UPDATE: Ohio's stalled voter ID law- vote on Tuesday 10/4

UPDATE: The OH Senate will consider this bill on Tues., 10/4

In March the Ohio House passed HB 159, which introduced reasonable reforms to secure Ohio's election process, one of which was to require a photo ID in order to vote in person. Parts of the bill were passed into law in June. However,  the GOP-controlled senate and Republican Secretary of State, Jon Husted, balked at the photo ID requirement and it's been held up in the senate ever since.  It is finally scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, 9/27 as Sub. HB 159.

After the Republicans took over the House, the Senate, every statewide office and the Governor's office in 2010 and enacted bold reforms, the Senate Republicans have had the wind knocked out of their sails by the Democrats' ballot measure aimed at repealing Gov. Kasich's union reforms and their threat to do the same with election reforms and the new redistricting map.  They don't seem to have the stomach for another fight and, ignoring those who swept them into office, it's likely they'll take a pass on the photo-ID requirement. Senate President Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond) has said he expects the photo-ID provision to be removed from the bill.

Currently, Ohio law allows a voter to cast a ballot if they are in possession of anything from a driver's licence to a cable TV bill. There is no way for the poll worker to prove that the person in possession of the cable TV bill is actually the registered voter.  Sec. of State Husted can't imagine a scenario where someone would try to game this system:

"I believe that if you have a government-issued check, a utility bill in your name with your address on it, that no one made that up. They didn’t call AEP and establish utilities in their name to commit voter fraud."

To his credit, Husted has backed reforms in early and absentee voting, which will curb some of the abuses we saw in 2008. But his stubborn refusal to support the common-sense photo ID bill is baffling.  Here's what the new law would require:

When an elector appears in a polling place to vote, the elector shall announce to the precinct election officials the elector's full name and current address and provide proof of the elector's identity in the form of a photo identification or a non-photo state identification.

(2) If an elector does not have or is unable to provide to the precinct election officials any of the forms of identification required under division (A)(1) of this section, the elector may cast a provisional ballot under section 3505.181 of the Revised Code and do either of the following:

(a) Appear at the office of the board of elections not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election and provide the identification required under division (A)(1) of this section; or

(b) Write the elector's social security number, driver's license number, or state identification card number on the provisional ballot envelope, which number shall be verified by the board of elections with the bureau of motor vehicles.

 It's not complicated. If a registered voter shows up without photo ID, he will still be permitted to cast a provisional ballot if he writes his social security number, driver's license number, or state ID number on the provisional ballot.

Note that no photo ID is required to vote absentee and anyone can vote absentee in Ohio for any reason.  

I have spent the past two Monday evenings at my county Board of Elections, training to be a poll worker and a Presiding Judge for the upcoming election. Doing so has giving me an insider's view of the Ohio voting process. These people run a very tight ship. There is redundancy built into nearly every step of the election process to assure there is no cheating or fraud.  Here are a few examples:

• There is a locked metal transfer case that contains supplies to be used in each precinct on election day. The Presiding Judge is instructed to break the lock on the case in the presence of other poll workers and check off the supplies on the "chain of custody sheet." 
• When setting up the voting machines (which have two locks and only one key for each lock) a Democrat and a Republican must be present and participate in the set-up. 
• If there is a problem with a voting machine a Democrat and a Republican poll worker will assist in resolving problems with the machines.
• There is a plastic lock on the voting machines that must be cut in the presence of a Democrat and Republican poll worker.
• If a ballot needs to be canceled on the electronic voting machine both a Democrat and a Republican poll worker must cancel the ballot together. 
• When a voter arrives to cast a ballot, their name must be checked against the list of registered voters in the precinct. If their name does not appear on the list they must cast a provisional ballot and provide proof to the Board of Elections that they are eligible to vote. 
• When returning the supplies (including the memory cards from the voting machines) to the Board of Elections on election night, a member of the opposite party must ride with the Presiding Judge to the Board of Elections. 

As you can see, there are layers and layers of security, oversight, and redundancy in place to assure voters that Ohio's elections are fair and secure. 

