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Statewide Coalition of Conservatives Reject Direction of Ohio Republican Party

Release:

Columbus, Ohio - A statewide coalition of social and fiscal conservative leaders in Ohio today announced a rejection of the current direction of the state Republican leadership.

While signers of this statement put emphases on different policies, all the signers believe that Ohio is best served with limited government and low taxation, affirm the definition of marriage as one man and one woman as specified in Ohio's Constitution, stand for the right to life for unborn children, and believe that the State Republican Party Chairman should reflect and fight for these values.

In recent months, Ohio has seen Governor John Kasich propose a "tax shift" unfairly targeting certain landowners and creating a drag on energy exploration, recommend the expansion of a failing Medicaid program, and propose an increasing budget.

Senator Rob Portman has reversed course, defying one of the key planks of the Republican Party Platform to take a position in support of same-sex marriage. This dismisses the views of roughly 3.3 million Ohioans who in 2004 voted for a Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.

Finally, this week, the elected statewide Republican officials declared their support for Matt Borges to replace Bob Bennett as Ohio Republican Party Chairman. Dismissing other potential candidates for the chairman's position, these statewide Republican officials endorsed Borges, a man who plead guilty to a misdemeanor for improper use of public office in a bribery investigation and served as a lobbyist for the liberal homosexual activist group, Equality Ohio.

This statement of rejection is not personal - the individuals above have reasons and explanations for their actions. Nor is this statement designed to elicit a specific response. This statement is merely to inform the public that we have not moved on these issues important to our fellow Buckeyes and we will not accept this leadership which is inconsistent with the principles of the Republican Party.

Tom Zawistowski, President of the We the People Convention and Executive Director of the Portage County TEA Party, said, "The leaders of the Republican Party in Ohio have chosen to separate themselves and the party from the wishes and values of their support base. Not just liberty group members and social conservative voters, but rank and file registered Republican voters who overwhelmingly voted for the Ohio Healthcare Amendment. With this letter we put the party bosses on notice that we reject their betrayal of the party platform and our conservative values. We will not support them going forward but will instead support those who are true to our cause."

"With sadness I put my name on this statement," said Seth Morgan, former State Representative and Conservative Coalition Leader. "Never have I been more concerned for the direction of our state and country - largely due to a failure in leadership. Why would the Republican leaders put themselves at odds with sound public policy and the platform of their own party?"

"Some of our Republican officials seem hell-bent on alienating conservative voters and volunteers, which reduces voter turnout. They ignore the GOP platform, choosing to put themselves outside the mainstream of our party base," said Lori Viars, Vice President of Warren County Right To Life,who also serves as Vice Chair of the Warren County Republican Party.

The signers below call on like-minded conservative Ohioans to organize and prepare for the challenges we and our neighbors are facing.

The initial signers below are represented in their personal / individual capacities. Titles and organization are listed for identification purposes only.





Seth Morgan,Former State Representative and Conservative Coalition Leader

Tom Zawistowski, President, We the People Convention; Executive Director, Portage County TEA Party

Lori Viars, Vice President, Warren County Right To Life

Bobbi Radeck, State Director, Concerned Women for America

Linda Harvey, Radio Host andPresident, Mission America

Don Birdsall, President, Dayton TEA Party

Joseph Platt, Esq., Board Member, Family First

Andrew Pappas, Leader, Anderson Tea Party

Pastor Andy Douglas, Director, Christians for Constitutional Awareness

Linda Reidelbach, Former State Representative; Delaware County Republican Central Committee member

Tom Brinkman, Jr., Former State Representative; Chairman of C.O.A.S.T. (Coalition Opposed To Additional Spending & Taxes)

Mark Stevenson, Founder,Ohioans For Educational Freedom

Sue Hardenbergh, Hamilton Co. Republican Central Committee Member

John McAvoy, Board of Directors, NW Ohio Conservative Coalition

Janet (Folger) Porter, President, Faith2Action; Former Republican State Central Committee Member

Ryan Bolyard, Wayne County, Ohio; President, Hillsdale College Republicans

Paula Bolyard, Doylestown, Ohio; Conservative Blogger

Roseann Siderits, Board Member, Family First

Pastor J.C. Church, President of 3 Cord Alliance, Crawford County, Ohio

Marianne Gasiecki, State Co-Coordinator (OH), Tea Party Patriots

Wendy Sizemore, Leader, Pickaway County 9-12 Project Liberty Group

Glenn Newman, Founder, Marietta 9-12 Project

Randy Wilson, National Director, Watchmen on the Wall

Thea Shoemake, Homeschool Leader; Former Vice Chair of Clermont Co. Republican Central Committee

Ralph Spampanato, Director, Stark - Tusc 9-12

Pastor Norman R. Perkins, Reaching for Success, Dayton, Ohio

Dana R. Adams, President, Akron Tea Party

Jim Green, President, North Central Ohio Conservatives, Inc.

