A Second Look At Issue 2

State Issue 2, which aims to block monopoly interests from carving out a niche in the Ohio Constitution.

A constitutional lawyer says the Issue 2 “cure” could be worse than the “disease” if Ohioans approve the measure in Tuesday’s election.

Maurice Thompson, executive director of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law, a conservative, nonprofit legal center, said Issue 2 would hamper future citizen-driven ballot initiatives, including those seeking tax reforms.

The issue would not prevent the General Assembly from initiating monopoly ballot issues and would give the Ohio Ballot Board too much authority to decide what is and is not a monopoly in reviewing their placement on the ballot, Thompson said.

The messaging behind State Issue 2 appears to be built upon the mistruths that it prevents monopolies and would stop the proposed marijuana monopoly if enacted — neither is accurate. This is simply an attack on Ohioans’ initiative rights,”

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/10/30/conservative-lawyer-sees-ill-effects-from-anti-monopoly-issue-2.html

Posted by Paul Hunter

What's Going On with City Property “Update”

A lease agreement was signed by Mayor Riley on October 20, 2015 but was backdated to be effective July 1, 2015 to rent a building now owned by the city of Wilmington's sewer department..

The building, a part of the property once owned by the Textron Company, was formerly leased by Total Baking Solutions for $1 a year, in a failed effort to create jobs.

The new lessee (renter) is Runway Logistics a company connected to the Sewell Motor Express Company.

The area to be rented consists of 55,000 square ft. of floor space and various other attached buildings and an option to rent another 43,000 square ft. The term of the agreement is for three years.

Rent payment is $2 per square ft. annually. The same rate will be paid when and if the additional option is taken.

My understanding is that because the purchase of the former Textron property was paid for by the waste water (sewer) enterprise fund all payments from the agreement will be made to that fund. A windfall for a fund that is debt free and with a significant and growing carry over (surplus).

Paul Hunter 

Beware Of Flat Tax Hucksters

Presidential candidate Ben Carson announced his tax plan recently. It's labeled the tithing tax system by some.

Under the no loophole 10% flat tax plan, my federal income tax taxes on a moderate retirement income would increase by $1,300 per year.

Supporters of the voodoo system claim that, not only would we would all see a tax cut, but that federal revenue would actually increase. This in spite of the fact that there is no empirical data or historical record supporting such an outcome.

If the claim is to at least maintain current federal revenue it is apparent that if folks with a moderate income have to pay more, some one else will have to pay less. Duh!

The last presidential candidate that offered a flat tax system was Steve Forbes who's 2000 campaign floundered and failed.

Beyond a doubt the federal tax system is in dire need of an overhaul but using fiscal magic tricks is not a viable option.

Paul Hunter budhunter@frontier.com

Muslim Cleric and Ohio Tax Dollars

The “Gulen Movement” controls more schools in Ohio (19) by population than in any other state

Who is Fethullah Gulen and

what is the Gulen Movement?

http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/who-is-fethullah-gulen-and-what-is-the-gulen-movement.html

In rural Pennsylvania, a Turkish-born Muslim imam lives in self-imposed exile.

The imam, Fethullah Gülen, came to the United States in 1999 due to cited health problems and has stayed in the United States after gaining his visa

Page created June 9, 2010;  last updated Mar 4, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools

Fethullah Gulen is the most powerful religious leader in Turkey today, even though he lives in Pennsylvania.

Since the 1970s, Gulen and his followers have slowly built up a network of educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and businesses that started in Turkey, spread to Central Asia, and now is entrenched in every continent but Antarctica.  This network is called the Gulen Movement. It is extremely secretive, and many of its members (the "Gulenists") and organizations will not even openly admit their affiliation. Publicly, the Gulen Movement advertises itself as a grassroots volunteer civil society movement that is interested only in humanitarian and educational works. Its members like to stress that it is loosely organized with no central coordination. Outside observers have noted, however, that it is in fact hierarchical and authoritarian, and has political, religious and economic goals.

