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Putting Unemployment Numbers Into Prospective

February 15, 2010 Barack Hussein Obama, Fiscal Irresponsibility, Liberal MSM Bias, Lunatic Lefties, News, Obama Fascism, Ohio Politics, Opinion, Orwellian Solutions, Presidential Distortions, Presidential Politics, The Economy, Unemployment Comments Off

In the back and forth over unemployment/underemployment numbers, we lose sight of the fact that some areas of the country are hurting more than others. Throwing off the true numbers are areas like Washington DC where the federal government is hiring but yet private sector jobs are almost non-existent.

I took a look at one state – my own – and specifically each county within that state to gain a prospective as to how the Obama Infestation and Uncle Ted[1] are handling the economy.

In Ohio, there are only 19 of the 88 counties that are below the national unemployment average. The county with the lowest unemployment numbers (as of December 2009) is Holmes County with an unemployment rate of 7.4%. In contrast, Holmes County had an unemployment rate of 5.9% in December of 2008.

Other Ohio Counties with unemployment numbers below the national average of 9.7%…

Licking County 9.6%
Hancock County 9.6%
Madison County 9.5%
Lorain County 9.5%
Warren County 9.3%
Fairfield County 9.3%
Union County 9.2%
Athens County 9.2%
Lake County 8.9%
Cuyahoga County 8.9%
Franklin County 8.8%
Medina County 8.2%
Mercer County 8.2%
Lawrence County 8.0%
Geauga County 7.9%
Delaware County 7.7%

Of the 88 Ohio counties, 18 of them were in excess of 14.0% unemployment as of December 2009. The county with the highest unemployment rate is Morgan County with 17.5%. This is an actual recorded unemployment number not an estimated underemployment number. In contrast, Morgan County had an unemployment rate of 12.8% in December of 2008.

Other Ohio counties above 14.0% in Ohio…

Highland County 17.3%
Ottawa County 17.3%
Pike County 16.7%
Clinton County 16.2%
Noble County 16.2%
Huron County 15.9%
Adams County 15.8%
Meigs County 15.8%
Williams County 14.9%
Carroll County 14.5%
Monroe County 14.3%
Perry County 14.3%
Fulton County 14.3%
Ashtabula County 14.2%
Vinton County 14.2%
Jefferson County 14.1%
Crawford County 14.0%

Of Ohio’s 88 counties, only 9 are below the state unemployment average of 10.9% and above the national average of 9.7% (as of December 2009). They are…

Summit County 10.8%
Portage County 10.7%
Greene County 10.6%
Auglaize County 10.6%
Clermont County 10.6%
Gallia County 10.4%
Belmont County 10.3%
Washington County 10.0%
Butler County 9.9%
Knox County 9.7%

This leaves 51 Ohio counties in excess of the nation’s unemployment average. There are 42 counties in excess of the 10.9% state average but below 14.0%. They are…

Henry County 13.9%
Trumbull County 13.8%
Scioto County 13.6%
Van Wert County 13.6%
Columbiana County 13.5%
Muskingum County 13.4%
Ashland County 13.1%
Coshocton County 13.1%
Fayette County 13.1%
Seneca County 13.0%
Richland County 13.0%
Ross County 13.0%
Brown County 12.9%
Guernsey County 12.9%
Mahoning County 12.8%
Defiance County 12.8%
Wyandot County 12.7%
Paulding County 12.7%
Shelby County 12.5%
Erie County 12.4%
Miami County 12.4%
Preble County 12.3%
Lucas County 12.3%
Harrison County 12.3%
Stark County 12.2%
Hardin County 12.2%
Hocking County 12.1%
Pickaway County 12.1%
Logan County 12.1%
Sandusky County 12.1%
Montgomery County 12.0%
Champaign County 11.9%
Morrow County 11.9%
Jackson County 11.7%
Darke County 11.7%
Allen County 11.6%
Tuscarawas County 11.4%
Marion County 11.2%
Clark County 11.1%
Wood County 11.1%
Putnam County 11.0%

Don’t get me wrong, before Obama took over, Ohio was no employment mecca. Our state has been shedding high-paying manufacturing jobs for decades and as a result has had to re-educate ourselves. An abundance of these new lost jobs are not manufacturing jobs. They are skilled jobs. How can anyone justify the federal government enticing a major high tech employer to move from Ohio to another state through the Stimulus bill? Not to China or Mexico. NCR is moving from Dayton, Ohio to Duluth, GA thanks to the American Robbery and Redistribution Act.

What is Obama’s answer to America’s job losses? Green Jobs.

In Spain the government encourage the building of “green jobs” industries and it has had disastrous effects. For every green job created, 2 were lost. Spain is next in line to collapse after Greece.

Here in Ohio we had one of those much touted Ethanol plants in Lima. It went bankrupt and closed 2 years ago. So much for green jobs.

As for Uncle Ted… He’s been right there with Obama chasing jobs out of our state and out of our country. Obama promised ‘Change’ in the 2008 election cycle and ‘Change’ is about to come. Ohio is going to resist becoming another DPRM* come November 4th and Uncle Ted will be in the unemployment line with the rest of the state.

Mrs. Gribbit and I live in Auglaize County. As of December 2009 our unemployment rate was 10.6%. According to ODJFS’s numbers, as of December 2009 Auglaize County had a workforce of 26,400 workers with 23,600 actually working and 2,800 residents looking for work. In November 2009 Auglaize County had an unemployment rate of 10.0% meaning the unemployment rate rose .6% during a month that the Obama Infestation claims indicates that the economy is improving based on a .3% decline in the national unemployment rate. In contrast, the unemployment rate for December 2008 for Auglaize County was 6.8%. In the event you’ve linked over from one of those non-thinking DRONE sites, that is an increase of 3.8% in 12 months. That ‘Hope’ and ‘Change’ thing isn’t working out for rural Ohio.

In Montgomery County (Dayton) where we used to live, the unemployment picture is much more bleak. The County has 263,800 workers with 232,200 of them working and 31,600 jobless for an unemployment rate of 12.0%. In November the unemployment rate was 11.4%. So as the Emperor touts his economic recovery, cities like Dayton are still losing jobs.

In Dayton – Montgomery County’s largest city – only 59,400 workers out of a workforce of 68,400 were actually working leaving 9,000 workers without a job. Dayton saw a December unemployment rate of 13.2% following a November at 12.6%. By contrast, Dayton had a jobless rate of 9.5% in December of ‘08 with Montgomery County coming in at 8.5%.

