[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYIpqiLhjXM&w=640&h=360]
http://www.heartbeatbill.com
For a summary of the Heart Beat Bill, click here.
At the Republican Governors Assocaition Annual Conference, Governor Kaisch encourage other state governors to join him is demanding federal government give them the flexibility to manage federally-funded medicare and medicaid programs in their states.
“If the federal government would give us the flexibility to manage Medicaid, and that doesn’t mean spend federal dollars on highway projects, like they were doing 15 or 20 years ago, but give us the ability to manage Medicaid, I have no doubt that we would cover more people at a lower price with a better quality outcome.”
Source: Columbus Dispatch, December 2, 2011.
Posted in economy, health care, news, Ohio, politics
Tagged Govenor John Kaisch, Medicaid, Medicare
In Britain, Christian Concern for our Nation is leading a major new campaign encouraging Christians to stand up and speak up for Jesus Christ in public life.
Wednesday 1st December 2010 has been designated ‘Not Ashamed’ day. Christians are being asked to ‘wear the symbol, declare the hope and share the vision’. (Read Lord George Carey’s Not Ashamed Vision
In launching the campaign, Andrea Minichiello Williams, Director of Christian Concern, said “Our society has undergone massive change in recent years and continues to face enormous challenges. At times the Church seems to have lost confidence that Jesus Christ is good news not just for individuals but also for our society as a whole. Now is the time for Christians to stand together and to speak clearly of Him to a nation that desperately needs to hear of Him, declaring Him to be the only true hope. The ‘Not Ashamed’ campaign is intended to help the Church to do that. We hope and pray that it will find great support amongst the Christian community and make a great impact for good on our country. We invite Christians everywhere to join us.”
To learn more, visit www.notashamed.org.uk.
Posted in Christmas, events, Holidays, news, religion
Tagged Christianity, public voice
Presidential candidate Herman Cain will be visiting the Dayton area for a FREE RALLY TOMORROW from NOON to 1 p.m. at the Dayton Marriott Hotel, 1414 S. Patterson Boulevard, Dayton.
The former pizza company executive’s campaign says his “Common Sense Solutions” bus tour will make stops for hotel rallies in West Chester and Dayton, and then at Ohio State University tomorrow.
For more information, go to Cain’s campaign website: http://www.hermancain.com
Spain’s Popular Party won a historic conservative victory in Sunday’s election and the ruling Socialists suffered their worst defeat in 30 years.
While acknowledging that the dismal state of Spain’s economy was a factor in the election, World Congress of Families Managing Director Larry Jacobs noted the significant impact of family issues. “Over the past 8 years of its socialist misrule, the Zapatero government painted a symbolic bulls-eye on the Spanish family and moral virtues – liberalizing and promoting divorce, instituting same-sex marriage and adoption, creating easy access to abortion, lowering the age of consent, eliminating parent’s rights, and mandating pro-homosexual education in the schools.”
This led to massive demonstrations, especially on the life issue. Just this year, on March 27, 2011, more than 150,000 people marched through the streets of Madrid to protest Zapatero’s abortion law, which allows abortion on demand up to the 14th week of gestation, up to 22 weeks in cases of rape, fetal abnormality and risk to the mother’s health, and up until the moment of birth if the unborn child has a serious or incurable illness, as determined by a committee.
In a February interview with the newspaper El Mundo, Spain’s incoming prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, promised that if his Popular Party constituted the next government, it would repeal the new measure and return to the previous law – which allowed abortion only in cases of rape, fetal deformity and danger to the mother’s health. Rajoy also pledged repeal of Spain’s controversial “Education for Citizenship and Human Rights Program” which indoctrinates students in the worldview of homosexual activists.
Spain will be the site of World Congress of Families VI, at Madrid’s Palacio de Congresos, May 25-27, 2012. Themes will include: The Case for Marriage, Strengthening the Family (including fatherhood and motherhood), The Culture of Life Versus the Culture of Death (including abortion and euthanasia), Demographic Winter, Sexual Revolution and the Family (divorce, co-habitation and pornography), Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Education (parent’s rights), Engaging the Culture (including the impact of the news and entertainment media on the family), The Homosexual Lobby and International Family Law and Policy (UN, EU, and other international bodies).