Amy Brighton, Co-Founder & Co-Coordinator, Medina Tea Party Patriots

George & Darla Lee, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots

Linda S. Barry, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots

William E. Barry, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots

Nelson Hack, Founder & Coordinator, Morrow County Tea Party

John Rhoad, Fayette County Coordinator, Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom

Connie Thompson, Athens, Ohio 9-12 Project

Margaret W. Hunt, Secretary, Geauga County Tea Party

Duane A. Plessinger, Director, Wayne County TEA Party; Member, Wayne Co. Republican Executive Committee

Anna Rehl, Founder, Licking County Organizing for Freedom

Patricia Eshleman, Leadership Team, Preble County Liberty Group

James W. Hellyer, Chairman, Licking County Tea Party

Judith L. Guju, Hamilton County Republican Central Committee

Mike Snead, President, Beavercreek Liberty Group

Andrew E. Russ, Esq., Counsel for Ohio TEA Party & Patriot Groups

Sharon Blocher, Stark - Tusc 9-12 Patriots

Van Pratt, President, Clinton County Tea Party

Mark Haverkos, Butler County Republican Central Committee

Beth Cox, Preble County Liberty Group

Richard Geyer, President, Society of Conservatives, United for Independence, Representative Republic, Equality & Liberty (SCUIRREL)

George Momirov, Director, Upper Arlington 9-12 Group

Ethlyn Kennedy, Treasurer, Lorain County 9-12 Tea Party

Jeff Malek, Founder, Wadsworth 9-12 Group

Bonnie Arnold, Marietta 9-12 Project

Linda Studer, Director, Wayne County Tea Party

Jon Eells, Marietta, Ohio 9-12 Project

Bob Longshore, Committee Chairman, Portage County TEA Party

Amanda Suffecool, President, Portage County TEA Party; Director, REALIZE Firearms Awareness Coalition

Mary Lou Cook, Co-Organizer, Voices of Liberty, Marion, Ohio Tea Party

Pastor Bob Tarasiak, Family Fellowship Church, Conneaut, Ohio

Linda Bishop, Committee Member, Findlay 9-12 Group

Carol Bicking, Gahanna Freedom Alliance

Larry Heller, Leader, Miami Township Tea Party; Steering Committee, Clermont Co. Tea Party; Clermont Co. Republican Central Committee

Jim Horton, Committee Member, Northwest Ohio Freedom Alliance

Karl W. Vonvaltier, Leader, Delaware County 9-12

Ken Kay, Executive Director, The Coalition of Freedom

Kirsten Hill, Chairman, Lorain County TEA Party

Mark Lucas, Director, Hilliard-Galloway Tea Party; Leader, Northwest Columbus 9-12

Emily Harris, Warren County Republican Executive Committee

Robert Lloyd, Director, Knox County 9-12 Project

Mary Gam, Director, Knox County 9-12 Project

Dan W. Offineer, Representative, Knox County 9-12 Patriots

Roger Baxter, Vice Chair, Clermont County Tea Party

Kirk "Shovel" Goings, National Road Captain, Sons of Liberty Riders

Joe Daly, Hamilton County Republican Central Committee

Sharon Poe, Secretary, Warren County Tea Party

Thomas Reynolds, Founder & Past President, Top of Ohio Patriots

James E. Burkholder, Vice Chairman, Top of Ohio Patriots 9-12

Kay Clymer, President, Zanesville Patriots

Kathy Freudenberger, Leader, Bethel Tea Party; Secretary, Clermont Co. Republican Party

Rev. Katherine Marple, Founder, Keep Life Legal Ministries

Ralph King, State Co-Coordinator (OH), Tea Party Patriots; Co-Founder Cleveland TEA Party Patriots

Carol Greenberg, Conservative Blogger; NW Ohio Conservative Coalition

Virginia Mack, Chairman, Putnam County Ohio Patriots

Jane Deeter, Leader, Huber Heights Liberty Group

Super Patriot USA Brad Not Looking Good in First Round of AFP Scorecard

Mr. super Conservative Brad Wenstrup scored a whopping 50% so far on the Americans for Prosperity scorecard.  That vote for the fiscal cliff deal must really S - U - C - K.

For the record, Jean Schmidt scored 90% on that last scorecard and has an 88% lifetime rating from AFP.

AFP-Ohio: Gov. Kasich's Budget Proposal is a Mixed Bag

Statement:

“While we continue to study the budget details, it is clear that the Governor’s biennial budget proposal offers Ohioans a mixed bag,” explained Seth Morgan, policy director of Americans for Prosperity – Ohio. “The promise of tax reforms and reductions are positive but paying for them in part with increasing severance taxes on farmers with oil and gas under their land is a mistake. Additionally, increasing the number of Ohioans on the rolls of Medicaid is not real health care reform and will ultimately trap Ohioans in a system that badly needs patient-centered reform.”

“We look forward to engaging with Ohio’s policy makers to limit the reach of government into Ohioans’ lives and pocketbooks,” Morgan continued.

ALG: Kasich Seeks to Expand Medicaid, Would Waste $17 billion of Taxpayer Money

Release:

Feb. 6, 2013, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement condemning Ohio Governor John Kasich for pledging to expand Medicaid under the new federal health care law:

"Governor Kasich has pledged to expand Medicaid under the Obamacare statute, which lures states into the program with promises of federal assistance. Despite that federal spending, the expansion will still cost states at least $12 billion a year once the program is fully implemented, and billions more over the long-term.