So it is evident that the ‘Hope’ and ‘Change’ thing isn’t going so well in urban Ohio either. And oh, Montgomery County broke heavily for Obama in the ‘08 Presidential election.

Let us keep in mind that these numbers do not represent the number of Ohioans who have stopped looking for work or who have taken jobs for substandard wages (underemployed). The numbers being thrown around to represent these workers (nationally) are in the neighborhood of 18%. Judging on these numbers, it is my opinion that Barack Hussein Obama is a complete and utter failure. Likewise as an Ohio resident I can only characterize Uncle Ted’s job performance as negligent at best. At worst – criminal.

Ohio’s statewide numbers…

Labor Force – 5,883,500
Employment – 5,254,800
Unemployment – 628,700
December Unemployment rate – 10.7%
November Unemployment rate – 10.2%
December ‘08 Unemployment rate – 7.7%

[NOTE]

The data contained in this post originated from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Workforce Development Bureau of Labor Market Information in a report titled, “Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Counties & Cities with Population Over 50,000: December 2009″. This data does not include information concerning those employed by city, county, state, or federal governments and is NOT seasonally adjusted.

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References and/or Footnotes:

Uncle Ted = Ohio Governor Ted Strickland [↩]

Democrats Quickly Losing Independent Support

January 18, 2010 Energy Independence, Homosexual Agenda, Ohio Politics, Opinion, Voter Fraud Comments Off

They key polling data to look at going forth towards the November elections should be those identified as ‘independent voters’. Case in point, the latest polls out of the Massachusetts special election for US Senate. They key voting block in this race are those who do not identify themselves as either Democrat or Republican.

According to the latest data, Brown is leading Coakley 51% – 46% overall which is fabulous news for Massachusetts and the nation as a whole. However, the key data in that poll is how the race shapes up among those who do not claim a party affiliation. Among independents, Brown leads Coakley 64% – 32% (2:1)! This is dramatic data.[1]

If the Democrats cannot convert ‘Independent Voters’ they cannot win. There are 4% more people identifying themselves as Republicans in this country than Democrats. Conservatives outnumber Liberals nearly 2:1. Independents are the key voting block and if they cannot be converted Democrats sink.

The problem Democrats are having is that they’ve burned ‘Independents’. In 2008 Democrats won due to in no small part to their ability to convert ‘Independent Voters’. Newsflash 2010, ‘Independents’ are poised to let their displeasure known via the ballot box.

ABC News’ Jake Tapper makes a very interesting observation of the Coakley/Brown race in Massachusetts. His observation? Martha Coakley: A Democratic Canary in a Coalmine?

Tapper canary in a coalmine reference makes the point that as devastating as a Coakley loss will be to the Emperor and his agenda today, it is but a mere sample of what is likely to happen come November 4th. More importantly, he sees the writing on the Obama White House wall.

Tapper makes 4 points noted in Obama’s appearance in Massachusetts yesterday. Point #4 is the most revealing and it deals exclusively with Death Care.

(4) Planning for a Brown Win:

This was unsaid at the rally, but one other thing worth noting is that the White House is obviously preparing a strategy for health care reform in case Coakley loses.

As we reported previously, the White House would want the House pass the Senate bill, so the Senate doesn’t have to vote any more on the matter in the new post-supermajority Senate with Scott Brown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has told the White House that she’s skeptical the House would pass that legislation, given the stark differences in some areas, but Senate Democrats and White House officials would push hard the notion that the bills are 90 percent similar and not doing so would be allowing the insurance companies to win. House Democrats would want Senate Democrats force the bill through by bypassing normal Senate rules and passing the legislation through the “reconciliation” process — requiring only 50 votes. That would even allow some moderates to peel away.

But White House officials note that reconciliation is only for budget matters so the most popular parts of the bill involving insurance reforms — banning the denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, for instance — would not be part of that bill.

Why would they be making contingency plans in the event of a Brown win if they didn’t expect one?

Also, Death Care isn’t the only casualty if Brown wins. Cap and Tax will die on the table in the Senate as well. And ‘Independents’ understand that. ‘Independents’ want Death Care to die. ‘Independents’ want Cap and Tax to die. That is why Brown will win tomorrow because they know he will empower the minority to block harmful legislation which is the only kind of legislation being authored today.

The Democrats have shown their colors by legislating behind closed doors and making sweetheart deals to buy votes. ‘Independents’ are joining Conservatives and Libertarians in opposition to this “Politburo” style of governance adopted by the Obama Infestation and the Pelosi/Reid Congress. This is the ‘Tea Party’. And their villain is the Obama/Pelosi/Reid big government.

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References and/or Footnotes:

Polling data cited as reported on FoxNews.com and is a product of Public Policy Polling [↩]

Sharrod Brown – The Harry Reid of Ohio

This morning I received an email “newsletter” type correspondence from one of my Senators. I say “my” Senators with a bit of jest because neither of them fully represent my interests OR the interests of Ohio. Voinovich is a spinless RINO and Brown – well let us just say that Sharrod Brown is Harry Reid’s vote in Ohio. What Harry wants, Brown will be there to supply.

Michael Medved wrote in an article that he authored for Townhall.com earlier in the week…

Harry Reid is such an incomparably inept boob, such an easy target for ridicule and criticism, that his withdrawal from the upcoming battles might actually dim Republican prospects.

Borrowing from the words of Michael Medved…

Sharrod Brown is such an incomparably inept boob, such an easy target for ridicule and criticism, that he invites said ridicule by being functionally unable to think for himself. He is a lemming willing to sacrifice his political career by following those whom he believes to be smarter than he into the abyss of political irrelevancy and sacrificing the people of Ohio in the process.

Brown, like Emperor Obama and the rest of the ultra left, has read Robert Creamer’s prison tome, ‘Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win’, which not only outlined how liberals could infest all aspects of government, but outlined the current Death Care bill being pushed through on The Hill.

Creamer actually said on April 25, 2008:

We need to reduce the credibility of the private insurance industry… This is a political campaign. We need to bring down the positives and bring up the negatives of our opponents. And the private insurance industry is our opponent in this battle. [1]

Universal, single-payer, health care is their way to control you and me. With it, they have everything in place to completely orchestrate how we live our lives. Because they would be the financier of public health, they can then tell the public how to live in order to remain healthy. Salt – no good. Transfats – no good. If it’s no good it will become illegal. An Orwellian nightmare to say the least.