Gulen Charter Schools in the United States

http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/list-of-us-schools.html
Management organization: Concept Schools http://www.conceptschools.org Operates 19 schools in Ohio

Chicago-based Concept Schools, are related through membership, fundraisers and political giving to the nonprofit Niagara Foundation, which provides trips to Turkey for state, local and federal lawmakers.

“Among those touring Turkey has been State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, a Clarksville Republican on the powerful finance and appropriations committee and considered to be a leading candidate for House speaker next year. He was joined on the trip by at least four other state legislators and local government leaders from his area in southwest Ohio

1. Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati http://www.horizoncincy.org/
2. Horizon Science Academy Cleveland http://www.hsas.org/
3. Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Middle School http://www.hsacms.org/
4. Horizon Science Academy Cleveland Elementary School http://es.horizoncleveland.org/
5. Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School http://www.horizoncolumbus.org/
6. Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School http://www.horizoncolumbus.org/ms/
7. Horizon Science Academy Columbus Elementary School http://es.horizoncolumbus.org/
8. Horizon Science Academy Dayton Elementary School http://es.horizondayton.org
9. Horizon Science Academy Dayton http://www.horizondayton.org/
10. Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown http://dt.horizontoledo.org
11. Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle School http://www.horizondenison.org/
12. Horizon Science Academy Denison Elementary School www.denisonelementary.org/
13. Horizon Science Academy Lorain http://www.horizonlorain.org/
14. Horizon Science Academy Springfield http://www.horizonspringfield.org/
15. Horizon Science Academy Toledo http://www.horizontoledo.org/
16. Horizon Science Academy Toledo Downtown http://dt.horizontoledo.org
17. Horizon Science Academy Youngstown http://www.horizonyoungstown.org/
18. Noble Academy-Columbus http://www.noblecolumbus.org/
19. Noble Academy-Cleveland http://www.noblecleveland.org/

The End For Faulty Septic Systems

It is now time for our country cousins to join those of us that pay monthly fees to build and operate central treatment systems that ensures that our waste water meets standards set by the OEPA before running into our fresh water streams and lakes. Clinton County residents that use home septic systems will join Cleremont, Warren, and Greene counties in having their systems inspected periodically as required by new state laws. The former three counties have had inspection rules in place for several years. The Clinton County health department is working on plans to implement the new rules and to find a way to pay for the inspections.

The new rules are welcome to all the residents of Wilmington and folks in Union and Vernon township that use Wilmington's treated water. The source of that raw water comes from the Caesar's Creek reservoir and the more sewage contamination in that source the more chlorine is required for the treatment process.

Paul Hunter

What's Going On With City Property?

A couple of months ago I was advised by a neighbor of the city owned former Textron property on Nelson Ave. that a local trucking company was parking a lot of truck there. I noted that city council had not passed a resolution approving an agreement. I asked the Mayor's office if Sewell's trucking had a contract agreement to rent the property. I was informed at that time that an agreement was in the works and that I would receive a copy of the agreement after it was signed. After waiting more than a month I again asked the public records official if a contract actually existed she replied that it had. At the same time the Law Director advised that, if there was a signed agreement, he had not seen it. The major concern is that without an agreement the city could be liable for any accident involving the tenant occurring on the property.

I feel fairly confidant that a city councilman's hire by Sewell at about the same time is not a factor in this mystery.

Paul Hunter

A Vote For Global Warming

One result of the Ohio Legislature's stance on alternate energy affects Clinton County and the East Clinton Schools. A proposed wind farm in northeast Clinton County would have produced a major revenue stream for those entities. A lease has been signed and a project had been planed for a multi-megawatt wind farm. Investors backed away when the state changed the law thus discouraging such investment. Representative Cliff Rosenberger and Senator Bob Peterson voted against alternate energy expansion and, in effect, for coal and conventional power company interests. Even though Rosenberger's district includes no coal producing counties and in the ten counties in Peterson's district only one is a minor coal producer. There no conventional power plants in Rosenberger's district and only one significant plant in Peterson's district. Whom are they representing, their constituents, or outside interests?

