobs that were promised, and now taxpayers find themselves millions of more dollars in the hole,” said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), the GOP’s point man on the Solyndra investigation and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, in a statement to The Hill and other outlets.
“Unfortunately for the American taxpayers, I am deeply concerned that other DOE programs could follow which goes to the heart of the President's flawed economic program,” he said.
Stearns is chairman of the Energy panel’s Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, which is expected to vote Thursday to subpoena internal White House communications about Solyndra.
Energy Department spokesman Damien LaVera said there are “many protections for the taxpayer” in the agreement with Beacon Power.
What protections? That money is gone...flushed down the crony capitalism craphole. Obama rails against Wall Street with its "risky investments." But look at what he has done with money that is not his! He has used our money recklessly. #OccupyWhiteHouse
Fast and Furious Update 2: Grassley and Issa Seek info on Zapata's Death
Thank goodness for watchdogs like Grassley and especially Darrell Issa, who are on this case and hopefully will see that justice is done for the hundreds of civilians and the federal agents killed by guns that the Obama Administration under AG Eric Holder essentially gave to Mexican and other Latin American Drug Cartels.
Full text of letter over at Scribd here.
Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.
GOP Rep. Darrell Issa and Sen. Charles Grassley are back with a new letter demanding more information about the murder of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata and the tactics used while conducting surveillance on known straw purchasers, a la Operation Fast and Furious.
Issa’s office informs us about the new letter:
“The letter explains the inconsistent statements by the Justice Department regarding Otilio Osorio, his brother Ranferi Osorio, and Kelvin Morrison. The three straw purchasers were known to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, long before one of the guns purchased by the brothers was linked to the murder of Agent Zapata.
To make matters worse, Grassley and Issa wrote in their letter that documents indicate the ATF failed for more than three months to create a Report of Investigation on the November 9 transfer of firearms between the brothers and Morrison and a confidential informant, witnessed by ATF agents. The report was finally written on February 25, 2011—the same day the ATF received the report tracing the Zapata murder weapon back to the purchase by Otilio Osorio.
Grassley and Issa said that documenting investigative steps three months after the fact and only after a trace returned to the murder of a federal agent raises red flags about the nature of ATF’s investigation.”
Full text of letter over at Scribd here.
Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.
Fast and Furious/Gunwalker Update: Knowledge Goes Higher in DOJ
As more of this case comes out, the more unseemly it gets.....Do not fall for the attempt by CBS news to throw blame onto Bush. The deaths of hundreds of civilians and two American federal agents are on Obama's hands, not Bush's. From cBS News:
The JustUs Department, letting Black Panther voter intimidators go and guns walk into drug lords hands since 2009.....
There is new information about how much the Department of Justice new about the controversial ATF tactic of letting guns "walk" into the hands of criminals.
Gunwalking is a controversial investigative tactic in which police allow suspects to traffic guns without stopping them in order to see where they end up. Documents just released this afternoon show the head of the Justice Department's criminal division, Lanny A. Breuer, learned about the tactic of ATF gunwalking as early as April of last year.
In a memo, Breuer's deputy wrote him that, in a case called "Wide Receiver" started under the Bush Administration, "ATF let a bunch of guns walk" in an effort to catch the big fish of Mexican drug cartels and said the gunwalking case could be "embarrassing" to ATF.
Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he "regrets" that he didn't alert others in Justice Department leadership, apparently including his boss Attorney General Eric Holder.
In a separate ATF case reported by CBS News earlier this year, called "Fast and Furious" and started under the Obama Administration, Breuer says he likewise regrets not alerting leaders about the similarities in the cases. That, said Breuer, was a mistake.Republican Congressional investigators say this new information contradicts the Justice Department's original letter to them earlier this year insisting that gunwalking allegations were "false."
The JustUs Department, letting Black Panther voter intimidators go and guns walk into drug lords hands since 2009.....
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