"Ohio's expansion alone will cost federal taxpayers $17 billion from 2014-2019, according to a Kaiser estimate. Except there is not enough revenue to pay for Medicaid expansion. So it will have to be borrowed. Thanks to Governor Kasich, the American people will be paying interest on Ohio's Medicaid expansion for posterity.

"Overall, the burden being created by this massive expansion will add trillions of dollars to the national debt, as coverage will now be provided up to 133 percent of the poverty level. That means 23.8 million potential new enrollees. Which, at a current cost of about $4,950 per Medicaid recipient, will be a $117.8 billion annual, additional cost. And Governor Kasich is doing nothing to stop it.

"Compare that with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, who leads much more of a blue state than Ohio. Yet Governor Corbett is standing on principle, while Kasich is cutting and running. In Ohio alone, if Medicaid is expanded, there will be 667,000 new enrollees. That's more than a half million new government dependents being created in one of the most pivotal presidential electoral states in the union.

"By implementing the Medicaid expansion, Kasich is forcing federal taxpayers to pay for what will ultimately prove to be an unsustainable expansion of the entitlement state. We call on the Ohio legislature to have the courage to correct his mistake, and refuse to go along with it."

ORL: Governor John Kasich Announces New Insurance Policy for Children with Autism

Release:

(COLUMBUS) - Today pro-life Governor John Kasich announced a new policy which expands insurance coverage and services for children with autism. Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States and Kasich's new compassionate plan ensures that families will have the ability to care for their special needs children. The Governor's initiative provides financial relief for many Ohio families and their extended families as they cope with providing complex health care and other support for their children.

"During this Christmas season, we can think of no better gift to so many Ohioans than Governor Kasich's new policy. These very special children and their families can now have the peace of mind knowing that the state of Ohio and its citizens support them and will do what is necessary to ensure that health care is available to them regardless of socio-economic status," said Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. "It is the awesome responsibility for all of us to help those in need and simply put, Governor Kasich is leading by example."

Ohio Right to Life proudly endorses the Kasich Administration's continued effort to help women, children and families in need. Today's announcement ensures that moms and dads and other primary caregivers for these very special children have a true safety net and a much needed helping hand. Pro-life policies such as these ensure a culture of life and compassion will continue to expand in the state of Ohio.

CEI: Supreme Court Concocts "Rational Tax Test" In Health Ruling

Release:

Washington, D.C., June 28, 2012 – Statement by CEI Senior Fellow Gregory Conko:

In enacting the health care individual purchase mandate, Congress and President Obama insisted that the measure was not a tax. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court refused to take them at their word. But at least the Court did not uphold the mandate as a legitimate exercise of Congress’s power to regulate commerce. Doing so would have granted government essentially unlimited authority over every aspect of the lives of Americans.

But the decision to uphold the mandate as a tax is troubling, like the Court’s prior commerce clause jurisprudence. Under the so-called “Rational Basis Test,” the Court has refused to question due process or equal protection violations when Congress’s reason for enacting the law might be “rationally related” to a legitimate government interest. Under that test, however, Congress does not have to explain why the law was “rational” as long as the Supreme Court can substitute its own rationale. Today’s decision says Congress does not need to call a regulation a tax—Congress and the President can even insist it is not a tax—if the Supreme Court can rationalize it as one: the Rational Tax Test.

Today’s decision gives ObamaCare a temporary reprieve. But an overwhelming majority of Americans have made clear that they do not want this health care law. Two years ago, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted that Congress had to “pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” Well, Americans have now seen what’s in ObamaCare, and they want to see it repealed and replaced.

It was a dereliction of duty for the Supreme Court to uphold the individual purchase mandate. But eliminating the mandate alone would not have been enough. ObamaCare has been called a “government takeover” of American health care. But the sad truth is that, even before ObamaCare, federal and state government programs were already in direct control of close to half of all U.S. health care spending. In addition, private health insurance has for decades been subject to extensive state and federal regulation governing who must be covered and how.

In a very meaningful sense, government took over health care long ago. That has to change if health care reform is to be successful.

The core problems in America’s health care system – high and rising prices, lack of consistent and reliable access for millions, rampant cost shifting, and an inability to distinguish between effective and ineffective services or between high and low quality, to name just a few – stem primarily from existing government interventions in the market for health care and health insurance. It will take more than some minor tweaks to repair America’s health care system, and returning to the status quo won’t be enough. Congress should now commit to a major overhaul that will cure the system’s endemic flaws.

Real reform will require dismantling the layers of overlapping regulatory fixes imposed from Washington over the past decades. In addition to streamlining entitlement programs, Congress should eliminate the tax disincentives that push individuals into employment-based insurance, scrap federal and state rules that dictate health plan design, open up competition among health care providers across state lines, and put more purchasing power in the hands of individuals.

