I’m very disappointed by the budget deal that the Ohio
legislature has agreed to. This agreement is a breach of contract between the
administration and the taxpayers. It appears that when push comes to shove, the
taxpayers get screwed. This 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. Unfortunately, Columbus is doing what’s easy
rather than what is best.
Kudos to Union Township Fire Chief Stan Deimling. He is an
outstanding public servant who is under recognized for his dedication to Union
Township. Under his leadership, the UT Fire Department earned accreditation by
the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and also maintains an
excellent rating by the Insurance Services Offices.
On a personal note, Chief Deimling made arrangements to
care for my infant daughter during a medical emergency until I arrived home. All
worked out well. It was comforting to know that he was on the scene.
Additionally, I’ve also found Chief Deimling to be most
professional and personable. Although he was busy working with parents and
children at the recent National Night Out event, Chief Deimling took the time to
explain to me the various options for organizing fire districts. He outlined the
advantages, disadvantages, financial, and political impact of potential changes.
Chief Deimling is clearly one of Union Township’s best
assets. His wealth of knowledge, high energy level, professionalism, and public
persona are second to none. We are very fortunate to have him.
The June 28th guest column, “Raise taxes to care for the weakest among
us,” argued that Ohio’s budget should be “balanced on the backs of those
of us who can afford to pay.” I strongly disagree.
We as individuals, families, churches and non-profit groups need to shoulder
this burden. The state government cannot and should not attempt to be all things
to all people.
A better approach is to reduce income and business taxes. The resulting
economic growth would increase jobs, personal income, tax revenues, and
donations to churches and non-profit groups so that they can better serve the
poor.
Now that I’ve joined the ranks of the unemployed, I’m wondering if I ever
really need to find a job. With our new socialist government continuing to
extend unemployment benefits and planning “free” healthcare, I may be able
to stay unemployed long enough to retire. That’s only 15 years out. I think I
can get used to socialism.
After hearing a number of complaints and concerns regarding
the government of Union Township, I decided to attend their February 10th
meeting. What I found was exactly the opposite of what I was looking for.
The Trustees voted to put all meeting minutes and other
public documents on the township web site. They also voted to double their
public meetings to every 2nd and 4th Tuesday.
Additionally, Trustee Donnellon, outlined and explained in simple terms, the Ivy
Point complex and how the investment has benefited all parties involved
including Union Township. (This movement toward openness and full disclosure is
in addition to several reforms that they have instituted over the last several
months to prevent improprieties and better control expenses.)
Several citizens addressed the Trustees on various issues.
Every concern was publically discussed with the person in a respectful and
professional manner.
Broad conclusions can’t be drawn from attending one
meeting, but first impressions are drawn. Frankly, I’m impressed. My
confidence in our Trustees has been restored. I intend to continue attending
their meetings and I encourage others to do the same. Public scrutiny is always
a good thing.
Unfortunately, the West Clermont
Board of Education unanimously voted to place a 1 percent income tax on the
March 4, 2008 ballot. Although the Board members are good people, mean well, and
are performing a thankless task, they have made a mistake by moving forward with
this.
A school income tax will shift
the primary burden of funding from all property owners (including businesses) to
middle class wage earners. The very rich will be exempt because income from
interest, dividends, and capital gains are not considered “earned income”
and therefore not subject to the additional 1 percent tax. Business owners will
contribute less to school funding as current property tax levies start to roll
off.
The bottom line is that the
income tax will shift the primary burden of taxation from all residential and
business properties and concentrate the burden on middle class wage earners who
live in West Clermont. No reciprocity is available regardless of where we work.
And no one living outside of West Clermont will be subject to the tax even if
they work here.
Taxes, of any kind, are punitive
and widely despised:
Income taxes discourage production
Sales taxes discourage consumption
Property taxes depress real estate values
Intangible taxes (stocks, bonds, capital gains) discourage
investment
The income tax is the most
destructive of these. Lack of a local income tax was one of the key reasons that
I chose to move to this community. Additionally, if a local income tax becomes
law, high income people will be discouraged from moving into this community. And
those considering leaving will be given a push. West Clermont does not need more
low income people demanding more and more community resources. We need to
encourage high income people to move here, not drive them away.
