Category Archives: taxes

United Methodists Battle Gambling in Ohio

Posted on July 13, 2009 by | 1 comment

By Kathy L. Gilbert

Gambling is increasingly becoming an addiction to states trying for balance their budgets in the midst of an economic crisis.

Giving in to the temptation by allowing casinos or expanding state-sponsored gambling would heap the financial burden on those least able to afford it, said several United Methodists on the front lines of the public policy debate.

“In these economic bad times, we are witnessing the throwing over of the common good,” said the Rev. Tom Grey, a United Methodist pastor who is field director for the grassroots organization Stop Predatory Gambling. (,em>SPG is an excellent source of information.)

One of the latest battlegrounds is Ohio, where the governor, Ted Strickland, is a United Methodist minister who was elected in 2006. Strickland, who earlier expanded the state lottery to Sundays and added Keno games, is proposing bringing in video slot machines at the state’s seven racetracks as a way to bridge a $3.2 billion budget deficit. Keno is a bingo-like gambling game offered by some state lotteries.

The Rev. Tom Grey

The Rev. Tom Grey

This is an about face for a politician who had been an outspoken opponent of gambling during his campaign, said the Rev. John Edgar, a United Methodist pastor who has been fighting to keep gambling out of Ohio for the past 19 years. Edgar is chair of the anti-gambling task force for the East and West Ohio Annual (regional) Conferences.

“We are profoundly disappointed. I believe it shows an amazing public cowardice,” Edgar said. “United Methodists and the Ohio Council of Churches have led the effort for 19 years to stop casinos in Ohio.”

Tom Smith, public policy director for the Ohio Council of Churches, said gambling opponents face their toughest fight ever this year because of the overall economic situation.

Gambling proposals are coming from three directions, Smith said. Beside the video slot machines proposed by the governor, there is another proposal from bars and restaurants to put slot machines in their businesses and there is a drive to put casinos on the November ballot.

Slippery slope

In defense of his latest proposal, Strickland says state law allows slot machines as part of the Ohio lottery. It is the same argument he used to introduce Keno to the state, said East Ohio Bishop John Hopkins.

“Once you start letting gambling in you get hooked and it becomes addictive,” he said. “Living on gambling income promotes behavior that is counter to the health of the state.”

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland

Hopkins and West Ohio Bishop Bruce Ough have been working on building a relationship with the governor. Strickland is on “honorable location,” which means he is in good standing as an ordained minister but not active in the church. Ough said he was ordained a deacon in West Ohio and ordained as an elder in Kentucky.

Both bishops wrote a personal letter to Strickland expressing their disappointment in his decision to expand gambling.

“We suggested it would have been a better expression of his moral leadership if he had stood his ground and offered other ways to balance the budget,” Ough said.

“The United Methodist Church has a longstanding commitment to oppose gambling. It is bad economics,” Ough said. “We are obliged not to use forms of generating revenue that causes harm.”

The United Methodist Social Principles calls gambling “a menace to society, deadly to the best interests of moral, social, economic, and spiritual life, destructive of good government and good stewardship.”

Selling bad public policy on the grounds revenues will benefit education is reprehensible, Edgar said.

“We are saying we care so little about our children that we will fund their education only if we can do it out of the gambling losses of our neighbors.”

Tax on the poor

Gambling is a regressive tax, said the Rev. Cynthia Abrams of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society.

“It is an extra tax on the poor and the most vulnerable such as older adults who are lonely and looking for social interaction,” she said, pointing to the practice of many seniors boarding buses to go to casinos as a social activity.

One “frightening and weird” fact is that a major financial drain on casinos is the money spent on replacing the cushions on stools in front of slot machines, she said.

“People won’t get up from machines even to go to the bathroom. That shows the seductiveness of slot machines, that is how they are designed.”

Abrams said the economic crisis has compounded the issue, but the trend toward resisting higher taxes helped the gambling industry gain a foothold before the recession kicked in.

“This environment of people resisting raising taxes has had intended and unintended effects on state budgets,” she said. “In essence, we want services all the time, but we have moved away from the idea of paying our fair share.”

Grey said United Methodists will stand strong and continue to fight this dangerous menace in other key states as well as Ohio.

“What a ripe time for the church to speak truth to gambling,” he said. “You can’t gamble yourself rich.”

Source: United Methodist News Service, July 10, 2009.

