Ohio

*** Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, Ed Fitzgerald, had this to say about the Kasich-Ohio GOP budget---NewsNet5:

Ed FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County executive who plans to challenge Gov. John Kasich next year, says the new state budget is a "train wreck" for the middle class.

FitzGerald, a Democrat, tells reporters in Columbus that the budget lawmakers approved Thursday shifts the tax burden to local governments. And he says the Republican governor should veto all the abortion provisions that are included....

Kasich and the Ohio GOP only care about their rich "job creators" who've continued to be coddled by them.

> Kasich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and all those Republicans that are interested in interfering with women's health care, should see what the late George Carlin said about conservatives. The HuffingtonPost has the entire Carlin quote and video, but here is a snippet from the quote:

"These conservatives are really something, aren’t they? They are all in favor of the unborn, they will do anything for the unborn, but once you’re born, you’re on your own! Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months. After that, they don’t want to know about you, they don’t want to hear from you. No neo-natal care, no daycare, no head start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing! If you’re pre-born, you’re fine. If you’re pre-school, you’re f....."

"They’re not pro-life. You know what they are? They’re anti-woman. Simple as it gets, anti-woman. They don’t like them. They don’t like women. They believe a woman’s primary role is to function as a broodmare for the state...." 

Once you are born, unless you are rich, Republicans don't give a damn about you.

Most physicians agree that the Republican interference with a woman's health care can be dangerous for women.

Wendy Davis

Women should look to Texas State Sen. Wendy Davis as an example of strength, leadership, and what one person can do. With the help of concerned women in the gallery, Davis was able to stop the Texas GOP's draconian women's health care bill.

MassLive:

Despite barely beating a midnight deadline, hundreds of jeering protesters helped stop Texas lawmakers from passing one of the toughest abortion measures in the country.

As the protesters raised the noise to deafening levels in the Texas Senate chamber late Tuesday, Republicans scrambled to gather their colleagues at the podium for a stroke-of-midnight vote on some of the toughest abortion restrictions in the country....

....In either point of view, a raucous crowd of chanting, singing, shouting demonstrators effectively took over the Texas Capitol and blocked a bill that abortion rights groups warned would close most abortion clinics in the state....

It is time for women across the country to stand up against the Republicans. We will not go back to the days when women had no rights. As Wendy Davis and the women of Texas demonstrated, women must speak up to oppose any infringement of our rights in the workplace, in the doctor's office, and in the state house.

He Said What?

The House Republicans are working on another bill to limit a woman's reproductive decisions. There have been all types of stupid comments made by Republican men on the topics of women, their reproductive system, and biology.

RHrealitycheck:

As the House of Representatives gears up for Tuesday’s debate on HR 1797, a bill that would outlaw virtually all abortions 20 weeks post fertilization, Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) argued in favor of banning abortions even earlier in pregnancy because, he said, male fetuses that age were already, shall we say, spanking the monkey.

“Watch a sonogram of a 15-week baby, and they have movements that are purposeful,” said Burgess, a former OB/GYN. “They stroke their face. If they’re a male baby, they may have their hand between their legs. If they feel pleasure, why is it so hard to believe that they could feel pain?”

Do you know the craziest thing about these comments by Rep. Burgess? According to his bio, Michael C. Burgess is an OB-GYN medical doctor. Does he have no empathy for his patients and their lives?

This bill latest bill from the Republicans is just a step toward their ultimate goal---trying  to limit access to birth control pills.

Republican Lunacy in Ohio

It might be time for some Ohio Republicans to get out of their conservative bubble and start talking to Ohio's women. Republicans, especially the males, are so very concerned about what is going on inside a woman's reproductive organs that it seems rather weird. At the rate the Ohio GOP is going, they'll get only 5% of the female vote in the next election.

Here is the evidence from TheExaminer:

A new anti-abortion bill proposed by state Republicans could cost a woman $1 million and a felony charge if they want to have an abortion and don't disclose their personal income.

