Republican congressional candidate Fred Dailey will have to answer lots of questions from conservative primary voters in the next few months. For example, why did the Ohio Department of Agriculture, under his leadership, launch a legal assault on raw milk? Was he a shill for factory farms as some have alleged? Did he support the Voinovich/Taft tax increases? What does he think about corporate welfare? And how can a candidate that claims to be a conservative drink at the big government trough of farm subsidies?
Public records indicate that Dailey took in just under $20,000 from 1995 through 2005 in corn subsidies for his family farm. I can see the Club for Growth ad campaign now.
At the same time, Dailey indicates that ethics will be an issue in the district.
Dailey says ethics are a major concern to voters he meets on the campaign trail.
"People speak openly," Dailey said. "They feel betrayed and some of them are quite bitter about it."
Dailey said voters' ethical concerns mean any blemish on a candidates record could be a tremendous disadvantage. "You have to have a candidate that is ethical and honest with people," Dailey said. (Campaigns and Elections Magazine).
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
That was unfortunate, in Ohio and across the nation these companies are targeting vulnerable military families. Here's an AP article that describes one soldiers experience.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Army Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Burden needed money. He had just been through a divorce, his credit was bad and he couldn't qualify for a conventional loan. So he turned to a payday lender - one of dozens within a mile of his base at Fort Hood, Texas. Thus began a vicious cycle of getting quick cash advances at high interest rates.
His first $300 loan cost a fee of $60 every two weeks. More loans and fees at the equivalent of 520 percent interest per year soon swelled the debt to more than $1,400.
"It just kind of keeps snowballing if you don't have the money to cover it," said Burden, 35.
Payday lenders set up shop just outside of military bases under deceptive trade names like Military Lending, Armed Forces Financial, and so on. Young spouses believe they are dealing with official government agencies when borrowing funds.
A bipartisan group of Ohio legislators are expected to soon introduce legislation to rein in these out of control companies. This legislation is long overdue and needed to protect our fragile military families. Ohioans of all political stripes should join together in supporting this important bill. Thank you.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Group
As just reported in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, mega gaming company Penn National Gaming has agreed to be acquired for nearly $9 billion in cash. Penn National owns and operates Argosy casino, near downtown Cincinnati and the Toledo Raceway Park.
While Ohio politicians continue to place roadblocks into expanded gaming in Ohio, Wall Street continues to value this sector highly. The deal here calls for payment of a 31% premium over the stock's latest closing price along with the repayment of nearly $3 billion in Penn National debt.
Scott Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
The Pullins Group LLC, the publisher of this newsletter, tracks legislation and provides expert analysis to private sector clients on Ohio gaming issues.
First, Strickland vetoed legislation that capped lawsuits against manufacturers of lead paint based upon legal advice from Dann. Here's the visual, Strickland and Dann stand up for consumers and sick children, Republicans stand with greedy, evil paint manufacturers with their high powered lobbyists and big campaign contributions.
Today, Strickland and Dann did it again. Ohio voters have three times rejected efforts to expand gambling in Ohio, most recently a proposal last fall to allow slot machines at Ohio horsetracks. This spring Ohio Senate Republicans passed legislation to allow slot like devices at Ohio racetracks and the House was poised to pass it too. Strickland had promised not to veto the language.
This morning Governor Strickland and Attorney General Dann reversed course and announced their support for legislation to ban prizes from gaming machines, including so called "skill games". At the same time, Strickland stated that voters have spoken and threatened to veto the slots like Senate bill.
Again, here's the visual. Strickland and Dann stand with voters, while Republicans stand with lobbyists and special interests.
It's called triangulation, Strickland style. Strickland cuts into the GOP base, which generally opposes gambling, while at the same time promising property tax cuts for seniors, another core GOP issue.
Meanwhile, in the runup to the 2008 elections, Republicans are portrayed as corrupt, out of touch, and promoters of an extreme social agenda that wants to outlaw strip clubs and gay adoption. Ohio Republicans better wake up before it's too late.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
Right Angle Blog this morning links to an excellent PD article on how Ohio's turnpike is seriously behind the times. The article discusses how turnpike bureacrats have resisted implementation of an EZpass system like most states have.
The article just touches the surface of Ohio's seriously outdated transportation system. While other states are building roads and investing in high speed passenger rail, Ohio is doing nothing. Ohio's roads are decrepit, rail transportation is nonexistent, and turnpike and highway facilities are dirty and old.
It's pretty bad when the nicest, cleanest rest areas in the region are in West Virginia. For more information on how Ohio can improve its transportation system, visit our friends over at Road to Work Ohio.
Some think that turnpike privatization will help solve Ohio's transportation problems. Others think it will only lead to more governmental corruption. Nonetheless, Ohio's transportation problem is neither a Republican or Democrat issue that needs serious debate and attention from all.
Thank you.
Scott Pullins
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
When we tried to fight back using proper legal means, these thugs tried to turn the tables on us. They pulled strings and called in favors and tried to file charges with the Knox County Prosecutor. Our biased liberal media chimed in by running sensational front page stories and daily breaking news features on the radio.
Former Reagan era Labor Secretary Ray Donovan, after being exonerated in a bogus investigation, famously asked, "Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?" Today, I'm asking that question too. Here is part of the text from an order I received from the Knox County Common Pleas Court:
Attorney Scott Pullins appeared in open court at the appointed time in response to this court's order for him to defend against a suggestion by the Clerk of Court of an abuse of process. In view of the fact that Mr. Pullins, though denying wrongdoing, has apologized "without qualification" for the issuance of two subpoenas in question on December 26, 2006, at a time which this case was in suspense, this court accepts the apology. The issue therefore has been concluded. It is to be noted that this issue was an inquiry and had not yet developed into a show cause order.
For months, individuals had posted that I would be disbarred, suspended, sanctioned or thrown in jail. People laughed and joked that this hearing was a public execution, a public hanging, and that I should dress for a funeral. As I stated from the beginning it was all bull!
Many of the perpetrators of this attack have been identified. They include local criminals, local attorneys that I compete with, and representatives and supporters of the Apple Valley Property Owners Association, which I have bested in court. Those individuals will be dealt with properly within the legal system.
In the meantime, I just wanted to write and update you, and thank you for your continued support and friendship.
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
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