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SCR 15, Ohio Cap & Trade Resolution

Posted on July 9, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Before the 4th of July break, the Ohio Senate passed concurrent resolution S.C.R. 15 by a vote of 21-11. S.C.R. 15 is a concurrent resolution opposing Cap and Trade legislation being proposed in the U.S. Congress. it has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives but not in the Senate.

President Barack Obama proposed this legislative scheme to Congress that would establish a specific limit or cap on greenhouse gas emissions. Emitters of green house gases would be required to purchase government credits (tax credit) until the cap is met after which, emitters would be allowed to sell or trade their remaining credits (tax) to others.

So why is the Ohio Senate against this method of reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions? Didn’t they do the same to the automobile industry? Yes, and cars now cost as much as much as houses once did.

The following are the reasons why the Ohio Senate opposes the federal government’s cap and trade bill. Increased taxation by means of cost inflation is the first reason.

Companies that are required to participate in the cap and trade program will ultimately pass the cost of participation in the program on to consumers. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that price increases resulting from a 15% cut in greenhouse gas emissions would cost the average household between 1.7% to 3.3% of its after-tax income every year, with households in the bottom fifth of the income scale losing the largest share of income.

In addition to pushing costs up on most consumer goods, it would severely impact the cost of energy to all Ohio businesses and citizens.

The combustion of coal produces more than 50% of the electricity generated in the United States, with Ohio receiving more than 85% of its electricity from coal. Thus, the cap and trade program will result in massive increases in energy costs for all consumers because the cost to produce electricity from coal will be markedly higher. The increased energy costs will disproportionally impact states in the middle part of the United States such as Ohio that are more reliant on coal. The Congressional Budget Office has acknowledged that these increases in energy costs will effectively act as a regressive tax affecting every household in the nation, with a disproportionate effect on poorer families.

The Senate also recognizes that the federal government would gain billions of dollars at the huge expense to Ohio consumers and workers.

The cap and trade program will result not only in a massive windfall of hundreds of billions of dollars for the federal government through the sale of emissions credits, but also in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The program ultimately will not result in the overall global decrease of greenhouse gas emissions because many industries that emit greenhouse gas will merely relocate to countries with less stringent standards.

The solution proposed by the Ohio Senate is simple:

[E]nact legislation that encourages states to establish and develop their own renewable energy portfolio standards.

The Ohio legislature has already proposed and enacted legislation toward this goal several years ago. Requiring energy providers to use clean energy technology and provide Ohio consumers a set percentage of clean energy was one enactment. This and other aspects of Ohio’s energy plan renders cleaver taxation scheme of Obama and Democrats redundant and counter-productive.

In light iof these facts, one has to agree with the Ohio Freedom Alliance that the passage of S.C.R. is a victory for Ohio. It is an important step to stopping the federal government from furthering a form of taxation without representation.

The next step is for the Ohio House of Representative to pass their version of the anti- Cap & Trade Resolution H.C.R. 25.

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A better way to balance State budget than cut services to the poor, elderly, and library patrons : HB 25/SB 52 Reorganizing Ohio’s Executive Branch

Posted on June 26, 2009 by | 1 comment

In April, Gov. Strickland issued an executive order to reduce and control spending. In May, the office of Budget and Management estimated an additional budget shortfall would exceed $900. In response to this assessment, Gov. Strickland made the following statement:

“The national recession continues to present historic economic challenges for every state and Ohio is no exception. Even though we have reduced state government spending by nearly $2 billion this biennium, we are now faced with even steeper revenue shortages. Addressing the challenges before us will require extraordinary collaboration and bipartisan consensus-building among the state’s elected leadership. I know that we can work together to make the tough choices necessary to maintain a balanced budget while continuing to invest in education and job-creation that will lead to Ohio’s economic revival.

Did the governor mean state jobs or private sector jobs? Earlier this month, Gov. Strickland said state government must be reduced by another $2 billion to balance the budget. To accomplish this, he has closed mental health facilities and other facilities, reduce staff to Reagan era numbers, and reduced budgets of most state agencies. State employees have voluntarily sacrificed further increases in pay for several years. After all of these fiscally responsible steps, a budget deficit of $3.2 billion still exists.

I suppose that is why Gov. Strickland proposes additional cuts to local library budgets. The deficit probably accounts for a number of proposed cut is services for the poor and elderly as well.