Some may say, ‘but this bill isn’t single-payer.’ No it isn’t. Not yet anyway. But it can become single-payer over time and that is the true goal. Pay attention to the words used by those advocating its passage. They will use a keyword “framework”.

“Framework” is the instrument to install a single-payer system. Let me remind you that single-payer systems around the world are failing. They are a HUGE expenditure to the public treasury in the nations where it is implemented and services are often times denied or delayed in such a fashion that they become irrelevant and people die do to inaction.

Progressives have been working toward this for over 100 years. Wilson wanted this, Roosevelt wanted this, Johnson wanted this, Clinton wanted this, and now Obama is going to force it because he has stooges like Sharrod Brown in place to vote for it no matter the costs to his personal political career.

Sarah Palin coined a phrase last summer that was largely misunderstood. She said that this bill would install death panels. Taken out of context, liberals pounced on her for erroneously saying that the Emperor’s plan to have advisory meetings with seniors about end of life decisions were not a “death panel”. But that isn’t what she meant.

The death panels that Palin warned about isn’t the end of life counseling, it is the rationing body that necessarily must be set up to decide who gets what treatment at what cost. But even Sarah was wrong about its “framework”. That doesn’t exist in the Death Care bill. It actually was in the Porkulus bill.

That’s right. The authority for the rationing board actually has already passed. They concealed it within another bill so that when this debate came about they could honestly say, “there is no rationing body in this bill.” Also concealed in the Porkulus was a provision requiring all hospitals computerize all medical records and make them available to the above mentioned rationing body for review and payment. And Sharrod Brown voted for the Porkulus.

I know that this is 2010 and Brown’s seat isn’t up for re-election until 2012. I also know that there is an existing seat up in my state that is in contention. Voinovich is retiring – Thanks be to GOD – and Rob Portman is running for the seat. But we cannot advance as a nation or as a state if we allow Brown to remain a second longer than necessary. He was a bumbling moron as a Congressman and he’s nothing more than Harry Reid’s ‘yes man’ in the Senate.

Ohio needs to identify the man or woman who will remove that imbecile from his seat in 2012. The nation requires it of us as Ohioans to be responsible for who we send to the Senate. We mustn’t get caught up in who is going to replace the Emperor and lose sight of the bigger picture. We need good men and women to take the reigns of the House and the Senate as well. And don’t forget about the State Houses.

We have Portman who will in all likelihood defeat whichever bumbling boob the Democrats nominate to replace Voinovich and we have John Kasich and Mary Taylor to fill the top spots in the state.

But who will we have to fill our Congressional Districts? Are they for government health care? Jim Jordan is not and I’m glad of that. Jordan will be returned to Congress for another term that is no question. But what of your Congresscritter? Have they voted for the leftist agenda while in Congress? If so it’s time for forced retirement.

The current Congress (House and Senate) is spending this nation into the proverbial poor house. The national debt is approaching $13 Trillion with unfunded liabilities in excess of $120 Trillion. If your Congresscritter or Senator isn’t voting this new spending down, he/she is part of the problem and must go. If your Congresscritter and Senators are voting to reject this new spending, we need more like them.

But be careful. In as much as we need a change from the current tax and spend mentality, we do not need fiscally irresponsible Republicans either. If we are going to be ruled by liberals we may as well have the genuine article.

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References and/or Footnotes:

H/T: The Glenn Beck Program: Robert Creamer Strikes Back [12/10/09] [↩]

Kasich Announces Running Mate

January 15, 2010 Announcements., Ohio Politics, Opinion, Taxes, The Economy Comments Off

Former United States Congressman and Ohio Gubernatorial candidate Republican John Kasich announced his pick for the next Lt. Governor of Ohio, Auditor of State Mary Taylor.

From the John Kasich for Governor website Auditor Taylor writes…

It truly is a new day in Ohio and I am excited to join John Kasich as we embark on a mission to transform state government as we know it.

The failed policies of the past three years have resulted in a 10.6 percent unemployment rate and the loss of 330,000 jobs. Ohio can’t take it anymore.

John Kasich and I will use our experience and accomplishments to reinvent state government. We will work together to bring jobs back to Ohio because we know that if government gets out of our way, Ohioans will prosper.
I am excited about this winning ticket and the more John and I talk and discuss the important issues facing our state, the more I realize how similar our record of leadership and accomplishments really is and how much this partnership truly makes sense.

I hope you will join us as we spend the next several months outlining our plans to establish an environment conducive for job growth and prosperity for all Ohioans.

Mary Taylor tried to warn Uncle Ted that he was facing a hole that he couldn’t spend his way out of but he wouldn’t listen. Now Mary is joining John Kasich in building a team that will not only bring Ohio out of that hole but create a business environment that will attract new businesses to the Buckeye State.

Our businesses are leaving us at an alarming rate. Why? Because of the aggressive tax system in place in Ohio. Kasich and Taylor want to eliminate the estate tax (6%) and phase out the income tax. These efforts along with other pro-business initiatives will create an environment that people want to live and work in. And if the costs of business go down, jobs will come back.

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Portman Leading Polls In Ohio Senate Race

January 7, 2010 Barack Hussein Obama, Communism, Democrat Corruption, Democrat Incompetence, Education, Elections, Fiscal Irresponsibility, GOP/RNC, Libtards on Parade, Lunatic Lefties, News, Ohio Politics, Opinion, Stupidity, Taxes, The Economy, The Wicked Witch of the West, U.S. House, US Senate, socialism Comments Off

In less than 11 months, this nation will again go to the polls and cast ballots which will be instrumental to the future of the Republic. The question that will be answered on November 2nd will be…

Does this nation wish to continue down the Obama road toward socialism reminiscent of the former Soviet Union? Or does this nation wish to be the great and powerful champion of freedom as it has traditionally been?

The answers will come in the form of who you choose to represent you at the state and federal levels. Candidates for governor, senator, and congressman are all looking for your approval and those you choose will be endowed, through your choice, to shape the direction of this country and answer the above question.

In Ohio, Rob Portman is seeking to fill the soon to be vacated Senate seat of retiring RINO George Voinovich. According to RedState.com and the Dayton Daily News, Portman is leading both Democrat hopefuls in the polls.

From RedState.com via emailed press release:

Rob Portman US Senate Campaign Update

(NOTE: Click here to watch video)

Portman focused on jobs and getting Washington out of the way.

Posted by Kevin Holtsberry | RedState.com

I had the chance to stop by the new campaign headquarters of Rob Portman today as they kick their US Senate campaign into full gear in 2010.