The organizing committee for World Congress of Families VI is spearheaded by WCF Partner HazteOir.org, and its president and founder, Ignacio Arsuaga, who also helped to organize the pro-life demonstrations in Madrid and over 80 other Spanish cities last March. Arsuaga is the co-author with M. Vidal Santos of a book detailing the anti-family policies of the Zapatero government, “The Zapatero Project: Chronicle of an Attack on Society.” Go to http://proyectozapatero.org to read a copy of the book in English.
“It’s been eight years in which we lived with attacks aimed at destroying our society. Imposition, prohibition, manipulation and indoctrination have been the characteristics of the last two [Zapatero-led] legislatures. That is why we celebrate this newest election, “said Ignacio.
Jacobs added, “We hope the revolution which started in Madrid on Sunday will spread to other Western European nations. Their economic woes are rooted in anti-family policies, resulting in some of the lowest birthrates in history. World Congress of Families VI in Madrid (May 25-27, 2012) will map strategies for a renaissance of the natural family and help educate the new leaders in Spain and throughout the world.”
By Austin Ruse
NEW YORK (C-FAM) An impressive list of dignitaries launched the San Jose Articles in the national legislature of Uruguay last week. Led by Congressman Gerardo Amarilla, the list included many members of the Uruguayan Congress, several former high-ranking Ministers, medical doctors, professors of constitutional law, and one famous soccer player.
There have been efforts in the Uruguayan Senate to liberalize their laws on abortion by the left-leaning coalition. In order to get this achieved they needed a coalition that would include the right-of-center Colorado Party. The Colorado Party declined to join the effort and cited the San Jose Articles when they did.
The Uruguayan launch of the Articles took the San Jose organizers by surprise. “We did not know about this launch until just before it happened,” said a spokesman for the San Jose Signatories. “While we were surprised, we welcome this effort. This is exactly what we had intended, that the Articles would take on a life of their own, that people from around the world would embrace them, make them their own, and promulgate them.”
The Articles were also launched, before a crowd of 1,000 people at the National Philippines for Life Congress in Cebu City. Former Majority Leader of the Philippine Senate Francisco Tatad led the effort. Present were many high-ranking Churchmen including the Archbishop of Cebu and the incoming president of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines. The launch of the Articles was the high point of Senator Tatad’s keynote address to the Congress.
Tatad told the Friday Fax, “The San Jose Articles are primarily meant to shut down the false claim of an international right to abortion; but they constitute one of the biggest boosts so far to our fight against foreign-dictated contraception and sterilization.” The Philippines is under great pressure from UN agencies and American advocacy groups to accept UN-style population control programs.
The San Jose Articles are an expert document signed by such luminaries as Professor Robert George of Princeton, Professor John Haldane of St. Andrews, Professor John Finnis of Oxford, Anna Zaborska of the European Parliament and former French Cabinet Minister Christine Boutin who has launched a bid for the French presidency.
The Articles are intended to help people around the world, especially government officials, to refute claims made by UN personnel and abortion advocates that there exists an international right to abortion. Anand Grover, the UN Special Rapporteur for Health, made this claim as recently as last month in his report to the Secretary General. Governments complained at the time that Grover had overstepped his mandate and that asserting an international right to abortion was none of his business.
Even this week, a large number of Member States imitated a debate in the General Assembly scolding Grover and others for their overreach. They attempted to place an amendment in a GA Resolution to that effect. The effort lost but not by much and marks the first time such a widespread pushback against Special Rapporteurs has occurred.
The San Jose Articles have now been launched at the UN, the European Parliament, the British House of Lords, the World Pro-Life Congress in San Jose, and the National Pro-Life Conference in Calgary. Formal launches are still pending in the US, Chile, Argentina, and the Italian Parliament.
The Articles are now circulating in eight languages including English, French, Spanish, Polish, Croatian, German, Italian, and Slovak. Organizers say many more are to come.