In his last press release, Gov. Strickland repeatedly said, “We must resize the government.” Of course, he means the cuts to agency budgets and some of their personnel. What he doesn’t mean is downsizing the executive branch itself. Yet, there are concurrent bill in both House and Senate committees that will do just that. In February, Representatives Jarrod Martin and Robert Hackett cosponsored HB 25 and Senator Timothy Grendell is the sponsor of SB 52. (Where is Senator Chris Widener?) If these bills would pass, at least $2 of the $3.2 billion would be realized.

Yes, it would be limited-government advocates dream come true. The 20 cabinet-level agencies would be consolidated into 10 cabinet-level departments.

Yes, it would actually reflect the downsizing occurring throughout the private sector as well.

According to analysis by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, the bill would not “affect the provision of services by and operations of political subdivisions.” Because government is notorious for inefficiency anyway, the disruption of some services during the transition is bound to occur. Nevertheless, less bureaucracy means less waste and (god-forbid) less taxation.

Although Gov. Strickland still says he doesn’t want to raise new taxes, his comrades on Capitol Hill and elsewhere are creating a New Deal Era economic crisis requiring more taxes and more national debt to justify the enlargement of the federal powers and further the Left’s goal of a fully socialist-Marxist economy. Maybe that t is why loyal party member Strickland is in the key position in a key state.

This federally-driven economic crisis is even more reason for getting Ohio legislators to pass HB25/SB52 to consolidate the executive branch and meet the balance budget. If we can achieve it in Ohio, we can also achieve it at the federal level too. “Yes we can!”

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Posted in economy, government services, Governor, House of Representatives, news, Ohio, politics, Senate, taxes

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Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s

Posted on June 13, 2009 by | Leave a comment

“Render unto Caesar” is a phrase taken from the synoptic gospels. Is has been used as Jesus’ opponents concerning payment of taxes. This phrase has been used as support for blind obedience to government edicts. It has more recently been used to justify laws advocated by gays and their supporters. The latter actually is merely an application of blind obedience or acceptance of government edicts. This particular application is may be classified as special interest law under the rubric of civil rights and equality under law.

Those who used this phrase to justify law including tax laws abuse the text for their personal interests and goals. For Jesus neither supported or opposed taxes or Caesar in this passage. He addressed his opponents in a way that forced them to confront where their allegiance was centered.

The immediate context of this phrase informs us that Jesus’ opponents–Pharisees and Herodians–came looking for some statement that they could use against him. Their goal was to find a legitimate accusation of anti-Roman radicalism in order to bring against his movement Caesar’s wrath. Israel’s leaders had seen–maybe even assisted–Caesar to exterminate would-be freedom movements and their hatred of Rome’s oppressive regime. Fortunately, Jewish delegate didn’t find such an accusation against Jesus.

Instead, Jesus asked his opponents to show him a coin that was used to pay taxes. Once produced, Jesus asked them whose likeness and inscription was on the coin. To which they responded: Caesar. Then, Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, and Luke 20:25)

The point Jesus was making was this: Caesar made the coin. Give him his coins. God made you. Give God what belongs to him. Here, Jesus alludes to the familiar passage in Genesis 1:26-30, which states that God made man in his image and likeness, both male and female, with authority over all living creatures and plant life. They were to care for those lesser souls and consume the fruit of plant and trees. It is here that our natural law freedom and rights begin, according to John Locke’s Treatise on Government.

A lot more could be made of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Herodians. For example, because God made the heavens and the earth, the metal used by Caesar to make coins belong to God as well. What right did Caesar have to make them, use for trade instead of barter, and to demand some of them back called taxes? Here is a clue to another statement made by Jesus concerning paying taxes. Matthew includes an earlier encounter of the disciples with Caesarean tax collectors. The tax collectors wanted to know if Jesus paid the temple tax. Peter said, yes. However, when they met up with Jesus, he asked Peter this question:

What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll tax, from their sons or from strangers?

Peter gave the obvious answer, “from strangers.” To this Jesus replied, Then, the son are exempt. Jesus continued by instructing the disciples to go to the sea and take the shekel they would find in the first fish they caught and give it to the tax collectors for both himself and them. If he and they were exempt, then why did he have them pay the tax? “So as not to offend the temple tax collectors.

In essence, Jesus was telling his disciples that he and they were sons of God, the true king. Being members of His kingdom, they owed no one but God.

