The
Becker Report
Volume
III, Issue XXIII
January 26, 2010
Published
by:
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman and Candidate for State Senate
Ohio's 14th Senate District
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence Counties
513-753-6440
www.BeckerGOP.com
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Distribution:
Tim Rudd, Clermont County GOP Chairman
Paul Hall, Brown County GOP Chairman
Harty Wallingford, Adams County GOP Chairman
Dr. Terry Johnson, Scioto County GOP Chairman
Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County GOP Chairman
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Disclaimer
This
newsletter is not sanctioned by the GOP, ORP, 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
Brown County Clerk of Courts Tina Meranda is now free of cancer!!!
Former Clermont
County Chairman and Retired State Representative, Rose Vesper, has not been
well and needs our prayers.
Brown County’s Rick Eagan was seriously injured and needs prayer.
600
and growing!
The Becker Report now
has more than 600 subscribers. Nobody gets spammed. Each person has either
asked to be put on distribution or they gave me permission to add them. I
occasionally delete people per their request or because their e-mail address
bounced.
Taxpayers
get screwed
The following was
published in the January 20, 2010 print edition of the Community Press:
Kudos
to State Representative Joe Uecker for co-sponsoring HB 534 to phase out the
Ohio State Income Tax over 10 years. He understands the inverse relationship
between taxes and prosperity. Higher taxes drive businesses out of Ohio. Lower
taxes create the economic incentive for businesses to locate and expand,
therefore creating jobs and wealth.
Conversely, I’m very disappointed by the retroactive income tax hike that was
recently signed into law by Governor Strickland. This is tantamount to a breach
of contract between state government and the taxpayers. Four years ago, HB 66
hiked the sales tax in exchange for an income tax reduction over five years.
And now, Governor Strickland has chosen to violate that agreement and the
public trust. It is clear that when push comes to shove, the taxpayers get
screwed.
The budget crisis never had to be a choice between stabbing the taxpayers in
the back and further underfunding the schools. The schools need to be fully
funded. State government could help the schools by eliminating unfunded
mandates. One billion dollars can be saved annually by restructuring and
consolidating state government (HB 25). Unfortunately, Governor Strickland did
what was easy rather than what was best.
John Becker
Tax Talk
Thank you to all of
you that donated to my State Senate campaign. Please remember to claim the
credit on line 55 of your 2009 Ohio IT 1040.
The Ohio Marriage Penalty continues to live on. You can easily calculate how
much Ohio’s progressive income tax penalizes taxpayers for being married. (What
is wrong with this picture?) I have an information page for more details or you can go
directly to the marriage penalty calculator that I developed.
When you file your Federal 1040 and your Ohio IT 1040, please remember the
check-off box to contribute $3 and $1 respectively to the major political
parties. The Ohio and county Republican Parties will benefit.
Now
is the time to get involved
The Republican Party
is always in need of good people (preferably conservative) who want to get
involved. Contact your county’s Board of Elections to find out about running
for the office of Precinct Committeeman. Most counties require that you get
five people in your neighborhood to sign a petition to put your name on the
ballot for the May 4th election. The petition filing deadline is
February 18th. Your Board of Elections can provide you with
everything you need and answer all of your questions. Call me and/or see What is a Central Committee for more information.
Video
Central
Government 101
This is almost 11 minutes but should be required in school.
This 1948 cartoon should also be required in schools.
It is almost 10 minutes.
Turn
around Ted
A
Preview of the 2010 Statewide Races
US Senate
Rob
Portman is endorsed
by the Ohio Republican Party.
Tom
Ganley is also a
candidate.
Governor (Apportionment Board Office)
John
Kasich is endorsed by
the Ohio Republican Party.
Mary
Taylor has joined the
Kasich campaign.
Auditor of State (Apportionment Board Office)
The candidate list is changing daily, but as I go to press, it is currently Seth Morgan, Rob Montgomery, and Dave
Yost.
Commentary: As many of you know, I’ve been
working to help Dave Yost become Ohio’s next Attorney General. I am profoundly
disappointed (on many levels) that he has chosen to abandon that effort and run
for State Auditor instead. When Dave called me to discuss this, I told him that
he absolutely could NOT (at this time) count on my support for State Auditor. Furthermore,
I will consider voting NO on his endorsement even if it means standing alone. I’ve
done that before. That being said, I will support whoever wins the primary
election.
Reader input requested: The State Committee will convene this Monday
to hold an endorsement vote for Dave Yost for Auditor and possibly Mike DeWine
for Attorney General. I have a few questions for my readers:
How would you like me to vote on Dave Yost for Auditor?
