The words "Thank You" are all too brief to express the deep gratitude that I express to my family and all who helped in this campaign. We worked hard and found great success in our focus on issues. I am proud of our efforts and those who joined in the effort. We took many big steps toward building an orginazition. Many friendships were made and will continue. In a few words -
To all who helped - my thanks
To all who believed - my thanks
To all who encouraged - my thanks
To all who contributed - my thanks
To all who cared - we cared together
To all the needs realized - we share the realization
To all who worked - we worked together
To all who spoke up - we joined voices
We each grew and are better people for the journey
We take each moment - we begin again
2008 started yesterday - time to get started - all best - jfk
Friday, November 10, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Kostyo Awarded "Friend of Agriculture" by OFBF
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2006
John Kostyo Gains OFBF “Friend of Agriculture” Designation
(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), the state’s largest farm organization, today announced that John Kostyo, Democratic Candidate for the 76th Ohio House District, has gained the coveted “Friend of Agriculture” award for supporting agriculture and agribusiness.
“I am humbled and overwhelmed to receive this honor,” Kostyo said. “With deep family ties in farming, I know that agriculture is Ohio’s primary industry, and understand the critical responsibility that lawmakers must accept to protect and strengthen agribusiness in our state.”
“One in seven jobs in Ohio is related to agriculture” said Jack Fisher, OFBF executive vice president. “When lawmakers support agriculture, they are supporting an $80 billion per year industry. They are helping provide jobs, economic development and affordable food for Ohioans.”
Fisher explained that about 80 of 99 Ohio House members and 12 of 17 campaigning Senate members received the “Friend of Agriculture” designation this year. He said that legislators were rated on overall support of agriculture, specific votes on bills such as eminent domain and ethanol, as well as support of local Farm Bureau activities.
John Kostyo’s experience with agriculture varies with all those matters that are faced by a lawyer who represents an extended farm family. He has assisted in groundhog “removal” and obtained recoveries on grain certificates; engaged in negotiations and acquisitions involving farm properties; addressed and resolved issues dealing with animal waste; building and equipment rentals; aggressive efforts to acquire farm property for private commercial development; resolved EPA concerns involving herbicide spills and fuel spills; dealt with various farm insurance claims and estate planning considerations. As a result of these experiences, John Kostyo understands the many pressing issues facing family farms.
“I hope to represent the interests of farmers, agri-business and agbiosciences in the 76th Ohio House District,” said Kostyo. Before we can have a second or third frontier, we must make sure that our first – agriculture – is on solid footing.”
“In each of the villages and communities that are in our district, we enjoy affordable home-grown foods that nourish us and are vital to Ohio. We need to focus on policies that protect and promote agriculture. This is a jobs issue. Agriculture is a way of life for many Ohioans and an industry indispensable to our daily lives.”
August 28, 2006
John Kostyo Gains OFBF “Friend of Agriculture” Designation
(Columbus, Ohio) The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), the state’s largest farm organization, today announced that John Kostyo, Democratic Candidate for the 76th Ohio House District, has gained the coveted “Friend of Agriculture” award for supporting agriculture and agribusiness.
“I am humbled and overwhelmed to receive this honor,” Kostyo said. “With deep family ties in farming, I know that agriculture is Ohio’s primary industry, and understand the critical responsibility that lawmakers must accept to protect and strengthen agribusiness in our state.”
“One in seven jobs in Ohio is related to agriculture” said Jack Fisher, OFBF executive vice president. “When lawmakers support agriculture, they are supporting an $80 billion per year industry. They are helping provide jobs, economic development and affordable food for Ohioans.”
Fisher explained that about 80 of 99 Ohio House members and 12 of 17 campaigning Senate members received the “Friend of Agriculture” designation this year. He said that legislators were rated on overall support of agriculture, specific votes on bills such as eminent domain and ethanol, as well as support of local Farm Bureau activities.
John Kostyo’s experience with agriculture varies with all those matters that are faced by a lawyer who represents an extended farm family. He has assisted in groundhog “removal” and obtained recoveries on grain certificates; engaged in negotiations and acquisitions involving farm properties; addressed and resolved issues dealing with animal waste; building and equipment rentals; aggressive efforts to acquire farm property for private commercial development; resolved EPA concerns involving herbicide spills and fuel spills; dealt with various farm insurance claims and estate planning considerations. As a result of these experiences, John Kostyo understands the many pressing issues facing family farms.
“I hope to represent the interests of farmers, agri-business and agbiosciences in the 76th Ohio House District,” said Kostyo. Before we can have a second or third frontier, we must make sure that our first – agriculture – is on solid footing.”