Statement by CEI Senior Counsel Hans Bader:

This is a perverse decision that allows politicians to avoid political heat by denying that something is a tax in order to pass it, as Obama and Congressional leaders did, when they pretended they had kept Obama’s pledge not to raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year. By doing so, it undermines political accountability, despite the fact that ensuring such accountability was a chief purpose of the Constitution.

ALG: The Death of the US Constitution

Release:

June 28, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement reacting to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Obamacare:

"The U.S. Constitution died today. The underlying hope and belief that our nation's founding document protected individual freedoms from an ever encroaching government is a thing of the past based upon this ruling. It is inconceivable how these nine lifetime appointed jurists could have decided to keep a law that is such a blatant intrusion into each of our lives, but the result of their decision is that individuals can no longer rely on the federal government power being limited by anything other than the political pressure their individual elected representatives feel. Ultimately, the Supreme Court has opted out of the battle to retain our freedoms, and has thrown in entirely with those who advocated for unlimited government authority. It is truly a sad day for our nation."

Tax Foundation: Supreme Court’s Health Care Tax Verdict Flawed

Release:

Washington, D.C., June 28, 2012—The individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act should be considered a penalty and not a tax for purposes of the U.S. Constitution’s taxing power. Today’s verdict by the U.S. Supreme Court holding otherwise jeopardizes a widely-used and long-standing precedent and has severe implications for taxpayer protections and across the country, according to the Tax Foundation.

“The Court was incorrect to reject the widely-accepted definition of ‘tax’ as an exaction imposed for the primary purpose of raising revenue for general spending. There has been no development in law that necessitates such a far-reaching change,” said Tax Foundation Vice President for Legal Projects Joseph Henchman.

Federal and state courts have articulating a definition of “tax” that is widely accepted today. A tax is an exaction imposed for the primary purpose of raising revenue for general spending, while a penalty is an exaction imposed for the primary purpose of punishing an individual for an unlawful act. No evidence exists that the primary purpose of the individual mandate is to raise revenue. Of the various individuals and organizations opining on the purpose of the individual mandate, none have cited its ability to raise revenue.

A meaningful distinction between “tax” and “penalty” is vital to many federal and state provisions relating to tax policy. Under this ruling, government revenue collection efforts across the country could be imperiled, as many revenue sources are not subjected to the heightened restrictions that “taxes” are. To collect fees or impose criminal fines, states for the first time could see these charges subjected to supermajority, multiple reading, and other requirements.

The Tax Foundation’s amicus curiae brief by Joseph Henchman and Laura Lieberman, “The Health Care Individual Mandate is Beyond Congress's Taxing Power,” is available online.

5 GOP Senators Side with Radical Enviros

Release:

June 20, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today condemned 5 Republican Senators for guaranteeing implementation of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation on coal emissions by voting against a resolution by Sen. James Inhofe that would have rescinded it:

"This is a tragic defeat. Enough Democrats voted with the Republicans to defeat the EPA's crippling regulation against the coal industry, but then five GOP senators led by Lamar Alexander provided the margin of victory for the radical environmentalists. If all five had voted with their party, this regulation would have been defeated. Therefore, it is these five Republicans: Alexander, Ayotte, Brown, Collins, and Snowe who are responsible for the higher energy costs that will result from implementation of the EPA's irresponsible war on coal.

"These five senators have undercut the message of job creation and growth being advanced by the Republican Party and its nominees this year.

"The EPA's mercury emission regulations will require power plants be retrofitted with new technologies that cost billions of dollars to implement. Rather than going through that trouble, however, older coal-fired plants are simply being shut down, leading to a drop in demand, which then hurts miners who depend on coal for their livelihoods. These five senators now deserve the blame."

5 Republican Senators who voted against Inhofe resolution: Lamar Alexander (TN), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Scott Brown (MA), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Susan Collins (ME)

66thOHD: Owens Receives Endorsement from the Citizens for Community Values Action PAC

Release:

Batavia Township – The Citizens for Community Values Action PAC (CCV Action) has endorsed Republican candidate Nick Owens for the Ohio House of Representatives for the 66th District. CCV Action is a non-profit education and lobbying organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio that is dedicated to preserving and advancing the interests of family, faith, and freedom in the political arena.

Additionally, CCV Action seeks to fortify the traditional foundations of civil society through efforts to educate, inform, and influence elected officials in support of the country’s historic ideals of equality under the law, and the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness on which the nation was founded.

“I am honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of the Citizens for Community Values Action PAC. It is vitally important the Ohio General Assembly be comprised of members that respect and fight for the interests of family, faith, and freedom. Every day, the Citizens for Community Values Action PAC fights to defend our constitutional liberties at the local, state, and federal levels. I plan to join this leading organization in the struggle to preserve our conservative principles and ideals in Ohio,” stated Republican candidate Nick Owens.

“With each passing day my campaign for the statehouse continues to gain more endorsements, grassroots support, and financial contributions. The citizens of the 66th District want a representative they can be proud of in Columbus. They also want a legislator that can be an effective leader for their conservative values from day one. I will be that voice,” concluded candidate Nick Owens.

