The Becker Report
Volume II, Issue XXI
February 7, 2008

Published by:
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman
Ohio's 14th Senate District
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence Counties
513-753-6440
www.BeckerGOP.com
mailto:John@BeckerGOP.com
www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm

Distribution:
Tim Rudd, Clermont County GOP Chairman
Paul Hall, Brown County GOP Chairman
Harty Wallingford, Adams County GOP Chairman
Rodney Barnett, Scioto County GOP Chairman
Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County GOP Chairman

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Disclaimer
Nobody asked me to include this, but it seems like a good idea:
This newsletter is not sanctioned by the GOP or any organization or affiliation. I am fully and solely responsible for its' content. Although I strive for accuracy, this is not "The Gospel according to John." Additionally, I don't necessarily try to be "fair and balanced." After all, I didn't get into politics to be a news reporter. My agenda is to influence public policy consistent with Southern Ohio conservative values. For more information on my motivations or how to get involved, see: What is a Central Committee?

Prayers Needed
Please keep Danny Bubp in your prayers while he serves our country in Iraq.

Our Next President?
My preferences (in sequence):
1) Mike Huckabee is correct on most of the issues that are important to most conservatives. He is pro-life, pro-guns, and pro-God.  But frankly, I'd expect those minimum qualifications from any serious contender for the GOP nomination. What really excites me about his candidacy is his proposal to enact the FairTax. In brief, it replaces income and payroll taxes with a national sales tax.
2) Fred Thompson was my second choice until he dropped out.
3) Mitt Romney is a recent convert to conservatism, but I was willing to give him a chance until he dropped out. My biggest issue with him was gun control.
4) John McCain, on the other hand, is more of a mixed bag. His greatest attribute is the war issue. He is mostly pro-life and supports gun owners. However, there is a long list of reasons why conservatives won't embrace him. Some of those reasons are as follows:
McCain failed to support the Bush Tax Cuts when it mattered. Although he has since voted to extend them, McCain's initial opposition forced the White House to make a deal with Senator Voinovich to include a sunset provision. Because of McCain and Voinovich, the Bush Tax Cuts will expire in 2010. They both share responsibility for what will become the biggest tax increase in world history.
McCain failed to respect innocent human life with his support for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (Some call this Nazi-like human experimentation.)
McCain failed to support drilling for oil in ANWR. Domestic energy exploration is critical to national security and the economy. (This is one of the reasons Senator Mike DeWine lost re-election.)
McCain failed to support conservative judges by organizing the gang of 14 who supported the Democrat filibusters. (Former Senator Mike DeWine was one of the gang members.)
McCain failed to support the Federal Marriage Amendment. Our nation remains vulnerable to a Dred Scott or a Roe v. Wade type decision that would legalize same-sex, group, and/or sibling "marriages."
McCain failed to demonstrate a basic understanding of economics by declaring that tax cuts reduce revenue. The opposite was proven by Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush (W). During the 1980s, revenues to the federal treasury doubled after the massive Reagan tax cuts went into effect.
McCain is failing to support national sovereignty by proposing a "slap on the wrist" for illegal aliens and then giving them citizenship. This is, arguably, an amnesty program.
McCain is failing to support national security by opposing waterboarding which more closely resembles fraternity hazing rather than anything that approaches torture.
McCain sponsored the McCain–Feingold Act which led to the creation of left-wing monsters such as Moveon.org.
Respected Christian leader, Dr. James Dobson, declared that he couldn't support Senator McCain "under any circumstances." More recently, he issued a press release stating that 'I Cannot, and Will Not, Vote for McCain.' 
If John McCain wins the Republican nomination for president, his campaign will need to issue "Vote for McCain" clothes pins to make it easier for conservatives to hold our collective noses while we vote for him in November.


News from Columbus
Welcome aboard to Jason Levine. He is our new ORP Deputy Communications Director.
Also, more field directors will be appointed as we ramp up for the presidential campaign.

Tax Alert!!!
The West Clermont Board of Education has placed a 1 percent earnings tax on the March 4th ballot. The Board wishes to rely less on property taxes. With an earnings tax in the mix, the burden of school funding will shift away from all business owners and residents to concentrate on middle class wage earners. This proposed earnings tax does not impact workers in West Clermont. But all residents in West Clermont (with earned income) will pay the full 1 percent without regard to where they work or any kind of reciprocity. Wealthy residents with income from interest, dividends, pensions, social security, etc. will be exempt from the earnings tax. And if all of that isn't bad enough, the Board has promised to continue putting additional property tax levies on the ballot even if the earnings tax passes!

Ohio Marriage Penalty
It is a little known fact that Ohio's married taxpayers are frequently better off Filing Separate returns instead of Joint when both spouses are employed. This is due to Ohio’s progressive income tax. The more you make, the greater percentage they take. The marriage penalty begins when Joint Taxable Income reaches $5,650! For more information, I've updated an information page for the 2007 tax year. Additionally, I've updated an Excel spreadsheet calculator for taxpayers to calculate exactly how much they are personally impacted by Ohio's marriage penalty.

White House Internship Opportunities
The application deadline for the Summer 2008 White House Internship is February 26, 2008.
Contact me or the ORP for an application.

Editorial Page
John- potentially, the discussion on Rob Portman's next job is pointless, as he could be the VP pick of whatever doggone candidate wins the nomination.