Ohio has fallen in energy efficiency compared with other states, according to an annual report from a group that supports clean-energy policies.

The state ranks 27th in the country, down two spots from 2014 and down nine spots from 2013 in a scorecard published by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.

“The point drops were due to stagnation on the part of Ohio,” said Annie Gilleo, the group’s state policy manager. “If one state is standing still, other states are going pass it.”

The big change in Ohio was attributed to legislation last year that placed a two-year freeze on standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy. The standards apply to electricity utilities. Some of those utilities pushed for the freeze, saying the costs of compliance were greater than the benefits.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2015/10/24/ohio-falls-in-energy-

efficiency-ranks.html

http://aceee.org/sites/default/files/pdf/state-sheet/2015/ohio.pdf

Fixing Streets Cost Money

10/19/15

To editor;

Reference the News Journal's Wilmington council at large candidate interview 10/17/15.

In the run up to last May's primary election several people running for city council seats made the easiest promise a council person can make. “if elected I will not increase taxes”. This infers that council has a choice in the matter of increasing city property or income taxes. In reality council has no choice. Only we voters the can make that decision.

In the referenced interview for the at-large election Councilperson Milburn was quoted as saying “I think that it's possible to have the best of both worlds”. In spite of the fact that she has no official choice in the matter she said, I'm not for a tax increase...(and) I don't think we need to cut any of our city services” How a voodoo budget would accomplish this feat she left to our imagination. With no funds for repairing rapidly deteriorating streets, a budget cut to the bone and as much as $1 million required in state matching dollars to repair just a few miles of the worst streets on the horizon, prospects are dim.

Councilman McKay and candidate Swindler agree that the voters be given a choice to vote on a street repair tax levy. Candidate Eichelberger indicated that she would need to do more research on the street funding issue.

After much research on the matter I offer my own ideas for increasing revenue for street repairs.

A five year two mill dedicated (can only be used for streets) property tax can be put on the ballot for next spring's primary election.

The $500 thousand annual revenue from the levy could be used to secure a $2 million or more bond or note to finance a one time citywide repair-repaving project that would get us back on a normal maintenance schedule wherein normal budgeting could pay the maintenance bill. After the five years the levy will expire no matter what council does.

The purpose of the one time mass repair is to get more bang for the buck. The bigger the project the cheaper the cost per mile. A a half mile this year and a half mile next year is a very inefficient method.

A two mill levy would cost the average Wilmington home owner less than $6 per month. A senior home owner would pay $4 per month.

Some are suggesting a quarter percent, non-dedicated income tax levy that would generate over $1 million per year and cost a family with a $60 thousand income, $13 per month.

Paul Hunter 

Ohio Voter Decision

 No matter our opinion for or against the marijuana amendment (issue 3 on the ballot) I submit that a real threat to Ohio's voters rights is issue 2 which is intended to place the legislature's preferences above the voter's right to choose.

When a single political party controls all of the State government the voters are at the mercy of the legislature whether or not the voters approve of the actions of that body. The amendment process is the only option to undo one party rule excesses. The most recent example was the passage of legislation limiting the rights of labor organizations. (Senate Bill 5) The passage of a constitutional amendment repealing the law is proof the the people disagreed with the Ohio government position.

That is just one example, it could be just as possible that in the future a one part government of different party would pass legislation giving Unions super powers over industry and against the interest of the people. The only recourse to correct the law would be a constitutional amendment. It's a precious right not to be squandered over the political agenda of the few in government. The current legislature is saying, in effect, that the people don't have the ability to correctly choose the right path on issue 2.

I believe that this is one issue where true Libertarians, Conservatives and Liberals can agree to vote no on.

Paul Hunter