Nick Owens is the only candidate for the 66th District of the Ohio House of Representatives to be endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life PAC, Fraternal Order of Police Ohio Valley Lodge 112, and the Citizens for Community Values Action PAC.

Ohio Right to Life PAC Endorses State Candidates

Release:

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) - The Ohio Right to Life Society PAC today announced its endorsements of Ohio's state legislative candidates in contested races for the March 6th primary election.

"Elections have consequences. In 2011, Ohio witnessed historic gains with the enactment of numerous life saving measures. This election cycle will dictate whether Ohio will continue to protect mothers and their babies through our legislative initiatives. We are urging pro-life Ohioans to support these endorsed incumbents and candidates seeking public office," said Mike Gonidakis on behalf of the Ohio Right to Life PAC.

Currently, a pro-life super majority exists within the Ohio Senate with all 23 members of the Republican caucus supporting Ohio Right to Life's legislative agenda. The Ohio House of Representatives boasts strong bi-partisan support for the pro-life agenda as well.



"The Ohio Right to Life PAC is proud to issue these primary endorsements. These incumbents and candidates demonstrate a strong commitment to life, professionalism and the best opportunity to retain a pro-life voice within the Ohio General Assembly," said Marshal Pitchford, Chairman of the Ohio Right to Life Political Action Committee. "These candidates will serve both Ohio and the pro-life cause well. We are fortunate to have them pursuing public office and we are confident that these candidates will serve with the utmost passion for life," said Pitchford.

These outstanding candidates received the support of the Ohio Right to Life PAC because they clearly represent the pro-life movement within Ohio and the PAC is proud to endorse them.


The candidates endorsed by Ohio Right to Life PAC are a diverse group of men and women including Democrats and Republicans. A complete list of all candidates endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life PAC can be found at the bottom of this press release. Notable endorsed candidates include:

Republican State Senator Peggy Lehner (Honor Roll Status) - Senate District 6
Republican State Senator Tom Patton - Senate District 24
Republican State Senator Jim Hughes - Senate District 16
Republican State Representative Peter Stautberg - House District 27
Republican Candidate Mike Wilson - House District 28
Democratic Candidate Daniel Troy - House District 60
Democratic Candidate Terry Tranter - House District 31

Endorsements in federal races, including Congressional and U.S. Senate Candidates, will follow at a later date.

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/.

Jean Schmidt Recognized as Taxpayer Hero

From the release:

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has been recognized as a Taxpayer Hero by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste.



Schmidt’s voting record for the second session of the 111th Congress last year is “a true testament to your willingness to stand up for American taxpayers,” said Erica L. Gordon, director of policy & government affairs for the council.



“I look forward to continuing to work with you to increase transparency, minimize waste, permanently eliminate earmarks, and reduce the ever-growing national debt,” Gordon said in congratulating Schmidt.



“I am honored that the council has again named me a Taxpayer Hero,” Schmidt said. “I will continue to represent the conservative fiscal values of my constituents in Southern Ohio. We must reduce our national debt and stop deficit spending. Raising taxes isn’t the solution. I favor a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution so we don’t have similar problems in the future.”



According to the council, it “examined roll call votes to help identify which members of Congress stand up for the taxpayers’ interests and which fail to deliver on campaign promises of fiscal responsibility.”



Schmidt received a rating of 93 percent, which was higher than most other members of the House of Representatives, according to the council.

Congratulations to Congresswoman Jean Schmidt!!!!

Heritage Legislative Scorecard

Not surprised at all to find Jim Jordan at the top of the list for Ohio. Note, Speaker Boehner was not rated.

AFP-Ohio Continues Statewide Series of Taxpayer Town Halls in Tiffin

Release:

TIFFIN- Americans for Prosperity-Ohio continues a statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls on Thursday, September 1st in Tiffin. The North Central Ohio Conservatives are partnering with AFP-Ohio on this town hall, which will feature Buckeye Institute President Matt Mayer, Seneca County Commissioner Jeff Wagner, and Waterville Mayor Derek Merrin as panelists.

The panel will be moderated by former State Representative and AFP-Ohio Policy Director Seth Morgan, and will focus on the financial crises faced by many of our cities, townships, villages, and schools, how these crises could affect Ohio's jobs and citizens, and how State Issue 2 can help solve these crises.

“Federal and state governments are facing major financial troubles – our local schools and governments are no different," said AFP-Ohio Policy Director Seth Morgan. "Citizens see this every election cycle with endless tax increase proposals throughout the State. Local citizens should have the ability to impact the spending policies of their governments. State Issue 2 is a vote for or against that ability. It is time that citizens take control of their future – learning the truth about State Issue 2 is where to start.”

AFP-Ohio and the North Central Ohio Conservatives encourage citizens to attend the town hall.

What: Taxpayer Town Hall
When: Thursday, September 1, 2011, 6:30pm
Where: Camden Falls Conference Center, 2460 S. S.R. 231, Tiffin, OH 44883
Speakers: Matt Mayer, President of the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy
Jeff Wagner, Seneca County Commissioner
Derek Merrin, Mayor of Waterville
Jim Green, President of North Central Ohio Conservatives
Seth Morgan, former State Representative and AFP-Ohio Policy Director
Rebecca Heimlich, AFP-Ohio State Director
Registration: www.AmericansforProsperity.org/Ohio (although registration is appreciated, it is not required)

Over the next few weeks, AFP-Ohio will partner with Tea Parties, 9/12 groups, and other liberty organizations to host Taxpayer Town halls in Troy, the Greater Cincinnati Area-West, Norwalk, Zanesville, Canton, the Greater Toledo Area, and additional locations to be announced.
"Our Taxpayer Town Halls will dispel myths and misinformation being spread by special interests and union leaders about Issue 2, and will educate citizens about what Issue 2 really does," said AFP-Ohio State Director Rebecca Heimlich. "Issue 2 will help restore fairness, accountability and the voice of the people in how our tax dollars are spent."

To learn more about Americans for Prosperity-Ohio and our statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls, please go to www.americansforprosperity.org/ohio. To learn more about the North Central Ohio Conservatives, please visit www.northcentralohioconservatives.com.

CATO Institute Department By Department Cuts Website: Downsizing Government

The CATO Institute is putting together proposals for budget cuts to each and every department in the US Government. Check out their fine work here. Below are some highlights:

Department of HHS

The 2010 health care law should be repealed and other HHS programs should be terminated, as listed below.

The Ryan plan would repeal the current tax exclusion for employer-provided health insurance and replace it with a refundable tax credit of $2,300 per adult, $1,700 per child, and a maximum of $5,700 per family. The tax credit would be used to cover the costs of either individual or employer-based health insurance for people under age 65.

Individuals age 65 and over would purchase private health insurance with the aid of a federal voucher. Individuals with lower incomes would purchase private health insurance with the aid of the federal tax credit and a voucher. The reforms would essentially convert Medicare and Medicaid from defined benefit to defined contribution plans. That would allow policymakers to directly restrain program costs without having the government ration health care services.

If individuals receiving tax credits and vouchers purchased health insurance costing less than the federal payment, they would put the excess in a tax-free medical savings account. If individuals purchased an insurance plan costing more than the federal payment, they would chip in the extra. Either way, individuals would be encouraged to make efficient purchasing decisions.

To restructure Medicare, the Ryan plan would provide retirees with a voucher averaging $11,000, which is the current average Medicare spending per beneficiary. The reform would only affect people who are age 55 and younger today. When those individuals start reaching age 65 after 2020, they would receive the Medicare voucher instead of benefits under the current program structure.

The Medicare voucher would grow in value after 2010 based on the average growth rate of general inflation and medical inflation. The dollar values of the vouchers would be adjusted to reflect the age of a beneficiary, income level, and health status. Poorer and sicker persons would receive higher subsidies. The low-income elderly under the Ryan plan would receive an additional payment to their medical savings accounts to cover out-of-pocket health expenses.4

To restructure Medicaid, the Ryan plan would provide low-income individuals with both a refundable tax credit and a voucher to purchase private health insurance. People below the poverty line would receive a $5,000 voucher, while those with incomes between the poverty line and twice the poverty line would receive a smaller voucher amount. State taxpayers—who currently pay a portion of the costs of Medicaid—would pay a portion of the costs of the new Medicaid vouchers.

An alternative approach to reforming Medicaid would be to convert it to a block grant for the states. The states would receive a fixed grant from the federal government with few strings attached, allowing them to experiment with more efficient ways of delivering health subsidies to low-income families. This approach is probably preferable to the Ryan voucher approach because it would likely result in less federal micromanagement of state health care markets and more state innovation.

However, both the voucher and block-grant approaches to reforming Medicaid would create strong incentives to improve efficiency in health care markets, and both reform approaches would allow federal policymakers to directly clamp down on explosive Medicaid spending growth.Table 1 lists HHS programs aside from Medicare and Medicaid that could be terminated. These programs have one thing in common: they are all state grant programs. The federal government raises the money from taxpayers who live in the 50 states and then dispenses it back to the states to administer these programs. That roundabout way of financing government programs makes no sense. Why don't the states just fund their own programs and cut out the inefficient middleman in Washington?

Department of Education

The Department of Education should be closed and its programs terminated. The main activity of the department is to provide grants to state and local governments. However, channeling taxpayer dollars through Washington and then back to the states is an inefficient way to fund local activities such as education. It would be better if the states funded their own education programs free from all the paperwork that comes with federal aid.

Federal intervention into primary and secondary schools has steadily increased since the 1960s, but there have been no obvious improvements in educational achievement. Indeed, standardized test scores for K-12 students have been stagnant for decades. Interestingly, Canada has virtually no federal involvement in its schools, but Canadian students generally score higher on international tests than do American students.

The sad truth is that rising control from Washington has probably damaged American schools by reducing local flexibility, retarding innovation, and burying school administrators in regulations. Federal involvement should be ended, and it should be up to the states, the schools, and parents to boost school performance. Cato scholars have proposed many ways to improve school quality.