Austin Ruse is President of C-FAM. His article first appeared in the Friday Fax, an internet report published weekly by C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute), a New York and Washington DC-based research institute (http://www.c-fam.org/). This article appears with permission.
Xenia citizens are invited to attend an upcoming public workshop on November 30th and/or participate in a new online discussion forum to voice their opinions and help the City determine goals and priorities for future growth and community improvement.
This will be the second workshop for citizen participation in planning Xenia’s future. It will begin at 6:30 PM and end at 8:30 PM Wednesday night. The focus of the second workshop will be to continue developing a comprehensive vision for the Xenia Community and prioritize obtainable goals. The worshop will be held in the Media Room of the Greene County Jobs and Family Services Building, which is located at 541 Ledbetter Road.
The worshop will begin with a brief presentation about X-Plan and the November 16th workshop results, which will be followed by small-group discussions about strategies to achieve your vision for Xenia’s future.
For more information about X-Plan, go the www.ci.xenia.oh.us/x-plan.html.
Because of the lingering effects of the recession, Thanksgiving 2011 will not be as great an economic boom as before, but reports indicate increased spending is expected.
For example, an “American Farm Bureau Federation study claims the cost of turkey and other related Thanksgiving food items costs 13 percent more this year. Their estimate was based on a sample meal consisting of turkey, stuffing, peas, pumpkin pie, rolls, sweet potatoes, fresh cranberries, and other items. The total cost of the family meal was $49.20. Let say, the average family meal will consists of 8-10 member and/or friends. The total cost of a food on Thanksgiving will be no less than $16.6 billion.
A recent AAA survey shows 38.2 million Americans plan on driving an average of 706 miles to their destination. They won’t be traveling by pink elephant either. Nearly 3.4 million will fly by plane, according to the American Automobile Association (not American Alcoholic Anonymous) survey. American traveler expected to spend an average of $554 each. That totals over $23 billion. Along all of the greasy turkey, fattening dressing, and calorie boosting pie, that is a lot of gas, especially at over $3 a gallon.
Some might want to extend their trip to play in the Turkey-Lurky Bowl, which is held in New York City. It would be a great way to work off some of the excess blubber, relieve some of the pent up holiday pressure, and enjoy Central Park.
If you bit more lazy like me, you could entertain yourself by watching My Life As A Turkey, a PBS documentary about Joe Hutto experience with turkeys. Or, if you happen to be bored out-of-your-gourd, you could take Kipliner’s
Thanksgiving IQ quiz. (That is giving thanks that one’s still has an IQ after stuffing oneself life a crazy person on Thursday and vowing never to do it again on Friday.)
Speaking of Friday, Kiplinger’s Money Magazine reports Black Friday spending is expected to top $45 billion. One possible reason is many retailers intend to start on Thursday at midnight. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers, the expected amount in sales will account for about 21% of retailers annual sales.
For at least two Minnesota turkeys, they are counting more than economic blessings, according to the Associated Press. I’m certain they are thankful for a royal trip to see the President of the United States as well as for being pardoned. I’m not sure from what sin crime turkeys may be pardoned but like all of us inheritors of the Puritan Thanksgiving tradition they can be thankful to God for escaping the eternal axe. That’s what Puritans used to call the economy of God’s grace.
Since posting my election report, additional results have been made available by Greene County Board of Elections. The following includes both the results on Issue 16 and on voter turnout.
Issue 16 was the proposition that would allow Greene County officials negotiate pricing with the electricity providers. It would have likely lowered the overall cost of electricity for residents and businesses while increasing County revenues a little. What might have been will never be known because it was defeated.
The number of voters who opposed the proposal was 6,875 while 5,646 voters who liked the idea. Likers were defeated by dislikers by a mere 10% margin.
You can bet your next electricity bill on 100% of the likers disliking the naysayers when their electricity bills increase by at least another 10 percent. Yet, less than 50% of registered voters didn’t even show up to vote. They will get what they deserve either way.
Countywide voter turnout was a pitiful 45 percent. Greene County residents should be disappointed that only a majority of their fellow citizens failed to live up to their end of the social contract. Enjoying our political rights also requires us to fulfill the obligations that are necessary to maintain those rights–voting is but one of part. Yet, low voter turnout is also typical of off-year or non-presidential elections.
