Bret Thompson's Blog

Bob in his own words

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:37:42 EDT

I'm the person you all are writing about. Let me tell you a bit about me. First of all, my actions were NOT about me, NOT for me either.
My parents raised me to think about other people; like:
• "Whatsoever you do to the least of us..."
• "He's not heavy, he's my brother."
• "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you."; and, especially in our large family,
• "Share, and share alike."
One of my brothers said that if our parents would have written a book about how they raised seven kids on so little money, they would have been rich. But they didn't, and we weren't. We shared a lot and handed stuff down a lot--and our parents did without, often, and a lot.

Last Tuesday, i got up,, made my sign, went to the demonstration, and came home. I though it was over. But i guess i was wrong on that!
My sign borrowed from the "Got Milk?" ad: "Got Parkinson's?// I DO and YOU might//Thanks for helping!//That's community."
Medicare paid for brain surgery that significantly mitigated my suffering. When I got my brain implants turned on, life became almost ordinary for awhile--and we all cried tears of happiness.
But Parkinson's is still eating away at my nervous system, and some day i'll die from it. In the meantime, i have dedicated myself to thanking my family and friends, and the broader public for helping me. I do so mostly by writing, and occasionally by putting myself in harm's way, to bring attention, not to me--i'm the luckiest guy since Lou Gehrig--but to people who need help so badly and couldn't make the rally.
My only hope is that my Mother and deceased Father would be proud of me.

More Here

Want a Real Climate Bill? Better Make it Happen Soon.

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:45:58 EST

From our friends at Repower America:

This week we are sending our Senators a clear message of support for clean energy, climate protection and 61,000 new Ohio jobs in a clean economy. This Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday make sure they hear your voice by calling 1-877-9-REPOWER and tell them to take bold action on clean energy and climate legislation now.

Tell your friends to join: post "Call 1-877-9-REPOWER" now to tell your Senators that you support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation!" to your status on Facebook or Twitter.

With a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill due in the Senate in the coming weeks, volunteers at 9 locations across Ohio will be working the phones for the Climate Protection Action Fund’s Repower Ohio campaign to let Senators Brown and Voinovich know that constituents in Ohio want to pass strong legislation without delay.

Over 72 hours, the phone bank is expected to drive hundreds of thousands of calls nationwide to our Senators in support of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation. The drive is a coordinated effort between a broad and diverse coalition including veterans, business owners, union members, faith leaders and students to bring clean energy to Ohio. Comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation can create 61,000 jobs in Ohio, increase household incomes, reduce pollution and make America more secure.

The White House's Official Health Care Plan

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:20:03 EST

Read the whole thing here or the summary below.

"Over the past year the House and the Senate have been working on an effort to provide health insurance reform that lowers costs, guarantees choices, and enhances quality health care for all Americans. Building on that year-long effort, the President has now put forth a proposal that incorporates the work the House and the Senate have done and adds additional ideas from Republican members of Congress. The President has long said he is open to any good ideas for reforming our health care system, and he looks forward to discussing ideas for further improvements from Republicans and Democrats at an open, bipartisan meeting on Thursday.

The proposal will make health care more affordable, make health insurers more accountable, expand health coverage to all Americans, and make the health system sustainable, stabilizing family budgets, the Federal budget, and the economy:

It makes insurance more affordable by providing the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, reducing premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today. This helps over 31 million Americans afford health care who do not get it today – and makes coverage more affordable for many more.
It sets up a new competitive health insurance market giving tens of millions of Americans the exact same insurance choices that members of Congress will have.
It brings greater accountability to health care by laying out commonsense rules of the road to keep premiums down and prevent insurance industry abuses and denial of care.
It will end discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.
It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years – and about $1 trillion over the second decade – by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.

It puts our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years -- and more than $1 trillion over the second decade -- by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse."

ProgressOhio Calls for Sharonville to End Gun Show Loophole

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:31:11 EST

ProgressOhio has authored a 3 page memorandum [pdf, doc] outlining evidence that federal firearms laws are being violated at a publicly owned venue, the Sharonville Convention Center. The convention center is receiving nearly $70 million in tax payer funds, yet appears to be a center of illegal gun trafficking.

The memo is being distributed to the Sharonville Mayor's Office, Sharonville City Council, Sharonville Police Department, Hamilton County Commissioners, Ohio Attorney General and the US Attorneys' Office Southern District of Ohio.

It outlines evidence obtained by ProgressOhio and the New York City Mayor's office that indicates private sellers at the Bill Goodman's Gun & Knife Show, regularly hosted at the Sharonville Convention Center, are breaking the law.