Department of Education loans and grants to college students should be ended. Personal savings, financial institutions, and charitable organizations are more efficient funding sources for college costs. For decades, federal student aid has suffered from inept administration and large amounts of fraud and abuse. Another problem is that rising federal aid has generated inflation in college tuition and other educational costs. Thus, ending federal student subsidies would create beneficial pressure on colleges and universities to trim their bloated budgets and reduce their tuition.

Check out more at the link above and keep going back as they add more departments and more cuts.

NTU: “Super Committee” Lawmakers Start Far Apart on Spending Reduction Ideas, Study of Panel Members’ Bill-Sponsorship Shows

Release:

(Alexandria, VA) – No one said it would be easy for the 12 lawmakers on the latest deficit reduction “Super Committee” to agree with each other, but a new analysis of the bills they’ve sponsored or cosponsored from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation’s (NTUF’s) BillTally system shows just how different their views are on spending programs. The 12 panel members have legislative agendas whose individual impact on the budget would vary widely, from an annual cut in federal expenditures of just over $85 billion to a yearly increase of more than $1.15 trillion.

“Based on the legislative turf that each of them has staked out so far, lawmakers on the Supercommittee will not be approaching the task of cutting spending on a vast plot of common ground,” said NTUF Senior Policy Analyst and BillTally Project Director Demian Brady. “However, BillTally data also demonstrates that if they are willing to explore ground that has already been plowed by other Members of Congress, it is possible to cultivate a package that would fulfill the ten-year, $1.5 trillion deficit reduction mandate of the Supercommittee without raising taxes."

Graphics: Senate Appointee Spending Agendas; House Appointee Spending Agendas; Consensus Spending Cut Proposals

Since 1991, the BillTally cost accounting system has computed a “net annual agenda” based on each Senator’s or Representative’s individual sponsorship or cosponsorship of legislation. This unique approach provides an in-depth look at the fiscal behavior of lawmakers, free from the influence of committees, party leaders, and rules surrounding floor votes. All cost estimates for bills are obtained from third-party sources, Congress Members’ offices, or are calculated from neutral data.

Key findings of NTUF’s BillTally analysis include:

* In the current Congress, the 12 panel Members have legislative agendas whose net effect ranges from a yearly average reduction in the budget of $85.0 billion (Kyl, R-AZ) to an annual increase in outlays of $1.157 trillion (Becerra, D-CA). The total for Becerra is primarily attributable to his cosponsorship of “single payer” health care reform legislation. Supporters of this bill have identified several tax increases – including surtaxes on the top two income brackets and higher payroll levies – to fund this legislation.
* Each House Republican on the “Supercommittee” has sponsored or cosponsored legislation whose overall effect would reduce federal spending, at amounts between $41.3 billion (Upton, MI) and $43.0 billion (Hensarling, TX). However, these amounts are more moderate (by about one-third) than the net budget cut backed by the typical Member of their party in this Congress.
* So far this year none of the three House Democrats named to the panel have sponsored or cosponsored a single bill whose net effect would shrink federal outlays. This is also true of one Senate Democrat (Max Baucus, MT). These lawmakers’ agendas differ from the trend within their own parties. An average House Democrat has sponsored $10.9 billion in cuts (more than offset by increases), while the average Democratic Senator has backed $12.9 billion in reductions.
* All told, Super Committee appointees sponsored or cosponsored 18 non-overlapping bills whose gross savings (not accounting for any spending-increase bills they supported) added up to $89.6 billion a year. None of these 18 pieces of legislation have bipartisan support among the Super Committee Members, but three of those proposals have been introduced in both chambers and have the backing of GOP Senators and Representatives on the panel. The savings of these three “common bills” are estimated at $41.3 billion total.
* Although Senate and House Republicans on the Super Committee could find agreement on this $41.3 billion spending reduction, its single biggest element involves repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – a move that Super Committee Democrats would oppose.
* Two Senate Democrats (Kerry, MA, and Murray, WA) offered four spending reduction bills amounting to $629 million in cuts. While no GOP lawmakers on the panel cosponsored these pieces of legislation, two of them – a suspension of next year’s Congressional salary increase and cutbacks on Congressional printing, worth $10 million in combined savings – have attracted bipartisan interest in the past.

Even though sponsorship data indicates little accord among Super Committee legislators on expenditure-cuts, Brady noted that the combined legislative “raw material” of the entire membership in the 112th Congress would provide additional opportunities. BillTally’s database has recorded the introduction of non-overlapping spending cuts in the House alone of $357.2 billion per year. This is more than twice the average annualized total deficit reduction ($150 billion per year) the Committee is charged with developing for consideration in the full House and Senate.

“If they are to avoid tax increases that many Americans would find counterproductive, Super Committee Members will need to meet deficit reduction targets through a variety of spending-restraint measures,” Brady concluded. “BillTally’s database from this and previous Congresses shows that there is no shortage of ideas to help achieve this end.”

The NTUF analysis of “Super Committee” Members is available at www.ntu.org. Updates on BillTally data for the current Congress are provided through a weekly e-newsletter, The Taxpayer’s Tab. Click here to subscribe. NTUF is the research affiliate of the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union, a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen group founded in 1969. Click here for more information on the BillTally system.