But wait, the issue was whether Jesus paid the Temple tax, not Caesar’s tax. This fact suggests one of at least three possible meanings: (1) Jesus regarded the Temple tax as illegal, which would coincide with how many viewed the Temple authorities as well as their corruption of the Temple service. 2) Jesus viewed the Temple-tax as an indirect form of taxation of Rome, or (3) possibly both.

However it was actually regarded, the fundamental aspect of Jesus statement was a reaffirmation of God’s original covenanted authority over Israel. That God is the only true king of Israel (and humanity) is evident in the Exodus account and more specifically in God’s statement about the Israelites’ demand for a king. They wanted a king like other neighboring nations. To the prophet Samuel, God said, “Listen to the voice of the people … for they have not rejected you, but they rejected Me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:4-6,7, 8)

This may also be applied to America. With regards to the founding of America, some colonialists considered God as their king. The national seal proposed and explained by Thomas Jefferson and others contained allusions to God as king. Written in the Declaration of Independence is not only a covenant with God along with the social contract but also the implications of God as king being the source, witness and defending judge of America’s national freedom and statehood.

All of which, past and present liberals have rejected and have largely replaced with anti-religious secularism and socialism.

Does it then follow that we who acknowledge God as such are not obligated to pay taxes to government?

No; we are obligated by our voted agreement to pay taxes in exchange for the beneficial services rendered by government created first by our social contract, then by consent to the forms of government and their functions created by our Constitutions, and since then by our consent to taxes for additional services by majority vote.

Today, some relevant questions requiring an honest answers include whether particular taxes and their correlated services were voted in by common majority consent; whether they are beneficial rather than harmful to our rights and forms of government; whether Americans should continue tolerating the negative consequences of the liberal rejection of God’s rightful place in America’s public life; and what exactly is God’s kingship supposed to look like?

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Rep. Steve Austria on Cap and Trade Tax

Posted on May 7, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By Rep. Steve Austria

Under the cap and trade program, household energy costs are expected to increase between $1,600-$3,100 annually.

Last week, the House and Senate debated and passed the conference report to accompany the Democrats’ budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 13). This budget proposal paves the way for a massive new $646 billion energy tax, known as cap and trade.

Cap and trade limits the amount of carbon allowed to be released into the air. For example, if an energy-producing entity, like a coal-fired power plant, is unable to sufficiently lower its emissions; they must spend money to upgrade the plant or pay to release the carbon. This extra cost to industry is passed along to the consumer through increased energy prices. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that under this current proposal, the average American household’s energy bill could increase by $1,600 annually. According to one D.C.-based think tank, prices could increase to as much as $1,900, equivalent to what many families spend on groceries, clothes or property taxes in a given year.

In addition, states that rely on more carbon-intensive sources of energy, like coal, will suffer an even greater cost. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 90 percent of Ohio’s electricity generation comes from coal.

The program places new regulations on our domestic industries making them less competitive with countries, like China and India, that do not face similar restrictions. This could result in businesses establishing operations overseas or outsourcing jobs in an effort to dodge the regulations. This could further erode the job growth of the U.S. manufacturing sector where Ohio has a strong presence. Indeed, the impact cap and trade could have on the average American household, and Ohio in particular, is deeply concerning, specifically in this economic environment.

Source: E-Newsletter from Congressman Steve Austria, May 6, 2009

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Xenia taxpayers reject new taxes for new schools

Posted on May 5, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Xenia taxpayers rejected the school administration’s $79 million bond issue by a 16.6% margin. If my reading of the Greene County Board of Elections voting data is correct, voter turn out was still better than in February when Xenia taxpayer rejected the City’s enormous operating levy. Only 13% of registered voters went to the polls in February, but an impressive 26% turned out for the school’s bond issue. The 26% voter turn out was still low compared to the nearly 67% of voter turned for the November 4, 2008 presidential election.

Writers like to believe that their research, wisdom, or persuasion sway public opinion in the direction they think is best. Of course, writers are sometimes accused of being dreamers too. In my last commentary on this issue, I focused on the moral issue underlying the administrator’s near $100,000 effort to increase our taxes. That moral issue was the state’s $58 million give-away that was gained by what amounts to extortion. The state unjustly took millions of dollars from tobacco companies and justified it by setting aside a large chunk of their spoils. Yet, this particular moral issue was not likely an important factor in most voters’ decision.