Republicans across the country have continued their attack on abortion rights over the years and the state of Ohio is continuing to follow the party in their footsteps. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Rep. Ron Hood (R) has introduced House Bill 200 which has the support of over 30 state Republicans. The proposed anti-abortion bill, among other things, would charge women up to a million dollars and hit them with a possible felony charge if they don't disclose their personal income to their doctor prior to having an abortion.

In addition to the felony charge and $1 million fine, the new bill would double the waiting period for abortions from 24 to 48 hours. The new bill would also redefine what is considered a "medical emergency" when a waiver is being sought to "a condition that would result in the woman's death without an abortion, as opposed to one that presents a serious risk to her life or physical health."



Seriously, these Republicans are nuts!!!!!

Ohio's GOP has said that they are "rebranding" their party. Unfortunately, most women would consider the "new" Ohio GOP using prehistoric rules, regulations, and legislation to control women.

I'd like to see some legislation that makes males who seek erectile dysfunction drugs have to prove their (a) income, (b) lack of function to three doctors, and (c) have their names published online and in newspapers for seeking ED medication. 

Here is Ohio Republican Rep. Ron Hood's contact number if you'd like to express your dissatisfaction with his intrusive, and obvious unconstitutional women's reproductive legislation:

Representative Ron Hood
District 78

77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone (614) 466-1464
Fax      (614) 719-3961
Email Representative Hood

Getting Personal

Both sets of my grandparents came from Europe in the late 19th century. When they arrived, they had very little, but worked hard to support their families. They never shied away from hard work. Both of my grandfathers worked in the area of construction. They built schools, bridges, homes, roads, and other structures. Much of what they built still remains today.

My grandmothers raised large families and instilled in their children the importance of education, family, the church, and America. They worked hard to feed their families, but also shared with their neighbors. Their children and grandchildren served in our military, and one gave his life during World War II.

The debate over immigration makes me ill. Our country is a nation of immigrants that benefits from their contributions. Those people that are against "the dreamers" and immigrants, would have definitely spoken against people like my grandparents. It is time for some people to stop their hateful talk and obvious prejudice. 

As a country, we need to embrace "the dreamers" and immigrants and welcome them to our American family. Their contributions to our lives may come in the form of a cure for cancer, education, engineering, technology, building, or some other field of endeavor.

Members of Congress need to pass immigration reform now. Those that vote against it will go down in history as being against families, and our country's future.

Job Growth in Ohio

Gov. John Kasich doesn't want you to know certain facts about job growth in Ohio.

A graph posted at the website for Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland displays how things have changed since the recession.

 

Ohio's employment is represented by the small, pathetic, yellow bar. As you can see, it isn't even keeping up with the U.S. growth rate.

>>> Republican Rep. Trent Franks and the House Republicans are still concern about what happens in a woman's uterus.

Slate:

...The Washington Post brings us today's pull-quote from the House, where an Arizona Republican waded into the never-calm waters:

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), whose measure banning abortions after 20 weeks was being considered Wednesday in the House Judiciary Committee, argued against a Democratic amendment to make exceptions for rape and incest by suggesting that pregnancy from rape is rare. "The incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low," Franks said.

Franks continued: "But when you make that exception, there’s usually a requirement to report the rape within 48 hours. And in this case that’s impossible because this is in the sixth month of gestation. And that’s what completely negates and vitiates the purpose of such an amendment."

It didn't take long for Democrats to hear echoes of Todd "legitimate rape" Akin in those comments. "I just find it astonishing to hear a phrase repeated that the incidence of pregnancy from rape is low," Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, quickly countered at the hearing. "There’s no scientific basis for that. And the idea that the Republican men on this committee can tell the women of America that they have to carry to term the product of a rape is outrageous."

Even RollCall had a piece about Trent Franks and his stupid remark.

The Republicans, especially the GOP men, should stop worrying about women's reproductive organs and get to work on creating jobs. Where are the damn jobs, Republicans?

Thinking of voting Republican? Think again!

