Kasich, House Republicans Want to "Recharge Ohio" by Cutting Taxes on Rich People

Here is an interesting quote from a Cleveland Plain Dealer article:

Proposals to offer cuts to the state's estate tax as well as capital gains tax are being hashed out behind the scenes by Republican state lawmakers, House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder, a Medina Republican, acknowledged this week. 

Ohio is now in a situation where there is a huge shortfall in the state's revenues at a time when ordinary Ohioans are needing more and more government assistance. A large reason for the state's budgetary problems was the reckless tax cuts that the Republicans passed in 2005. Those tax cuts were targeted toward the rich. Now, with Ohio facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, Republicans want even more tax cuts for the wealthy. 

The Republican rationale for the tax cuts is that supposedly rich people are fleeing the state. Well here are some questions for the House Republicans:

1. How many rich people are fleeing the state because of the state's estate and capital gains taxes as opposed to fleeing the state for other reasons? 

2. How many of those that are "fleeing the state" will stay if these tax cuts are passed" 

3. What is the effect on the state's revenues if this proposal passes? 

4. How will the Republicans make up any revenue loss? 

How much do you want to bet that the House Republicans won't be able to provide answers to those questions?

Medina Rep Becomes House Minority Leader

Medina County Representative Bill Batchelder became the House Minority Leader on a vote in the House Republican caucus. Batchelder was battling with Representative Matt Dolan for the House Speakership during the 2008 campaign. Once the Republicans lost the majority in the House, Dolan withdrew his name from consideration as House Minority Leader.

Medina County Rep Loses Chance for Ohio House Speaker, May Become House MInority Leader

One of the surprises from the November 4, 2008 election was that Democrats now control the Ohio House. Although there had been talk in political circles that the Democrats were making a push to gain control, it is safe to say that most observers felt that they would fall short. Instead, they captured control by at least five votes, and it could go as high as seven, once the results of two close races are known.

The Democrats capturing control of the Ohio House means that Medina County won't see Representative William Batchelder become Speaker, at least not this coming term. Batchelder, who has over 30 years experience in the House, was vying with Representative Matt Dolan, son of the Indians' owner for Speaker.

There are reports, though, that Dolan has decided that he won't seek to become Minority Leader. Instead, it appears that Batchelder will become House Minority Leader. Interestingly, when Dolan told the Dispatch that he wasn't interested in becoming House Minority Leader, he didn't endorse Batchelder for that position. Dolan and Batchelder had been locked in what was described as a "bitter" battle for House Speaker. It appears that the bitterness is still there.

Medina County State Representative Compares Strickland to Rhodes

Back in the Sixties and the Seventies there was a four term Ohio governor named Jim Rhodes who campaigned on the platform of "Jobs and Progress". Although he had been mayor of Columbus and State Auditor before becoming Governor, he grew up in Southeastern Ohio. One of the ideas that he promoted was that there should be a college or university within 30 miles of every person in Ohio.

Now, 26 years after Rhodes left office, Governor Ted Strickland is advocating similar ideas. During his State of the State address, Governor Strickland called for using a bond package to try and revitalize Ohio's economy. State Representative Bill Batchelder, (R-Medina County), told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he heard more Jim Rhodes from Strickland during the State of the State address than he had since Rhodes died.

Batchelder told the PD reporter that he thought the similarities came from both men growing up poor and both men coming from Southeast Ohio. This is how Batchelder put it to the PD:

"I think he knows more down here," said the veteran lawmaker of Strickland, motioning to his gut. "I think he has a real sense of the public just like Jim did. What they feel and what their aspirations are. I think it comes from growing up without much and coming from down there."

Those of us who are Ohio Democrats and remember the fact that Rhodes beat us in four elections find the comparasion interesting. Ohio Dems could do far worse, and have, than nominating and electing a Democratic version of Jim Rhodes.

Dispatch Article About Medina State Representative Bill Batchelder's Quest for House Speakership

The Columbus Dispatch ran an article about Medina County's own Bill Batchelder and his campaign to become House Speaker. The article pointed out that both parties have leaders who are term limited in the Ohio House and therefore each party is going to have a leadership battle.

Besides the fight for leadership, there is also the continuing effort by the Ohio Democratic Party to take control of the Ohio House of Representatives. The article points out that neither party has ever taken control of the House from the other without using the reapportionment process. The House Democrats, however, are only four votes away from having the majority so they think that they can pull off a political upset next November.

The article points out that there is a four person team opposing State Representative Batchelder, but that he does have some important allies, including the Chair of the Franklin County Republican Party. Right Angle blog, a conservative blog for Republicans, is pushing for Batchelder to become Speaker.

Given the race for Speaker among Republicans, the effort by the Democrats to take back control of the Ohio House, and the fact that the Democratic House Leader is also term-limited, 2008 will be quite an interesting year in Columbus.