ProgressOhio

Issue 5 opponents like COAST, the Ohio Christian Alliance, the Buckeye Institute, State Representative Brinkman, Governor Huckabee, & former gubernatorial candidate Blackwell appear to be using the prosperity gospel as justification for advocating on behalf of predatory lenders.

From the "Gospel of Bling" in Sojourner's magazine:

"The gospel of prosperity: "Greed is good." The "gospel of prosperity" refers to the cultural ideology that suggests that the accumulation of material possessions, wealth, and prosperity are morally neutral goods that are necessary for human happiness. I characterize it as an ideology rather than merely an idea because it functions like a powerful, unconscious force that does not revise its position in the face of counterevidence. For instance, its advocates would not admit that possessing material goods in excess may actually induce unhappiness. As an ideology, its believers insist upon its correctness, deny the legitimacy of other perspectives, and pursue wealth without concern for long-term consequences. Prosperity becomes an intrinsic good and an end in itself."

Organizations like the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes, the Buckeye Institute (Blackwell's employer) and individuals like Representative Tom Brinkman, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell are extending their belief in the prosperity doctrine to a dangerous new level: by carrying the water for the payday lending industry.

COAST, again, only has 6 individual members who include David Langdon with ties to the Ohio Christian Alliance and Representative Tom Brinkman. COAST is based in Cincinnati and clearly has ties to the Buckeye Institute given that their press releases are immediately placed on the their website. The Buckeye Institute touted research from none other than William Keip (of William Keip Government Solutions) who received $8,400 to perform an economic impact study for the payday lending industry. Representative Tom Brinkman is our good friend who introduced legislation to prohibit the adoption of children by gay parents: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_515 (sounds like a personal problem). And lo and behold, good 'ol Mike Huckabee has schlepped for the industry by recording a robo call to conservative voters.

Add to the list of God and tax fearing Issue 5 opponents, Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., founder of the High Impact Leadership Coalition (HILC). Bishop Jackson has flown into Ohio from College Park, Maryland to schlep for the payday lending industry in African American churches throughout the state of Ohio. It seems that African American ministers and pastors in Ohio thankfully couldn't be bought by the industry, so they had to hire their own carpetbagger from outside the borders of our state!

COAST today sent out a press release callously attacking homeless advocates suggesting untruthfully that state and federal dollars have been utilized to fight the predatory payday lending industry.

Here is COHHIO's response:

"COAST's comments are insulting - and incorrect. In 2007, the majority of COHHIO's revenue came from non-governmental sources. COHHIO brought in $1.7 million last year, and just $682,000 was state or federal money.

COHHIO's contributions to the YES on Issue 5 campaign came exclusively from emergency reserves that have accumulated over many years. The reserves include money from private foundations, private corporations, private citizens and - recently - an anonymous $45,000 stock donation.

No public money ever goes into the reserves. COHHIO must document how each public dollar is spent and must return any unspent funds."

COAST's efforts smack of desperation on the part of an industry whose efforts to lie to voters have failed miserably. What is consistent among most of these groups and individuals is their willingness to accept money from predatory lenders and then advocate on their behalf.

It's clear the industry will do anything, say anything and buy anyone to hijack Ohio's election. They've stolen enough millions of Ohioans' hard earned dollars and it's time to say YES to payday lending reform!

Vote Yes on Issue 5!