“In each of the villages and communities that are in our district, we enjoy affordable home-grown foods that nourish us and are vital to Ohio. We need to focus on policies that protect and promote agriculture. This is a jobs issue. Agriculture is a way of life for many Ohioans and an industry indispensable to our daily lives.”
Thursday, August 24, 2006
CPA Questions and Answers
Recently, The Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants provided questions on topics of importance to CPAs and the business community, the following are my responses:
1. In legislation pertinent to the working papers of private CPA firms performing audits of publicly funded entities subject to open records laws, I would support legislation requiring retention of working papers for a reasonable period of time. This is a step under full disclosure at all times as has been proposed. In the event a claim arises that specifically requires reference to the working papers, memoranda and related documents, I suggest these should be subject to in camera review and inspection by an appropriate judge or magistrate before other use. I believe there should be a balance that favors disclosure while maintaining the professional integrity of the CPA firm conducting the audit. Further, this will allow the audit to be conducted in a cost effective manner while preserving potential evidence in the case of alleged illegal activity within the publicly funded entity.
2. I would not support expanding the Ohio sales tax to include professional accounting, tax audit and consulting services.
3. I would support creating a CPA/client testimonial privilege to ensure the CPA, unless fraud is involved, could not be forced by subpoena to reveal verbal discussions (and notes regarding those conversations but no other written documents) with clients.
4. Do you support the new broad based, low rate Commercial Activity Tax?
No. I support a fair and balanced tax on commercial activity. I believe that the basic premise of a low rate Commercial Activity Tax is a good idea that needs to find enactment in good legislation. The critical balance to the CAT direction must be found in responsible and controlled state spending. The phasing out of franchise, personal income and tangible personal property taxes creates a more inviting framework of business tax laws for the state of Ohio. In the balance, the state must exercise monetary restraint to take advantage of these business tax changes. If manufacturing is to return to the State of Ohio, the state must act with fiscal responsibility.
It is now well recognized that the CAT does not apply equally to all business. It is particularly harsh on general contractors and merchants who have high commercial activities in contracts or sales with a high cost of goods, labor or materials involved in the activity. Moreover, if a business suffers a loss, it is administratively difficult or fails to account for lost business income.
I do not favor caving out industry exceptions or tax credits to the CAT, but believe some of the internal statutory language may be modified to allow enforcement of a business tax that is perceived as fair for all impacted business without complex credits or exceptions.
5. State Spending: If you could cut state spending, where would you begin and why?
I believe the first way to cut state spending would be to require all contractors who seek to perform services for the state or its agencies bid competitively on the work. I have practiced law in firms that performed work for the Ohio Attorney General. The work was preformed by associates who charged the state substantially more than may be charged by other firms. I believe that allowing competitive bidding by qualified firms would save our taxpayers millions of dollars each year. I suggest that those firms that seek state contract work deserve to make a reasonable profit while serving the public. At the same time, the public served should not be exploited by non-competitive fees.
The next area in which I believe state spending may be cut is by making our administrative agencies more efficient in procedures, requiring their conversion to acceptance of electronic documents as now done with some federal agencies and a reduction in the number of non-substantive filings and hearings. This would save the agencies time and expense while allowing those who deal with them to engage in more substantive matters.
As an elected representative, I would seek to find means to simplify administrative demands and procedures while maintaining a respect for substantive rights. I believe that we
can seek higher levels of efficiencies from our business and social agencies while allowing better service to the citizens of our state.
6. Do you support the new statutory cap on state spending that resets the spending cap every fourth year at 3.5 percent of the prior ceiling (Senate Bill 321)?
I do not support tax and expenditure limitations in our state. I believe these measures are traps cloaked in political gimmickry. I believe self control is always better than legal or legislated control. As a result, I strongly favor self-imposed aggressive tax and expenditure restraints. I am also concerned that the rapid substitution of legislation for what appeared to be an ill advised and badly worded TEL amendment to the Ohio Constitution will result in lengthy litigation about applications, definitions and unresolved but necessary interpretations. I question whether such legislation will truly serve the citizens of our state and a desire for new business and economic progress.
7. What are the main priorities you will focus on as a member of the 127th Ohio General Assembly?
The main priority that I will focus on as a member of the 127th Ohio General Assembly is to restore investment in business and job growth in our state. Without continued investment in new business and jobs, Ohio will continue to suffer the exodus of it citizens to more promising states. I have proposed a plan called “Ohio First” that requires the funds held by our state agencies to be re-invested in business in our state. Ohio First is a plan to invest Ohio resources in business that invests in Ohio.