Portman was kind enough to take a moment to give me an update which I captured with my handy-dandy Flip Video camera.

Rasmussen in early December reported the following:

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state shows Portman now leading Brunner 40% to 33% after holding a two-point advantage in September. Just seven percent (7%) would choose another candidate, but 20% are undecided at this point.

Portman continues to run nearly even with Fisher 38% to 36%. In their match-up, 18% of Ohio voters are undecided, while another eight percent (8%) prefer another candidate. The two were virtually tied in September as well, with Portman just ahead 41% to 40%.

From the Dayton Daily News via the same emailed press release:

Portman opens statewide headquarters for U.S. Senate campaign

By William Hershey | Dayton Daily News

With a promise to focus “like a laser” on jobs and the economy, Republican Rob Portman on Thursday, Jan. 7, opened his statewide U.S. Senate campaign headquarters in Columbus.

An estimated 200 Portman backers packed the suite of offices about four miles from downtown Columbus, despite an escalating snow storm outside.

The weather was reminiscent of the launch of Portman’s campaign nearly a year ago on Jan. 14 at the historic Golden Lamb in Lebanon.

Portman, a former U.S. House member from suburban Cincinnati and former trade representative and budget director under President George W. Bush, is the state Republican party’s endorsed candidate but faces a primary challenge from Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley.

State Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine of Fairborn told the crowd that Portman was part of the “best slate of candidates that Republicans” have had in Ohio in more than a generation.

“I agree with what Chairman DeWine said,” said Portman. “This is going to be a good year.”

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner are seeking the Democratic nomination.

The race is for the seat being vacated by Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich who is retiring.

It is important that Ohio stand up to the Obama socialism machine being fueled by the Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi US Congress. Liberals are in control and socialism is the order of the day. But it can be reversed.

Ohio has a socialist Senator in Sharrod Brown. He is a Harry Reid/Barry Obama stooge who read Richard Creamer’s 1997 book which outlined the current health care legislation. He, like Reid/Pelsoi/Obama and the rest of the Democrat Pary, has read and subscribed to the Alinsky model of political radicalism. Ohio needs a check on the Sharrod Brown’s residing in the Senate chamber and Portman is that guy.

Elsewhere in Ohio politics, Ohio’s moronic governor is up for re-election as well. He is facing substantial opposition from former US Congressman John Kasich.

From Rasmussen Reports [12/9/09]:

Unemployment in Ohio has jumped to 10.5%, the state is wrestling with an $851 million budget shortfall, and Governor Ted Strickland has proposed delaying a tax cut approved in 2005. Add it all together, and it’s a tough environment for the incumbent Democratic governor who now trails his expected general election opponent by nine percentage points in an early look at the 2010 race.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Ohio shows Republican John Kasich getting 48% of the vote while Strickland picks up just 39%. Three percent (3%) say they’d prefer a third-party candidate, and 11% are not sure who they would vote for. In September, the two men were essentially even.

Uncle Ted has completely mismanaged Ohio’s budget. We’ve got library closures and reduced services in the libraries that are still open. We’ve seen the closure of 4 of Ohio’s state run mental hospitals leaving thousands of mentally ill Ohioans without services. And a plan out of Uncle Ted to reduce classroom sizes in Ohio which has led to teacher shortages and mobile education modules being used as full-time class rooms.

Oh, and as for that tax cut that Rasmussen says Uncle Ted is considering delaying…

Well the cut has already been factored in to current Ohio income tax withholding tables. Delaying it would mean that Ohio’s workers will not have had enough deducted from their pay to cover their tax liabilities translating to every single Ohio worker needing to write the state a check come April 15th. That is if Uncle Ted approves the delay. Well he did.

Ohio is bleeding jobs because it is not an environment conducive to conducting business. Ohio has traditionally been a heavy industrial and agricultural state. Our heavy industry is just about gone. Gone are the steel plants in Youngstown and Cleveland. Gone are the auto plants in Dayton, Cleveland, Youngstown, and Cincinnati. I’m sorry, but the farmers cannot sustain our state’s economy.

Ohio is also bleeding population. Many seniors are fleeing the high taxes of Ohio for the tax safe havens of Florida, Texas, and Tennessee. Many of our workers are chasing jobs that are going to other states as well. For instance, NCR used Obama stimulus money to leave Dayton for South Carolina. In case you didn’t know it already, NCR invented the cash register in Dayton where NCR was founded. Proctor and Gamble is considering leaving Cincinnati. GM and Chrysler have closed plants all across Ohio and many large and small contractors who supplied these plants followed suit and closed as well.

Ohio is not the only state in trouble and this is translating into a major problem for Democrats. They are the Party in power and this economy belongs to them. Our elected officials continue to spend money that our great grandchildren can’t supply. And make no mistake about it, this debt being run up is no longer our debt. It is the debt of generations yet to be born. Today’s politicians are spending their money not ours.

Republicans stand to gain big at the end of this year and I’m hoping that they can do a better job than the current crop of ~~socialists~~ Democrats. But they should be on notice…

IF YOU GAIN OUR VOTE YOU MUST FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT FOR WHICH YOU ARE BEING ELECTED. CUT THIS GOVERNMENT. CUT IT DEEP. REDUCE SPENDING AND THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT OR 2012 WILL TRULY USHER IN THE END OF THE 2-PARTY SYSTEM. YOU’LL BE OUT AS WELL.

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Ohio’s Issue 3: The Truth Behind TRUTH PAC’s Big Money Man

October 28, 2009 News, Ohio Politics, Opinion Comments Off

We are less than a week away from the general election and the opposition to Ohio Issue 3 has intensified their advertising. At one point this very evening, TRUTH PAC and Families Against Issue 3 ran ads back to back during the same commercial break on the same program. Are they afraid that Ohio might finally pass a legalized gambling issue and take billions away from out of state gaming facilities? It appears so.

On September 16th of this year I finally wrote my first post concerning Ohio Issue 3 and in that post I explain that I had been on the fence about it for quite some time. Once I made up my mind about the legitimacy of the proposal, I decided to give it my full backing. I suspect that the many organizations which are also backing Issue 3 did just as much, if not more, soul searching before committing to their support. Consequently, I suspect that Issue 3 has been well scrutinized by everyone who has thrown their support behind it.

But then there is TRUTH PAC and their allies Families Against Issue 3.

In my September 16th post I gave a little background about TRUTH PAC and the source of the funding. It originates from a gaming company headquartered in Chester, WV, called MTR Gaming Group Inc. MTR owns Mountaineer Casino and Racetrack Resort in Chester and just recently I found out they also own Presque Isle Casino in Erie, PA as well.

