2010 Archives
CONSERVATIVE ICON KEN BLACKWELL ENDORSES DAVE YOST FOR AOS
(Columbus) Ken Blackwell today endorsed Prosecutor Dave Yost for Auditor of State.
"Dave Yost is one of us -- a man of integrity who shares and lives our values and convictions," Blackwell said. "He knows that the government is reaching too far into our lives and too far into our pockets - and with his record and his experience, he has the tools he needs to fight for us."
Blackwell is an icon among Ohio social conservatives and has often been the standard-bearer for people disaffected with the moderate wing of the Republican Party. "Ken Blackwell, like Barry Goldwater, was conservative long before it was cool to be conservative," said Gene Pierce, a conservative political analyst. "Like Ken, Dave is pro-smaller government, pro-life, pro-family and pro-tax cuts. There should be no argument from Ohio Republicans about Dave's heartfelt commitment to a conservative platform of government."
Blackwell won the Statewide Republican Primary for Governor in 2006. "Ken anticipated and led the 'No More RINOs' movement," Pierce added. "His endorsement will speak volumes in this primary, when people want true conservative leadership."
Prosecutor Yost welcomed the endorsement. "I've known Ken Blackwell for years, and he does not speak lightly, or for the sake of convenience - he's always about what he believes to be right. I am humbled and honored to have his strong support."
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Posted on Mar 11, 2010
It will be a long time before Second Amendment rights are finally treated with the same respect as the rest of the Bill of Rights. But we continue to tip-toe toward intellectual consistency, and the Ohio General Assembly will soon have an opportunity to take another small step.
The issue is called restoration, and I'm told a bill will soon be introduced to address it. The specifics of that bill should be debated vigorously, but the problem it's designed to fix should be fixed.
Under Ohio law, you lose certain rights when you're convicted of a crime - for example, felony prisoners cannot vote, and even a non-violent conviction can keep you from owning a gun. You're supposed to be able to get your rights back if a judge says it's OK - but in Ohio, that doesn't include your Second Amendment rights.
That's because of a court case finds that the technical wording of the Ohio restoration statute does not conform to the federal statute - so the federal government simply ignores Ohio court orders for restoration of rights.
As a prosecutor, I have no problem with a law that says a criminal conviction prevents you from voting or owning a gun. But when a judge has heard the evidence and concluded that you're a fully rehabilitated, law-abiding citizen, the federal government should have to honor the judge's decision.
I've heard stories about Ohio police officers who had a charge in their youth for possession of marijuana who may not be allowed to carry a gun under the federal government's theory. Or what about a 40 father who wants to each his son to hunt -- but when he was 18, he passed a bad check? Should he have no road back to citizenship? Even after more than 20 law-abiding years?
Rights are dangerous things - wars have started over religion, and governments have been overturned by free speech. The Fourth Amendment has resulted in killers being released onto the streets on technicalities. The possibility of risk is not alone sufficient to seize the rights of a free people.
If we're going to allow a restoration of rights policy, it ought not single out one right over another.
Posted on Mar 11, 2010
Our country's President, unable to consummate his legislative seduction of the American people, has labeled the Republican Party as the "Party of No." It's time for the GOP to stand up and tell our story - that we are, in fact, the "Party of Yes."
Yes -- our children deserve to live free, able to make their own choices and unburdened by the debts of the parents.
Yes - let's cut spending and balance our budgets and live within our means.
Yes - let's cut health care costs by tearing down the walls of state-by-state regulation and allowing national competition. (How much do you think tires would cost if there were 50 different sets of state regulations?)
Republicans stand for the idea that jobs are created when a regular Joe or Jane starts and grows a business. Prosperity comes from Main Street, not either end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
One of the great things about the Contract With America was that we stopped running on the Democrat's track - we stopped playing defense on the issues they wanted to talk about and instead talked about our vision for America. We stepped up as the Party of Yes on 10 very specific points.
What Mr. Obama said about the Grand Old Party is not true. Let's speak, and act, on what is.
Posted on Mar 03, 2010
Governor Strickland boasted last week that he has slashed state spending by $366 million - but, as it turns out, more than half that number came from the combination of a MegaMillions jackpot payment and an accounting error. And the governor actually increased spending in the most bureaucratic agencies -- OBM, DAS and the governor's office istelf.
Mr. Strickland issued the written report to show he has reduced spending on contracts, maintenance and equipment during the first two quarters of the current biennium over the one before. He may wish he had not. The Governor's Office increased its own spending by 73% -- which it blames in a footnote on "timing."
A look at the actual report is entertaining - and Mr. Strickland's own office wasn't the only agency that spent more while everyone else was trying to make do with less.
Office of Budget and Management, an extra $3 million, or a 76% increase.
Department of Agriculture, an extra $1 million, or nearly 24% increase.
Department of Administrative Services, an extra $7.7 million, or more than 12% extra.
While Mr. Strickland leaned on little agencies, like the Veterinary Review Board to squeeze out $3,062.57 (9.5%), the bureaucrats in OBM and DAS spent merrily away.
The report points to some real cost-cutting, but one of the largest claimed reductions never happened at all. The supposed saving of $70.8 million in the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections was actually only $15.6 million. It turns out that the spending was just moved to another expense category, which nobody bothered to account for.
So of the claimed $366 million in spending cuts, $209.2 million don't exist - that is, Mr. Strickland's report is 57% wrong. That's a failing grade, even in Ohio's worst schools.
Mr. Strickland's spokesperson, Amanda Wurst, told the Columbus Dispatch that the Office of Management and Budget had reviewed the report and found no other "anomalies."
Why doesn't that make me feel any better? Because the anomalous report in question was prepared by the horribly misnamed Office of Management and Budget, which apparently does neither.
Posted on Feb 14, 2010
Delaware County Prosecutor responds to GOP call to fill void on statewide ticket
(Columbus) – Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost today announced that he will run for the position of Auditor of State, seeking to fill a vacancy created when incumbent Auditor Mary Taylor was chosen by Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich to be his Lt. Governor running mate. Yost had been a candidate for Attorney General prior to his announcement.
“Business, political and grassroots leaders across this great state have called on me during the last several days to put aside my personal plans and fill a gap in our party’s ticket – to step up and bring my skills and passion for public integrity to this most important work. After much prayer, reflection and taking of counsel, I have decided to run for Auditor of State,” Yost said.
Yost previously served on Delaware City Council, as Delaware County Auditor from 1999 to 2003 and as Prosecutor since then. He vowed to use his background in identifying and prosecuting political corruption to build on Taylor’s “legacy of excellence during her term as Auditor of State.” “Dave Yost brings an ideal background to the race for this critical state office. Given the mess that Ted Strickland and the Democrats have made of Ohio’s budget and financial future, Dave’s candidacy sends yet another signal to voters that Republicans are serious about getting Ohio back on the right track,” said Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine.
Yost pledged “to ensure that every tax dollar sent to Columbus is spent for a public purpose and according to law – and I will take decisive action when it is not.”
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Posted on Feb 03, 2010
