State of the Union

Love Your Neighbor

Donate now to relief efforts for those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. 

The Red Cross
The Salvation Army
The Humane Society of the United States

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English
1-800-257-7575 Spanish

Operation Blessing
  1-800-436-6348

America’s Second Harvest
  1-800-344-8070

Adventist Community Services
  1-800-381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA
  703 549-1390

Christian Disaster Response
  941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
  1-800-848-5818

Church World Service
  1-800-297-1516

Convoy of Hope
  417-823-8998

Lutheran Disaster Response
  800-638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service
  717-859-2210

Nazarene Disaster Response
  888-256-5886

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
  800-872-3283

Salvation Army
  1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief
  1-800-462-8657, ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief
  1-800-554-8583

For further information, visit the website for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at: http://www.nvoad.org/.

High-Tech Jobs for Ohio's Future

Columbus Business First reported Friday that a fuel cell company is planning to relocate to Ohio.

HydroGen Corp. announced it will move its headquarters to Ohio from Pittsburgh. The company obtained a $1.25 million grant from the state Development Department to help fund a 400-kilowatt fuel cell demonstration project.

The company also said it would begin fuel cell manufacturing by 2008, which would add up to 200 new jobs.

The development grant was made possible by the Third Frontier program, another example of the positive effect the program will have on Ohio's economy.

You Mean Like Democrats?

Download Greatest_Movie_Line_Ever.wmv

Akron Beacon Journal Hits Dems on Taft

The Akron Beacon Journal has an editorial today that hits the Dems for playing political games with Governor Taft's ethics charges.

In the editorial, the ABJ takes a few swipes at the GOP (which we disagree with but take on the chin), but the paper points out that a Taft resignation for failing to report golf outings doesn't make much sense.

"The precedent would be dangerous, inviting political games of gotcha, pols feigning outrage over the smallest offenses, distracting from more pressing matters."

The ABJ goes on to say that Dems should resist playing the resignation card and stop talking about impeachment.

"Ohio doesn't need a partisan circus, or a 'bipartisan' gang of legislators looking into the various scandals dogging the Republican Party. Plenty of investigations have been launched... [The Democrats] want to take full advantage? They should start explaining how they would govern differently."

Strickland Supports Taft Initiative

There are times when partisanship should be set aside for the good of the state.

It happened yesterday, when Democrat gubernatorial hopeful Ted Strickland backed Governor Taft's  research initiative known as Jobs for Ohio.

"I support the Third Frontier," Strickland said during a luncheon at the Columbus Metropolitan Club.

The bond issue, which will be on the November ballot as Issue 1,  would provide $500 million for investment in research, technology, and facilities to move Ohio's economy forward. Of course, there is some disagreement. Strickland added that he would like to see more money for the initiative.

In the end, however, it is clear that the Jobs for Ohio initiative is not an issue that should be subject to political games. This money is important for all Ohioans because it would build on the Bush tax cuts and the recent state tax reform to keep our economy moving and attract more business and jobs to the Buckeye state. No matter what your political stripe, we're all Buckeyes at heart.

Liberals Love Tax Breaks Too

Some lighter fare today.

Did you know that most of the 'Hollywood' movies at a theater near you weren't even filmed in 'Hollywood,' or even California?

An study out today shows that 60% of movies made last year were filmed outside California. Why? Because movie makers are taking their production elsewhere in favor of locations that offer tax breaks.

So now California lawmakers are proposing legislation to offer tax incentives to movie producers to keep their projects in the state. Screen Actors Guild president Melissa Gilbert said tax breaks are needed to provide more job opportunities for SAG members.

This is great.

The industry that prides itself in opposing the Republican Party, which favors reducing taxes, is realizing that tax breaks would actually spur growth and create jobs.

On a related note, Governor Bob Taft recently championed the most aggressive tax reform package in recent Ohio history. This new code reduces personal income tax by 21 percent while changing the business tax structure, which will help attract more business to Ohio.

Ohio Ranks in Top 10 for Job Growth

It's no secret that Ohio's economy has struggled the past few years, most notably due to the state's dependence on manufacturing jobs, which continue to dwindle as technology advances and our nation's economy becomes more service-oriented.

However, the jobs are coming back to our state. National state-by-state employment numbers for the month of July are out today, and Ohio ranks in the top 10 nationwide in job growth.

