The Becker Report – December 2020

Beckerisms

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Farewell

As many of you know, I am in my 8th and final year in the Ohio House of Representatives (term limits). During lame-duck sessions, all outgoing members are invited to address the House. One or more members sing the praises of the outgoing member and it ends with a standing ovation. Very nice.

I declined the invitation. My reasons are simple: I didn’t go to Columbus to be treated like royalty, to be honored by colleagues, or the lobbyists seeking to rent me for eight years. I went to Columbus to defend, support, and promote the Christian conservative values of Southern Ohio. And I did that to the best of my ability.

It has never been about me. It’s always been about principled conservatism.

Many establishment Republicans, both in Columbus and Batavia, will be happy to see me go. Trying to work with a principled conservative is difficult when the agenda is higher spending, higher taxes, and watered-down conservative legislation. I never went along with any of that; hence the reason they’re looking forward to my last day.

I can’t say that I’m going to miss Columbus. I’ll continue to have hope for my few principled conservative colleagues who will continue to serve in a small minority. Hopefully, some of the new members starting in January will have what it takes to be part of the conservative coalition. Historically, we’re lovingly known as the “Caveman Caucus.” That’s what I will miss. (We’re similar to the “Freedom Caucus” in Washington DC.)

Good Riddance

Although I’ve worked with the establishment where I could, I’ve often been a thorn in their side.
From 2004 through 2012, I was a member of the Republican State Central Committee. I was known for standing up at meetings to preach the conservative doctrine. My claim to fame was that I was the only member of the state committee, in the history of the Ohio GOP, to ever vote NO on Bob Bennet for Chairman. He respected me for that. Nobody else had the nads to stand up to him. He and I got along quite well after that. Bob was a good man.

From 2013 through 2020, I was consistently recognized by the media and my colleagues as one of the most conservative members of the Ohio House of Representatives. During budget caucus meetings, I would challenge my colleagues to be fiscal conservatives and support a fiscally restrained budget. One year, I set the example by creating the “Becker Budget.” I held spending increases to the inflation rate, eliminated Medicaid expansion, and phased out the income tax over five years. It went nowhere of course, but it demonstrated a reasonable and very doable approach to controlling the growth in spending. Out of four operating budgets over eight years, I only voted for one of them. It was the most fiscally restrained.

Regarding the Batavia establishment, I’ve been fighting with them off and on since 1993. Judeo-Christian conservative values have never exactly been “job-one.”
You might recall earlier this year that I went public with the corruption in the Clermont County Republican Party. Fortunately, the problem is not cultural but limited to one or two individuals at the very top of Party leadership. Therefore, I’ll continue to be a thorn in their side for at least until we hold new elections in 2022. I’m confident that the Party will get back on the right track.

And thinking back to 1993, some of you might recall that it was Bill Clinton who motivated me to get involved politically. When he became president-elect in 1992, I knew that I had to do more than just vote. The rest is history.

Private Citizen Affidavits (PCAs)

The September and October 2020 editions of The Becker Report explains much of the detail. The 23 counties that I know of where PCAs have been filed or delivered are: Adams, Allen, Ashtabula, Belmont. Brown, Clermont, Franklin, Greene, Hancock, Highland, Lake, Licking, Lorain, Marion, Miami, Montgomery, Pickaway, Richland, Summit, Union, Warren, Washington, and Wood Counties. Only 65 more to go!
The purpose of these is to seek out a judge or prosecutor willing to perform his clear legal duty as described in ORC 2935.10(A) and either issue an arrest warrant or launch an investigation into the charges outlined in the PCA against Governor DeWine.

The Ohio General Assembly Failed the People

As predicted, the Senate dropped the ball (again) and failed to vote to override the governor’s veto of SB 311. Most stunning was how the Senate attempted to blame the House for the Senate’s inaction. Incredible!
Furthermore, the House dropped the ball and failed to hold impeachment hearings on the 12 articles of impeachment against Governor DeWine that were filed in November.
Other than some meaningless “feel good” legislation, the Ohio General Assembly failed to perform our oversight duties and have decided to continue allowing Governor DeWine to reign as an imperial “governor gone wild.”
Due to the General Assembly’s failure to act, businesses and the people will continue to be bullied and harassed by the Division of Liquor Control, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the Ohio Department of Health, and by any additional government agencies that Governor DeWine chooses to weaponize.
Ohio’s 133rd General Assembly has come to an end without supporting the rule of law, the separation of powers doctrine, or the concept of a constitutional republic. The liberty loving people of Ohio are very disappointed with our results.