What if Seth Morgan and/or Rob Montgomery drop out of the Auditor’s race?
Should I vote to endorse Dave Yost if he is running unopposed?
Mike DeWine is apparently running unopposed for Attorney General. How would you
like me to vote on Mike DeWine?
State Treasurer
Josh
Mandel is endorsed by
the Ohio Republican Party.
Secretary of State (Apportionment Board Office)
Jon
Husted is endorsed by
the Ohio Republican Party.
Sandy
O'Brien is also a
candidate.
Attorney General
Dave
Yost had been endorsed
by Clermont, Butler, Delaware, Washington, and Huron counties. He was winning
the county endorsement battle 5-0. However, he has since decided to run for State
Auditor.
Mike DeWine appears to be running unopposed.
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Justice Maureen O'Conner is endorsed by the Ohio Republican
Party.
Ohio Supreme Court
Judith
Lanzinger and Paul Pfeifer are endorsed by the Ohio Republican
Party.
What is the Apportionment Board?
The Board consists of the Governor, Secretary of State, State
Auditor, and a Republican and Democrat selected from the Legislature.
Control is important because the Board redraws the State House and State Senate
districts based on the 2010 national census. The Party redrawing the district
lines will have a huge advantage in determining control of the legislature in
2012 and beyond. The 2010 legislature will redraw the US House districts.
Congress
Jean
Schmidt has two
Republican challengers for her congressional seat: C. Michael Kilburn is a Warren County
Commissioner. And Bryan
Hawkins is a City of Milford Councilman.
Richard Stobbs is a candidate in the 6th Congressional District.
Clermont
County Commissioner
Batavia Township Trustee, Archie
Wilson, is
challenging Scott Croswell. Archie is endorsed by the Clermont
County GOP.
Clermont
County Common Pleas Court
Ric Ferenc is running
for the two-year unexpired term of Judge Ringland.
Woody Breyer and Tom Herman are running for the six-year term of the retiring
Judge Walker.
Clermont
County Domestic Relations Court
Kathleen Rodenberg is
running for Domestic Relations Court Judge.
12th
District Court of Appeals
Robin Piper and
Rachel Hutzel are running for separate seats.
Becker
for State Senate
The 2012 Primary Election is 27 months away. I’ve raised about $8,500 and expanded
my donor base to about 120 people. Donation size has ranged from $20 to $110.
Past
Events
January 20, 2010
The Clermont County GOP met to endorse many candidates. Everybody running
unopposed got endorsed. With one exception, all incumbents got endorsed. Archie
Wilson beat Scott Croswell for the Clermont County Commissioner endorsement.
Additionally, Dave Yost got endorsed for Attorney General and Jon Husted got
endorsed for Secretary of State. As expected, the ubiquitous Joe Forkin was
taking notes and greeting the membership.
January 16, 2010
The Southern Ohio GOP County Chairs Association met in Jackson. Several of my
State Central Committee colleagues attended: Kay Reynolds, Kay Ayres, Phil
Bowman, and Marilyn Ashcraft.
January 14 - 15, 2010
About 100 people attended a campaign school sponsored by CCV. My State Central Committee
colleagues, Christa Criddle and David Miller also attended.
January 14, 2010
More than 200 people attended the Anderson Twp (Hamilton County) Tea Party meeting
to learn how to get involved in their favorite political party.
January 12, 2010
About 90 people attended a Union Twp TEA Party meeting to learn how to get
involved in their favorite political party.
January 12, 2010
Well over 200 people attended an economic forum featuring John Kasich and
former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Stephen Caraway and I sat together and
enjoyed the event.
January 8, 2010
Government Strategies Group hosted another successful “First Friday” luncheon. Senate
President Pro Tempore Tom Niehaus and Representative Denise Driehaus were the
guest speakers. I had the pleasure of sharing a table with Michael and Heather
Harlow and State House candidate Vicky Zwissler. About 75 people attended.
January 7, 2010
A guest writer sent me the following:
Kathleen Rodenberg, a Clermont County attorney and Municipal Court Magistrate, hosted a campaign kickoff reception at her house in Pierce Township. Kathy will be a Republican candidate for Clermont County Domestic Relations Court this year with the retirement of Judge Michael Voris who has served as Domestic Relations Court Judge for the past 24 years. Kathy has been an attorney since 1982 in private practice, and has served as a Domestic Relations and Municipal Court magistrate. She has also served on many social service agency boards, including MRDD, Clermont Counseling, Senior Services, and CASA. She is a past president of the Clermont County Bar Association and was nominated for the Oprah Gatch Citizenship Award by the Clermont County League of Women Voters in 2006. She has been married for 30 years to Clermont County Sheriff Tim Rodenberg, and they have two adult sons, Nick and Brad. Although the heavy snowfall on the evening of Kathy’s campaign kickoff reception presented a challenge, over 60 supporters braved the cold and elements to attend the event.
