The Ohio Miracle

In my opinion

Poor John, darned if he does and darned if he don't.

Ohio income drops; 1 in 6 live in poverty

From 2007 to 2012 — a span that covered the start of the Great Recession and a supposed economic recovery — the median income for Ohio’s 4.6 million households fell by almost $4,800, after adjustment for inflation.

http://www.examiner.com/article/jobs-report-argues-kasich-s-ohio-miracle-more-like-ohio-mirage

Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich has another 14 months until voters decide whether to rehire him or not. The former nine-term congressman, Fox TV political talk show host and Wall Street banker turned governor, who won by a small margin in 2010 with the help of Tea Party activists who have since abandoned him, appears to not only have lost support of this key group in his voter base as Republican activists find fault with him on issues from budgets to Medicaid to right-to-work legislation, but appears to have lost his self-proclaimed powers to create the number and quality of jobs he said only his "moving at the speed of business" policies and programs could produce at the hands of JobsOhio, his pet but private job-creation group.

Paul Hunter

Methamphetamine Lab Busts

What Can Be Done ?

Would the number of meth makers change much if nothing was done by law enforcement? It's sorta like whack-a-mole. Shut one down and another pops up. Fear of the law appears to have little effect on the need to use and produce. One thing for sure, from investigation to incarceration, enforcement is very expensive.

Ohio BCI thinks meth is the drug of choice in rural areas. Could it also be true rural areas are a good place to manufacture the drug for state wide distribution?

Would decriminalizing marijuana, be a step in the right direction?

Paul Hunter

http://timesgazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=18&SubSectionID=175&ArticleID=189814

Of the 881 methamphetamine lab busts in Ohio this year, almost 9 percent have been found in Highland County.

The total figure is a 45 percent jump over 2012.

The Highland County Sheriff's Officetotal of 76 so far is the most it's ever found in a year, while there are more than two months left on the calendar. And that figure doesn't include the meth labs found by the Hillsboro or Greenfield police departments, or other municipalities in the county.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation numbers Tuesday, noting that meth is becoming a drug of choice in the rural parts of the state.

No Matter Who Is President

When The Majority Doesn't Rule 

The Hastert Rule, also known as the "majority of the majority" rule, is an informal governing principle used by Republican Speakers of the House of Representatives since the mid-1990s to maintain their speakerships[1] and limit the power of the minority party to bringbills up for a vote on the floor of the House. Under the doctrine, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives will not allow a vote on a bill unless a majority of the majority party supports the bill. Its introduction is widely credited to former Speaker Dennis Hastert (1999–2007); however, Newt Gingrich, who directly preceded Hastert as Speaker (1995–1999), followed the same rule. Hastert was vocal in his support of the rule stating that his job was "to please the majority of the majority",though years after his speakership ended, he distanced himself from the rule, saying, "The Hastert Rule never really existed. It’s a non-entity as far as I’m concerned

Even if the majority of the members of the House would vote to pass it. The rule keeps the minority party from passing bills with the assistance of a small number of majority party members.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastert_Rule

It’s called the McConnell rule, and it’s time to make it permanent before the current agreement runs out on Feb. 7.

This rule, which was used in last week’s settlement and other agreements for the last two years, allows the president to raise the debt ceiling and then gives Congress a chance to disapprove it. If Congress passes a disapproval measure, the president can veto the legislation. The two chambers would then each need a two-thirds majority to override the veto and prevent the debt limit from rising, which is politically unattainable and is likely to remain so.

Opinion

It’s a World War I-era contrivance that was never used to extract concessions until the Tea Party got hold of it in 2011, and it ought to be formally abolished. It doesn’t limit the debt, which is determined only by the amount Congress spends and takes in. Its only purpose is to give voters the illusion that Congress is acting as a responsible steward over borrowing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/opinion/how-to-disarm-the-debt-ceiling-threat-for-good.html?nl=opinion&emc=edit_ty_20131022

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

We don't need expanded health care?

Kasich continues to say Medicaid expansion is "just the right thing to do." 

"The morality of a human being who's been blessed, helping a human being who has challenges, is a moral imperative in our lives. It just is," Kasich said last week of Medicaid expansion. He spoke of offering drug-addiction and mental-health coverage through Medicaid. "The ability to get our dollars back from Washington, to rehab these people and restore their lives, has to be done."

Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, was also on the record as opposing the expansion, preferring to continue debating the matter in the Legislature.

