Conservative Culture

Photo Credit: Chillicothe Gazette

I agree with Right Angle Blog. Let’s temporarily cut the tax on gas which is currently 28 cents per gallon. If I was Governor I would do it at least for the bonus points in the approval poll. But you know how desperate we are in Ohio. The way the Governor has talked I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t a tax hike on gas… if only he could do it so no one would know.

Gov. Ted Strickland, in Chillicothe Monday, said the problem with the federal program is it all too often discriminates against those who are working hard to make ends meet.

Governor Strickland, it isn’t just the federal government’s high taxes and wasteful spending that is hurting the Ohio Family. It’s Ohio as well. You want to help the families keep a little of their shrinking dollars from high gas prices… take off the tax for the summer. You will recoup it in sales and taxes from vacationers. If nothing else you will be popular for a little while.

Tags: Ohio

Picture Credit: Cox and Forkum

Carter’s administration was possibly the worst in history… at least recent history. So when I saw this from Cox and Forkum, you have to admit, it hits  home. You will want to check out the commentary there as well.

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Thinks are heating up in the Lima City Council race. Two people are vying for the President’s seat that opened up when former President and current State Rep. Matt Huffman was elected to the House. The two candidates are both Republicans. The current appointed President of the Council is John Nixon. Nixon will be facing Ray Magnus in the next election. It appears that something is in the works after the Mayor (who is a Democrat) started ripping on Ray Magnus who was invited to join the County Sheriff on a drug raid in the City. Also along on this raid were the Allen County Commissioners (2 are Republicans as well).

What is the big deal? Elected officials watching law enforcement do their job and help clean up the city from the drug problems that exist currently in the city? Nothing I would expect unless you are the Mayor.

LIMA — Mayor David Berger had his police chief’s back Monday night, telling Councilman Ray Magnus his joining Allen County Sheriff’s Office’s drug raids in the city was a slap in the face to the Police Department.

Berger, during miscellaneous comments at City Council, interrupted Magnus while he was speaking about an upcoming neighborhood association safety patrol, asking Magnus if he plans to invite Sheriff Dan Beck to the event, as Beck had invited Magnus along for the raids Friday.

After the raids, Beck said Police Chief Greg Garlock’s department is losing the fight against drug crime in the city and Beck plans to continue enforcement within the city limits.

The comment that stirred the pot was from the Sheriff. Some might see it as an attack but it was the truth. Lima has a drug problem that is bigger than just the police department’s ability. The Mayor should agree that to beat the problem will take a united effort by both departments. Instead of seeing it as competition shouldn’t the Mayor embrace the help to clean up the drug houses? You have to love Magnus’ response to the Mayor.

“I know a lot of these officers and have nothing but respect for them. I was asked to go and I went and I’m glad I did, because a lot of things got accomplished,” Magnus said. “I know the Police Department is overworked; that’s pretty obvious. Anything we can do to get drug dealers out of our neighborhoods, I’m all for it, regardless of who or what department it may be.” Berger tried to speak again, but Magnus talked over him.

“Hold on Mr. Mayor, I’m not done yet. Now I waited for you, now you wait on me,” Magnus said. “Do I support our sheriff when he makes comments like that about police or the administration? I certainly do not. I don’t make those comments and I don’t intend to. Your attack on me is very unprofessional. … You can attack me all you want. I could care less.”

Just yesterday there was press conference to respond again to the Mayor.

Magnus said he supports the City of Lima and all police agencies working to make it a better place, even if Berger is at odds with Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck.

If the Mayor has a problem with drug enforcement then the city should have a problem with the Mayor. But really the Mayor should address his concerns to the Sheriff. So the question is why the attack? Perhaps Mayor Berger doesn’t want Magnus but would prefer Nixon.

There is one more thing you don’t know… Who might be on Nixon’s campaign? An old name comes to light on his website: Paid for by Committee to Elect John Nixon, Kelly A. Kirk - Treasurer

Kirk is a former local staffer for Congressman Oxley and also opposed the current GOP County Chairman. I just wonder what is going on behind the scenes. Nothing I am sure but the possibilities just seem to spice up the coming election. Nixon posted his announcement on his website that he would run for Council President… not exactly late night material if you know what I mean.

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From a press release we find the announcement that Jordan has is first piece of legislation. It deals with corruption and a move to clean up the government. HR 2438 would increase penalties  for bribery, graft and other such offenses. Perhaps he most important factor is for his critics… it is a bipartisan effort as he is joined by a former sheriff who is a Democrat. Unlike McCain (on the Senate side) I don’t have the same reservations when I hear bipartisan. That’s the difference when you select pro-family conservatives to the office.

WASHINGTON - Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) this week introduced his first piece of stand-alone legislation as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

H.R. 2438, the Clean Up Government Act of 2007, would increase penalties for public officials convicted of bribery, graft, and similar offenses.

“Government officials must be held to the highest ethical and legal standards,” said Jordan, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.  “Strengthening penalties for public corruption crimes will go a long way toward restoring the public’s trust in their government.”

Jordan said that current penalties for corruption crimes committed by public officials are insufficient, citing 2006 sentencing data showing that the mean prison sentence in bribery cases was 39 months.  Bribery currently carries a lower maximum sentence than similar offenses such as counterfeiting (20 years), securities fraud (25 years), mail and wire fraud (30 years), and bank fraud (30 years).

The bill increases the maximum prison term in bribery and graft cases from 15 years to 30 years.  It also broadens the application of federal fraud statutes to cover “any thing of value” in addition to money or property.  This change ensures that intangible assets such as licenses, permits, government grants, and contract rights are within the scope of these statutes.

Jordan was spurred in part by the case of former Deputy Assistant Air Force Secretary Darleen Druyun.  In her position as the Air Force’s number-two acquisition officer, Druyun admitted to favoring the Boeing Company in official contract negotiations while at the same time discussing possible future employment with the company.  She confessed to agreeing to a highly inflated $20 billion price for 100 tanker planes leased to the government by Boeing, in part as thanks to the company for employing other members of her immediate family.  Druyun pled guilty to conspiracy, but was sentenced to only nine months in a minimum security prison and subsequent community service.

Joining Jordan as a sponsor of the bill is Congressman Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), a former county sheriff and fellow first-term member.  The bipartisan effort shows that the issue of fighting corruption must be a priority for both parties, Jordan said.

“Congress has already acted to pass legislation revoking the pension benefits of public officials who commit these crimes,” Jordan said.  “Now we must take the next important step to ensure that the ‘time fits the crime.’”

Tags: Conservative