In July, 8,200 jobs were added in the Buckeye state.

We need to keep this momentum going. The recent tax reform passed by the Ohio legislature and the upcoming Jobs For Ohio ballot initiatives are just the way to help keep us on the right track.

The tax package is one of the most substantial reforms in decades. It cuts personal income tax by 21 percent and modifies the corporate tax structure, which will make it easier for the state to compete for new business.

Jobs for Ohio will be Issue 1 on the November ballot. The initiative will help stimulate economic growth by providing funds for technology infrastructure, site development and transportation improvements.

How Will the Dems Treat Their Own?

With all the attention given to Gov. Taft's paperwork error, one might wonder how the Democrats will deal with one of their own who is accused of more egregious violations?

Today's Cleveland Plain Dealer highlights the ongoing public corruption investigation of that city's government. Now that Nate Gray, a long-time friend of former Cleveland Mayor Michael White, has been convicted on 36 charges of bribing public officials in four cities in exchange for public contracts, the spotlight is beginning to turn on Mayor White himself.

Rumor is that Gray might get a lesser sentence if he's willing to cooperate with the federal investigation, which could shed light on how the White administration operated and whether there was a "pay-to-play" environment in City Hall.

It's fair to point out that White has not been charged with anything at this point, but it is also fair to ask - where are the Democrats in their calls for Mayor White come out publicly and fully disclose everything he knew about his old friend Nate Gray? Where are their calls for all of Mayor White's emails to be made public?

I'm sure that the Democrats would love to get to the bottom of this issue, for the good of the City of Cleveland. Right?!?

Dayton Daily News: Taft Should NOT Resign

Take a look at what the Dayton Daily News had to say this morning about the charges facing Governor Taft and the rumblings about resignation. Keep in mind this is coming from an editorial board that does not have a track record of being friendly to Republicans.

"The rumblings about whether Gov. Bob Taft might — or should — resign started even before prosecutors said Wednesday that they were charging him with four misdemeanor ethics violations...

As humiliating as the charges are, they are not a reason to overturn an election or to turn state government on its head. Mr. Taft should not resign. His failure to disclose that he has taken a multitude of free golf games and other social freebies amounts to more than failing to fill out nettlesome paperwork correctly...

Keeping the governor's mistakes in perspective, recognizing they aren't high crimes, is the right response."

A Message from Gov. Bob Taft

“I am here today to publicly apologize to the people of the State of Ohio for my failure to provide complete financial disclosure statements to the Ohio Ethics Commission as mandated by law.  I accept total responsibility for my mistake, and I’m sorry.

As a public official, I am required to submit financial disclosure statements on a yearly basis listing the sources of gifts in excess of $75.00.  My office had a system in place to ascertain the value of tangible gifts in order to report them as required.  Regrettably, I did not establish an adequate system to monitor the value of golf outings and other social events.

As recreation, I have played many rounds of golf with friends and acquaintances.  I paid for some of these outings, while others I did not.  I have now confirmed that forty-five golf outings over a period of seven years exceeded $75.00 in value and therefore should have been reported on my financial disclosure statements.  In addition, over the same period of time, six other social events and one gift were not disclosed.

Upon becoming aware of my failure to disclose these activities, I promptly notified the Ohio Ethics Commission.  I promised my full cooperation and diligently provided all information to assist the Commission in bringing its investigation to a conclusion.  While I can assure the public that my self-reported mistakes did not constitute a purposeful violation of law, I nevertheless failed to adhere to the disclosure requirements of Ohio’s ethics laws. 

In addition to specifying the undisclosed activities, I have fully reimbursed the appropriate individuals.

As Governor, I have made it clear that I expect all public employees to follow both the letter and the spirit of the ethics laws, and have demanded no less of myself.  I have personally failed to live up to those expectations, as well as the expectations of the public, and I am disappointed in myself.  I have a renewed commitment to correct the problems that contributed to this situation and have already taken steps to do so.

Words are not adequate to express the remorse that I feel personally for the embarrassment that I have caused to my administration and to this great state.  I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt apology to my family, friends, staff members, and all those who have supported me.  Most importantly, I want to apologize to the citizens of Ohio.  I hope you will understand that my mistake, though serious, was not a purposeful one and hope and pray that you will accept my heartfelt apology and allow me the opportunity to restore your trust.”