No matter where you live I am sure you have heard the same argument I hear continually: “Republicans are slashing spending and hurting kids.” Health care, education, you name it, this is the refrain. The problem? It’s not true. In May I offered a chart that highlighted how spending is not the path to growth. Today I want to focus on education. Look at the | Read More »
I wanted to bring to your attention a short report released by The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions (full disclosure: I am the president) focused on state spending burdens and their connection, or lack thereof, to economic growth. Adam Schwiebert, The Diehl Family Fellow at the Buckeye Institute, put together a short policy brief that uses a measurement know as “state spending burden” – comparing combined state | Read More »
I have worked in or around the Ohio Statehouse for a decade or more. I have seen a great many protests, counter-protests and events involving all kinds of issues and groups. But when I stopped by the Statehouse today to check out the Values Bus Tour event put on by Heritage Foundation and Family Research Council I experienced something I don’t believe I had ever witnessed. A counter-protest effectively | Read More »
Issue 2 in Ohio has failed. Unions poured a gazillion dollars into Ohio and won. Despite having a sense of this outcome for some time it still stings. Believe it or not, a great many felt that these reforms were important steps in bring fiscal and structural sanity to government. The voters clearly did not get that message. The media is going to try and | Read More »
Is John Glenn a hero? Tricky question. First American to orbit the earth and third American in space. A long list of awards and medals to his name. But also a Senate a career that was less than illustrious (including the Keating Five scandal). When I think John Glenn I think bland Democratic politician not heroic astronaut. Your mileage may vary. But the point of this | Read More »
As you may know, there is a critically important issue being debated here in Ohio that has long term implications for politics, public policy and the health of Ohio’s economy. Issue 2 is a result of a union led attempt to repeal Senate Bill 5 – legislation which brought much needed reform to Ohio’s collective bargaining laws. A yes vote allows these important reforms to | Read More »
Some real smart analyst/blogger recently said that Ted Strickland was in trouble because unemployment was high – and likely to stay that way – the larger political environment was trending against him and he faced a credible opponent who would take advantage of these factors. While I try to remember who that was, please take a moment to look at some number that back that | Read More »
Ohio Representatives, I suggest you think deep and hard about how you vote on health care “reform” because the numbers are ugly. First, Susan B. Anthony List: OH-01 Steve Driehaus 73% oppose using tax dollars to pay for abortions (61% strongly oppose) 72% oppose taxpayer funding of abortions as part of healthcare reform (62% strongly oppose) 64% agree that abortion and abortion funding have no | Read More »
So what exactly is going on with Lee Fisher and Jennifer Brunner in the Democratic primary for the US Senate seat in Ohio? The two candidates seem intent on ignoring each other and the party and its interest groups seem to have sworn an oath to avoid talking about the primary (the biggest in this important state in a critical year). First, there was some | Read More »
A few days ago I posted on how the Democrats were attacking US Senate Candidate Rob Portman for supposedly supporting the “status-quo” on health care (instead of the health care monstrosity currently being debate in Washington). The ODP rolled out some nonsensical attack quotes that missed the whole point. Portman has been saying since the beginning that a bill that raises costs and hurts business | Read More »
This story from the Dayton Daily News is revealing in so many ways: On a day that brought President Barack Obama to Ohio to make a final appeal for congressional approval of his health care overhaul plan, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman had a different message. “I pray that it will not pass,” Portman said on Monday, March 15. His comments came in a | Read More »
Yes, I just claimed that John Kasich is going to be Ohio’s next governor. This is not meant as hyperbole. I really believe Kasich is going to beat Governor Strickland in November. This is not based on deep study of the polls or a county-by-county analysis or anything of that sort. It is more of a gut feeling based on how I see the campaign | Read More »
UPDATE: Cleveland Jewish News has changed the headline. It now reads: “State reps urge Portman to sever ties over group’s “Nazi” posting” See? That is the kind of power this blog wields … I wasn’t planning on writing on this issue (I have little time to write as it is) but when Leon pointed out this headline on Red Hot I felt compelled to post: | Read More »
The scandals just keep coming from the Strickland administration: A state investigation of an alleged scheme to cover up the use of illegal immigrants to remodel a state-leased office building is now in the hands of the Franklin County prosecutor’s office. But state troopers say they had to stand their ground to ensure the case reached the prosecutor. Former State Highway Patrol Lt. Col. William | Read More »
I have a longer post brewing on the Ohio governor’s race jumping off the latest polls, etc. but until that is done check out this nice candidate introduction video from team Kasisch:
I had heard this was in the works a few weeks ago, and it has been discussed quite a bit on Twitter, but now we have a link (that makes it credible, right? Yeah, journalism!) Wealthy car dealer Tom Ganley (R) is dropping out of the open-seat Ohio Senate race and will challenge Rep. Betty Sutton (D) in the 13th district instead, according to a | Read More »
If you talk to the editors about being associated with Redstate one of the first things they will tell you is how cool it is to hear how popular the site is with politicians, activists and grassroots folks all around the country. It means a lot when you meet someone and they say: “Oh, I love Redstate – read it everyday.” Well, it just so | Read More »
DDN has the story on Kilburn filing papers: Warren County commissioner Mike Kilburn is expected to file petitions today, Jan. 20 to challenge U.S. House Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Twp. in the May Republican primary. Kilburn, a commissioner for 28 years, said it’s time for a more conservative approach in the 2nd Congressional District, which covers eastern Warren County and a large portion of several | Read More »
Ohio Right to Life has some new poll data on both the governor’s race and the race for the US Senate in Ohio: Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich and U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman lead their respective opponents in a new poll released today by Ohio Right to Life Society. The Wenzel Strategies telephone survey of 1001 Ohio registered voters found Kasich holds a 10-point lead | Read More »
As I noted earlier, I was able to attend the press conference yesterday after the announcement – via Twitter – that Ohio gubernatorial candidate John Kasich had selected State Auditor Mary Taylor to be his running mate. Do some technical difficulties with YouTube this post was delayed until this morning (and let me apologize for the video quality in advance – I need a tripod). | Read More »
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