Second, I have stated that education is essential for the future of our state. This state must make the funding of education a priority. So often we say that our children are our future; however, it only appears that our children do not see their own futures in the State of Ohio. I believe that in education we find the singular key to open the door to Ohio’s future. I also believe that we must create an environment of cooperation between business and education that allows a promise of good jobs and prospects that gives each successive generation a reason to invest their lives and futures in our state. I believe that we must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. In our state, we need the talents of many diverse people with as much respect given for good working people as those who excel at math and science. With this said, if we make educational funding a singular priority, we make every thing else fall in line.
8. In your opinion, what separates you from your opponent(s) (i.e. philosophical and/or background)? Why should Ohio CPS’s support your candidacy?
The primary difference that separates me from my opponent is experience. I have engaged in civil law practice representing business interests for nearly 25 years. I have taught college classes in Contracts and Negotiable Instruments for over 15 years at The University of Findlay. My legal practice has required experience in regulatory work; statutory and case law
interpretation; litigation; contracts and dispute resolution. I am pleased to have successfully argued several landmark cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and Ohio Courts of Appeal. I have successfully litigated hundreds of cases, prepared the documentation necessary to complete and closed real estate, business, commercial loan and multi-million dollar merger transactions. Much of this work has required the successful coordination of applicable law with accounting professionals. This is particularly important in preparing and advising in business formation, audits, merger and acquisition work. I have experience in business with businesses. My opponent has no noted business or legal experience.
Second, I believe my focus and understanding of economic issues critical to the 76th Ohio House District and the State of Ohio separate me from my opponent. I have proposed “Ohio First” as a plan for the investment of Ohio funds into Ohio business. In borrowing from a supply side economic model, my first effort is to allow investment in business and job growth. Growth will allow the good working people in a working state to get to work. Business and Job growth will invite workers to our state and serve as an incentive for our children to invest their futures in Ohio. The growth appreciated will bring more funds into commercial activity and wages that will, in cycle, allow responsible tax money paid to the state. This money can be used to restore education, service and balance to our state budget.
Third, my philosophy of government separates me from my opponent. I believe in a government dedicated to the recognition and preservation of unalienable rights is the purpose for government. The purpose for government is to protect individual rights and serve people. This view places a focus on individuals and service to individual needs that includes support for business owners and those who work for them. When I combine my skills from years of law practice, experience and desire to serve the interests of the citizens in the 76th Ohio House District, I believe that through my representation, people my District will feel they have a strong, balanced and fair voice in Columbus
1. In legislation pertinent to the working papers of private CPA firms performing audits of publicly funded entities subject to open records laws, I would support legislation requiring retention of working papers for a reasonable period of time. This is a step under full disclosure at all times as has been proposed. In the event a claim arises that specifically requires reference to the working papers, memoranda and related documents, I suggest these should be subject to in camera review and inspection by an appropriate judge or magistrate before other use. I believe there should be a balance that favors disclosure while maintaining the professional integrity of the CPA firm conducting the audit. Further, this will allow the audit to be conducted in a cost effective manner while preserving potential evidence in the case of alleged illegal activity within the publicly funded entity.
2. I would not support expanding the Ohio sales tax to include professional accounting, tax audit and consulting services.
3. I would support creating a CPA/client testimonial privilege to ensure the CPA, unless fraud is involved, could not be forced by subpoena to reveal verbal discussions (and notes regarding those conversations but no other written documents) with clients.
4. Do you support the new broad based, low rate Commercial Activity Tax?
No. I support a fair and balanced tax on commercial activity. I believe that the basic premise of a low rate Commercial Activity Tax is a good idea that needs to find enactment in good legislation. The critical balance to the CAT direction must be found in responsible and controlled state spending. The phasing out of franchise, personal income and tangible personal property taxes creates a more inviting framework of business tax laws for the state of Ohio. In the balance, the state must exercise monetary restraint to take advantage of these business tax changes. If manufacturing is to return to the State of Ohio, the state must act with fiscal responsibility.
It is now well recognized that the CAT does not apply equally to all business. It is particularly harsh on general contractors and merchants who have high commercial activities in contracts or sales with a high cost of goods, labor or materials involved in the activity. Moreover, if a business suffers a loss, it is administratively difficult or fails to account for lost business income.
I do not favor caving out industry exceptions or tax credits to the CAT, but believe some of the internal statutory language may be modified to allow enforcement of a business tax that is perceived as fair for all impacted business without complex credits or exceptions.