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/ohio/2013/rankings/outcomes/overall/by-rank

Cliff's district has some of the worst health outcomes in the state

Out of 88 counties:

Pike County 82^nd

Highland County 78^th

Clinton County 76^th

http://www.usa.com/rank/ohio-state--median-household-income--county-rank.htm?yr=3000&sb=ASC&tag=Poorest+Counties+by+Income+in+OH

Cliff's district has three of the poorest counties in Ohio in household income

Pike 9th

Highland 22nd

Clinton 50 th  

Paul Hunter

Vote expands Medicaid

Ohio panel votes to expand Medicaid

If the headlined action holds up Ohio could get back a good portion of the money that we send to Washington. In my opinion that's better than for it to go to other, caring, states that have accepted expanded medicaid..

Our own Cliff Rosenberg was an original member of the seven-member Controlling Board, which approved by a 5-2 bipartisan vote, a request to accept $2.56 billion in federal money for the expansion through June 2015. However, in a move to keep his chances alive to win the House Speakership he was replaced. “House Speaker William Batchelder of Medina, subbed in Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, and Rep. Jeff McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, for two anti-expansion House Republicans said to be vying for the speaker post.”

The board is composed of two majority party and one minority party members from each legislative chamber and an appointee of the governor’s Office of Budget and Management.

Paul Hunter

Vote expands Medicaid; opponents vow to sue

http://www.dispatch.com/

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/springfield-republican-to-be-deciding-vote-on-medi/nbTFL/

Republican lawmakers rejected Kasich’s proposal to expand Medicaid in the state budget earlier this year. They also inserted language into the budget explicitly prohibiting expansion.

Kasich used his line item veto power to strike that language, leaving language intact that allows the state to expand to any group not prohibited by law.

Just Another Good Ole Boy

Just another good ole boy joining a bipartisan gang in gaming the system

P. Hunter

 

 

Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) put his daughter, grandson, daughter’s mother-in-law, grandson-in-law, granddaughter, and another relative—six family members in total—on his campaign payroll. The Paul progeny received a combined $304,599

 

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2013/10/20/CBS-Congress-Using-Slush-Funds-to-Bankroll-Lavish-Lifestyle

Miscellaneous Local Government Revenue Information

With the October 2013 county casino tax distribution of $129,982 the total Clinton County receipts for the year are $482,982 and the total received including 2012 is $592,894.

Cities had hoped that the counties would share the new income to compensate for some eliminated state funds. As far as I know no county has shared the wealth.

School districts also receive casino revenue but distribution is on a six months schedule. .

Based on Public School Student Population Within County

Semi annual distributions first half.

EAST CLINTON LOCAL SCHOOL $26,443.

BLANCHESTER LOCAL SCHOOL $28,534

CLINTON-MASSIE LOCAL SCHOOL $28,175

WILMINGTON CITY SCHOOLS $66,678

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wilmington city council, earlier this year, proposed to maintain a cash reserve (rainy day) fund of twenty five percent of the current annual general fund's $7.76 million budget. The $2 million would be available for unforeseen events such as floods and other natural disasters. Due to a shortfall in income tax revenue, the loss of some state funding and some unplanned expenses the reserve was in danger of falling below the desired amount. Fortunately an unexpected windfall of $300,000 from estate taxes* has, so far enabled the reserve fund to keep up.

*this is the last year that the estate or inheritance tax will be available. Because the state legislature eliminated the tax.

Paul Hunter contact at paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Politics or Human Decency

Politics or Human Decency 

Do these state Governments really care about all their people including the least among them? If their congressman have their way all states could become like them. 

P. Hunter

Top five states in infant mortality as per: http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/infant-death-rate/

1.Mississippi 10 per one thousand population

2. Alabama 9.2

3. Louisiana 9.0

4.North Carolina 8.2

5.Tennessee 8.2

(Ohio is above average 7.7)

States with lowest life expectancy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_life_expectancy

51^st Mississippi

49^th Alabama

48^th Louisiana

44^th Tennessee

37^th North Carolina

(Ohio tied with Tennessee)

States not participating in the ACA's expanded Medicaid provision including:

Alabama

Louisiana

Mississippi

North Carolina

Tennessee

(Ohio legislature votes no but Governor wants to expand coverage.)

Government Decreed Food Color

Are our governments meddling too much in citizens daily lives today?

Not as much as in 1949

:

Back in the day: The federal law states that public- eating places which serve colored oleo must post signs saying so, and that the oleo must be served in triangular pieces or be labeled as' oleo.

But the food and drug people say that checks made in areas where colored oleo has come upon

the market indicates that 10,000 or more public eating places in the United States will try to sell

patrons colored oleo for butter in violation of the law. The difference between them may be 30 or 40 cents a pound.

We won't see this in Michigan. Sale of colored oleo is still illegal under state law. A bill to legalize

sale of colored oleo was adopted by the legislature in ).949, but it is subject to a referendum vote of the people in November 1950.

I remember the dye packes that came with each package of margarine that my mother mixed in a bowl to make a butter appearing spread.