Except when it comes to voter identification. Showing a utility bill does not prove that the person attempting to vote is who they say they are. It just proves that they are in possession of the bill or bank statement. That is not proof of identity. It's not difficult to imagine dozens of ways people could fraudulently vote in Ohio as the law currently stands.  Say your grandmother doesn't feel like heading out in the bad weather on election day. Another family member could just take a utility bill and vote for grandma. It would be quite easy for family members to trade places. 

More troubling would be someone with access to large quantities of utility bills who decided to cross-reference those with voter registration rolls.  Has it ever happened? We have no way of knowing. Detractors of this bill say that there is no evidence that there is a problem with voter fraud in Ohio (well, except for this, this, this, this, this, this, this, and this).

But lack of evidence of only evidence that there is a lack of evidence. We do know that there is a gaping hole in the security and credibility our our voting process in Ohio.  We have no way to know who is voting unless legislators pass a photo ID requirement. 

Republicans should not fall prey to the hysterical protestations of the Democrats crying foul and threatening another tiresome referendum. Nearly everyone who votes in Ohio already has a photo ID. The leftist Advancement Project estimates that 887,000 Ohioans don't have the ID's, but the number of registered voters without ID's who actually show up on election day is likely far lower (see my blog post on this issue). 

And for those who actually don't have a photo ID and who do actually vote, the legislation says that the state will provide a free photo ID for anyone who does not have one. 

I'd like to point out that the requirements to apply for food stamps in Ohio are far more burdensome. The applicant must show up at the local County Jobs and Family Services office and provide:

• Proof of citizenship, or an alien registration card
• Proof of all income
• Social Security Card
• Birth Certificate
• Proof of housing (rent/mortgage) costs
• Proof of utility costs
• Proof of medical costs if aged 60 or older, or if disabled
• Proof of disability (if applicable)
• Proof of child support (if applicable)

If you are in Ohio, call Senate President Tom Niehaus and your state senators on Tuesday and tell them we need a photo ID requirement to assure our elections are secure and credible. Please share this on your social networks and remind them who elected them and who will support them in their next election. The Democrats collecting signatures and draining their war chests sure aren't going to vote for them. 

Crosspost: Redstate

OH Union activist: Tim McVeigh would be a member of the Tea Party

Happy Labor Day from the Ohio unions!

From Facebook:

Union Workers Opposed to Senate Bill 5

If Timothy McVeigh Was Alive Today, He Would Be A Member Of The Tea Party

Wall Photos

Share · 11 hours ago

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    [name removed] Doubtful and not a very good attempt at humor. Shame on you!
    

    4 hours ago
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    Union Workers Opposed to Senate Bill 5 The post wasn't meant to be funny, or a one size fits all indictment. The post was shared to provoke thought. If you feel that 99% of what I post is worthwhile , then shake your head when I post something you don't agree with. If you feel ONE controversial post is a reason to berate me as childish and shameless, that is your perogative. I don't see anyone stepping up to the plate here offering to spend the 2 to 3 hours a day I spend scouring the internet and news feeds to supply this page with content. I have stated several times in the past that I would appreciate and encourage others to post relevant content but have seen little in the way of cooperation. If you feel strongly enough about particular posts, please feel free to comment..I reserve the right to ban users when they feel personal insults are the order of the day.
    

    2 hours ago
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    Union Workers Opposed to Senate Bill 5 ‎**A Prior Comment has Been Removed**
    

    about an hour ago

    
    

    People who like this

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      [name removed]
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      [name removed]

    
    
    

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The "prior comment" that was removed simply said, "sick." It unleashed a tirade from the Facebook page administrator who spends "2 to 3 hours a day" inventing new ways to insult and ridicule Republicans and the Tea Party yet feels personally insulted by the word "sick" attributed to her Tim McVeigh post. The detractor has now been banned from the Facebook page.

This is the beginning of the silly season in Ohio, where the balance of power has shifted to "we the people" in way that is detrimental to the state.