AFP-Ohio Kicks Off Taxpayer Town Halls This Tuesday in Cincinnati

Release:

CINCINNATI- Americans for Prosperity-Ohio kicks off a statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls this Tuesday, August 16th in the greater Cincinnati area. The Eastern Hill Community Tea Party is partnering with AFP-Ohio on this town hall, which will feature former Cincinnati City Council member Jeff Berding, Buckeye Institute President Matt Mayer and local business owner Dan Regenold as panelists.

The panel will be moderated by former State Representative and AFP-Ohio Policy Director Seth Morgan, and will focus on the financial crises faced by many of our cities, townships, villages, and schools, how these crises could affect Ohio's jobs and citizens, and how State Issue 2 can help solve these crises.

“Federal and state governments are facing major financial troubles – our local schools and governments are no different," said AFP-Ohio Policy Director Seth Morgan. "Citizens see this every election cycle with endless tax increase proposals throughout the State. Local citizens should have the ability to impact the spending policies of their governments. State Issue 2 is a vote for or against that ability. It is time that citizens take control of their future – learning the truth about State Issue 2 is where to start.”

AFP-Ohio and the Eastern Hills Community Tea Party encourage citizens to attend the town hall.

When: Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 7:00pm
Where: Connections Church, 7421 East Galbraith Road, Madeira, OH 45243*
Partners: Eastern Hills Community Tea Party and AFP-Ohio
Speakers: Jeff Berding, former Cincinnati City Council member
Matt Mayer, President of the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy
Dan Regenold, local business owner
Jay Groenke, Eastern Hills Community Tea Party
Seth Morgan, former State Representative and AFP-Ohio Policy Director
Rebecca Heimlich, AFP-Ohio State Director
Registration: www.AmericansforProsperity.org/Ohio (although registration is appreciated, it is not required)

Over the next few weeks, AFP-Ohio will partner with Tea Parties, 9/12 groups, and other liberty organizations to host Taxpayer Town halls in Geauga County, Tiffin, Troy, the greater Cincinnati area-West, Norwalk, Zanesville, Canton, the greater Toledo area, and additional locations to be announced.
"Our Taxpayer Town Halls will dispel myths and misinformation being spread by special interests and union bosses about Issue 2, and will educate citizens about what Issue 2 really does," said AFP-Ohio State Director Rebecca Heimlich. "Issue 2 will help restore fairness, accountability and the voice of the people in how our tax dollars are spent."

To learn more about Americans for Prosperity-Ohio and our statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls, please go to www.americansforprosperity.org/ohio. To lean more about the Eastern Hills CommunityTea Party, please go to www.ourtp.org.

AFP-Ohio Announces Taxpayer Town Halls

Release:

COLUMBUS- Americans for Prosperity-Ohio kicks off a statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls on August 16th in the Greater Cincinnati Area.  AFP-Ohio is partnering with Tea Parties, 9-12 Groups, and other liberty organizations to host these town halls, which will focus on the financial crises many local governments across Ohio are facing, how those crises could affect citizens, jobs and our economy, what local governments can do to address their financial challenges, and how Senate Bill 5 can help.

"Now that Ohio has passed a budget that addresses Ohio’s financial crisis without raising taxes, we need to turn our focus to the financial struggles many of our local governments are facing," said AFP-Ohio State Director Rebecca Heimlich.  "Ohio cannot continue on a path to jobs and prosperity if local governments increase taxes or are forced to layoff employees.  Local governments need to use tools that will allow them to balance their budgets by more efficiently, effectively, and transparently managing taxpayer dollars."

Below is a list of Taxpayer Town Halls AFP-Ohio encourages citizens to attend so they can learn more and find out what they can do to help.  Over the next few weeks, AFP-Ohio will announce more Taxpayer Town Halls across the state.

Greater Cincinnati Area - East

When:  Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 7:00pm

Where:  Connections Church, 7421 East Galbraith Road,  Madeira, OH 45243*

Partner:  Eastern Hills Community Tea Party

Geauga County

When:  Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 7:00pm

Where:  Orchard Hills Event Center, 11414 Caves Road, Chesterland, OH 44026

Partner:  Chesterland Tea Party

Tiffin

When:  Thursday, September 1, 2011, 6:30pm

Where:  Camden Falls Conference Center, 2460 S. S.R. 231, Tiffin, OH  44883

Partner:  North Central Ohio Conservatives

Troy

When:  Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 7:00pm

Where:  Crystal Room next to Club 55, 845 West Market Street, Troy, OH 45373

Partner:  Miami County Liberty

Greater Cincinnati Area - West

When:  Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 7:00pm (you can join your fellow patriots and purchase dinner at the Farm at 6:00pm)

Where:  The Farm, 239 Anderson Ferry Road, Cincinnati, OH 45238

Partners:  Southwest Cincinnati Tea Party, Northwest Hamilton County Tea Party

Norwalk

When:  Monday, September 26, 2011, 7:00pm

Where:  Norwalk High School, 350 Shady Lane Drive, Norwalk, OH 44857

Partner:  If You Believe