I understand the need to fund the
schools and strong schools foster a strong community. Being as a school system
can’t enact a sales tax, the property tax is the best option. Property taxes
are paid by everybody living in the community. (Landlords pass on the tax as
part of the rent.) An income tax would shift the burden of school funding to
only those residents with earned income. West Clermont needs more residents with
earned income, not fewer.
As you know, I am current on my mortgage and have never
been late on a payment. However, we need change and I’ve decided to embrace
socialism. Therefore, effective immediately, I will no longer be making any
mortgage payments. Please forward all future invoices to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
Washington, DC 20500.
The proposed tax will shift the
primary burden of funding from all property owners (including businesses) to
middle class wage earners. The very rich will be exempt because income from
interest, dividends, and capital gains are not considered “earned income”
and therefore not subject to the additional 1 percent tax. Business owners will
contribute less to school funding as current property tax levies start to roll
off.
The bottom line is that the
income tax will shift the primary burden of taxation from all residential and
business properties and concentrate the burden on middle class wage earners who
live in West Clermont. No reciprocity is available regardless of where we work.
And no one living outside of West Clermont will be subject to the tax even if
they work here.
And if all of that isn’t bad
enough, the school treasurer has promised to continue recommending additional
property tax levies even if the earnings tax passes!
Property taxes are the best
available option. They are paid by everybody living in the community. (Landlords
pass on the tax as part of the rent.) I strongly recommend that residents vote
no and not discourage high earned income families from wanting to live here.
UNION
TOWNSHIP-CLERMONT COUNTY,Ohio May 4,
2006. Open Letter to the Republican Voters of Ohio’s 14th
Senate District. Thank you for your continued support on Election Day. You have
elected me to another term as your representative to the State Central Committee
and I pledge to you that I will continue to support the conservative values that
are important to all of us in Southern Ohio. We have many battles ahead and we
will need your help during the general election in November.
I would like to
thank all who supported, advised, and prayed for me during this campaign. I will
work to maintain that confidence with concentrated efforts to elect the
nominated members of our Party. Chairman Bennett and I urge Clermont County and
all Southern Ohioans to promote the campaigns of Ken Blackwell, Jean Schmidt,
Joe Uecker, Danny Bubp, and the rest of the Republican leadership team. With the
primary behind us it is now time to come together as one voice and with a single
purpose.
I would like to
take this time to thank my opponent, Jim Bushman, for running such a clean
campaign. He is a good man and I wish him the best in his future pursuits. I
would also like to thank all of the candidates who invested their time, money,
and energy in the election process. Clermont County, the 14th Senate
District, and Southern Ohio is better because of your hard work and
determination. On to victory in November.
Mr. Becker lives in the Eastgate area and is a member of Mt.
Carmel Christian Church but he also attends St. Veronica Church with his family.
He works as an Assistant Vice President and Senior Financial Analyst for Fifth
Third Bank in Cincinnati. He has earned a Baccalaureate Degree from Northern
Kentucky University and a Masters of Business Administration from Xavier
University. Visit his website at www.BeckerGOP.com and browse his monthly
newsletters or contact him at John@BeckerGOP.com. Ohio’s general
election is Tuesday, November 7th.
The following are what others are saying
about me:
“John, I would like to take
this opportunity to endorse you for reelection. I believe that you have
served with distinction. In times like these, we need people like you to
continue to fight for our conservative ideas and candidates. Thus, it is
my strong feeling that you deserve to continue your work as 14th District
State Committeeman. I wish you all the best!” said Stephen Caraway, Adams County Republican Club
President and community leader.
“John asked me if I would like
to write a paragraph to be sent out in his Becker Report. As I considered
this there are a lot of issues and things that I could write about but
have decided to take this time to say a few things about John Becker. John
was the State Central Committeeman for our district when I became involved
in the party during the Bush Campaign in 2004. Since then I have watched
John stay very involved in Brown County. He has stayed involved by coming
to our Central Committee Meetings and coming to our events. When I ran for
Trustee, John came to Brown County (although this was not in his township
or even county) and helped with my campaign by walking in parades and
going to the polls and handing out literature. He has worked very hard in
his position and I believe has served the people well. As you cast your
vote in the Primary on May 2nd I am asking that you consider casting your
vote for John Becker to be re-elected as State Central Committeeman for
our district,” said Michelle E.