Though there hasn't been much national attention given to Ohio's union reform measure - SB5 - things are beginning to heat up. Governor Kasich and the Republican-controlled legislature succeeded in passing some common-sense reforms that give local governments better control over their budgets.
While still allowing public employees to collectively bargain over their wages and some benefits, it removed or reduced their collective bargaining leverage in the areas of health insurance and pensions and requires government employees to pay a certain percentage of those benefits. It also requires that employee performance be a factor in determining compensation. See here and here for some basics.

Although there were some protests at the Ohio Statehouse, it wasn't anywhere near the scale of Wisconsin because the unions knew that when Governor Kasich signed SB5 into law this spring the fight had just begun.That's because the Ohio Constitution gives "the people" the power to call for a referendum to challenge a law they don't like. If a special interest group can get 6% of the electorate to sign a petition, they can get it on the ballot and shift the balance from a republic form of government to a pure democracy in certain cases. This process can also be used to amend the Ohio Constitution. It was used in recent years to legalize casino gambling in the state after years of failing to get it through the legislature.

In this case, the unions needed around 200,000 signature. They collected over 700,000 and instead of protests at the capitol, where citizens are lobbying their elected officials as we usually see in a republic form of government, citizens are lobbying (and bullying) their fellow citizens.


"We are Ohio," the group working to repeal the union reforms, has already begun running the typical firefighters-are-going-to-die ads. They will likely follow this with the typical your-kid's-teacher-will-have-to-eat-dog-food-if-this-thing-isn't-repealed ads.


In Wisconsin, by the time the recall elections were held, the state was already benefiting from the reforms Gov. Walker and the legislature had put in place. Unfortunately, in Ohio SB5 has been put on hold, pending the outcome of the referendum. And while the law is in a holding pattern, local and county governments have been hit hard by cuts in state funding and many have made layoffs and cut services. It hasn't made Governor Kasich or the Republicans especially popular this fall, so they are starting 4th and 20 at their own 1-yard line, to use a football analogy.


That said, the economy has been so bad for so long that those of us in the private sector are seeing our 401K's decline at an alarming pace at the same time our healthcare costs are doubling and tripling. We consider ourselves lucky if our employers contribute anything at all toward our retirement plans.


Meanwhile, the unions are complaining because they're being asked to actually pay the employee's share of their pension contribution. Currently, many of them enjoy the benefit of the state or local government paying both the employer's and the employee's share of their pension contribution. Good deal if you can get it, but it's not sustainable in this day and age.


And most of us don't think it's unreasonable that public employees are being asked to pay 15% toward their health insurance premiums, when most residents in the state pay 30% or more. Or that government employees would be compensated based (in part) on merit rather than just seniority, like those of us in the private sector are.


It remains to be seen whether Building a Better Ohio will have the resources to overcome the rhetoric and the misinformation being spread by those who oppose the reforms. The unions are fighting for their lives and they are fired up.

Beermageddon coming to Ohio

As if Ohio didn't have enough union problems, what with Governor Kasich's bold reforms aimed at curbing the burgeoning budget and the ensuing protests, complete with a referendum repeal effort that gained enough signatures to earn a place on the November ballot.

Marvin Fong - The Plain Dealer

Now we learn that the Teamster's union is threatening to cut off Ohio's beer supply in the midst of the hottest Ohio summer in recent memory.  PR Newswire reports:

"More than 300 delivery drivers and warehouse workers employed by Heidelberg Distributing throughout Ohio put up informational pickets at key distribution facilities around the state today to warn the company and the public of labor problems that could cut off Ohio's supply to beer and wine products during the busy summer season."

What this means is that it is conceivable that Ohioans could have to tough it out through all those miserable, interminable political commercials without the benefit of their favorite alcoholic beverage.  And they may have to cast their votes without the comfort of their favorite brew.  And how will they ever drown their sorrows if their side loses?  

And perhaps most troubling is the stress this may cause in the Ohio legislature when the Teamsters are unable or unwilling to stock the full service bar in the Statehouse.  Bad things are likely to happen, such as lawmakers crossing state lines to drink and drive. 