5. State Spending: If you could cut state spending, where would you begin and why?
I believe the first way to cut state spending would be to require all contractors who seek to perform services for the state or its agencies bid competitively on the work. I have practiced law in firms that performed work for the Ohio Attorney General. The work was preformed by associates who charged the state substantially more than may be charged by other firms. I believe that allowing competitive bidding by qualified firms would save our taxpayers millions of dollars each year. I suggest that those firms that seek state contract work deserve to make a reasonable profit while serving the public. At the same time, the public served should not be exploited by non-competitive fees.
The next area in which I believe state spending may be cut is by making our administrative agencies more efficient in procedures, requiring their conversion to acceptance of electronic documents as now done with some federal agencies and a reduction in the number of non-substantive filings and hearings. This would save the agencies time and expense while allowing those who deal with them to engage in more substantive matters.
As an elected representative, I would seek to find means to simplify administrative demands and procedures while maintaining a respect for substantive rights. I believe that we
can seek higher levels of efficiencies from our business and social agencies while allowing better service to the citizens of our state.
6. Do you support the new statutory cap on state spending that resets the spending cap every fourth year at 3.5 percent of the prior ceiling (Senate Bill 321)?
I do not support tax and expenditure limitations in our state. I believe these measures are traps cloaked in political gimmickry. I believe self control is always better than legal or legislated control. As a result, I strongly favor self-imposed aggressive tax and expenditure restraints. I am also concerned that the rapid substitution of legislation for what appeared to be an ill advised and badly worded TEL amendment to the Ohio Constitution will result in lengthy litigation about applications, definitions and unresolved but necessary interpretations. I question whether such legislation will truly serve the citizens of our state and a desire for new business and economic progress.
7. What are the main priorities you will focus on as a member of the 127th Ohio General Assembly?
The main priority that I will focus on as a member of the 127th Ohio General Assembly is to restore investment in business and job growth in our state. Without continued investment in new business and jobs, Ohio will continue to suffer the exodus of it citizens to more promising states. I have proposed a plan called “Ohio First” that requires the funds held by our state agencies to be re-invested in business in our state. Ohio First is a plan to invest Ohio resources in business that invests in Ohio.
Second, I have stated that education is essential for the future of our state. This state must make the funding of education a priority. So often we say that our children are our future; however, it only appears that our children do not see their own futures in the State of Ohio. I believe that in education we find the singular key to open the door to Ohio’s future. I also believe that we must create an environment of cooperation between business and education that allows a promise of good jobs and prospects that gives each successive generation a reason to invest their lives and futures in our state. I believe that we must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. In our state, we need the talents of many diverse people with as much respect given for good working people as those who excel at math and science. With this said, if we make educational funding a singular priority, we make every thing else fall in line.
8. In your opinion, what separates you from your opponent(s) (i.e. philosophical and/or background)? Why should Ohio CPS’s support your candidacy?
The primary difference that separates me from my opponent is experience. I have engaged in civil law practice representing business interests for nearly 25 years. I have taught college classes in Contracts and Negotiable Instruments for over 15 years at The University of Findlay. My legal practice has required experience in regulatory work; statutory and case law
interpretation; litigation; contracts and dispute resolution. I am pleased to have successfully argued several landmark cases before the Ohio Supreme Court and Ohio Courts of Appeal. I have successfully litigated hundreds of cases, prepared the documentation necessary to complete and closed real estate, business, commercial loan and multi-million dollar merger transactions. Much of this work has required the successful coordination of applicable law with accounting professionals. This is particularly important in preparing and advising in business formation, audits, merger and acquisition work. I have experience in business with businesses. My opponent has no noted business or legal experience.
Second, I believe my focus and understanding of economic issues critical to the 76th Ohio House District and the State of Ohio separate me from my opponent. I have proposed “Ohio First” as a plan for the investment of Ohio funds into Ohio business. In borrowing from a supply side economic model, my first effort is to allow investment in business and job growth. Growth will allow the good working people in a working state to get to work. Business and Job growth will invite workers to our state and serve as an incentive for our children to invest their futures in Ohio. The growth appreciated will bring more funds into commercial activity and wages that will, in cycle, allow responsible tax money paid to the state. This money can be used to restore education, service and balance to our state budget.
Third, my philosophy of government separates me from my opponent. I believe in a government dedicated to the recognition and preservation of unalienable rights is the purpose for government. The purpose for government is to protect individual rights and serve people. This view places a focus on individuals and service to individual needs that includes support for business owners and those who work for them. When I combine my skills from years of law practice, experience and desire to serve the interests of the citizens in the 76th Ohio House District, I believe that through my representation, people my District will feel they have a strong, balanced and fair voice in Columbus
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
AARP Candidate Questionnaire - Kostyo Answers
LONG TIME CARE:
I strongly support redirecting funding from nursing homes to home and community based services.