MTR derives an estimated 70% – 76% of their revenue at their Mountaineer facility from Ohioans. That my friends is the true reason for the opposition. Not mystical claims about casinos eliminating jobs and leading to higher crime rates. It isn’t about any of the bunk they are placing in their 30 sec. fictional stories that you mute the television for. No. It is about profit for a man named Jeff Jacobs – owner of MTR Gaming Group Inc.

As for the group known as Families Against Issue 3? Well there is some controversy about them as well. Their ads contain the same information as the TRUTH PAC ads and they cite the same “studies”. Complicating things further is the fact that Families Against Issue 3 is hosted on the same webserver as TRUTH PAC. Interesting….

Fellow Ohio Blogger Liza Renee has done what is nothing short of Yeoman’s work in investigating Families Against Issue 3 on her blog Glass City Jungle.

Since I started looking into this, there is another group that is claimed to have been created to oppose Issue 3, it is not openly connected to TruthPAC, but it is using the same ecampaignconnect.com client, it’s being called “Families Against Issue 3″ and is also connected to Grasstopconcepts.com. I’ve emailed the group asking for clarification, using the email that was included in the press release, this is what happened:

Delivery to the following recipient failed permanently:

familiesagainstissue3@gmail.com

Technical details of permanent failure:
Account disabled

Their press release was then not posted.

Lisa was attempting to confirm the legitimacy of various groups for or against Issue 3 due to an email she received that was suspicious. This led her to find out that TRUTH PAC and Families Against Issue 3 are very well connected to each other. What I’m wondering is, are these churches that have Families Against Issue 3 signs on their lawns aware that they are helping to support MTR Gaming Inc’s hold on Ohio’s money?

I do understand the opposition by those who are truly opposed to legalized gambling in Ohio. However, a vast majority of the opposition to the Issue is due to TRUTH PAC and Families Against Issue 3 and their misinformation campaign. The Ohio Elections Commission has already sanctioned TRUTH PAC for misleading television advertisements. Soon after, I personally noticed an addition to one ad in particular which magically grew a study citation that it didn’t have before the OEC’s ruling.

The fact that the two groups are sharing the information and citations within their television commercials is enough to convince me that their association is more than what it appears.

Now how about some real TRUTH?

Issue 3 WILL create just over 19,000 construction jobs and just over 15,000 permanent casino jobs which will be open for anyone to apply for.
Issue 3 WILL keep an estimated $1 billion inside the Ohio economy.
Issue 3 WILL mean tax revenue for the cities where they are located as-well-as each and every one of Ohio’s 88 counties by way of the 4th highest tax on gaming in the nation.
Issue 3 WILL mean additional state income tax revenue from 34,000 newly employed taxpayers.
Issue 3 WILL mean additional state income tax revenue from winners.

Don’t fall for the lie. Vote for Issue 3 and put 34,000 people to work and save Ohio’s economy.

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Ohio Elections Commission: TRUTH PAC Lied

October 15, 2009 News, Ohio Politics, Opinion, The Economy Comments Off

In the battle back and forth over Ohio Issue 3, much has been said about whether or not Ohioans will receive jobs from the issue and additional controversy over the tax rate at which winners will be taxed by the state. As you weed through the rhetoric you should keep a ruling by the Ohio Elections Commission in mind.

Via Email:

Special Update, Thursday, October 15, 2009, 11:12 AM

Pro-Casino Group Comes Up Winner At Ohio Elections Commission

An Ohio Elections Commission panel today found probable cause that opponents of a casino issue on the Nov. 3 ballot have made false statements about the proposal.

The panel ruled 3-0 in favor of the Ohio Jobs & Growth Committee, the group backing the four-city casino measure, in a complaint it filed against Truth PAC.

In addition, the elections panel said there was probable cause of a Truth PAC violation for publishing an Internet ad that failed to contain a legal disclaimer.

Now the case goes to the full seven-member commission for a hearing.

Separately today, the elections panel unanimously dismissed a complaint that Truth PAC filed against the Jobs & Growth Committee. It found no probable cause of a false statement violation.

Details in today’s Gongwer News Service Ohio Report.

One side must resort to deception in order to win your vote. This same side makes unsubstantiated claims in tv ads like “casinos kill jobs” with no reference backing, Then has the audacity to claim that the honest side is lying. Remind you of anyone?

Truth is Issue 3 is a job maker not a job killer. It will pump much needed tax revenue into 4 cities and 4 counties by way of the 4th highest tax rate on gaming in the nation. It will put an estimated 34,000 people to work creating additional income tax revenue for the federal, state, AND local governments. If this issue were so bad, would I be on the same side with several major labor unions? I highly doubt it.

Vote for Issue 3. Because those of us who support it don’t need to trick you into voting against it.

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Addressing A Question About Ohio Issue 3 [UPDATED]

October 7, 2009 Barack Hussein Obama, Democrat Incompetence, Fiscal Irresponsibility, Illegal Immigration, News, Ohio Politics, Opinion, Taxes, The Economy Comments Off

Yesterday I received an email which contained many questions about Issue 3. In my reply, I (and I know this is difficult to believe) confused a few things and may have led the recipient astray. So I’ve decided to print the email here and attempt a second, and more accurate, reply.

Via email -

I cannot find a breakdown of the 34,000 jobs. There should be about 8,000 per casino. Estimates seem to be: 1000 house maintenance (jobs for Ohioans); 2000 jobs for Ohioans for casino construction (2year positions); 500 professional (dealers, machine operators, slot technicians, odds calculators, executive staff, lawyers, odds calculators, etc. (non-Ohio jobs hired by Casino operators who can be trusted and relied on; 1000 jobs in the communities (supplies, food cleaning, repair, etc.) jobs for Ohioans. This adds up to 4,000 jobs for Ohioans and 4500 total jobs What are the other 3500 jobs per casino? Another thing that bothers me is that Ohio only gets 33 1/3 per cent of the winnings. If the winnings are $1.0 billion, this would not cover the needs of the Ohio deficit. How can we guarantee Ohio will meet its budget needs? Any increase in direct taxes would guarantee that the deficit would be covered. I do NOT like tax increases, but a tax increase would guarantee that Ohio needs were met. Indeed, non-gamblers could probably procure more for the Ohio economy by spending their money on tv’s play stations. movies ball games and other pleasures than Ohio will get from the 33 13% of the casino’s declared earnings. We cannot guarantee casino winnings. Also, many patrons of nearby, out of state gamblers would remain loyal to their old casinos; they were like homes to them, that is where their friends gamble. Until I get answers to this breakdown, I must vote NO. If you can give me this breakdown, my friends and I could possibly vote YES, but not without the breakdown.
What are your thoughts on casinos? I feel that overall, Ohio gains nothing and loses much
Thomas [last name redacted]

In my initial reply, I confused thousands with hundreds and may have misled “Thomas”. So here it is…

The breakdown that I’ve been able to get is limited. Thomas’ outline of actual casino workers seems to be probable. But without actual numbers of job assignments, I cannot say for sure. However, his central question seems to me (if I’m looking at it correctly) is the difference between the numbers of casino workers and the touted 34,000 jobs as stated in the University of Cincinnati study.