As for me and my house, we may feel slightly inconvenienced if our supplies of IBC Root Beer and Monster energy drinks are cut off.  There are some benefits to being teetotalers. 


Aside from that,  this may turn out to be an early Christmas present for Kasich and Co.  Unions holding citizens' favorite beverages hostage during this blistering summer in the months leading up to a critical union referendum doesn't seem to be a brilliant strategy.   

Full-service bar coming to the Ohio Statehouse

The Dispatch reports:

"The first full-service bar will appear at the Statehouse on July 11 when the reinvented Capitol Cafe reopens in the lower level of the landmark state building. The cafe is closed for 10 days to accommodate a change in operators, to Milo's Catering and Banquet Services from Catering by Design.

"The big change will be the addition of a full-service bar, "complete with flat screen televisions," according to the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the state agency responsible for the Statehouse and grounds. The bar will host special events and "private happy hours," but it also will be open to the public at times to be designated."

The big question is whether lawmakers will feel the need to liquor up before or after casting their votes.  Maybe both. 


So, who came up with this bright idea? We may not know where it originated, but authority to conduct operations in the Statehouse lies with the Capital Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB).  The board is made up of 13 members, five appointed by the governor (including his Chief of Staff);  two members each from the House and Senate, one from each party, appointed by Speaker of the House and President of the Senate; a former House Speaker and Senate President (again, appointed by the current respective leaders); the clerk of the Senate and the clerk of the House. 


It's not a stretch to say these are political appointments, though board members receive no benefits or salary. Governor Kasich appointed his friend, lobbyist Robert Klaffky, to the board in May. The Ohio Revised Code gives the board, "sole authority to regulate all uses of the capitol square. The uses shall include, but not be limited to, the casual and recreational use of the capitol square."  In other words, the board has very wide latitude over use of the capitol grounds. 


Executive Director of the CSRAB, William Carleton, in his annual report to the Senate Finance Committee,  explained the main purpose of the board's operations on behalf of the capitol:

"The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) was created in 1988 to renovate and maintain the historic character and integrity of the Capitol Square complex while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in and visit the complex. "

Well, yes, I suppose providing booze right there in the Statehouse would be a "convenience" to those who work there.  We wouldn't want them stumbling across the traffic on Broad Street following an afternoon of binge drinking at the Hyatt, would we?  


Carleton also briefed the committee about the capitol's visitors:

"The Statehouse continues to be a place for all Ohioans to come and see their government in action. In 2010 alone, there were nearly 75,000 students and visitors who participated in guided tours. In addition, 111.230 individuals attended 422 special events held at the Ohio Statehouse. And an additional 300.000 individuals visited our Capitol to meet with their legislators. attendhearings or participate in an advocacy day. This is a testament that Ohio’s citizens want to visit the "People’s House” and see their government in action."

Will the student tours now include a stop at the bar to see their "government in action"?

It's not like these concerns are unfounded.  See here and here for a list of lawmakers with drunk driving arrests. This seems to be a true bipartisan effort. 

Included in the list is State Rep. Louis Blessing (R) who was arrested for drunk driving in 2002, and State Rep. Robert Mecklenborg (R), who was picked up in Indiana earlier this year for DUI. 

www.stopthemadness.org

Ohio House Speaker William Batchelder has thus far taken no action to discipline his friend, Rep. Mecklenborg, instead, issuing a concerned statement which includes:

"We are working with Representative Mecklenborg to find a solution that is in the best interests of the representative, his family and all concerned."

I'm not sure exactly what solution would be in the "best interest of the representative," who risked the lives of his passenger and perhaps hundreds of others on the roads, but I'm thinking that keeping the guy  away from the bottle might be a good start.  On the other hand, if he could just walk down the hall to the bar in the capitol, it might keep him off the roads. 


Incidentally, Speaker Batchelder is on the CSRAB and likely voted to put the bar in the Statehouse, so maybe that is his solution after all. 