I learned valued lessons about the importance of personal independence years ago in the course of my mother’s care for her mother, and later while caring for my mother. I understand that “home” has a significant and critical meaning of security for our aging parents and seniors. The ability of an individual to remain in their home serves as a continued guarantee of independence for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are the unalienable rights central to our Declaration of Independence and continue in meaning when not forfeited as we age by removal to nursing home care.
I support every effort to provide home and community base services like PASSPORT funded by Medicaid. These programs save invaluable individual independence and personal dignity that cannot be found in the very best nursing home facilities. Moreover, I believe PASSPORT and similar programs are a valid stewardship that save tax dollars in Ohio.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY:
I strongly support establishing evidence based research to compare drug effectiveness.
To restore “health care” as our “care for health,” we must fully restore the dynamic of patient-doctor relationships. We must fully empower doctors to actively address and follow the care of their patients. All too often, patients’ services and prescription drugs are directed, if not dictated, by health insurance providers. Often, this means that prescriptions are issued for newer and usually far more expensive drugs.
I support empowering our state to take every competitive approach available that will allow doctors to prescribe the correct drug that can be obtained at the most competitive price. Our states must pool every resource to exercise strong purchasing power for bulk purchases of prescription drugs.
I believe we should eliminate every border or barrier, international or otherwise, that allows for the purchase of prescription drugs at the most competitive price available from drug manufacturers.
When we save on the cost for prescription drugs, we reduce the state cost for Medicaid. I see this as my duty when elected as a steward of our public trust.
HEALTH CARE:
I strongly support empowering state government to play an active role to insure that every Ohioan has access to adequate and affordable health care.
I believe we must direct and empower individuals to take active responsibility for their personal health. Common sense directs that healthy people at each age will require less medical attention and less medical cost from our health care system. As a responsible first step in a transition from our present “health care” system to a prospective or “care for health” system, we must direct and reward physicians and health care providers to practice preventive medicine. I strongly support requiring health care providers to reimburse for preventive medical expenses.
Whether by a system as recently adopted in Massachusetts or as proposed by United States Senator John Kerry, we must see that every American citizen and every citizen of this state has coverage for their health and care.
I strongly support redirecting funding from nursing homes to home and community based services.
I learned valued lessons about the importance of personal independence years ago in the course of my mother’s care for her mother, and later while caring for my mother. I understand that “home” has a significant and critical meaning of security for our aging parents and seniors. The ability of an individual to remain in their home serves as a continued guarantee of independence for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are the unalienable rights central to our Declaration of Independence and continue in meaning when not forfeited as we age by removal to nursing home care.
I support every effort to provide home and community base services like PASSPORT funded by Medicaid. These programs save invaluable individual independence and personal dignity that cannot be found in the very best nursing home facilities. Moreover, I believe PASSPORT and similar programs are a valid stewardship that save tax dollars in Ohio.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY:
I strongly support establishing evidence based research to compare drug effectiveness.
To restore “health care” as our “care for health,” we must fully restore the dynamic of patient-doctor relationships. We must fully empower doctors to actively address and follow the care of their patients. All too often, patients’ services and prescription drugs are directed, if not dictated, by health insurance providers. Often, this means that prescriptions are issued for newer and usually far more expensive drugs.
I support empowering our state to take every competitive approach available that will allow doctors to prescribe the correct drug that can be obtained at the most competitive price. Our states must pool every resource to exercise strong purchasing power for bulk purchases of prescription drugs.
I believe we should eliminate every border or barrier, international or otherwise, that allows for the purchase of prescription drugs at the most competitive price available from drug manufacturers.
When we save on the cost for prescription drugs, we reduce the state cost for Medicaid. I see this as my duty when elected as a steward of our public trust.
HEALTH CARE:
I strongly support empowering state government to play an active role to insure that every Ohioan has access to adequate and affordable health care.
I believe we must direct and empower individuals to take active responsibility for their personal health. Common sense directs that healthy people at each age will require less medical attention and less medical cost from our health care system. As a responsible first step in a transition from our present “health care” system to a prospective or “care for health” system, we must direct and reward physicians and health care providers to practice preventive medicine. I strongly support requiring health care providers to reimburse for preventive medical expenses.
Whether by a system as recently adopted in Massachusetts or as proposed by United States Senator John Kerry, we must see that every American citizen and every citizen of this state has coverage for their health and care.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Endorsements - With Great Thanks
It is a pleasure for me to share the great news of receiving endorsements and the considerate thoughtfulness of those who have taken the time and effort to engage in the process.
