|
|
 |
|
The
views expressed
on this page are soley those of the author and do not
necessarily
represent the views of County News Online
|
 |
ORP Chairman
Update
Matt Borges
First, I would like to extend my prayers and well wishes to
Representative Ron Young and his family. Ron underwent kidney
transplant surgery for his wife of 40 years Friday. Before the surgery
Rep. Young joked that he's never been able to deny his wife anything.
Reports are that the surgery went well and both are recovering. Please
keep them in your thoughts today.
Ohio Democrats expose their incompetence
Ohio Republicans spent their week working hard for Ohioans across the
state while Ohio Democrats spent theirs mishandling tax funded
resources, endorsing voter fraud, and preaching hypocrisy.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Ed FitzGerald's Inspector
General has been doing work on behalf of his gubernatorial campaign and
changing her official reports to avoid political embarrassment for
FitzGerald. This use of his taxpayer funded Inspector General for
political purposes raises serious questions about his ethics and
judgment. Ed FitzGerald's campaign directed Cuyahoga County's Inspector
General to omit politically embarrassing statements from a report and
she was happy to comply.
The Inspector General also regularly reviews campaign donations for
FitzGerald's campaign on taxpayer time. She has done so at least
17 times. She has not done so for any other officeholders.
Other campaigns are responsible for their own compliance with the law
and do not have a taxpayer funded employee doing it for them.
Democrat silent on voter fraud praise
Democrat candidate for Secretary of State Nina Turner spoke at a
"voting rights" rally where a woman convicted of voting fraud was
honored. The woman was a Democratic poll worker who was convicted of
voter fraud for casting multiple illegal ballots in 2012. Only after we
cried foul did local Democrats finally say she shouldn't have been
honored. Democrat Nina Turner has stayed silent. Even the organizer of
the event has voiced his regret, and the Columbus Dispatch has pointed
out how the event honoring a fraudulent voter "sent the wrong message."
Yet Nina Turner has given no indication that she found anything wrong.
Democrats' hypocrisy
While the Democrat candidate for State Treasurer, Connie Pillich, has
been campaigning on her sponsorship of "Ohio Equal Pay Act" in the Ohio
House of Representatives, research reveals that Pillich is in violation
of the very policy that she is promoting. During Pillich's races for
State Representative, she employed three campaign managers. She paid
her male campaign manager more than both of her female campaign
managers, putting her at odds with the very legislation that she has
been promoting since last year.
In the governor's race, Democrat Ed FitzGerald's campaign hit a
pothole. In the latest failed attack, FitzGerald blamed Governor
Kasich for potholes on local roads. But, as the Columbus Dispatch
points out the Governor sent $1.26 BILLION this year to local
governments for infrastructure improvements, over $100 million more
than in 2011 - that's enough cash to fill-in more than 13 million
potholes.
The Dispatch goes on to say, "Like FitzGerald's prior attacks, this one
has no traction. In fact, FitzGerald can't seem to raise a
concern that doesn't quickly backfire and make him look silly."
When the weather turns nice this summer and it is 70 degrees and sunny,
I fully expect FitzGerald to blame the Governor for the single cloud in
the sky.
Democrats just don't get it. We need committed, competent, and tested
leaders to continue Ohio's comeback. Our Republican team has spent
every day in office working towards that goal while weeding out
corruption and wasteful spending. It is imperative that we keep them in
office to keep Ohio on the right track.
Brewery showcases Kasich's pro-small business philosophy
Governor John Kasich is highlighted in a new ad by the Republican
Governors Association for not only making it easier for small breweries
to survive in Ohio, but allowing them to thrive. The Kasich
administration has gotten rid of nonsense laws that dated back to
Prohibition and made it hard for local breweries said Kathleen Dewey,
President of Mt. Carmel Brewing Company in Cincinnati. Mt Carmel was
able to open a tasting room at their location thanks to Governor
Kasich's work. The addition to their facility has directly resulted in
new jobs and greater exposure for their product. You can view the
entire ad here.
In more positive news for the economy, Ford Motor Company has announced
a $500 million investment into their facility in Lima. The project will
create 300 new jobs in the area. This is the second large investment
Ford has announced in Ohio this year.
Senator Portman talks pro-jobs policies at the Morgan County Lincoln
Dinner
Senator Rob Portman was the keynote speaker at the Morgan County
Lincoln Dinner, where he focused on the failed Obama record on jobs,
the negative impact Obamacare is having on families and businesses
around the nation, and the hopeful, pro-growth Republican Plan for Jobs
and Opportunity he helped create in the Senate. It was a great
event that I was excited to attend along with Supreme Court Justice
Judi French. Justice French has been campaigning hard throughout
the state talking about her conservative judicial philosophy.