This is just an all-around bad idea. Aside from the fact that lawmakers have a difficult enough time making good decision, and that the place is usually crawling with children,  the Statehouse should be a place of sobriety. Not just in terms of the absence of alcohol, but a sobriety of attitude.  Important and weighty matters are being considered and legislated in that building.  The atmosphere should reflect the seriousness of the task at hand.  Having a state-sponsored bar a few feet from the important government business being conducted will only serve to give Ohioans one more reason to suspect their government is not working for them. 

Contact information for CSRAB board members: 

Richard H. Finan, Former Senate President and CSRAB Board Chair  email 614.621.7762
Tom Niehaus, Senate President   email   (614) 466-8082
Bill Batchelder, Speaker of the House of Representatives email  (614) 466-8140
Jo Ann Davidson, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives email  (614)224-0777
Eric Kearney, Senator  email  (614) 466-5980 
Stephen Slesnick, House of Representatives email  (614) 466-8030
Beth Hansen, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor 614-466-3555

Laura Clemens, Clerk of the House of Representatives   (614) 644-6721

Vincent Keeran, Clerk of the Senate

Tom Fries, Representing Ohio Building Authority   email  (614) 628-6937
Neal Zimmers, Representing Ohio Arts Council   email  (614)286-2586
Robert F. Klaffky, Representing the Public-At-Large   email   (614)224-7000
Roderick H. Willcox, Representing Ohio Historical Society  email  (614)334.6146

Governor Kasich leapfrogs the Ohio Constitution, cuts a deal with Big Casinos

"I'm not ideologically opposed to gambling," the former Westerville congressman said. "I haven't made up my mind on it, but I'm not going to say we're not going to do it and pound my fist on the table. We'll have to see, and that doesn't mean we are going to do it. We'll have to take a really hard look at it."

Kasich said he is not sure what state-sanctioned gambling "ought to look like, although I have a sense that the state ought to own it and lease it if it's going to work."

As governor, he said he would ensure that the state gets a maximum return from gambling operations and that proceeds are used to reduce taxes, not fill budget holes.

Kasich was critical of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's decision to reverse his opposition to an expansion of gambling and order that video slot machines be permitted at Ohio's seven horseracing tracks."  Columbus Dispatch, July 31, 2009

Four months later,  Ohio's citizens voted to amend the Constitution to allow for limited casino gambling.  The "limited" part was quite extraordinary.  It was essentially a business plan enshrined in the Ohio Constitution - written by the casino industry.  It mapped out precisely where the casinos would be built, with an entire PDF page of Article XV of the Constitution now reading like a real estate property survey:'

"Being an approximate 1.83 acre area in Cuyahoga
County, Ohio,  as identifi ed by the Cuyahoga County
Auditor, as of 02/27/09, as  tax parcel numbers 101-
30-002 and 101-30-003 and all lands and air  rights
lying within and/or above the public rights of way adjacent  to such parcels"

"Consisting of  floors one through four, mezzanine,
basement,  sub-basement, Parcel No. 36-2, Item III,
Parcels First and Second,  Item V, Parcel A, and Item
VI, Parcel One of the Higbee Building  in Cuyahoga
County, Ohio, as identifi ed by the Cuyahoga County
Auditor, as of 2/29/09, as tax parcel numbers 101-23-
002 and  101-23-050F and all lands and air rights lying
within and/or above  the public rights of way adjacent
to such parcels. "

The preamble of the Constitution says, 

"We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to  Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings  and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution."

So I guess, when Ohio passed this (I don't say "we" since I voted against it), promoting "our common welfare" was expanded to include promoting the specific general welfare of Rock Ohio Caesars' (ROC) owner Dan Gilbert.  But I digress.  


The amendment specified that only four casinos would be built, one each in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Franklin County (Columbus),  and Toledo and that they would allow:

 "...any type of slot machine or table game  wagering, using money, casino credit, or any representative of  value, authorized in any of the states of Indiana, Michigan,  Pennsylvania and West Virginia as of January 1, 2009.. and shall  include slot machine and table game wagering subsequently  authorized by, but shall not be limited by subsequent restrictions  placed on such wagering in, such states."

Which means, in essence, that Ohio's Constitution could change at any time, without specific approval of the the voters, based upon the laws of surrounding states.  So if West Virginia passed a law allowing - I don't know - strip poker in casinos, it would immediately become legal in Ohio as well, enshrined in and protected by the Constitution.  The Constitution would actually have to be amended to ban it (how many of you knew that when you voted for it?).


Although four previous ballot issues attempting to legalize casino gambling had failed, voters had a change of heart in 2009.  Its success was mostly due to the tanking economy after years of mismanagement by Governors Taft and Strickland and millions of dollars poured into the campaign by gambling special interests and those who would profit from the deal.  Voters were given the false choice of increasing taxes or plugging the budget holes with casinos. They were promised thousands of high paying jobs and thriving, prosperous cities.  One look at Detroit should have been enough to convince voters that this was a Trojan horse, but a majority believed the glitz and hype and ignored the fact that the gambling industry wrote themselves a sweetheart deal.   


Work began on the casinos this spring, leaving my husband wondering where he's going to park in downtown Cleveland once they tear down the main parking garage at Tower City and build a casino on top of the free parking in the flats (maybe he can work out some kind of valet parking system with a strung out grandma who needs quarters for the slots).


Enter Governor Kasich and the GOP-controlled Ohio House in 2011.  In addition to the 33% tax on the "gross casino revenue" (defined in the Constitution as "the total amount of money  
exchanged for the purchase of chips, tokens, tickets, electronic  cards, or similar objects by casino patrons, less winnings paid to  wagerers"), the casino amendment stipulated that casinos are subject to taxes that every other business in Ohio must pay.  This includes the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), which amounts to 26 cents on ever $100 of revenue.  The Ohio Department of Taxation makes it clear that this is a tax paid on gross receipts, before any deductions for the cost of doing business.  


Dan Gilbert and other casino owners knew this (or should have known it) when they wrote the amendment and submitted the ballot language for consideration by Ohio voters.  It's in no way unclear.  If I can understand it, the gambling industries' highly paid attorneys should certainly have been able to figure it out. 


When the Ohio House passed its budget earlier this year, it included language clarifying that the casinos would be expected to pay the CAT based upon gross receipts. They apparently felt this was necessary because there were no casinos when the CAT was created and it had never been specifically addressed.  The casino operators went ballistic and acted like no one had ever heard of "gross receipts" and "CAT" in the same sentence in Ohio.  Eric Schippers from Penn National released a statement:

“This unique and discriminatory tax hike on the casinos — which we believe is patently unconstitutional — will likely have severe consequences on our more than $1 billion planned investment in Ohio and the 34,000 jobs we were hoping to create...In a state that has lost 500,000 jobs in the last decade … we are flabbergasted by these continued anti-business attempts to increase taxes on the statewide voter-approved casinos. What kind of message does this send to other businesses seeking to invest in Ohio?”

Well, for starters, it sends the message that we are a state and a nation of laws.  We don't have a separate set of laws for wealthy casino owners who make backroom deals with the governor.  


They halted construction and a standoff ensued.   

Fortunately for everyone for the gambling industry,  Governor Kasich and Dan Gilbert were able to iron out their differences in a backroom deal and my downtown guys inform me that construction has already resumed.

Mark Duncan/AP

Here's the deal:

•  $110 Million in Additional Payments: ROC would provide an additional $10 million annually for the first five years and $12 million annually for the five years after that;
• CAT: Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) would be applied to, what in the gaming industry is referred to as, ROC’s “gross,” – total dollars wagered minus winnings and prizes to customers;
• Capital Expenditures: ROC would make a combined capital expenditure of at least $900 million in its two casino facilities (Cleveland and Cincinnati), up from the combined $500 million currently required by Article 15 of the Ohio Constitution;
• ROC Site: The two parcels of land on which ROC will build its Cleveland casino would be treated as a single facility for licensing and regulatory purposes;
• License Transfers: Casino license transfers must be approved by the Casino Control Commission and would require a $1.5 million application fee;
• License Renewals: ROC’s casino licenses must be renewed every three years for an amount designed to cover the Casino Control Commission’s administrative costs