First, I must thank the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Chapter, and the political action committee (PACE) for their endorsement. Social workers are critical to the many services and family supports on which our communities rely. More, social workers are daily involved in the recognition and protection of the most basic civil rights promised by our laws and Constitution. I am pleased to welcome the support and involvement of NASW Ohio members in my campaign and as experts on a range of social policy issues.
I am equally pleased to accept the endorsement of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4/AFL-CIO). OAPSE is more than 38,000 working men and women who daily perform services of our schools, Head Start programs, MMRD's and libraries in Ohio.
With equal enthusiasm I am pleased to accept the endorsement of the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Counsel for their endorsement of my candidacy as State Representative for the 76th District. These trades are fundamental to a vision of rebuilding Ohio from within with living wage jobs and skilled workers whose labor is the pillar on which our communities are based.
Once again, my thanks. I look forward to the insights and assistance that I have received. I look forward to serving the great people of my District and this State.
First, I must thank the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Chapter, and the political action committee (PACE) for their endorsement. Social workers are critical to the many services and family supports on which our communities rely. More, social workers are daily involved in the recognition and protection of the most basic civil rights promised by our laws and Constitution. I am pleased to welcome the support and involvement of NASW Ohio members in my campaign and as experts on a range of social policy issues.
I am equally pleased to accept the endorsement of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4/AFL-CIO). OAPSE is more than 38,000 working men and women who daily perform services of our schools, Head Start programs, MMRD's and libraries in Ohio.
With equal enthusiasm I am pleased to accept the endorsement of the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Counsel for their endorsement of my candidacy as State Representative for the 76th District. These trades are fundamental to a vision of rebuilding Ohio from within with living wage jobs and skilled workers whose labor is the pillar on which our communities are based.
Once again, my thanks. I look forward to the insights and assistance that I have received. I look forward to serving the great people of my District and this State.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Protecting Second Amendment Rights - Guns and Fly Rods
While visiting the many villages and communities that are the 76th Ohio House District, a commonly asked question is where I stand on the 2nd Amendment. Where am I with guns? The answer is easy: The United States Constitution, the highest law of our country preserves and protects the right of law-abiding Americans to own firearms.
As a gun owner and hunter, I strongly support the rights of law-abiding Americans to own and keep their firearms in their homes. I believe as a gun owner, I have a duty to own and use firearms with care and conscious responsibility. While the firearms owned at the time the 2nd Amendment was adopted have changed, the basic right of Americans to own firearms remains a hallmark of our American freedoms. I value and support this freedom.
As a member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, I believe that responsible gun ownership includes a balanced respect for wildlife and the preservation of our wildlife habitat. As the local chair for the Findlay Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for several years, I am proud of the many dollars raised and invested to preserve Ohio wetlands. As a member of Pheasants Forever, I feel a sense of pride when driving past acreage reclaimed and preserved as wildlife habitat.
So – you may consider that I am a 2nd Amendment – Gun Owning – Hunting – Tree Hugger.
I also enjoy fly fishing – not that it is protected through an amendment to our Constitution, but I would not mean to offend sporting anglers. Hold up your fly rods proudly!
As a gun owner and hunter, I strongly support the rights of law-abiding Americans to own and keep their firearms in their homes. I believe as a gun owner, I have a duty to own and use firearms with care and conscious responsibility. While the firearms owned at the time the 2nd Amendment was adopted have changed, the basic right of Americans to own firearms remains a hallmark of our American freedoms. I value and support this freedom.
As a member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever, I believe that responsible gun ownership includes a balanced respect for wildlife and the preservation of our wildlife habitat. As the local chair for the Findlay Chapter of Ducks Unlimited for several years, I am proud of the many dollars raised and invested to preserve Ohio wetlands. As a member of Pheasants Forever, I feel a sense of pride when driving past acreage reclaimed and preserved as wildlife habitat.
So – you may consider that I am a 2nd Amendment – Gun Owning – Hunting – Tree Hugger.
I also enjoy fly fishing – not that it is protected through an amendment to our Constitution, but I would not mean to offend sporting anglers. Hold up your fly rods proudly!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Farm Bureau - Questions and Answers
Recently, I have received a Farm Bureau questionnaire. As a Farm Bureau member, I am pleased to provide the questions and my responses.
1. If you are elected in November, what will your top two or three priorities be as a new legislator?
My first priority is to restore growth to jobs and business in Ohio through my “Ohio First” plan or similar efforts. Second, I will seek to give our public school funding and education a clear focus and direction for educational programs and professionals. Third, I will seek to cooperate in the development of a comprehensive energy plan to increase investment, production and use of biofuels in our state. I also believe there is a great need to return funding to agricultural research to address beneficial uses of animal waste, including energy conversion programs.