One of the most likely factors was the economic recession. The inflated economy caused by high gas prices that added the necessary weight to an economy overburdened by bad credit and unsustainable debt levels collapsed our economy. Many investment advisors predict a long-term recovery. That is unless Obama’s New Big Deal prevents a recovery and thus creates an even worse recession. The loss of business, jobs, investment earnings make for an uncertain financial future. Adding more taxes is not a good idea right now.

Another factor affecting voter decisions was the push by school administrators to get a positive vote. I know of parents whose children were made to attend the vote-for-the-bond-issue rally held at Cox Field on Monday evening. For at least a week prior to Tuesday May 5, school officials and teachers were telling kids to encourage their parents to vote and they did. I also heard about teachers giving students extra credit for helping with get-out-the-vote activities. Some kids were given time off to do so as well. While attending the rally was mandatory for a lot of kids, the goal was to gets as many of their parents to enjoy the free food and the sales promotion gala. Some parents, at least, think it is wrong.

I bet you thought schooling was about learning the basics not the politics of government funding raising. We tend to forget that all school professionals have been trained by the vastly powerful education union lobby, the National Education Association (NEA). The same tactics used by those politics in Washington D.C. are also employed at home. That is why funding schooling with extortion money is not seen as a big deal. The same can be said of manipulating kids to pressure parents for the good of the agendas of politicians.

If their agenda would have produced the best types of schools, I might have been tempted to vote for it. School research proves otherwise. (See Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : Why Small Schools are Best)

As far as I can discern, Xenia taxpayers built all of their schools without state extortion money. Xenia citizens are capable of continuing that practice. The Ohio legislature will continue to appropriate money to assist school districts build new schools. If needed, it will still be available in the future. The solution to increasing local funding for education is increasing local wealth, which points beyond our local community to the political and economic causes preventing it.

By Daniel Downs

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Posted in economy, education, news, politics, taxes, Xenia Community Schools

May 5 Xenia City Community Schools Bond Levy Ballot Text

Posted on April 30, 2009 by | Leave a comment

The following is the text of the $79.95 million bond issue that will put Xenia homeowners and wage earners up-to-their-ears in more debt. The average amount of debt each household will share is about $3,300. For the same amount, every homeowner could be driving a new Mazda or Nissan Altima. Okay, they would have to convince the dealership to lease for 28 years. Because we are in a terrible recession, a dealership just might. I bet you a Pontiac dealer would.

Anyway, the official bond issue ballot is as follows:

A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.

Shall the Xenia Community City School District, Greene and Warren Counties, Ohio be authorized to do the following:

(1) Issue bonds for the purpose of constructing school facilities under the State of Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and related facilities, including science and technology labs and community meeting space; renovating, improving and constructing additions to existing facilities; furnishing and equipping the same, including enhanced safety and security devices; improving the sites thereof; and acquiring land and interests in land, in the principal amount of $79,950,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of twenty-eight (28) years, and levy a property tax outside the ten mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the bond repayment period seven and forty hundredths (7.40) mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to seventy-four ($0.74) cents for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation, commencing in 2009, first due in calendar year 2010, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide for permanent improvements for the School District at a rate not exceeding one half (0.50) mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to $0.05 for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2009, first due in calendar year 2010?

FOR THE BOND ISSUE AND TAX LEVY

AGAINST THE BOND ISSUE AND TAX LEVY

Pros & Cons:

Surely, you have read the expensive four-color sales brochure that was delivered to every Xenia household compliments of the school board. In case your color blind, it consists of blues, yellows, and reds. There is also green. Oh, you missed that color! It’s the color of lot of money. To prove it, let me quote from the school administrator’s 10 page sales brochure.

“Well its our turn now, Xenia, to take our share of the State money–near $58 million–to revitalize our schools and communities.” (p.2)

The proposed $79.95 million bond issue “is fairer because it extends for 28 years–meaning future generations will have to pay their rightful share.” (p.2)

To pay for our school that the State has determined we need, the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) “is offering a 48 percent off sale–we pay 52 percent and they pay 48 percent–for new schools.” (p.2)

There you have it a sale no community experiencing a severe economic recession could possibly pass up. Yes, you must buy into it today for three reasons: (1) Building new schools will create new jobs (p.3); (2) the building might crumble to the ground and blow away (pp.3,6); and (3) because it is inevitable anyway, you can pay now or you Will Pay Later (p.4).

Could the pros be conning taxpayers?