So in exchange for Gilbert's Cleveland and Cincy casinos only having to pay the CAT on their net revenues (after paying the winners) in opposition to what the Ohio Constitution requires, Gilbert will have to fork out $110 million in "additional payments" and an additional $400 million in capital improvements. Talks are ongoing with Penn National and an agreement has not yet been reached.  Kasich must not have read the fine print of the constitutional amendment: 

"Except as otherwise provided in section 6(C), the casino section of the Constitution: no other  casino gaming-related state or local fees, taxes, or other charges  (however measured, calculated, or otherwise derived) may be,  directly or indirectly, applied to, levied against, or otherwise  imposed upon gross casino revenue, casino operators, their  operations, their owners, or their property."

The governor has no right to ink a backroom deal on behalf of the state with Gilbert or with anyone else, especially agreements that are in conflict with the Constitution.  In this deal, Kasich is forcing asking Gilbert to  pay "additional payments" in direct violation of the state Constitution.  Kasich simply leapfrogged the Constitution and decided that he didn't want to waste time on another ballot issue.  This is not the limited government governor I voted for!  


Here's what the Governor tweeted yesterday:

JohnKasich John Kasich 

Our casino agreement means more dollars for food banks and job training. It's a "win-win"! http://youtu.be/cNTnowjFb-I

10 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Food banks?  In what section of the constitution will I read that there is a designation for gambling revenues to be used for food banks? It's a nice sentiment, but again, Governor Kasich has bypassed the Constitution. 


In addition, there is another provision that sweetens the pot and likely sealed the deal for  
Gilbert:  Kasich promised him Video Lottery Terminals (VLT's) in horse racing tracks.  Gilbert owns one of Ohio's seven racetracks and five of the other six are controlled by casino interests.  While proponents claim that VLT's are merely a "lottery" and not subject to the state's gambling and casino prohibitions, everyone knows that they're really slot machines, designed to bypass the rules.  Is it a coincidence that gambling interests have gobbled up Ohio's racetracks over the past couple of years?  Kasich said, 

"We want this to be legitimate, we want it to be professional and that's exactly what it will be."

He's just expanded casino gambling - slot machines - into seven racetracks across Ohio, clearly violating the Ohio Constitution's ban on additional casinos and he wants this to be "legitimate"?

Dave Zanotti, whose AP Roundtable has battled the legalization of gambling in Ohio for many years said in a statement released Wednesday, 

"[Any “deal” to place slot machines at Ohio race tracks is a clear violation of the Ohio Revised Code and the Constitution. Such a practice cannot become legal by edict of the Governor or any “deal” struck with casino operators. If the Governor wants to open racetrack casinos with Vegas-style slot machines, he is required by law to take such a proposal to the voters."

He also said, 

"So the Kasich people are going to put VLT's in the racetracks, in essence grant casino licenses to these facilities without a statutory amendment, without a public hearing. How does that work? Is this King George III? Did we just lose our whole form of government?"

Zanotti's group has announced it will pursue litigation if the legislature approves Kasich's backroom deal with Gilbert. 

It's worth quoting esteemed author and blogger, Dan Phillips:

"Raise one of the men who died to free us from King George and show him our lives, and he'd ask who conquered us, and when."

Indeed. We must insist that Governor Kasich follow the Constitution and other laws of the state.  We will not stand for backroom deals and secret negotiations out of view of the public.  He must be called to account by the Ohio House and Senate.  Attorney General Mike DeWine needs to advise him immediately that his actions are unconstitutional and they must be stopped. 

Gov. Kasich declares Dallas Mavericks honorary Ohioans

"Whereas the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Dirk Nowitzki chose to resign with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2010, forgoing free agency and keeping his talents in Dallas, thus remaining loyal to the team, city and fans for whom he played his entire career..."

Ohio Governor John Kasich had a little fun with LeBron today, taking a swipe at him,  while proclaiming the Mavericks honorary Ohioans. 


Nah, we're not bitter about LeBron "taking his talents to South Beach" and making a world-wide spectacle of his decision.  The seven championships he bragged about will have to wait.