It is simple. At no time has anyone promised that 34,000 workers would be employed at the same time. The numbers not accounted for by Thomas in his speculative analysis are construction jobs. Somebody has to build the danged things.

The next item that seemed to concern Thomas was the 33 1/3% tax on winnings. As Thomas says, “… Ohio only gets 33 1/3 per cent of the winnings.” ONLY?!? If you had a dollar and had to give another person 1/3 of that dollar you’d be kind of pissed wouldn’t you? How much does Thomas want the state to get? The whole dollar?!? I think 33 1/3% of winnings is MORE than fair.

The next item up for bids, Thomas seemed further concerned on the tax issue. He said, “If the winnings are $1.0 billion, this would not cover the needs of the Ohio deficit.” This is a two part item even though it reads as if it were one.

First, the $1 billion number that has been thrown around is the estimated drain on the Ohio economy that is entering neighboring states as gamblers from Ohio leave the Buckeye State to engage in legal gambling. That is a total amount of money leaving, not an estimate of winnings. By building 4 casinos here in Ohio it is expected that Ohio would retain an estimated $1 billion that is currently flowing into Indiana, West Virginia, the DPRM*, and Pennsylvania NOT as Thomas assumes add up to the amount of winnings that Ohio can tax.

Ohio participates in a multi-state lottery known as Mega Millions. The state of Ohio receives from a winner of a Mega Millions jackpot – who resides in the state of Ohio – 6% of that jackpot in taxes. I’m sure that we can all agree that 33 1/3% in tax revenue to the various authorities within the state of Ohio is far greater that the 6% that is currently collected by the state in other games.

Secondly, his question about offsetting the budget deficit. To this I believe I was clear to Thomas in my reply via email. However, I will attempt to illustrate it again here for everyone to see.

Nobody has EVER made a claim that the tax revenue generated after these casinos are built will offset the out of control spending in Columbus. Democrats are Democrats and they have never met a tax or spending program that they don’t like (with the exception of defense spending that is). Doubt this fact? Just take some time to study Detroit – and the entire DPRM* for that matter – and you will see what I’m mean.

Ted Strickland is going to continue to spend more than is coming in because that is what Democrats do. They are overly concerned about fighting a futile war on poverty instead of addressing issues which can actually improve the lives of many who are impoverished. Democrats have a habit of believing that their “Robin Hood” mentality of taking from those who have in order to give it to those who have-not (after a reduction for government handling that is) in the form of programs that are inefficient and wasteful. Rather than improving business conditions in the state of Ohio which would lead to more jobs in the state of Ohio, Ted Strickland would rather increase hand-out programs and make asinine arbitrary mandates on class room sizes in education. Whether Issue 3 is approved or not, Ohio is still going to have a budget shortfall. The question I pose to Thomas is, how bad do you want that shortfall to be? If people are working in Ohio on building these 4 facilities, they will be paying taxes they are not currently paying. Isn’t that the goal? I thought was.

Thomas next asks, “How can we guarantee Ohio will meet its budget needs? Any increase in direct taxes would guarantee that the deficit would be covered.”

I’m sorry Thomas, but if you think that increases in direct taxes are a way of guaranteeing Ohio will make its budgetary needs you are living in the same fantasy world Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats live in when they suggest that increased taxes in a recession is the way to end a recession. It has been proven time and again that when you increase tax rates on anything, government revenue declines. Taxes are a tool to dissuade behavior. So, if you tax more income, those who can control the amount they earn will earn less. Those who create jobs, will not create jobs. It is a simple matter of economics and a fact of life. His suggestion (as an example) of how this can be done illustrates this idea.

Thomas says, “Indeed, non-gamblers could probably procure more for the Ohio economy by spending their money on tv’s play stations. movies ball games and other pleasures than Ohio will get from the 33 13% of the casino’s declared earnings.”

This is an asinine idea. Currently Ohio levies a 5.5% sales tax on the items that Thomas has listed. The various 88 counties also have an “option” of adding an addition percentage as a “rider” on the sales tax. If this rate were to increase, the final costs of those items would naturally increase and fewer (not more) people would purchase them. I ask then, if fewer people buy these items, how then can you say that a budget deficit that is currently not being offset by the taxes already collected on them would suddenly offset it? That is backwards thinking if I ever heard of it.

Thomas points out a very real truth, “We cannot guarantee casino winnings.” We also cannot guarantee how many people would be willing to buy a Playstation if the state increased the sales tax on them now can we?

Thomas then brings up, “… many patrons of nearby, out of state gamblers would remain loyal to their old casinos; they were like homes to them, that is where their friends gamble.”

First off, the chances that these “patrons” having friends that they like to gamble with who are not already their neighbors here in Ohio is remote. It’s not like out of state gambling is creating friendships across state lines. So that argument is moot.

Secondly, I’m sure that Argosy Casino in Indiana will see a dramatic drop in their Ohio patronage if a casino is built in Cincinnati. Argosy[1] is only 20 minutes away from Cincinnati. I also believe that the MGM Grand Detroit would see a decline if a casino is built in Toledo. Additionally, I suspect that Northeast Ohioans would rather go to a casino in Cleveland and keep their money in our economy than drive an equal distance to Erie, PA to play at Presque Isle.

By his list of questions, I’m beginning to wonder if Thomas is genuine in his concern about the issue or is he an out of state shill looking to poke holes in the proponents’ arguments? Either way I think that that I have provided enough information but in the event that I haven’t, I have some information from the Issue 3 website.

The Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan is the right proposal at the right time. It provides far more benefit to the state, county and local governments, schools, and the people of Ohio than any previous casino gaming ballot proposal.
The proponents of the Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan conducted extensive research to develop a proposal we believe Ohio voters will want to support.
The proposal authorizes four first-class casinos, located at specific sites in Ohio’s four largest cities –Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo.
The proposal requires a minimum of $250 million in private economic investment in first-class casinos in each of Ohio’s four largest cities – a total of $1 billion in required economic investment.
The state will also receive upfront license fee payments totaling $200 million, specifically designated for job training and workforce development projects.
Gross casino revenues will be taxed at a rate of 33 percent. Based on estimated annual gross casino revenues of $1.97 billion, approximately $651 million in casino tax revenue will be generated each year, with counties and Ohio schools receiving the bulk of those revenues. (See Distribution of Casino Tax Revenues.)
The proposal will create an estimated 34,000 new jobs for the state.
Ohio’s neighboring states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Indiana) as well as New York and the Canadian province of Ontario all have one or more form of legalized gaming generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues annually for each.
A bipartisan commission – funded through casino tax revenues – will be created to develop rules for casino gaming in Ohio, license casino operators, and to oversee and ensure the integrity of casino operations.
Portions of the casino tax revenue are also designated for the host cities; for the Ohio State Racing Commission to help revitalize the state’s horse racing industry; for law enforcement training; and for research and treatment of problem gambling and substance abuse.
Primary backers of the proposal are Dan Gilbert (majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Chairman and Founder of Quicken Loans) and Penn National Gaming, Inc., a prominent owner and operator of casinos and racetracks, including Raceway Park in Toledo.

Issue 3 is about the economy of Ohio. Just as the United States cannot sustain itself as long as money is being ripped from our economy and shipped via wire transfer to Mexico by illegal aliens, Ohio cannot sustain itself if an estimated $1 billion a year leaving our state. This is an opportunity to retain that $1 billion and create some jobs for some folks who need them.

You will notice that the claims of Issue 3’s proposed casinos hiring out of state workers have been dropped by the opposition in their advertisements. I wonder why? Could it be that they have been proven false?

What hasn’t been talked about much when we discuss the estimated 34,000 jobs that will be created is the collateral impact on the communities in which these 4 casinos will be located. Restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues will all be built or boosted. These locations will need additional employees all of which will be tax paying Ohioans as well. But perhaps Thomas’ myopic view of Issue 3 can be corrected.

[UPDATE]

I have been contacted by my source in The Ohio Jobs and Growth organization which is spearheading this issue with the following email concerning Thomas.

He’s grasping for straws and doesn’t understand the proposal. We don’t claim to balance the budget, in fact, we’re pretty happy the money ISN’T going to the state, it’s going to local governments as a supplement. Also, we expect revenue to be nearly $2 billion putting estimated tax revenues at $651 million per year (the state’s own analysis came up with $643 million, a difference of about 2%). Feel free to use any of that in a response.

This response from my source along with supplemental emails from Thomas himself, is actually leading me to believe that he is a plant. Someone who is either from TRUTH PAC or an out of state interest wishing to block Issue 3. His questions seem to be distracting from the real issue – Ohio’s economy and jobs.

I remain cordial with Thomas in my responses to him because I cannot be sure that he is a shill as I suspect. That said however, I believe that addressing him any further is a waste of time because I don’t believe that a possibility exists for any additional yes votes out of Thomas and his mystery “friends”.

Campers, I’m just a blogger with an opinion. I’m not connected with The Ohio Jobs and Growth organization spearheading this Issue. I was even on the fence about Issue 3 until just a few short weeks ago. What you have to understand is the state of Ohio is bleeding jobs at a rate that is unsustainable. For our state to survive, there has to be a retention of jobs, growth of jobs, and a retention of the economy. We cannot reverse the recessive economy in Ohio if we don’t first stop the bleeding.

Ohio’s neighbors are bleeding money out of Ohio’s economy. Two of these states are better off than Ohio is economically. One is worse and the other is just as bad. As a state we cannot afford to continue to prop up the economies of our neighbors. We must retain what belongs to us. Issue 3 is not a complete solution however it is a beginning.

Vote yes on Issue 3.

[Note: Content Exclusive]

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References and/or Footnotes:

Argosy Casino is owned by Penn National which is a sponsor of Ohio Issue 3 [↩]

Kasich Edges Strickland In Latest Rasmussen Survey

September 26, 2009 News, Ohio Politics, Opinion Comments Off

Ohio State Survey of 500 Likely Voters
Conducted September 23, 2009
By Rasmussen Reports

1* How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?

33% Strongly approve
15% Somewhat approve
10% Somewhat disapprove
40% Strongly disapprove
2% Not sure

2* How would you rate the job Ted Strickland has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?

15% Strongly approve
32% Somewhat approve
24% Somewhat disapprove
26% Strongly disapprove
3% Not sure

3* 2010 Ohio Governor’s Race

Ted Strickland(D) 45%
John Kasich (R) 46%
Some other candidate 3%
Not sure 7%

4* I’m going to read you a short list of people in the News. For each, please let me know if you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression.

Strickland:

Very Favorable 19%
Somewhat Favorable 29%
Somewhat Unfavorable 21%
Very Unfavorable 25%
Not sure 6%

Kasich:

Very Favorable 22%
Somewhat Favorable 25%
Somewhat Unfavorable 16%
Very Unfavorable 9%
Not sure 27%

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence

With more than a year remaining before the 2010 election, T-Shirt Ted ought to be trying to attract more voters but is he? No. He’s alienating voters by pushing his education agenda which has no hope of improving Ohio’s failing public schools and ignores those which are performing well and those which are performing exceptionally.

In addition to his complete disconnect with voters about education, he is fundamentally opposed to Issue 3 while at the same time proposing a measure which would put slot machines in Ohio’s many race tracks under the control of the Ohio Lottery with the hopes of offsetting Ohio’s major budget deficit. A measure which has been put on hold by-the-way.

He has cut funding to many programs within the state in order to push his education agenda. An example of which seems counter-productive to ensuring quality education. He cut funding to the state’s libraries of all things. Added to this, the state historical society which funds such projects as the Armstrong Air and Space Museum among others. But instead of giving children places to learn about our state, our nation, and our world, Ted Strickland would rather throw more money at the teacher’s unions to help keep substandard tenured teachers in the classroom. Excuse me, but I’d rather have our libraries and museums open.

On November 2, 2010, send T-Shirt Ted packing and show the nation which direction 2012 will sway.