Everyone knows new schools will create new jobs for Xenia. You will notice that those construction jobs are temporary jobs. Some Xenia resident might get hired by out-of-town contractors. Because investment advisers and some economists predict the recession will continue beyond 2010, those jobs might help a few for a while. What Xenia really needs is more businesses that pay more local residents a good income on a long-term basis.

The school administrators’ sales pitch does present some truth. New schools would provide a better environment, but here is the problem: the new plan is like the old plan. The primary objective of both old and new is not better education but getting the state’s money extorted from tobacco companies.

Although I’m not a bleeding heart for large corporations, taking $58 million of such funds obtained by extortion is to support state crime.

I used to smoke a pack or two of cigarettes a day. Written on every pack was a warning that inhaling might have harmful consequences. Everyone I knew was aware of someone who had died of cancer or some other disease caused by consuming tobacco products. We all exercised our freedom by choosing to risk getting ill and possibly dying. Anyone employed in making the stuff know the risks as well. The tobacco companies didn’t deceive or coerce us or anyone else into consuming or making their products. Consequently, the state extorted money from the tobacco companies, and it’s being justified by helping pay for public education.

Once everyone is beholding to a corrupt state no one will have a legitimate right to complain about greater state injustices or crimes.

Once everyone is beholding to a corrupt state no one will have a legitimate right to complain about greater state injustices or crimes. The $58 million sales is like buying from the mafia on credit–Guido may one day come to collect and probably some additional interest not agreed upon. If you don’t pay up, Guido will hurt you. Giving up our freedom to tyrants will not end well either.

Unless, more new schools are built to accommodate the children living in our community’s new housing areas, all Xenia families and children will get is new ineffective schools. That is what studies of many school districts around the nation have proven. Small neighborhood schools are the most effective structure and organization of schools. That is exactly what the Xenia plan still does not do. In order to get the state’s extorted money, school administrator plan on combining schools. School research from around the nations provide ample evidence that the best learning environments are not just school with small classes but also schools under 350 students, which is mentioned in Ohio law.

Xenia doesn’t need the state’s extortion money. Our community built the current schools by raising our taxes as needed. The one of the primary reasons for the Ohio School Facilities Commission is to assist with capital funding for the needier communities. OSFC will have funding available after the recession is over. It may not be as large a pool of money they extorted from tobacco companies, but it will exist all the same.

See also my research on the subject:
Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : What I Learned at the Forum
Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : Why Small Schools are Best
Xenia Community Schools Rebuilding Plan : It’s All About the Money

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Posted in economy, education, news, politics, taxes, Xenia Community Schools

Ohio House Approves Gov. Strickland’s Politically Correct Outcome-Based Education Plan

Posted on April 24, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives finalized its revisions of Gov. Strickland’s evidence-based school funding reform.

According to a recent AP report,

Strickland proposed a dramatic overhaul of Ohio’s school funding formula that would boost the state’s share of the cost and reduce what taxpayers are expected to contribute to their local schools. His proposed “evidence-based” education system would require schools to use programs based on research findings and would set standards for students, teachers and districts. Districts would be audited annually and could be shut down for repeated failure to meet academic and operating standards.

The evidence-based system is the same as the outcome-based system that was defeat the last time it was proposed. This version coincides somewhat with “No Child Left Behind” requirements. The main issue with the proposed system is its inclusion of politically-correct attitude, feeling and behavioral outcomes. This may also be called mind-control or brainwashing for good secularist citizenship. If 80% of Ohioans are religious, an additional 80% of Ohio children will be made good practical atheists. That is something evolutionists like Richard Dawkins, Strickland, and followers would gleefully approve.

Despite the changes made by the House, Rep. Stephen Dyer, chairman of the budget subcommittee on primary and secondary schools, said the essence of Strickland’s “evidence-based” is still intact.

The following are some of the more significant changes mentioned in the AP report.

  • Extending implementation from eight years to 10 years.
  • Increasing base teacher salary from $45,000 to $49,914.
  • Capping growth in state aid at 1.9 percent a year, compared with the 15 percent and 16 percent Strickland had proposed.
  • Giving the state six years, rather than two, to pick up a larger share of local school costs.
  • Allowing districts more flexibility in how soon they start new initiatives such as lowering student-teacher ratios, lengthening the school year, and implementing all-day kindergarten.