   




Gary, my husband, was actually in Dallas for the blessed event last night and the family he is staying with went out immediately to purchase their championship gear.  Being newly minted "Mavaliers," we forked out $17.50 a piece for a few of our own to wear around C-Town.  

Before I go on, I would be remiss if I did not give credit where it was due:

But before everything got officially started, the president - unsolicited - brought up the topic most Clevelanders have chosen to forget, LeBron James.

"Is Cleveland still rooting against Miami?" asked the president as [WEWS reporter Leon] Bibb was taking his seat (and before the cameras were rolling).

"Yeah, we're working on that," replied Bibb, laughing and asking his thought on the series. 

The president said he expects the Heat to take it.  

The man is consistent in his sports picks, if nothing else.   His endorsement is the kiss of death to a team.  I don't think anyone has been this consistent since Paul the Octopus was picking World Cup soccer winners!

Immediately after the game, it seems like everyone in N.E. Ohio took to Facebook for an impromptu virtual celebration.  Here's a sampling of the Facebook comments:

"BREAKING NEWS: Apple just announced the new "Lebron IPhone"; it just vibrates - No rings!" 

"LeBron needs to marry Savannah, then he could finally get his ring. But knowing the way LeBron performs down the stretch he probably wouldnt show up!!" [ouch!]

"I think Mavs Nation just increased permenantly by, oh, about the population of Ohio or so."

"Man he wasn't kidding when he personally garenteed that Cleveland would win a championship before Miami!" [speaking of Cav's owner, Dan Gilbert, I'm assuming] 

"Hey LeBron (cough, cough)." "Wassup, D-Wade (cough)." "You (cough, cough) feelin' sick yet?" "(Cough) Yup." "Me too."

"I don't even like basketball, but YAY DALLAS!!!!! Not that I'm vindictive or anything..."

"Did anyone see the Miami NBA dream team win the finals!?... Neither did I."

"Looks like a true CHAMPION finally brought their talents to South Beach tonight.....Thanks Dallas, on behalf of all of us here in Ohio, for showing this bunch of clueless clowns how to win with determination, guts, and most of all, CLASS!"

I'm not gonna lie.  I enjoyed it.  A lot.  

In addition to Miami, the other losers last night were the Knicks.  They cleared salary space hoping to sign LeBron, only to have him join Bosh and Wade in Florida, which could rightly be named the Tax Shelter State.  Lebron and the rest of the NBA Tax Shelter Bloc saved millions by taking their talents and big bucks to Florida.  New York, again, shoots itself in the foot with it's oppressive tax burden. 

Brian Windhorst, former Cleveland sports writer, now with ESPN, as LeBron's personal reporter, wrote an article ripping LeBron's performance in the championship series:

"It was now when he was expected to rediscover that dominance with anger and motivation from the Mavs and the masses. Everyone around him thought so, too. They talked to him about it, they encouraged him, they expected it. Even his biggest detractors and critics knew it could happen. They qualified and tempered their lashings over the past two weeks expecting James to answer at some point. 

But as he went through another puzzling game Sunday -- dishing repeatedly to Juwan Howard at the rim instead of taking the ball to the basket himself, passing up wide-open shots when the ball came his way, standing and watching on defense like it was a summer camp drill at times -- it got more and more clear.
James couldn’t do it.

So fitting was the moment in the fourth quarter when the Heat were trying to cobble together a comeback and Mario Chalmers and James found themselves on a break together. James called for the ball. Chalmers saw him but kept it, trying to beat two Mavs players by himself. It was a brash play by a headstrong and fearless player that was wrong, but it was also a glaring indication of where James’ teammates apparently thought he was by then. Chalmers felt like he could do it better by himself."

It's almost painful to read. 


James took to Twitter and blamed God:

“The Greater Man upstairs know [sic] when it's my time. Right now isn't the time.”

And he told the media that we, the fans, should get back to our pathetic little lives and he would get back to his bazillion times more awesome life:

“All the people that were rooting me on to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before. They have the same personal problems they had today. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want with me and my family and be happy with that.”

 Very classy, LeBron. 

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty NBAE/Getty Images