2. The economic contribution of agriculture in Ohio is significant. What role do you see agriculture playing in Ohio’s future. In general, what experience have you had with agriculture.
I believe agriculture will continue to play a significant role in the future of Ohio particularly with a re-newed focus on biofuels. I believe that agriculture and agribusiness will play a key role in Ohio’s future through increased farm operations, crops and market opportunities that address emerging needs.
My wife is a farm girl whose family still farms in Seneca and Crawford Counties. She continues to maintain an active interest in family farm operations and ownership of farm ground. I am not a farmer. My experience with agriculture varies with all those matters that are faced by a lawyer who represents an extended farm family where each family member offers their own skills to the whole enterprise. I have assisted in groundhog extermination; recoveries on grain certificates; land negotiations and acquisitions involving farm properties; issues including animal waste; building and equipment rentals; aggressive efforts to acquire farm property for private commercial development; EPA concerns involving herbicide spills and fuel spills; dealing with various farm insurance claims and estate planning considerations. I need only go home to know there are many pressing issues facing family farms.
3. One of the most prominent issues for farmers in Ohio is the regulation of the livestock industry. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) permitting process is one of the strongest and most comprehensive in the country. What is your knowledge of the ODA permitting process? What are the most important challenges facing the livestock industry in Ohio?
I have read a great deal about the ODA permit process. I am familiar with and have dealt directly with legal issues pertinent to hog operations. I believe the most important challenges facing the livestock industry in Ohio is dealing aggressively with concerns about animal waste. I believe that if animal waste can be converted to beneficial uses such as energy or other materials that may be looked upon as a resource, a great deal of the concerns about large livestock operations may be alleviated. I believe that the challenge of the livestock industry in Ohio is to anticipate difficult issues and meet each potential criticism with a positive contribution to the state and people who live in Ohio.
4. An important issue facing elected officials in Ohio is farmland preservation. What direction do you see Ohio going with respect to farmland preservation? Would you support increasing state funding of farmland easements?
I am concerned about the preservation of family farms in Ohio. The farms that I am most familiar with, while significant in acres are still family farms. I understand that much can be done with a few hundred acres of farm land; however, unless the land is used for specialized crops or concentrated livestock operations, maintaining the acreage may not be practical or cost effective. I also understand that smaller farm operations are increasingly pressured by larger operations when competing for land to expand. As farming becomes more competitive, it may only be expected that interests will compete for the same land with the prospect that the owner with the most to gain will also invest the most in expansion. I believe there must be some active support over the next several years to assist family farmers to remain in business. I would strongly consider farmland easements or other zoning measures as factors in the assistance of a complete agricultural economic plan that includes tax and fuel incentives to assist family farmers and farm operations.
5. Would you agree that one of the state’s top priorities in the next General Assembly will be developing a comprehensive energy plan including increased use and production of biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel?
Yes, I would suggest that one of the state’s top priorities for the past several terms of the General Assembly should have been the development of a comprehensive energy plan that includes biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel. At the same level of priorities is the investment in agrifuel research to convert animal waste into usable fuel resources. Through research we can develop biofuel efficiencies competitive with petroleum based fuels.
I also favor the investment of state funds into research and engineering that will allow more efficient and effective use of technologies in planting and harvesting our crops. This includes using GPS plotting of fields and calculating the most efficient ways to run equipment to realize substantial fuel savings and greater crop yields. These technologies are here today and need to be expanded to their full potential.
6. A recent United State Supreme Court decision approved of a taking of private property for economic development by another private individual. In response, the Ohio General Assembly appointed a task force to study and clarify Ohio’s eminent domain law. Should the definition of “public use” in the eminent domain law be defined to include the taking of private property for economic development that benefits another individual?
I respectfully suggest that simply changing the definition of “public use” in the eminent domain laws of Ohio will not fully limit eminent domain laws from being used to include the taking of private property from economic development.
I believe that the use of eminent domain must be absolutely limited to a minimal level of government taking when necessary for new roads, schools and infrastructure. I do not believe the state should have any role in seizing private property to assist changes in ownership merely to accommodate private economic development. Simple common sense reveals a vast difference between a taking of private property for necessary public use and property used in private development.
