Arnold of Ohio

Wall Street Journal ^ | Oct 14, 2003 | editorial

[The Raven]

California isn't alone. Back East another revolt is brewing against politicians who break their word and raise taxes. This time it's against the Republicans who've been running Ohio's state government for what seems to be entirely too long.

The ringleader is Ken Blackwell, Secretary of State and apparently a rare Republican who understands that Ohio needs some fiscal discipline. Over the summer Governor Bob Taft and state lawmakers pulled a fast one on taxpayers, approving a 20% sales tax hike as part of an omnibus two-year budget package.

[The Raven]

I still can't believe how high taxes are in Ohio. Where does it all go?

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[goldstategop]

I agree. Ohio voters need to repeal this tax hike and then send the Republican Party into the political wildnerness for a few years.

[Molly Pitcher]

Thanks Raven. Yes, they're high and there's always pressure to raise them even more.

Blackwell is an excellent public servant. I heard him talk a couple of years ago to a predominately Black, and young, audience.

They were open and fairly appreciative to his message of conservative values...economic, social, etc. Pretty gratifying to see. He stressed education and economic freedom.

[xzins]

Governor Taft LIED about tax increases in his re-election campaign.

It is inconceivable, but his very first public legislative initiative after the election was to increase taxes. It was absolutely clear that Taft holds Ohio voters in total disdain.

But the Taft family has been elite in Ohio for longer than anyone can remember. This is NOT about their wealth. This is about the fact that THEY are the Mayor Daley's of Ohio and certainly Cincinnati. Their and their cronies' elitest contempt for Ohioans is what irks Blackwell.

They backdoored a huge increase in taxes in a state that sucks up money into the vast black hole of bureaucratic "make it disappear" magic. Ohio has nothing to show for the money that gets spent. Our roads and other infra-structure is second rate, our schools are tumbling into the abyss, and even our services are sub-par.

This cash feeds something personal and elitest. Ohio is, perhaps, next to California and New York, the nation's other "national socialist" state.

[tiamat]

It sure doesn't go to fix their roads! LOL! Potholes big enough to loose a Buick in!

Tia

[Ferret Fawcet]

Time to thin the herd (of RINOS)

If there is a ping list for Ohio politics, please add me.

[Deadeye Division]

bttt

[votelife]

bttt

[NeoCaveman]

Now Tax-Hike Taft's decision to go back on his word has prompted Mr. Blackwell to do what the Governor originally promised: Take any large tax increase directly to the voters. Mr. Blackwell is leading an effort to repeal the levy, a process that requires him first to gather 96,870 signatures by December 20. If that happens, a bill will be put before the legislature asking it to reconsider the tax increase. If it refuses, Mr. Blackwell says he will gather the necessary additional signatures to "place the tax repeal directly in the hands of outraged taxpayers on November 2, 2004."

Come one Buckeyes. We can do this. Just 100 people gathering a hundered signatures gets the ball rolling.

[tang-soo]

Blackwell is an excellent public servant. I heard him talk a couple of years ago to a predominately Black, and young, audience.

I also heard him give the commencement speech at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University last Spring. My wife's boss was the first Black to receive a Master's degree in Theology from MVNU. I was already a Blackwell fan and his speech only solidified that opinion. Blackwell is also part of a faith-based ministry t hat encourages strong families, public witnessing and the proclaiming of Christ as Lord of his life. I live in Columbus and he runs, I will help. By the way, Rev. Joe was an awesome testimony - a life running from God and into a life of crime, prison and brokenness. He found God (or the other way around) and has run an inner city mission for the last 12 years to help kids from leading the same destructive path.

[Commiewatcher]

More details HERE from Ken Blackwell's home page.

[North Coast Conservative]

I have talked with Rep. Ron Young who is heading up the petition drive for Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties.

The website for the effort is:

Repeal the Tax

The petition language is not yet certified by the Attorney General's office, it has been there 29 days waiting. Call his office at 614-466-4320. Tell him you’re not for higher taxes even if he is. Tell him to certify the petition so you can start circulating it.

You will be able to print off the petition from the website once it becomes certified, and you can start collecting signatures.

I am offering to be the point man in Lake County for the Free Republic for this effort, and can certainly use all the help that I can get.

I received an e-mail from the Ohio Taxpayers Association, (Scott Pullins), yesterday, and it says that Blackwell is just using this to make political hay in his run for the governership in 2006. I say "who cares?". Let's use this to get the sales tax repealed, sending a message to the state legislature that we want lower taxes and lower spending in Ohio!!

[boxerblues]

It would be nice if the would hurry up. I would gladly walk around my neighborhood for signatures.

[NeoCaveman]

The petition language is not yet certified by the Attorney General's office, it has been there 29 days waiting. Call his office at 614-466-4320. Tell him you’re not for higher taxes even if he is. Tell him to certify the petition so you can start circulating it.

I'll call today.

[NeoCaveman]

It would be nice if the would hurry up. I would gladly walk around my neighborhood for signatures.