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Truth PAC Misleads Again – What Else Is New

September 26, 2009 News, Ohio Politics, Opinion Comments Off

Since my last posting about Ohio Issue 3 some new television ads have come out which seem to volley the ball back into the court of the opposition and Truth PAC. That is until you find out the details about who is behind the newest ads.

Last time I told you about MTR Gaming Group, Inc. out of West Virginia which owns Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort in Chester. Chester, WV is a stone’s throw (literally) from the Ohio River. Mountaineer derives an estimated 76% of it’s annual revenue from Ohio residents.

The Newest Truth PAC ads feature classified ads promising jobs in the Buckeye State for experienced casino workers. BUT, what isn’t told is that no one connected with Issue 3 is behind these ads. In fact NBC 4 out of Columbus has the story of who exactly is behind the classified ads placed in Nevada and New Jersey.

The television ad shows a classified ad running in Las Vegas and Atlantic City newspapers from a Nevada-based Ixtapa Gaming. In the classified ad, the company describes an “Ohio opportunity” for
experienced casino workers at four upcoming Ohio casinos.

My own (very brief) investigation into what exactly Ixtapa Gaming is revealed that it is a casino supplier.

In the event that you cannot read what it’s description says -

Products and Services
Gaming Equipment and Supplies > Other Gaming Equipment > Other > Gaming Equipment, Tables, Chips, High Security Locks, all Accessories for gaming, Roulette Wheels, Money Wheels, Poker Tables and accessories

So what could this company have to do with Issue 3? That is an interesting question. One that NBC 4 in Columbus investigated.

Company president Candice Chandler-DeGregorio issued an e-mail statement Thursday explaining that jobs are often forthcoming to a state even before casinos are fully operational.

She said her firm is nonpolitical and has taken no position for or against the Ohio pro-casino Issue 3. “We are not affiliated with any entity supporting or opposing that proposal,” she said.

In the mid-1990s, however, Chandler-DeGregorio was a critical player in a negotiation between the Chemechuevi Indian Tribe in southern California and business magnate Donald Trump, who wanted to build a casino on the tribe’s reservation. Trump and Jeffrey Jacobs, the Cleveland developer behind TruthPAC, share a relationship with Roger Stone, an adviser and political consultant.

Ron Escobar, secretary treasurer of the Chemechuevi tribal council, said he was present at meetings in which Trump’s emissaries were sent to woo support from tribal leaders. The effort was ultimately scuttled by a lawsuit.

“Candice was the one who made the connection with Donald Trump’s people. She was pretty much instrumental in our committee,” Escobar recalled Thursday. “She was already involved in the gaming industry, so either she found them or they found her.”[1]

So it is obvious that Ixtapa Gaming, Inc. an intimate player in the world of casino operations and gaming, but why would they oppose Issue 3?

This is purely speculation but is it possible that Ixtapa Gaming is the supplier of devices, locks, and equipment used in the casinos in our neighboring states? I’m not asking you to believe that they are, just if it is possible that they could be. If so and casinos like Mountaineer are 76% dependent upon Ohio residents wouldn’t Ixtapa Gaming stand to lose money should Issue 3 pass and the casino developer(s) choose to purchase from any one of the 72 other suppliers on the list that I found?

I went to dinner with my wife and daughter yesterday on our way back from Cincinnati and a woman from out of state seated at a neighboring table was speaking with her family about Issue 3. I could tell from what I was able to overhear that she hasn’t a clue as to the real debate going on in Ohio over legalized gambling. Apparently she bought into the idea that Issue 3 legalizes casino gambling all over the state. It doesn’t. It is specific to building 4 casinos one each in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Toledo. She couldn’t figure out the controversy over the ads. She did however figure out that even if out of state workers were to be hired to work these casinos they obviously would have to live in Ohio.

Something else our out of state visitor figured out that Truth PAC is failing to mention in their ads attacking Issue 3 is collateral business opportunities. What about businesses being sparked outside of the proposed casinos? Restaurants, theaters, concert halls, bars, hotels, and other supporting businesses? Wouldn’t there be opportunities created and jobs created in those arenas?

Issue 3’s opponents are collecting out of state money to oppose Issue 3. MTR Gaming Group (Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort) in West Virginia, ~~Penn National Gaming (Argosy Riverside) in Indiana~~, Pinnacle Entertainment (Belterra Casino Resort and Spa) in Indiana, MGM*Mirage (MGM Grand – Detroit) in Michigan, Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Pennsylvania, all have a vested interest in Issue 3’s failure.

Some on the opposition suggest that Issue 3’s supporters also come from out of state. The only supporter from out of state that I have been made aware of is the developer who wishes to build the proposed casinos. As a business interest, yes they do stand to gain financially. But so does the communities in which these proposed casinos are to be located.

A fact that I’m not sure that I brought up before is that many in our state legislature may also be against Issue 3 for political reasons. I can almost guarantee that it is political reasons which is driving T-Shirt Ted’s opposition. You see tax revenue from the casinos is to be paid directly to the cities and counties in which they are located. Interestingly enough, these same 4 cities and these same 4 counties are among the hardest hit communities in Ohio economically due to this protracted recession. In fact these communities began to lose industry long before this recession began. But the powers that be do not like not being in charge of the money.

I’m for Issue 3 because no matter how they spin it, these 4 casinos will need to be built and that creates jobs that the state will collect income taxes from. These 4 casinos will need workers to work inside them from which the state will collect income taxes from. These 4 cities will need additional workers in additional industries to support the casinos and there too is more income taxes. More taxes means a smaller budget deficit. More money in our communities means a stronger economy. Why should this money go to Lawrenceburg, IN; Belterra, IN; Detroit, MI; Erie, PA; and Chester, WV? A billion dollars is a lot of money that needs to stay in Ohio. Vote for Issue 3.

Note: The information obtained for this post originated from multiple sources. These sources wish to remain confidential at this time.

Gribbit’s Word, it’s authors, members, and administrators are not connected with the campaign for the passage of Issue 3 in any way. All endorsements for Issue 3 are provided without compensation or reimbursement.

[Note - Content Exclusive]

Correction

I have been contacted by a person familiar with the sponsorship of Issue 3 and have been informed directly that Penn National, owner of Argosy Casino in Indiana, is a co-sponsor of Issue 3 and is NOT opposed to its passage as my post may have led you to believe.

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References and/or Footnotes:

Written by JULIE CARR SMYTH AP Statehouse Correspondent and appearing on NBC 4’s website [↩]

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Truth PAC Misleads Again – What Else Is New

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