Raising the pay scale of teachers is a good thing, but don’t let it be a distraction from the real issue. As noted above, the state plans to control local education. If the Left achieves this goal, the plan of world socialists (the Left) will be complete. That means Capitol Hill politicians will ultimately control all schooling, and in the end the United Nations will dictate the content and structure of American schooling.

If you think the above is preposterous, then consider this: the federal government now owns American financial businesses, they recent passed universal health care (medial socialism), our welfare economy is based on Marxist socialism, and American education is now within their reach. The goal of NAFTA is to create a North American Union according to United Nations plans. Many of the federal leaders approve of the global currency discussed at the last G20 summit.

As Professor Economics Charlotte Twight explained in her book Dependent On D.C., the federal government has every intention to bring Ohio education under its total control. Gov. Strickland is a member of the Capitol Hill club seeking to achieve the goals of the Left.

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Posted in economy, education, news, Ohio, politics, taxes

Xenia 3.5 Mill Operating Levy Renewal Coming Soon

Posted on April 23, 2009 by | Leave a comment

It appears that Xenia management and our Council representatives got the message during the February 2009 election. By a large majority, Xenia voters defeated an effort to pass a very large 5.0 mill operating levy replacement levy increase. The annual revenue it would have generated ($1.86 million) was way beyond any perceivable need.

Instead of seeking the next highest amount possible (3.5 mill replacement), the Council has decided to take the “What Works” approach. During the March 26, 2009 meeting, management seem to have decided that Council should initiate the process that will put the 3.5 Mill Operating Levy Renewal on the August 4, 2009 ballot. That they did.

Council could have saved taxpayer $18,000 had they sought for a renewal in the first place. Because the cost of placing a levy up for a vote is the above amount, the renewal will now cost taxpayers $36,000.

By the way, Councilman Dale Louderback was the only member who has refused to accept anything other than a renewal. Why was he the only dissenting voice against the February levy? Apparently, his conscience would not permit him to ask voters for such a huge increase during our nation’s near depression-like economic crisis. He is fully behind the no-new-taxes operating levy renewal.

One last observation; I can only imagine the distaste that observant Jews by that ancient priestly name, Levy or Levi, must have towards our politically and sometimes greed motivated government levies.

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Posted in city council, economy, news, politics, taxes, Xenia

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Economic Stimulus Funding Xenia Capital Improvements (but Not Jobs)

Posted on April 22, 2009 by | Leave a comment

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Economic Stimulus) was approved by the House and Senate on February 13, 2009. According to the Recovery.gov web site, the goal of the Economic Stimulus is to jumpstart the economy, create or save jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

How does the economic stimulus flow to communities like Xenia?

The money flows similar to the way federal money is disbursed, which is through the State of Ohio, then to local communities. The Governor’s Office has set up a website whereby communities and other entities can submit projects. Xenia, like many other cities submitted a wide range of projects that included street reconstruction, street extension, water line construction, park development and redevelopment, downtown streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle improvement and extension, retention of police manpower and high speed internet connection. The projects that were submitted to the Governor’s Office are then reviewed by the different State Departments. Projects that are considered “shovel ready” get priority funding.

Projects that have received funding in Xenia.

The Ohio Department of Transportation was the first Department to review and take action on project proposal. These projects were reviewed through the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC). This agency made recommendations on which projects to submit. The transportation and street enhancement related projects that were approved in Xenia include:

1. Innovation Way Road Extension – $2,267,551.00. This is located in a new industrial complex between Union Road and S.R. 380. The first phase of Innovation Way is currently being constructed. Economic Stimulus dollars will fund $2,267,551.00 of the $3,209,681 project cost.

2. East Main Street Streetscape Improvement between Whiteman Street and Collier Street – $209,348.00. This project involves replacement of trees, installation of ornamental lighting, replacement of sidewalks, curbs, installation of crosswalks and accessible ramps and provision of streetscape hardware like benches, trash receptacles, planters and banners.

3. Bicycle and Pedestrian Crossing Improvement from Xenia Station Hub to the Ohio-Erie Trail – $51,123.00. This involves improving the crosswalk with proper pavement marking, re-orienting of existing accessible ramps, widening of existing sidewalks on the east side of South Detroit Street between Hill Street and Washington Street and replacement of the catch basin with a storm manhole.

I could think of better ways to pay for those improvements to our city than to give Capitol Hill more reason to think in terms of ownership.

Source: Xenia Development Corner Newsletter, March 2009.

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