That must be part of the RINO's plan, run out the clock, atleast until the bad weather hits.

[boxerblues]

hehe we are tougher than they think.

I got my notice in the mail yesterday that I'm going to be a poll watcher this election woohoo 13 hrs in the rain & snow

[NeoCaveman]

hehe we are tougher than they think.

No doubt about it

I got my notice in the mail yesterday that I'm going to be a poll watcher this election woohoo 13 hrs in the rain & snow

Good for you

Great tagline, btw.

[MissTargets]

You will be able to print off the petition from the website once it becomes certified, and you can start collecting signatures.

I see that we are able to print the petition now. Would it be a waste of time, to print it now?
I hate to start garthering signatures and then have them thrown out.

What a shame, we can't have a recall petition.

[GOP_Lady]

Ping for later.

[North Coast Conservative]

I would wait, because if they change ONE work, it would invalidate all the hard work that you go through.

…..Semper Fi

[North Coast Conservative]

I just heard on WTAM that the Attny Gen has approved the petition language.

I would probably call the telephone number on the website just to confirm that the petition is ok the way it is, then print off as many copies as you think you can get filled, call as many friends as you can,(friends are important, especially if they take TWO petitions, or more), and get to work.

Be careful to follow the rules for collecting signatures because you don't want your hard work to go to waste.

Good luck, and good hunting.

…..Semper Fi

[North Coast Conservative]

Hi Brian, Scott Pullins makes an interesting point that despite what is done by putting this on the ballot, all the legislature has to do is pass another tax hike and we are back to square one.

As we have discussed at Heritage Club, (shameless plus inserted here), we need a state constitutional amendment similar to Colorado and other states that limit the size of state spending increases, and also require super majorities to raise taxes.

Scott's comments can be read at: Ohio Taxpayers Asoc

Take a few minutes, become a new member and get updated whenever he has something to say.

See you at the next meeting of Heritage Club?

How about the FReep in DC? I am looking forward to seeing you at the Browns/Steelers game. I hope we can get the troops mobilized.

…..Semper Fi

[ohioWfan]

Thanks for the link, conspiratoristo.

Good for Blackwell. I like everything I've seen or heard about him.....

[Redbob]

Great article; makes you want to learn more about Mr. Ken Blackwell.

[North Coast Conservative]

My NEOhio Friends:

If you want to help repeal the 1 percent hike in the sales tax IMPOSED by our State Legislature go: HERE to print a copy of the petition to walk around your neighborhood, and then mail it to Ken Blackwell.

If you like to pay the additional tax, sit on your butt and watch Sponge Bob Square Pants all weekend, or move to New York. They have plenty of taxes there.

…..Semper Fi

[NeoCaveman]

I'll be printing it out and gathering this weekend.

After this we really need a consititutional ammendment to limit spending here in Ohio.

[North Coast Conservative]

I agree wholeheartedly. BJ Kresnye of the Heritage Club feels the same way, and I see his election to the Statehouse as an excellent opportunity to get the movement going in Columbus. It is not an additional conservative voice in the House of Reps, because he will replace Ron Young who for the most part has done a pretty good job trying to hold spending and taxes down.

Either Chris Galloway or Greg Schmidt who are running to replace Jamie Callender, another termed out rep, are good choices for fiscal conservatism. Who is your State Rep, have they done a good job, are they running again?

In God We Trust.....Semper Fi

[NeoCaveman]

I just moved to the west side (North Royalton) I do not know yet...Spada perhaps?

[88keys]

Thanks for the *pings* and that's a good article from the WSJ...I'm suddenly very interested in Mr. Blackwell!! Need to do a little "research" here! ;)

Query: is that an "official" web site for the petition? Or is there another "link" (Sec. Blackwell's home page, maybe)? I'd be MORE than happy to do a little "canvassing", for whatever good it would do (if nothing else, even if the legislature turns right around and raises taxes again, at least it sends a message!)...I'll also "alert" my folks, who can take up the effort over in west Ohio...

[88keys]

We're practically neighbors! ;)

Check this out for state gov. info.:

http://www.politics1.com/oh.htm

[88keys]

Here's more info. on Sec. Blackwell...it doesn't seem terribly current re: "latest news", etc., but the biography info.'s very interesting, and expect it's a good site to check for future updates and etc...

http://www.kenblackwell.com/index.asp

Just as an aside to NE Ohio Freepers...if you go to this site and click on the "pop-up" to find "your county's Republican home page", you will see that Cuyahoga is not among the counties listed...sheesh!!! There must be some intrepid FReeper here who'd like to run for local office??? We'll back you 100%...(all 10 of us, LOL!! KIDDING! I know there's more than 10...!)

[North Coast Conservative]

The repealthetax website is the place, the real deal. It takes you through the steps to print the petition, and even has a follow-up procedure where they will contact you and remind you that you said you were taking a petition.

The instructions for correctly completing and submitting the petition are also printed out when you print the petition. They have made it very easy and user friendly.

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi