Ohio Issue #3 - The Facts

Ohio Issue 3: What is it?

Sept 24, 2009: Issue #3 is a proposed Amendment to the Ohio Constitution that will permit the construction of a total of four (4) casinos, one each in the cities of Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo. These would be built at a pre-determined (already determined) location. (1)

There have been many claims on both sides of this issue, both in defense of and in opposition to this proposed amendment; and if you’ve been anywhere near a radio or TV lately, you’ve more than likely been exposed to these adverts. But as Detective Sgt. Joe Friday (as played by Jack Webb) once famously said:

“No, there’s one thing you left out.”
“What’s that?”
“The facts.”

So here are some facts.

First: The proposed amendment would create four first-class casinos in the State of Ohio. This is true, provided that the Gilbert Group (backing these proposed casinos) doesn’t back out of the project – as they did in a similar project in Kansas City.

Second: The casinos would create 34,000 Ohio jobs. This is misleading. First, it would create 34,000 jobs, but the source of this number makes no distinction between full-time jobs and part-time jobs. (2) What’s worse, that 34,000 jobs includes the 19,000 construction jobs which would be needed to build them. It only creates 15,000 permanent jobs. But let’s look at these jobs:

22% are food service or preparation. They pay $19,500.
20% are gaming dealers or slot key. They pay $21,700.
14% are machine servicers, cashiers or other gaming service. These pay $22,900

This accounts for a total of 56% of all jobs. Contrast this with the median household income in Columbus - $42,253.

Third: Under Issue #3 these casinos would be required to pay a 33% tax on all revenues generated. This is higher than most other businesses. (3) While factually accurate, this is also misleading. This amount, 33%, is below the average of casinos located outside of Atlantic City, Reno, or Las Vegas. And it is far below the average paid in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In fact, in Maryland, Penn National agreed to a 67% tax rate on its new casino. (4,5)

Fourth: Provide $200 million in state job training to put Ohioans back to work. But nowhere in the Amendment does it state that it would require the casino operators to hire Ohioans. In fact, there are already radio adverts in New Jersey and Las Vegas asking for licensed, qualified operators who would be willing to relocate to Ohio. And our cost-of-living is far less than Las Vegas, Reno … or Atlantic City. (6)

Fifth: It would require each initial licensed casino operator to pay a $50 million dollar fee to be used for training. In other words, $50 million per casino. Since there would be four casinos, this would generate $200 million total. (6) However, this $50 million fee is far less than a similar casino in Illinois, which is paying a $400 million fee per casino. In Massachusetts, state officials there may be asking a fee of $500 million for each of two casinos. Total - $1 billion. (4)

Lastly, the proponents (those in favour) of Issue #3 are stating that it will not affect “charity nights” at the casinos. This is just plain wrong. Gambling in the State of Ohio falls under the purview of and is governed by the Ohio Revised Code. Specifically, section 2915.02. More specifically, section 2915.02D(1)(b). (7)

Summary:

There can be no doubt that our great state, Ohio, is suffering along with the rest of our great Country in the midst of this economic downturn. Of that, there can be no doubt whatsoever. While technically any job is better than none, there are far too many things about Issue #3 that give me pause to allow me to vote for it.

However, this article is not about my personal opinion, it is about as Joe Friday said “The facts.” I believe in this instance that a clear open-minded evaluation of the facts will lead you to vote no on Issue #3.

SOURCES:

NOTE: Some of these links are direct links to .PDF files. I have nothing against .PDF files, but you will need a reader that can handle these files. The most popular is Adobe Acrobat, and can be downloaded or updated here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ Where the link is to an actual .PDF file, there will be a red, bold asterisk (*) following the link.

1) http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/ballotboard/2009/3-text.pdf (*)
2) http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/Fact-Checking_the_Issue_3_Casino_TV_Ads_Will_Issue_3_Create_34000_Jobs/23637/
3) http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/ballotboard/2009/3-official_argument_for.pdf (*)
4) http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=9058
5) http://www.truthpac.org/
6) http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/ballotboard/2009/3-final_language.pdf (*)
7) http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2915.02

Sen. Kennedy's Passing - Rest in Peace

Our group had our weekly meeting today, our usual Friday outing. As usual, the conversation turned to politics.

Specifically, Sen. Kennedy's passing.

I'll be the first to admit that I was vehemently opposed to nearly everything Sen. Kennedy stood for. I'll admit it. Frankly, I'd be lying if I said I agreed with nearly anything he stood for.

But to learn that he'd passed saddened me. I didn't agree with him, but I did respect him. Sen. Kennedy stood his ground on the issues he believed in. He didn't waver and he didn't compromise his principles.

You don't find that too often these days. Case in point - 'Benedict' Arlen Spectre (D-PA) who switched from Republican to Democrat so that he could stay in Washington ... and admitted it.

Sen. Kennedy wasn't like that. He didn't switch sides and he didn't pull punches. And even though I disagreed with him, I did respect him.

My thoughts and prayers go to the Kennedy family at this difficult time. There aren't too many 'good' ways to die, unless one counts passing away peacefully in one's sleep. But to suffer as Sen. Kennedy did ... at least he's no longer suffering.

He was a liberal lion in the Senate, a stalwart who didn't compromise. He will be missed.

Rep. Kris Jordan (R-OH)

Kris Jordan is not my Representative for one simple reason - I'm not in his District. Nonetheless, when I read that he was considering a run for the State Senate, I felt compelled to write to him as I wished to know his views on a variety of issues.

The last time I sent a politician an email I got back a cookie-cutter reply (ie; form letter) that didn't address a single issue I'd raised. And, I expected the same to be true in this instance.

You can therefore imagine my surprise when I received a reply from Rep. Jordan that actually addressed the issues I'd raised. I was honestly surprised.

Many politicians send form letter replies to their constituents when they're contacted via email, and to be frank I honestly didn't expect a reply from Rep. Jordan. As already stated, I'm NOT in his District.

Nonetheless, Rep. Jordan took the time to write back and address the issues I'd raised. It wasn't a form letter, nor an attempt to 'blow me off.'

Frankly, that says a great deal about him. If he is elected to the State Senate, I would honoured to have him represent me.

'Political Correctness' Gone Amuk

The link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6806502.ece

" It could be construed as a black day for the English language — but not if you work in the public sector.

" Dozens of quangos and taxpayer-funded organisations have ordered a purge of common words and phrases so as not to cause offence.

" Among the everyday sayings that have been quietly dropped in a bid to stamp out racism and sexism are “whiter than white”, “gentleman’s agreement”, “black mark” and “right-hand man”. (emphasis added)

"Right-hand man?" What, pray tell, is so offensive about that?

"What about us lefties? What about 'left-hand man'?"

"Now just one damn minute. What about us womyn (women)? What about us? You sexist bastard!"

I'll freely admit it. I'm Rick's right-hand man. He looks to me when asking what other people are thinking. Of course, since this is 'just' our local group, nobody really gives a shit, right?

Right?

Um..... Mr Obamessiah, have you checked your latest poll numbers lately? Have you?

It turns out that Rick and I really aren't among your adoring masses. And in spite of what your lapdog David Letterman recently said, we aren't "American Taliban."

I haven't murdered anybody recently. Neither has Rick. We haven't produced propaganda videos as have the true Taliban. But I guess you'd miss that since you're in New York. What? Nothing to say when confronted with the facts?

Here's my all-time favourite quote:

"Go fuck yourself. And then kill yourself before I have to."

Movie? Oh, please. You can do better than that.'

**A note to the left-wing idiots reading this. I am NOT advocating violence against Mr Letterman nor anybody else. But if you idiots can call us names, then fairness dictates that we also must be able to, ne?

You've Come The Wrong Way Osama ... er ... OBAMA

What's the matter, you egotistical, self-righteous son of a bitch? Are the American People FINALLY waking up to your socialist ways? Eh? -14, Mr Osama ... er ... OBAMA.

Granted, this number has shown a great deal of 'swing' these past few weeks. You've been from -6, -12, -10, -9, -9 ,-8, -7 to now -14?!?

BUT WAIT! It's us "un-American" Tea Party people that are making all the stink, right? How about it, you megalomaniac? After all, didn't you yourself recently say that "We're God's partners in matters of life and death?"

You egotistical self-righteous bastard. How DARE you proclaim yourself as such? Tell me, did you hear it from "On High?" Or are you just posturing your sorry ass? Kiss your 'legacy' goodbye. I PRAY that the American People will FINALLY wake up and vote your sorry a$$ and your sorry party out of power.

For me, it won't come soon enough.

Article: "Health Insurers Fear Probe By House Dems Is Reprisal for Opposing Part of Obama's Plan"

The link: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/19/health-insurers-fear-probe-house-dems-reprisal-opposing-obamas-plan/

" Health insurers have until Sept. 4 to provide Congress a detailed list of every employee who made over a $1 million dollars a year between 2003 and 2008. Democrats also want documents about conferences and any events held off company property as well as the types of transportation, lodging, food, entertainment and even gifts exchanged.

" Raising the intimidation stakes: the Waxman letter offers insurers no explanation of what is being investigated or why.

" Industry insiders fear the beginning of reprisals for anyone daring to dissent from the Obama agenda. One said it feels like a reprisal audit by the IRS. " (emphasis and colour added)

The United States Constitution, oddly enough, contains no provisions for this type of strong-armed tactics. In other words, you could say it's unconstitutional.

And here I thought that dissent and/or disagreeing with the administration was patriotic. That we had a right to disagree with the administration. To listen to Hillary Rodham Clinton, it was. Remember? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxmpTMGhU0

The list of demands, sent by Henry Waxman [D-California] and Bart Stupak [D-Michigan] was not sent to Republican lawmakers, oddly enough.

" The majority Democrats, intoxicated with power, are brimming with a haughty self-righteousness that is now veering into a prideful arrogance and self-destructive narcissism. Having misread their 2008 election victory as a mandate to push through liberalism on a grand scale, they are now stunned by opposition to their radical plans. To them, the depth and intensity of the dissent is unexpected and shocking. " (*)

This should be no surprise. If you'll remember, an article I linked you to some time back warned us about this:

" - Medicare for all. When HillaryCare cratered in 1994, the Democrats concluded they had overreached, so they carved up the old agenda into smaller incremental steps, such as Schip for children. A strongly Democratic Congress is now likely to lay the final flagstones on the path to government-run health insurance from cradle to grave. (emphasis added)

" Mr. Obama wants to build a public insurance program, modeled after Medicare and open to everyone of any income. According to the Lewin Group, the gold standard of health policy analysis, the Obama plan would shift between 32 million and 52 million from private coverage to the huge new entitlement. Like Medicare or the Canadian system, this would never be repealed. (emphasis added) (**)

And I also wrote this: " This should scare the hell out of you. But it's what's coming unless you vote against Obama. Do you want Democracy or Socialism? If you're tired of Bush, I can understand that. I myself have said that I regret voting for him. But don't vote against McCain just because of Bush.

" Think before you vote. Please. If you vote for Barack Obama, I guarantee that what you've seen written here will come to pass ... quickly. Read the entire article, please. (***)

- (*) http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/12/let-them-eat-cake-democrats/?feat=article_top10_read

- (**) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122420205889842989.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

- (***) http://gregb1967.blogspot.com/2008/10/liberal-supermajority.html

Article: "Firms with Obama ties profit from health push"

The link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090819/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_health_care_consultants

" WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama's push for a national health care overhaul is providing a financial windfall in the election offseason to Democratic consulting firms that are closely connected to the president and two top advisers. "

You don't say. Does anybody remember the justifiable outrage about Mr Cheney's ties to outside firms when he was the Vice President? Remember the entire Halliburton firestorm? The lefties asked the questions that needed to be asked. The lapdogs in the liberal press cheered them on. Don't get me wrong: These hard questions needed to be asked.

Now let's contrast this with the questions that the lefties and their lapdogs in the liberal press are asking about this conflict of interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFEY9RIRJA

" Coalitions of interest groups running at least $24 million in pro-overhaul ads hired GMMB, which worked for Obama's 2008 campaign and whose partners include a top Obama campaign strategist. They also hired AKPD Message and Media, which was founded by David Axelrod, a top adviser to Obama's campaign and now to the White House. AKPD did work for Obama's campaign, and Axelrod's son Michael and Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe work there. "
Don't get me wrong. The lefties and their lapdogs in the liberal press were quite willing to ask the hard questions when it was a Republican in the hot seat. And I'm quite willing to state that those hard questions needed to be asked. A conflict of interest is never a good idea, especially in politics.

But now let's take another look at the hard questions being asked about this confict of interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMCGeP-LVKs&NR=1

Need I say more?