Jowers, Brown County Republican Club President.
“John Becker has quickly become
one of the most active members of the State Central Committee. Whether it
be actively participating in campaigns or working on the committee, John
aggressively represents the interests of his district. His newsletter,
‘The Becker Report’, is an excellent communications tool for his readers
to know what is going on in Ohio Politics,” said Bob Bennett, Ohio Republican Party Chairman.
It is my understanding that I will be endorsed by the Ohio Republican
Party in the next two or three weeks.
“John Becker is the best State
Central Committeeman that we’ve ever had. He has been more visible,
helpful, and more attentive than all previous State Central Committeemen
combined,” said Bill Herdman,
former Brown County Republican Party Chairman. These are
enormous compliments considering the fact that Bill and I were opponents
for this position two years ago.
“John Becker has my personal
endorsement for reelection to the position of Republican State Central
Committeeman. In the past two years, due to the amount of time that John
and I have spent working for the Republican cause, we have become good
friends. My endorsement is given because I feel that John Becker has done
an outstanding job, has been very aggressive, attended all of our
functions on a regular basis, and ‘The Becker Report’ has kept myself and
all of our colleagues well informed of the current and future events
concerning our goals,” said Harty
Wallingford, Adams County Republican Party Chairman.
“John Becker has been a
frequent visitor to Scioto County GOP meetings and special events. He has
maintained excellent communications with party faithful through ‘The
Becker Report’ and has also been a regular attendee at our Annual Lincoln
Day Banquet. If one takes the time to examine what a State Central
Committee Member is supposed to do, one would quickly find John Becker
more than meets the job description. As chairman, I strongly support
John’s bid for re-election to the State Committee based in part on his
tremendous dedication to this position, his communication skills, and his
attendance throughout the district,” said Rodney Barnett, Scioto County Republican Party
Chairman.
“John Becker has done an
exceptional job supporting Lawrence County. He has worked at it harder
than any other State Central Committeeman that I’ve ever known. John
Becker’s commitment to keeping people informed via ‘The Becker Report’ and
frequent telephone contact is greatly appreciated. I enthusiastically
endorse John Becker for reelection,” said Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County
Republican Party Chairman.
John Becker
State Central Committeeman, 14th
District
Ohio Republican Party
211 S. Fifth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
News Release
For Immediate Release
UNION
TOWNSHIP-CLERMONT COUNTY,Ohio April 23, 2006. State Central
Committeeman John Becker is announcing his bid for re-election to the
Republican State Central Committee. For the past two years Mr. Becker has
served the 14th Senate District which includes all or part of five
counties; Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto and Lawrence.
The hard working Committeeman is
accumulating many organizational endorsements such as the Ohio Republican
Party, the Southern Ohio GOP Chairmen’s Association which represents 19
southern Ohio counties and Clermont County’s Union Township Republican
Party. Mr. Becker said, “I want to return the Republican Party to both
fiscal and social conservatism.”
His personal endorsements include; Dr.
John Willke, founder and President of Life Issues Institute; Harty
Wallingford, Chairman of the Adams County Republican Party; Rodney Barnett,
Chairman of the Scioto County Republican Party and Ray “Moose” Dutey,
Chairman of the Lawrence County Republican Party.
Mr. Becker has been an active member of
the Clermont County Republican Party for over 13 years. He is a conservative
Republican; pro-life, pro-limited government and a life member of the NRA.
Mr. Becker lives in the Eastgate area
and is a member of Mt. Carmel Christian Church but he also attends St.
Veronica Church with his family. He works as an Assistant Vice President and
Senior Financial Analyst for Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. He has earned a
Baccalaureate Degree from Northern Kentucky University and a Masters of
Business Administration from Xavier University.
The election for state central committee
will be held on May 2, 2006. Visit his website at www.BeckerGOP.com
and browse his monthly newsletters or contact him at John@BeckerGOP.com.
____________________________________________
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and
Lawrence Counties