In a number of cities, villages and townships, a majority of citizens did vote. Among them were Beavercreek (51%), New Jasper Twp. (51%), Yellow Springs (52%), Spring Valley (52%), Silvercreek Twp. (53%), Ceaserscreek Twp. (54%), Miami Twp. (55%), Beavercreek Twp. (57%), Spring Valley Twp. (57%), Ross Twp. (57%), and Cedarville Twp. (59%). I wonder how many of Cedarville Twp. voters were actually family and friends of the DeWine clan?
Bellbrook straddled the fence with a 50% voter turnout. Voter turnout in all other cities, villages and townships declined to a dismal 29 percent. Among the minority were Sugarcreek Twp. (49%), Jefferson Twp. (48%), Jamestown (45%), Xenia (41%), Bowersville (39%), Xenia Twp. (36%), Bath Twp. (35%), Fairborn (34%), and lastly Cedarville Village (29%).
What could explain the above outcomes? In most places, voters had the opportunity to elect public officials. Where no viable candidate is competing with incumbent office holder, the incentive to vote is minimal. Unless most residents of Ross Twp. are relative or personal friends of the two candidates vying for two different offices, this explanation is not adequate.
A better reason for high voter turnout may be money. Most local governments in Greene County had some sort of levy on the ballot. However, Xenia and other localities had highly publicized levy issues that failed to motivate most registered voters to vote.
In Beavercreek and Cedarville Township, two legislators with local, state and national distinction reside. Except for a few places, most localities showing high voter turnout are near larger suburbs like Beavercreek, Centerville, and Kettering. It is also possible that socio-economic factors are determinates of high levels of voter turnout. In other words, a higher socio-economic status tends to result in higher motivation to participate in public decision-making–voting.
In Xenia, the greatest turnout was from precincts 317, 320 and 321 and precincts with the lowest turnout were 302, 313 and 316.1 These precincts not only reflect high and low economic status but also populations more and less likely to work within Xenia’s public institutions.
Notes
1. The curious will find precinct maps at http://www.co.greene.oh.us/precinct/precinct.htm.
Posted in Greene County, news, politics, Xenia
Tagged election 2011, Issue 16, voter turnout
Want to get involved in shaping Xenia’s future? The City of Xenia has begun the public outreach process for X-Plan – the first update of the City’s comprehensive plan since 1997. Xenia citizens are invited to attend two upcoming public workshops in November to voice their opinions and help the City determine goals and priorities for future growth and community improvement. The subject, dates, time and place for each workshop are as follows:
Workshop #1 (Key Issues and Big Ideas): Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Workshop #2 (Community Visioning/Priority Goals): Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Both workshops will be held in the Media Room at the Greene County Jobs and Family Services Building, 541 Ledbetter Road.
The workshops will each begin with a brief presentation by City staff and consultants about what X-Plan is and a review of existing conditions in Xenia. The majority of each workshop will be small-group discussions about ideas for Xenia’s future. Workshop attendees will discuss answers to questions such as: What do you like about Xenia? What needs to be improved? How should Xenia build on its strengths and overcome challenges? What are the priorities? The second workshop will build upon input gathered at the first workshop. Input from these meetings will be used to shape the goals, policies and action recommendations of X-Plan.
X-Plan is the update of Xenia’s Comprehensive Plan – a community-based vision for future development and a roadmap of how to achieve it. The plan will guide City actions and decisions with regard to development, infrastructure and community facilities. The City intends to finish the plan (including implementation strategies) by the end of 2012, and there will be additional opportunities for citizens to get involved throughout the process. More information can be found on the project website (http://www.ci.xenia.oh.us/x-plan.html). Interested citizens can also sign up for email updates by sending an email message to xplan@ci.xenia.oh.us (enter “xplan” as the subject).
Questions about the project can also be directed to the Planning and Zoning Department at 376-7285.
Posted in economy, news, politics, Xenia
Tagged citizen participation, community vision, public workshops, social and economic development