Becker Bills in the Ohio House of Representatives

HR 55 – Build the Wall. This resolution urging congress to fund a physical barrier across the southern border has been assigned to the Transportation Committee and has had one hearing.
HB 39 – Replica Vehicles. John Patterson asked me to do this bipartisan bill with him. It creates a special category for these unique vehicles. It is in the Transportation Committee.
HB 153 – Working Officials Requirements Key (WORK) Act. This bill requires county elected officials to show up at their office at least five times every 30 days. It is in the State and Local Government Committee and has had two hearings.
HB 176 – Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus. This is a bill I’m doing with Tom Brinkman. It requires open records.
HB 182 – Abortion Insurance Coverage. The bill stops insurance companies from paying for abortions. It does not apply to self-insured private companies nor does it prevent any company from directly contracting with an abortionist. It has been assigned to the Insurance Committee and has had its first hearing.
HB 219 – Sunday Alcohol, Liquor, and Especially Spirits Act (SALES). I’m doing this bill with Representative Jim Hoops. In short, HB 219 removes the Sunday option. All businesses currently allowed to sell alcohol during the week will also be allowed Sunday sales. Voters retain the option to vote their precinct dry. It has been incorporated into HB 674 and requires no further action.
HB 389 – Allows nonprofit organizations to give away alcohol for fundraising purposes. John Rogers reached out to me to do this bipartisan bill. It simply legalizes the common practice of churches raffling off booze at fundraisers.
HB 505 – Restores local control for zoning authority of halfway houses. This is a bipartisan bill. Representative Crossman asked to be part of it.
HB 538 – Human Life Protection Act – Upon the reversal of Roe v. Wade, Ohio becomes a pro-life state.
HB 618 – Need Ohio Working – (NOW) – This bill reopens Ohio for business and prevents the abuse of power from happening again. It has been assigned to the State and Local Government committee.
HB 674 – Revises alcohol laws. Representative Brett Hillyer and I teamed up to get this passed. The bill incorporates HB 219 (SALES) and other reforms. It is awaiting the governor’s signature.
HB 753 – Creates a new negligent assault offense. This bill is named “Parker’s Law” and is for a little boy that was injured by an adult.

Video Central

BeckerGOP YouTube Channel

August 24, 2020 – Introduction of the 10 Articles of Impeachment against Governor Mike DeWine (33 minutes)
August 27, 2020 – Update on impeachment (16 minutes)
August 29, 2020 – State Representative, John Becker speaking at the Unifying Ohio for Liberty rally (22 minutes)
August 31, 2020 The Becker Report – August 2020 (15 minutes)
September 6, 2020 – Impeach DeWine Update (3 minutes)
September 13, 2020 – Impeachment Update, with potential criminal charges, against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (19 minutes)
September 20, 2020 – Impeachment Update – Is Gov. DeWine Pro-Life? Is HB 272 “feel good” legislation? (12 minutes)
September 28, 2020 – Private Citizen Affidavit (2 minutes)
September 30, 2020 – The September issue of The Becker Report (3 minutes)
October 6, 2020 – Writ of Mandamus (8 minutes)
October 12, 2020 – Columbus Day Part 1 – Election Update – French and Kennedy – Ohio Supreme Court – Shea (5 minutes)
October 12, 2020 – Columbus Day Part 2 – Governor DeWine Review – How did we get to where we are today? (6 minutes)
October 19, 2020 – Update on Impeachment, Private Citizen Affidavits, and Writ of Mandamus Against Governor DeWine (5 minutes)
October 26, 2020 – Becker Calls for the Resignation of AG Dave Yost and Files Motion for Sanctions in Twelfth District (4 minutes)
October 30, 2020 – October issue of The Becker Report (8 minutes)
November 2, 2020 – Vote Trump 2020 (7 minutes)
November 12, 2020 – Governor DeWine Weaponizing the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (6 minutes)
November 26, 2020 – Thanksgiving Day update – Private Citizen Affidavits filed/delivered in 20 counties (5 minutes)
November 30, 2020 – The November issue of The Becker Report (4 minutes)
December 29, 2020 – The December issue of The Becker Report (2 minutes)

Other (less important) videos
PragerU: What’s Wrong With the 1619 Project? (6 minutes)
PragerU: How the Left Sees the World: Power, Race, and Class (6 minutes)
PragerU: Price Transparency: How to Fix Healthcare (5 minutes)
PragerU: What Is Big Green? (6 minutes)

Event Calendar 

Note that all dates, times, and locations are subject to change.

January 11, 2021
Union Township GOP meeting Norlyn Manor in Batavia at 7 PM.

January  20, 2021
Clermont County GOP meeting at Norlyn Manor in Batavia at 7 PM.

Becker – Vetted, Tested, and Proven!

“[State Rep. John Becker,] one of Ohio’s most conservative lawmakers…” proclaimed Cleveland.com (October 2020).
“Clermont County State Rep. John Becker, one of the most conservative members of the Ohio House…” according to Cleveland.com (August 2019).
Becker wins “Sponsor of Liberty” award by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio (October 2018).
“Becker has a legitimate claim as the state’s most conservative legislator,” according to The [Cleveland] Plain Dealer (September 2017).
“Rep. John Becker, suburban Cincinnati Republican… [holds] the unofficial title as the General Assembly’s most conservative lawmaker,” proclaimed the Columbus Dispatch (September 2015).
Becker wins prestigious William Wilberforce Leadership Award (April 2015). “GOP Ohio House freshman Becker is no shrinking violet,” headlined the Columbus Dispatch (December 2014).
“Becker…is arguably the most conservative member of the Ohio House,” said The Cincinnati Enquirer (January 2014).
Ranked as a top tier “most archconservative” by the Columbus Dispatch (September 2013).

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Disclaimer
Nothing in this newsletter constitutes legal advice. I am not an attorney and do not play one on TV. This newsletter is not sanctioned by the GOP, ORP, or any organization, or affiliation. Much of it is simply my opinion. I am fully and solely responsible for my opinion. 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?