* The Republican Party has refused to do anything to create jobs. Do you know the only thing that Republicans in the House of Representatives have done? The GOP has voted 37 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Think of the hours the Republicans have wasted. The Republicans just aren't interested in creating jobs, or helping middle class Americans. The only goal of the Republicans is to stop any progress for this country and our citizens.

If you think that the Republicans have nothing to do with your life, think again.
Ring of Fire:

Last Thursday, Senate Republicans filibustered the Democrats’ bill that would prevent a spike in student loan rates. The student loan rate is set to double, to 6.8 percent, on July 1 of this year if Congress does not take action. The Democrats’ bill would freeze need-based student loan interest rates for two years, giving Congress time to find a long-term solution to the ever-increasing student loan debt, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

The Democrats needed 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, but were 9 votes short; the legislation received 51 votes – all from Democrats. Rather than decrease exorbitant interest rates on student loans, Republicans proposed to tie the interest rates to the yield on the government’s 10-year Treasury bill, a proposal that was also blocked on Thursday....

If your son or daughter depends on student loans for college tuition, this GOP obstruction could have serious consequences for you and your college student.

Notice!!!!

Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12th) represents my neighborhood. Tiberi has been in the House of Representatives since 2001 and has sponsored 49 bills (see GovTrack).  According to GovTrack, only 3 of his bills have been signed into law by the President.  Of those 3 bills, one of them was the naming of a post office.  Apparently, Tiberi is not interested in getting people back to work. That would take too much work.

**** Polls! Polls! Polls!  Various polls collected and posted at RealClearPolitics shows  Congress has an average disapproval rate of 74.8 %.  Wow.

* The Springboro Community City School District in Ohio is hearing from parents and students who object to the crackpot suggestion from their school board.

RawStory:

Parents and students in Ohio on Tuesday spoke out against a proposal that would allow creationism to be taught in biology classes....

...The Springboro Community City School District is considering a so-called “critical thinking” policy that would require teachers to explore “all sides” of controversial issues. The proposed policy change would direct teachers to discuss creation science or intelligent design when teaching about the theory of evolution....

....Kelly Kohls, the school board president, told WDTN the policy would encourage honest debates about “the strengths and weaknesses of scientific issues.”

According to the website put up by Kelly Kohls, she has several degrees in the area of human nutrition, but nothing in the area of educating elementary or high school students. Kohls is pushing her far right anti-science agenda. If she gets her way, the students of Springboro lose. Students will score lower on state and national exams, and even on college entrance exams.

Kelly Kohls is also the President of the Warren County (Ohio) Tea Party.

Blackburn Is Wrong

Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7th District) is wrong!!!!

HuffingtonPost:

Republican congresswoman Marsha Blackburn said on Sunday that women "don't want" equal pay laws.

During a roundtable discussion on NBC's Meet The Press, former White House advisor David Axelrod asked if she would support a law promoting workplace gender equality. Blackburn responded:

"I think that more important than that is making certain that women are recognized by those companies. You know, I’ve always said that I didn’t want to be given a job because I was a female, I wanted it because I was the most well-qualified person for the job. And making certain that companies are going to move forward in that vein, that is what women want. They don’t want the decisions made in Washington. They want to be able to have the power and the control and the ability to make those decisions for themselves."

Blackburn voted against the 2009 Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a landmark bill for women's rights in the workplace. The law makes it easier for women to file wage discrimination suits against employers. She also voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009....


Rep. Marsha Blackburn is wrong. How would Marsha Blackburn respond if she were told that she would be paid less than her male counterparts in the House of Representative? Blackburn would protest, but she has not been willing to go to bat for American women across the country. To Marsha Blackburn, her far right Republican ideology is more important than women having equal pay and equal rights.

Women who are supporting their families don't want useless acknowledgements, gift cards to discount stores, or the parking space designated for the "employee of the month" in the parking lot.  If women are doing the same jobs as the men in the company, they should be paid the same.

You might want to contact Rep. Marsha Blackburn's office and let her know that you disagree with her view on equal pay: Telephone (202) 225-2811 - Fax  (202) 225-3004, or Contact Page, Twitter @MarshaBlackburn, or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marshablackburn to voice your views.