It recommends that background checks be mandatory for all firearm sales at gun shows. Currently, almost anyone without a federal firearms license can rent a booth at a gun show and sell guns without performing basic background checks and record keeping. Mandatory checks are supported by 85% of non-NRA gun owners and 69% of NRA members and are already the law in seven states.

Ohio 2010 Freedom Works/Tea Party Target List

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:44:51 EST

According to this leaked document on Scribd, Dick Armey's army will be focused on the following Ohio "Enemies of Liberty":

Tier 1

OH-15, Mary Jo Kilory

Tier 2

OH SEN
OH-1, Steve Driehaus
OH-18, Zack Space
OH-16, John Boccieri

Ohio's Senate race is currently ranked 13 out of 13 Senate seats. Likewise, OH-18 & OH-16 are near the very bottom of the ~50 House races. OH-1, however, is nearly a top tier, rated 7th overall.

More interesting than the list of targets is the document itself. For legal reasons, parties aren't listed, so the terms "Champion of Freedom" and "Enemy of Liberty" are used as the column headers. Steve Chabot is the only Ohio Republican who made the "Champion of Freedom" list. Sorry, Steve Stivers.

Sharonville Undercover - Easier to Buy a Handgun than Cold Medicine

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:43:41 EST

Federal and state laws make it shockingly easy for anyone to buy a handgun at a gun show without undergoing a background check.

In practice, basically anyone without a federal firearms license is allowed to rent a booth at a gun show and sell guns without performing basic background checks and record keeping.

The main requirements placed on unlicensed dealers are:

don't "engage in the business of selling firearms"
don't sell to people who they reasonably believe couldn't pass a background check
don't sell to people they believe to be straw purchasers (those buying a gun on behalf of someone else)
don't sell to people who aren't residents of their state.

An investigation last year by the New York Mayor's office showed that the first three requirements were being routinely violated across Ohio. One Ohio "private seller" bragged that he sold 348 assault rifles a year. The vast majority of private sellers sold guns to investigators who said they couldn't pass background checks or implied that the guns were for someone else.

ProgressOhio recently went undercover to see if the fourth requirement, no private sales across state lines, was also being violated.

On the weekend of December 20th, ProgressOhio visited the Bill Goodman gun show at the Sharonville Convention Center to see how prevalent out-of-state vehicle were at the show. Out-of-state vehicles were taped pouring into the show at an average of one every 3.5 minutes. During the course of the weekend, this would mean over 250 out-of-state cars.

To be clear, we are not implying that each of these, or even the majority of cars were violating federal law. It is legal for them to purchase bullets, accessories or knives from anyone and long guns (rifles and shotguns) from federally licensed dealers. Also, if they are dealers themselves, they are free to purchase any legally available weapon.

However -

“It is a farce for them to say of the 250 out-of-state license plates, not a single one bought a gun illegally,” Rothenberg said. “We’re not trying to take away anyone’s Second Amendment rights but we want them to do it legally for the protection of our citizens. It’s the right thing to do.”

Attendees interviewed by the Cincinnati Enquirer agreed, saying of the gun show loophole, “It’s just a way for criminals to buy weapons” and “This makes it tough on people are doing it legally.”

And it's not just those attendees who agree. A 2009 poll of gun owners, conducted by noted conservative Frank Luntz, found that 85% of non-NRA members and 69% of NRA members agree background checks should be required on all gun show sales.

Judging by his words, you can count the show's namesake among the supporters. Last October, in response to previous undercover videos, Bill Goodman said:

“I don’t see anything wrong with the background check myself. I don’t want to see anybody packing a weapon if they are not qualified to do so.”

It is clear by his actions however, that he'll only implement this common sense policy if he's encouraged to. Which brings us back to the city of Sharonville. By simply mandating background checks, Sharonville can:

Implement a policy supported by the overwhelming majority of the public, whether they are in the NRA or have never held a gun
Significantly decrease the number of illegaly sold guns that end up in the hands of criminals in Sharonville, Greater Cincinnati and across the country.
Greatly decrease the number of federal crimes taking place on publicly owned property
Reduce taxpayer exposure to potential lawsuits.
Help end the gun show loop.

So what's the hold up?

For more coverage of ProgressOhio's investigation, watch the videos at WLWT and WCPO.

Columbus Casino Headed to Westside

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:39:27 EST

Pending a change to Ohio's Constitution, Penn National Gaming will build their Columbus casino at the former Delphi plant on West Broad Street.

The Arena District casino location that was specified in last fall's ballot measure proved unpopular among city leaders and near-by residents. Expect to see an item on this May's primary ballot to enable the move.

Newt's Hidden 'Fuq Ewe'

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:10:57 EST

Newt Gingrich is set to speak in Cincinnati this evening on jobs. In his latest column on the subject, he points readers towards American Solutions, his “tri-partisan” 527 group for more “solutions for creating jobs and prosperity.” Looking to get a preview of his speech, I took his advice.

The site features a Change.org-style Solutions Lab, which seemed a good place as any to go looking for Gingrich’s promised solutions. As it turns out each of the five top rated ideas consist solely of introducing a national sales tax and abolishing the IRS. So it’s clear what the tri-partisan masses want, but what does old Newt have to say?

“Fuq Ewe.”

By name alone, one would assume user 'american-solutions' is the authorized voice of Newt Gingrich and American Solutions. The case is furthered when you consider that the top-read solutions list consists solely of ‘american-solutions’ posts and that the text is often taken verbatim from Gingrich's columns. So it was with some surprise that I found out that ‘american-solutions’ is not only the voice of Newt Gingrich but also the nom de plume of a "Fuq Ewe" from Atlanta, GA.

Gingrich's juvenile antics aside, the truth is that President Obama and the stimulus are responsible for creating over 1 million jobs nationwide. Gingrich, meanwhile, is looking out for exactly 1 job and will say anything, anywhere to get there.

Strickland Blasts GOP EDU CUT

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:54:15 EST

Gov. Strickland had some of the strongest words of disdain for Senate Republicans and Sen. Bill Seitz, in particular.

Senate Republicans put forth a truly odious bill that would balance the budget by cutting money from a fund that prevents families from becoming homeless and relying on liquor profits, casino profits and drilling for oil in state parks. The bill did not even have support of a majority of Senate Republicans, who control the chamber.

Yesterday Seitz made remarks that laid bare the GOP's strategy, saying that if Senate Democrats don't en masse support the horrible budget solution - "come Dec. 31 the education governor gets to cut public schools by 10%."

Strickland labeled Seitz's remarks "pathetic" and "despicable", particularly in so far as they seemed to celebrated the gutting of our children's education to score political points.

Truly this is the case, since the Democratic-controlled House has already passed a perfectly reasonable budget bill that is supported by most major business and social groups. Not only are the Republican tactics played out to their end (i.e. massive education cuts) harmful, in the short-term they are fiscally wasteful since the Department of Taxation has to have next year's tax documentations produced during December.

[h/t Gongwer]

Prosecutor Finds Ohio Residency Laws as Crystal Clear as Pepsi

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:45:56 EST

"There is no debate. Ohio law says it in black and white."

- Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien characterizing Ohio residency laws, October 2008

"We need to come up with something that's more black and white."

- Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien on Ohio residency laws, November 2009

_______________________________________________________________

"One thing that is crystal-clear is the law -- if you are a temporary resident or a visitor, you are not entitled to register to vote and you're not entitled to vote."

- Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, October 2008

"O'Brien said he wanted to file charges against other voters but couldn't for lack of evidence and because Ohio's residency laws are hazy. He urged state lawmakers to clarify residency rules for voting...."

- Columbus Dispatch, November 2009

14x Times More Vets Died from Lack of Insurance than in Afghanistan

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:27:25 EST

A study from Harvard Medical School was released on Veteran's Day, calculating the horrible toll that unaffordable health insurance has had on our veterans. The researchers found that an estimated 2,266 military veterans died from a lack of health care coverage in 2008, which is 14 times more than the 155 US troops that died in Afghanistan that year.

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of veterans are not covered by the VA system. Thus nearly 1.5 million veterans, many who could be classed the working poor, have fallen between the cracks and are currently not covered under any system.

Poll finds Clean Energy a Winner amongst Ohio voters

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:03:36 EST

New polling out today from Pew Environment Group:

A large majority of voters in Ohio think global warming poses a serious threat (60%).
A vast majority, across all demographic groups, favor the United States taking action to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming (70%).
Overall, a large plurality believe that reducing global warming will create new American jobs (47%).
Over two-thirds support a combined proposal to reduce emissions and require clean energy sources (68%).
More than half of voters (59%) would feel more favorable about their member of Congress if they voted for a clean energy plan and an emissions cap (53%).

You can check out a slideshow detailing the results below:

Ohio Poll

Repower Clean Energy Video Wall

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:06:25 EST

Even more fun than promised. Check it out at http://www.repoweramerica.org/us/wall

I haven't found Stephen Hawking yet, but apparently he's in there along with Ted Turner and maybe even some ProgressOhio staffers.

To find out what this is all about, check out the full press release below the jump.

Factory Farms Write Business Model into State Constitution

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:15:29 EST

Issue 2, the brainchild of corporate agribusiness, passed today. Issue 2 backers spent at least 40 times more than their opposition, a coalition of farmer, consumer and environmental groups known as Ohio ACT (Ohio Against Constitutional Takeover).

Natalie Kee, a spokesperson for Ohio ACT, stated, “Issue 2’s passage proves that money plays too large a role in public policy. We will be keeping the closest eye possible to make sure the ‘safe, local food’ that Ohio voters were promised becomes a reality. We will be watching.”

Warren Taylor, owner of Snowville Creamery, summed up the vote saying, “This loss shows that a multi-million dollar greenwashing campaign can buy a place in the Ohio Constitution. I fear for the future of small, sustainable, family farms.”

Joe Logan, Director of Agricultural Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council, agreed saying, “Ohioans allowed corporate agribusiness to amend our constitution with an unaccountable unchecked layer of bureaucracy. Farmers and consumers will face increased challenges in addressing agricultural issues that affect small farms, sustainable food production and our environment.”

Issue 3: Rev. John Edgar Calls on FOP, Other Endorsers to Rescind Support

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:39:38 EDT

Statement by Rev. John Edgar, Chairperson of the Anti-gambling Task Force of the United Methodist Church:

The promoters of Issue 3, Penn National Gaming Inc. and Mr. Dan Gilbert, have attempted to conceal the truth about the predatory nature of casino gambling and the fatal flaws in the self-serving proposal they wrote to create their monopoly in our constitution. They have spent 10s of millions of dollars on misleading advertising that falsely claims casinos will be good for Ohio offering empty promises of jobs and taxes. These distortions have confused many Ohioans, who sincerely wish the best for themselves and their fellow citizens in the midst of difficult times.

The truth however is very different. Issue 3 will harm Ohio because casinos by their very nature are predatory. Casinos prey upon the individuals who are enticed to gamble and harm the entire communities where they are located. This is why I have led the efforts by the United Methodist Church for 19 years to keep casinos out of our state.

Modern casinos rely primarily upon video slot machines, the most addictive form of gambling ever invented. The level of pathological gambling will increase by 100% in an area extending 50 miles in every direction from each of the four casinos that are proposed in Issue 3.

Casinos bring with them increased crime. The most definitive national studies document crime rates go up 8 to 10% each and every year, when a casino is brought into a community.

Casinos undermine the existing local economy. Each video slot machine installed at one of the proposed casinos will pull $100,000 out of the local economy. This will result in the loss of one permanent existing job for every slot machine. Issue 3 proposes 20,000 slot machines, which will eliminate a total of 20,000 jobs.

Furthermore, all of the social and economic problems caused by casinos undermine the budgets of local and state government. For every tax dollar raised by gambling, 3 tax dollars have to be spent responding to the devastation caused by gambling addiction and gambling related crime.

After months of debate and deception these facts are now well documented and indisputable.

Now in the last two weeks additional information about the unique flaws in this particular casino proposal have finally been lifted up by the media all across the state of Ohio. Legal and law enforcement experts now insist that it would result in Ohio having the weakest oversight of any state that allow casinos. Issue 3 is so narrowly written that it would exempt casino investors and most casino employees from the type of background checks that are required in every other state.

The recent news stories about Mr. Gilbert's past gambling arrest and the charges that he has misrepresented the facts about that event, serve as an important illustration that the Casino Control Commission should have the authority to investigate anyone who would own a casino facility, as well as authority over those who would indirectly control the operations. Sadly, Issue 3 would preclude the Casino Control Commission from making a decision on these types of essential matters, regarding Mr. Gilbert or any other potential owners and operators.

In light of all of these serious concerns I am asking the Fraternal Order of Police and every elected official who has previously supported Issue 3, to immediately and completely rescind their endorsements. I am confident that all of these individuals wish the best for the State of Ohio. They were undoubtedly sincere in their initial hopes that Issue 3 would help the citizens of Ohio. However, now the facts are clear. Issue 3 is fatally flawed. It is the worst of all the 5 casino proposals over the past 19 years.

Now is the moment for all of us to stand up with a unified voice and say no to Issue 3 and its misguided plan to harm our fellow citizens.