January 4, 2010
The Union Twp (Clermont County) GOP Central Committee met to discuss the new
four-year, terms, Lincoln Day Dinner, upcoming elections, endorsements, the
township budget, and appointed Scott Spradlin to the committee. Debbie Siegroth
agreed to lead a fundraising committee.
December 29, 2009
The Scioto County Republican Club met to nominate officers at their annual reorganization
meeting: Jon Mills, President; John Burgess, VP; Lisa White, Treasurer; and Brenda
Willis, Secretary. Additionally, the Christmas party was discussed with
recommendations for next year.
Event
Calendar
January 26, 2010
Scioto County Republican Club meeting at 7pm in New Boston
January 28, 2010
Kasich
for Governor Statewide House Party from 6 – 8 pm
January 28, 2010
Brown County will hold a Kasich rally at 6:45 and a Club meeting at 8 pm at the
Veterans Home in Georgetown.
February 1, 2010
State Central Committee endorsement meeting at ORP HQ in Columbus at 6 pm
February 2, 2010
Union Twp (Clermont County) Tea Party meeting at the Civic Center at 7 pm
February 5, 2010
Government Strategies Group will host a “First Friday” luncheon featuring State
Senator (and Secretary of State Candidate) Jon Husted
February 5, 2010
Clermont County Lincoln Day Dinner
February 6, 2010
An NRA dinner is being hosted by the Clermont County 4-H Shooting Sports Club
at the Holiday Inn Eastgate from 6PM to 10PM. For tickets please call Cathy
Darnell at: (513) 753-3112 or e-mail: gcfnra@yahoo.com. Tickets can also be purchased by
going to: www.nra.org.
February 9, 2010
Scioto County Central Committee and annual pie auction at 7:00 pm in New Boston
February 10, 2010
Anderson Twp (Hamilton County) Tea Party meeting at Anderson High School at 7
pm
February 11, 2010
Brown County GOP endorsement meeting at the fairgrounds in Georgetown at 7:00
February 11, 2010
Adams County Central Committee meeting at the Senior Citizen bldg at 7 pm
February 13, 2010
2nd Annual Meranda-Nixon Winery Valentine’s Day 5 course meal paired with 5
wines dinner
February 18, 2010
Filing deadline for May Primary
February 26, 2010
Hamilton County Annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner featuring Michele Bachmann
March 1, 2010
Union Twp (Clermont County) GOP Central Committee meeting at 7pm at the UT
Civic Center
March 3, 2010
Anderson Twp GOP Club at 7850 Five Mile Rd. Social at 6:00 pm and Business
Meeting at 7:00 pm. Mary Taylor will be the guest speaker.
March 5, 2010
Ohio
Right to Life will
host Sarah Palin at the Aladdin Shrine Center at Easton Columbus, Ohio. Doors
open at 5pm and the event starts at 7:15pm for $40
March 9, 2010
Scioto County Central Committee at 7:00 pm in New Boston
March 18, 2010
Ohio
Christian Alliance
Freedom Banquet at Villa Milano (Columbus) at 6:30 pm
April 5, 2010
Voter Registration deadline
April 9, 2010
State Central Committee meeting in Columbus
April 19, 2010
CCV Annual Spring Banquet at the Cintas
Center at 6:30 pm
April 13, 2010
Scioto County Central Committee at 7:00 pm in New Boston
April 17, 2010
Southern Ohio GOP County Chairs Association
May 4, 2010
Election Day
May 11, 2010
Scioto County Central Committee at 7:00 pm in New Boston
May 14, 2010
ORP Candidate Training Seminar (Day 1)
May 15, 2010
ORP Candidate Training Seminar (Day 2)
June 8, 2010
Scioto County Central Committee at 7:00 pm in New Boston
June 19, 2010
State Central Committee meeting in Columbus
June 19, 2010
Ohio Republican Party Headquarters Open House
June 19, 2010
ORP State Dinner at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Columbus
September 7, 2010
CCV Community Cup Golf Classic at Glenview
Golf Course at 1 pm
September 10, 2010
State Central Committee meeting in Columbus
September 10, 2010
ORP Leadership Summit
Paid
for by Friends of Becker, John Becker, CTP, MBA,
Treasurer, 925 Locust Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45245-1313