Hey John, I'm sorry to say that I was not aware of John Kasich's anti-gun position. That strongly affects my attitude toward him.
My expectation regarding the forthcoming elections: I think Clinton will win the nomination and lose the general to whomever the GOP nominates. She can fool the Democrats but not the nation. Who in their right mind would want her to be Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces in time of war?
In Ohio's primary, I will vote for Fred Thompson. As I see it, he's the only genuine Conservative in the race. If he were to drop out before 3/4, I literally do not know who would get my vote. I would never vote for Giuliani in the primary. However, I will vote for the Republican in the general regardless of who he is. At this critical juncture in our nation's history, we absolutely MUST keep the White House and regain our majorities in both houses of Congress. The stakes are way too high to do otherwise.
Another good Becker Report. Thanks!

Past Events
February 5, 2008
Enthusiastic Huckabee supporters gathered at the beautiful home of Kevin and Cindy Craft in scenic Scioto County Northeast of Portsmouth (Rubyville). The group hand addressed thousands of envelopes to send out to county residents. The food and fellowship were fantastic.

February 4, 2008
Nearly 50 people (including 31 voting members) attended the Union Twp (Clermont County) Central Committee endorsement meeting at the UT Civic Center. All of those who requested endorsement and are running unopposed or whose opponent(s) did not request endorsement were all endorsed be the committee. Congratulations to Judge Hendrickson, Archie Wilson, and Roger Maham who were contested and won our endorsement.

February 1, 2008
Keynote speakers at the Clermont County Lincoln Day Dinner included Tom Niehaus, Joe Uecker, Jean Schmidt, and Rob Portman. Rob's speech covered a number of economic and foreign policy issues. He also talked about how much he enjoys his free time and coaching his daughter's soccer team. Prior to the event, Rob was working the room and mentioned that he was on the campaign trail again. When I asked him which office he was campaigning for, he didn't say but appeared to want to keep his options open. During the event, I had the pleasure of sitting with my State Central Committee colleague, Kay Reynolds, and Union Twp precinct committee colleagues Calvin and Dorothy Aicholtz.

January 30, 2008
About 40 people attended the Loveland Republican Club candidate's night.
Many candidates from Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties gave speeches and answered questions from the audience.
It was my pleasure to sit with Judge Robert Ringland during the event.

January 24, 2008
The Lincoln Day Dinner was the primary topic of discussion at the Brown County GOP Club meeting in Georgetown.
Peter Schmidt gave a Washington update on behalf of his wife, while Stephen Caraway passed out congressional calendars to the crowd.

January 16, 2008
A number of issues were discussed at the Clermont County Central Committee meeting in Batavia. They included the upcoming primary election, sample ballots, the Lincoln Day Dinner, and more. 
Several candidates gave updates regarding their campaigns and solicited support.

January 10, 2008
A number of facts were disclosed on the ORP conference call:
For the third time since 1967, Republicans have filed for all 99 House seats. Democrats have filed for only 86.
R's have filed for 80 percent of all county-wide seats while D's have filed for 50 percent.
Of the 16 open Senate seats, 13 are Republican and we have candidates in all but 1.
The presidential election was discussed and the Democrat platform can be summed up as follows:
o Higher Taxes and Increased Spending
o Weak National Security
o More Government Bureaucracy
The meeting ended with extended discussion and a Q&A regarding proposed changes by the Secretary of State.

Future Events
February 7, 2008
Clermont County League of Women Voters Candidate Forum at Clermont College from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

February 8, 2008 (Election of RNC Representatives)
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

February 9, 2008
Candidates forum at Lake Waynoka in Brown County at 10:00 am

February 12, 2008
Scioto County Central Committee meeting at 7:00 pm in New Boston

February 18, 2008
Reception honoring Jean Schmidt at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Kubicki in Indian Hill from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm for $300 or $350 per couple
Contact Phil Greenberg at 513-686-0531 for more information.

February 19, 2008
Lawrence County Lincoln Day Dinner at Dawson-Bryant High School in Coal Grove at 6:30 pm for $20

February 23, 2008
Brown County Lincoln Day Dinner at the JVS in Georgetown for $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Kids price is $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
Social at 5:00 pm and the program will begin at 6:00 pm

February 23, 2008
Adams County Lincoln Day Dinner at West Union High School for $20
Social at 6:30 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. Contact Stephen Caraway at 937-515-1939
Keynote speakers: Rob Portman and Jean Schmidt

 March 4, 2008
Primary Election Day

March 11, 2008
Scioto County Central Committee meeting at 7:00 pm in New Boston

March 11, 2008
Brown County Central Committee meeting

March 29, 2008
Scioto County Lincoln Day Dinner at The Friends Center in Portsmouth for $25
Social at 5:30 pm and dinner at 6:00 pm. Contact Kay Reynolds at (740) 353-7469 or (740) 259-2869 for more info.
Keynote Speaker: Supreme Court Justice Eve Stratton

April 3, 2008
Brown County GOP Club meeting at 7:00 pm at the Georgetown library

April 14, 2008
CCV Annual Spring Banquet at the Cintas Center at 6:30 pm
Keynote Speaker: Tony Perkins
Contact 513-733-5775

April 18, 2008
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

May 27, 2008
CCV Community Cup Golf Classic at 1:00 pm at the Heritage Club in Mason

June 7, 2008
Adams County Annual Ronald Reagan Memorial Picnic

June 14, 2008
Brown County old timers retirement roast

June 27, 2008 or July 11th
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

July 20 - 26, 2008
Clermont County Fair

September 1 - 4, 2008
Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis, MN

September 19, 2008 (Election of Ohio Presidential Electors)
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

November 4, 2008
Election Day

December 4, 2008
Chairman Bennett's annual Christmas Party in Columbus from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

December 5, 2008
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am

January 16, 2009 (Election of Officers)
GOP State Central Committee meeting in Columbus at 9:00 am