Paul Hunter

Hasert Rule

Opinions:

Two problems: a. That the Hassert rule even exists and b. The rule is being used to shut down the government.

Paul Hunter

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/2013-10-07/barrow-says-congress-will-pass-budget-resolution-if-allowed-vote

The current budget crisis could be resolved if the Speaker of the House of Representatives would allow members to vote on a “clean” continuing resolution, U.S. Rep John Barrow said Monday.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/house-clean-continuing-resolution_n_4014229.html

But there is a critical flaw in Republicans' argument that they are just carrying out the will of the people: If the House of Representatives -- the "People's House" -- was allowed by GOP leaders to work its will by casting a straight up-or-down vote on the bill passed by the Senate to avert a government shutdown, that bill would become law.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2013/10/07/john-boehner-can-prevent-default-letting-both-parties-vote-house/yy20rDrjU41ynKAnj8kKPP/story.html

Boehner’s comment was a head-scratcher, because there are almost certainly enough votes to raise the debt ceiling with no conditions attached. If the chamber’s Democrats were allowed to vote, they plus as few as 17 of the 232 Republicans could spare the nation the economic catastrophe that would follow a US bond default. Almost certainly, Boehner meant there are not enough votes among Republicans alone to raise the debt ceiling. Thus, the US economy is hostage to the perverse strictures of the “Hastert rule” — the hardball strategy under which bills go forward only if most members of the speaker’s party approve, and the views of duly elected members of the minority party are barely relevant. The Founding Fathers can rest easy: They set up a workable structure. It’s Dennis Hastert, Boehner, and other recent speakers — Democrat Nancy Pelosi largely adhered to the rule, too — who’ve messed things up.

In My Opinion

What drives the hard right to be obstructionists? 

Answer: The illogical way most states, including Ohio, create congressional districts, favors the incumbent office holders and their party.

Note: To reduce the role that legislative politics might play, six states, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Jersey, and Washington, carry out congressional redistricting by an independent or bipartisan redistricting commission

b. Using Mr. Jordan as an example:

Question: Is he concerned about about being defeated by a Democrat in the general election? Answer: No, his greatest fear is a primary election challenge from a Republican even further to the right than he is.

Jordan is a far-right Republican according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship.

T

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio's_4th_congressional_district

2010 election Republican Jim Jordan 71.49% Democratic Doug Litt 24.74%

Ethnicity 92.4% white

Represented by a Republican every year since 1938

Reading the below item reminds us that Wilmington City Council has the power to act to reduce our natural gas costs for the winter heating season. When I say us it includes city operating costs as well as individual customers.

The process is very much like the electric aggregation program that most signed up for early this year. We voted to allow the city to pursue gs aggregation some years ago but there was, because of no price competition, little to be gained. All the city fathers have to do is to coordinate with a selected broker, have a couple of public meeting and select the lowest bidder to be our supplier. If any one wants to “opt out” of the program it is easy to do so. Like electric aggregation the city has no input or obligation once the supplier is selected. Billing will continue as normal.

If the council acts this month we could start realizing savings early next year.

I have included the names and contact information for city council members for us in this effort as well as any future reader concerns.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Winter energy bills to rise

By Jonathan Fahey

AP Energy Writer

The government forecast Tuesday that most households will pay more for heat this winter. Heating oil users will catch a slight break, but still pay near-record prices to keep warm.

Prices for natural gas, electricity and propane should be higher, the primary reason that more than 90 percent of U.S. homes will incur higher heating expenses.

Natural gas users will see the biggest percentage increase after two years of historically low prices. Their heating bills should rise to an average of $679, the Energy Department said in its annual outlook for heating costs. That is about 13 percent higher than a year ago.

Clip and save

City Council President (term ends 12/31/13 )
Scott Kirchner
(937) 527-7457 (C)
kirchnerscott@aol.com

Council Member-at-Large
Mark McKay
(937) 382-2709 (H)mark.mckay@indoff.com

Council Member-at-Large
Bob Mead
(937) 725-3619 (C)rmead@swohio.twcbc.com

Council Member-at-Large (term ends 12/31/13)
Bryan Siebenaller
(419) 618-1182 (C)bryan.siebenaller@gmail.com

Council Member - 1st Ward (term ends12/31/13)
Mike Wallace
(937) 382-0040 (H)
mwallace3@cinci.rr.com

Council Member - 2nd Ward
Loren Stuckert
(937) 382-4643 (H)
loren_stuckert@yahoo.com

Council Member - 3rd Ward (term ends 12/31/13)

Don Wells
(937) 382-1561 (H)
dwells12@cinci.rr.com

Council Member - 3rd Ward (term ends 12/31/13)

Don Wells
(937) 382-1561 (H)
dwells12@cinci.rr.com

Council Member -4th Ward
Rob Jaehnig
(937) 728-6557 (C)
rljaehnig@yahoo.com

Top 10 myths on the federal health law

See full article for list of panel members and myths

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/business/economy/top-10-myths-on-the-federal-health-law/nbFQ8/

Myth no. 8. The government through the health law will control the doctors I see, and medications and services I buy.