Issue 3 Face Dan Gilbert Loaned Corrupt Mayor Big Bucks

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:37:27 EDT

Via the Cleveland Leader, the Detroit Free-Press is reporting that Dan Gilbert loaned disgraced Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick a substantial amount of money after his felony conviction earlier this year.

Kilpatrick owes the financially ravaged city of Detroit a million dollars in restitution. During a hear yesterday, it emerged that Gilbert and others have loaned or gifted him nearly a quarter million dollars.

UPDATED Jean Schmidt uses Public Library for Cheap Political Points (AGAIN)

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:39:50 EDT

According to bios, Rep. Jean Schmidt is a member of the Clermony County Library Board of Trustees. Instead of quietly seeking to educate and enlighten the citizenry of Clermony County, Jean Schmidt and the library board are using their positions to score cheap political points in the press.

Today, Jean Schmidt is donating a copy of the House health care bill to the library system. While this is in itself fine, Schmidt then spewed forth a fountain of lies, claiming that the bill would “increase the cost of health-care coverage, mandate a government takeover, force people out of their current coverage and lead to the loss of millions of jobs.” These points are so absurd they don't even deserve debunking.

The article then features a fellow board member echoing Republican talking points:

“The library board is excited that this branch will be one of the few places where the public will be able to come and read this proposed bill,” said Joe Braun, president of the board of trustees.

In reality, theres are tens of millions of places where the public can come and read the bill, as it is freely available online.

Earlier this year, Braun rejected federal stimulus funds for the library. He said he was "appalled" by the requests, which included a $10,000 grant for literacy programs. Another grant request which appalled Braun would have allowed for 20 public computers with internet access. That would have allowed for a lot more people to read the health care bill, but would have denied Schmidt and Braun two opportunities to grandstand.

**Update**

Jean Schmidt has served on the library board for approximately 32 years.

***UPDATED***

And who is Joe Braun? None other than Jean Schmidt's ex-campaign manager.

Clock is Ticking: Will Ohio Senate Allow Vote on Crucial School Funding Measure?

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:29:00 EDT

Ohio Senate Democrats hosted a press conference today to call for swift passage of the Education Funding Protection Act (HB 318). They were joined by labor leaders including Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola, OFT President Sue Taylor and OEA Director of Governmental Services Ron Rapp.

The Education Funding Protection Act will temporarily freeze Ohio's tax rates at their current levels. State Senator Nina Turner said this is legislation that "should have been passed yesterday." If the bill is not passed by the end of the year, Ohio schools will likely face budget cuts of over 10%. Ohio would also lose eligibility for millions in federal funds, robbing our students of even more resources.

The bill is supported by virtually every large paper and union in the state and has already passed the Ohio House.

The Sauciest Bill of Attainder Discussion You'll Ever Hear

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:04:18 EDT

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) takes on Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA). Transcript here.

The Skinny on Gilbert's Gambling Arrest

Bret Thompson, ProgressOhio — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:38:27 EDT

TruthPAC stitches the news clips together to try and put the story of Issue 3 frontman Dan Gilbert. Short story: somebody almost certainly has their facts wrong.

According to 1981 news reports, a frightened bettor turned Dan Gilbert in for illegal gambling. He owed Gilbert money, so a policeman posing as the boy's father arrested the Issue 3 money man and others for running a gambling ring with over a hundred thousand dollars at stake.

Now Dan Gilbert wants Ohio to grant him a casino monopoly with Issue 3.

On Monday in Cleveland, Gilbert said the arrest was over an innocent game between 5-7 friends, they only played with football cards and "no money was ever exchanged" in the case. His spokesmen have said many times Gilbert was never convicted in the case. (READ HIS QUOTATION: http://bit.ly/2Cc9VH)

But in 2005 the Associated Press called it a football pool with $114,000 in wagers. AP says it wasn't just a few friends - they reported the ring started with a dozen students but grew fast into many more with $50, $100 and $200 bets. (READ AP ARTICLE: http://bit.ly/1mmIJe)

And if Gilbert wasn't convicted as a result of the police sting operation, why in 2005 did the Lansing State Journal say "Gilbert was sentenced at age 19 along with three others for violating state gambling laws." (READ LSJ ARTICLE: http://bit.ly/2CwnWy

Should Ohio grant a casino monopoly to a Michigan man arrested in a police sting for running an illegal gambling ring? Certainly not if he doesn't come clean about his arrest for running an illegal gambling ring in Lansing, Michigan. And even if he does, experts say Gilbert may not be able to win a casino license at all. (READ ENQUIRER ARTICLE: http://bit.ly/1O9UKu)