Senator Portman also highlighted the positive accomplishments of the
Kasich Administration, the statewide GOP team and the Republican led
State House and Senate, and he discussed his role as vice chair of the
National Republican Senatorial Committee and his efforts to help take
back the Senate majority. In the past several months, Senator Portman
has also keynoted the annual GOP dinners in Clermont, Fayette, Logan,
Lucas, and Stark counties.
If you haven't taken Senator Portman's issue survey - please be sure to
click here and let Senator Portman know which issues matter most to you.
Congressman Jordan pushes IRS for real answers on conservative targeting
Representative Jim Jordan spoke with FoxNews anchor Megyn Kelly about
the IRS scandal this week. Jordan, a member of the Oversight and
Government Committee has been a strong critic of the Obama
administration's efforts to cover up the targeting of conservative
groups by the Obama administration. Last week, Jordan wrote an op-ed in
the Wall Street Journal in support of an impartial prosecutor to take
over the investigation. Now Jordan is protesting the IRS commissioner's
attempts to draw out the release of Lois Lerner's emails. The American
people deserve the accountability of their government, not their
efforts to cover up wrong-doing.
Lt. Governor Mary Taylor talks about Ohio's Comeback
Lt. Governor Taylor stopped by the Lima Gazette this week to talk about
Ohio's comeback and plans for the future. In the interview she
talked about the state creating over 230,000 private sector jobs after
we had lost 350,000 jobs under Democrat Ted Strickland's
administration. She also talked about balancing the $8 billion
budget hole he left behind, upgrading the state's credit outlook, and
lowering taxes. You can read the whole interview here.
Skilled workers recognized with Ohio Strong award
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel launched a new effort called Ohio Strong to
help raise public awareness of manufacturing and skilled trade in Ohio
to encourage more people to pursue careers in these fields. One
component of the Ohio Strong effort is recognizing men and women
throughout our state who are excelling in careers in manufacturing and
the skilled trades with an Ohio Strong Award. Treasurer Mandel is
currently seeking nominees through his website.
As part of Ohio Strong's launch, Treasurer Mandel visited small
businesses and manufacturing facilities across the state to present the
first ever Ohio Strong Awards. You can read more about Treasurer
Mandel's efforts from his visit to Elyria.
Bill aims to better educate elected fiscal officers to prevent fraud
Ohio Auditor Dave Yost testified in committee this week on HB 10, a
bill in response to the former Stark County Democrat Treasurer, Gary
Zeigler, who was not properly doing his job when his deputy stole
nearly $3 million from the citizens of Stark County. Zeigler was
removed from his job, but due to a technicality, he was able to get it
back. This legislation would allow for the removal of elected fiscal
officers whose actions threaten the safety of tax dollars. HB 10 would
also require additional training and professional development for
fiscal officers to better prepare them to tackle the challenges of
protecting public funds.
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted honored for his efforts to promote
STEM learning
Recently, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted received the Annual Public
Service Award at the first annual STEM Conference, for his continued
commitment to school choice and STEM education in Ohio. At the event,
he spoke about equipping the next generation with the necessary skills
to tackle the worlds' greatest issues and improve the future. As
Speaker of the Ohio House, Secretary of State Husted created the Choose
Ohio First Scholarship which has helped more than 4,000 students pursue
education in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics. Thanks go to Secretary of State Jon Husted for his
leadership in improving education in Ohio.
Attorney General DeWine stands up for religious liberty
Atttorney General Mike DeWine sat down this week with WKYC in Cleveland
to talk about U.S. Supreme Court case that his office filed a brief on
along with 20 other states's attorneys general. The Obama
administration says that private companies have no religious rights
under federal law. Attorney General DeWine disagrees and believes
that the Federal Religious Liberty act applies to private companies.
This is not the first time that Attorney General DeWine has stood up to
the Obama administration. He also took part in the U.S. Supreme
Court case that challenged Obamacare. We're fortunate to have an
Attorney General willing to stand up to the Obama administration.
You can watch Attorney General DeWine talk about it here.
State Legislature drives Ohio to a better future
Senate President Faber was on hand for the announcement that Ford was
growing in Lima and creating 300 new jobs. The legislature also worked
to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. State
Senator Jim Hughes is the sponsor of the legislation. You can
watch the latest from the legislature in the Senate Report.
Sincerely,
Matt Borges
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party
|
|
|
|