Haubrock: FALSE. The control will still lie with the insurance carrier, or the exchange, and is based on the level of coverage you elect to buy.

Sweeney: FALSE. The plan you choose coverage through will have networks of doctors/hospitals/other providers, as well as prescription programs, just like you have a choice of plans now. Some will be more restrictive than others to keep the price down. All must cover the “essential benefits,” which most plans already cover. Be prepared to take more responsibility for taking care of yourself, by the choices you make in smoking or not, eating and drinking in moderation, keeping physically fit.

Myth 9. The law establishes government “death panels” that encourage the elderly to opt-out of life extending treatment as a way to reduce Medicare expenses.

Hoeflinger: FALSE. Plans are not incented to withhold care under ACA. In fact, they are encouraged to reduce spending by coordinating care to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.

Streator: FALSE. The Independent Payment Advisory Board or the “death panel” is tasked with reducing growth rate (not spending) by improving quality. The Patient Outcome Research Institute, which is an independent nonprofit, non-government entity whose purpose is to advance the quality and relevance of medical evidence for informed decisions, states that this board is tasked with making recommendations around slowing net growth in Medicare spending. It can’t ration health care, raise premiums or revenues.

Any proposal to reduce expenses must contain key considerations around improving healthoutcomes, protect access and beneficiaries, and consider effects and needs of consumers.

10. Appointments and wait times will be longer to see a doctor in the future due to healt  reform.

LeRoy FALSE. There is currently a shortage of primary care physicians. There are provisions in the ACA to encourage more medical students to go into primary care specialties (family medicine, primary care internal medicine and pediatrics). There is also a modest financial reimbursement (a 10 percent fee increase for preventative primary care services through 2014) for primary care services under the ACA.

If your doctor’s daily schedule is already full the ACA cannot mandate that he/she see more patients. True, there will be many more people seeking primary care services, and the pipeline of primary care professionals has not been filled enough to accommodate the anticipated national need. This will certainly be a challenge for the system for the next several years. We will need to become more aware of these system limits, more efficient in providing service, and utilize more of the talents of physician extenders, such as physician assistants and advance practice nurses.

Sanity in the Shut Down Battle

Sanity in the Shut Down Battle 

In my opinion our congressman is on the right track.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com

Stivers Says Government Shutdown

Wrong Tactic While Nation At War

Friday September 13, 2013 4:14 PM
UPDATED: Friday September 13, 2013 4:16 PM

By Jim Heath

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Republican congressman Steve Stivers says conservatives should back off calls to shut down the federal government this fall to defund Obamacare.

"I do not support a government shutdown, because it defunds our defense department and puts our military soldiers and their families at risk," said Stivers. "Checks could stop coming to some of our military families while their loved ones are deployed.  It could result in delays of supplies and important materials. We're still a nation at war."

Stivers, appearing for a taping of Capitol Square, specifically mentioned Jim DeMint, president of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. DeMint was in Columbus last month pushing Congress to shut down the government to defund Obamacare.

"I think he's very wrong," said Stivers. "Tactically, I think he's very wrong.  We have the same goal but I think he's tactically wrong, and frankly, if you defund the entire government, one of the only things funded at that point is Obamacare. That's a fact."

School Finance Information II

School Finance Information II 

The predicted changes in state financial aid to local school districts from 2013 to 2014 and to 2015 are: Due to variations in pupil populations the percent value is of more importance than the dollar amounts.

Blanchester 2014 +$556,587 (6.25%); 2015 +$713,250 (7.41

Clinton-Massie 2014 0, 2015 0

East Clinton 2014 +$504,336 (6.25%), 2015 +$565,657 (6.6%)

Wilmington 2014 +504,637 (6.25%), 2015 +(900,777 (10.5%)

Interesting School Information I

One of the major factors in determining state financial aid to school districts is the value of real property in a district. By dividing the total property value in a district by the number of pupils in the district a valuation per pupil is obtained.

A basic question concerning Ohio's property tax based public education is: Should the quality of a child's education depend on the wealth of their community? State aid offers only a partial answer.

From State Aid Estimates FY 2014 and 2015

Three year average valuation per pupil for Clinton County school districts , fiscal yea 2013.

Blanchester $89,461

Clinton-Massie $132,016

East Clinton $93,624

Wilmington $139,587

Note:The Wellsville district is one of the lowest in the state at $56,855 value per pupil.

Paul Hunter paulhunter45177@gmail.com