My family was directly affected by the abusive use of eminent domain in a seizure of property. Elected governmental officials acted in the most crass and reprehensible manner without any reason. At times, simply the effort to stand up to defend owning property subject to eminent domain interests was questioned by elected representatives as un-patriotic. It is difficult to imagine this in a free and democratic society that values private investment in property; but, I do know this has been done in a number of cases as an effective way to assert undue pressure on land owners.
These experiences allow me to understand that we must change existing laws and re-direct our courts to focus on the critical importance of preserving private property as a Constitutional Right in the State of Ohio. At this time, the judicial presumptions in our state do not appreciably favor the preservation of private property interests in the context of eminent domain proceedings. Simply changing the definition of “public use” is not sufficient when viewed in the context of how cases are actually litigated.
It is my position that a public need must be shown to justify a public taking of property. If a taking is necessary, then the actual economic value of the property must be considered to compensate property owners before the taking can be justified. Far too often, property owners, particularly farm families, lose valuable property to allow for future governmental expansions rather than address current needs. Once private property is lost, its value is lost for generations. We must make sure that if property is taken, the property lost is dedicated to serve the public for generations or the taking cannot be justified. We must make sure that the taking of property is not done to assist private developers to realize indirectly what they cannot do directly.
7. How do you think the legislature should approach the challenge of funding K-12 education as well as higher education and research?
First, education must be approached as a priority rather than simply another budgetary segment. I have suggested that if we demand our state government to act with the same stewardship and efficiency as we expect of modern farms, this would contribute substantially to producing funds for public education. We must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. I believe a great fault of our civic and political leaders has been to discuss education without a deep respect for the work of our teachers and the teaching profession. I would also suggest that many times, education is discussed as in academic study only in contrast to the practical skills necessary to operate equipment and maintain a farm operation.
The challenge of education is one of respect. We cannot expect to educate every child to become a nuclear or computer engineer. We can educate each child to accomplish the highest level of their individual potential. We must make the task of education one that makes sense to the people involved and fund them with the resources to accomplish the task.
Next, I believe we must relieve our property from the burden of funding public education. It does not make any sense for politicians to say they have reduced our income or personal property taxes only to find even greater burdens in local school levies and increased county sales taxes. We must follow the directions of the Ohio Supreme Court and relieve property from the burden of funding education. The fair way to fund education is a proportionate and balanced income tax. We can reduce property taxes and allow our teachers and educators to return to education rather than levy fund raisers. We all share an interest in the education of our children, each person, business and investor in our state. It is only fair that we share in the investment of our children’s future and the future of our state.
8. Why should the Farm Bureau support your candidacy?
I believe my background that combines civil, commercial and property law; representation of financial and business interests and agriculture gives me a unique and broad view with a practically understanding to represent issues important to Farm Bureau members. I have a long record of supporting business interests through nearly 25 years in civil law practice. Over that time, I have represented many farm families in difficult circumstances, resolved land issues and estates. My direct family focus on farm operations has helped me understand the ideas and concerns that face farm families. When I combine my skills from years of law practice, experience and desire to serve the interests of the citizens in the 76th Ohio House District, I can only think that through my representation the members of the Farm Bureau will feel they have a strong and fair voice in Columbus.
Thank you -
1. If you are elected in November, what will your top two or three priorities be as a new legislator?
My first priority is to restore growth to jobs and business in Ohio through my “Ohio First” plan or similar efforts. Second, I will seek to give our public school funding and education a clear focus and direction for educational programs and professionals. Third, I will seek to cooperate in the development of a comprehensive energy plan to increase investment, production and use of biofuels in our state. I also believe there is a great need to return funding to agricultural research to address beneficial uses of animal waste, including energy conversion programs.
2. The economic contribution of agriculture in Ohio is significant. What role do you see agriculture playing in Ohio’s future. In general, what experience have you had with agriculture.
I believe agriculture will continue to play a significant role in the future of Ohio particularly with a re-newed focus on biofuels. I believe that agriculture and agribusiness will play a key role in Ohio’s future through increased farm operations, crops and market opportunities that address emerging needs.
My wife is a farm girl whose family still farms in Seneca and Crawford Counties. She continues to maintain an active interest in family farm operations and ownership of farm ground. I am not a farmer. My experience with agriculture varies with all those matters that are faced by a lawyer who represents an extended farm family where each family member offers their own skills to the whole enterprise. I have assisted in groundhog extermination; recoveries on grain certificates; land negotiations and acquisitions involving farm properties; issues including animal waste; building and equipment rentals; aggressive efforts to acquire farm property for private commercial development; EPA concerns involving herbicide spills and fuel spills; dealing with various farm insurance claims and estate planning considerations. I need only go home to know there are many pressing issues facing family farms.
3. One of the most prominent issues for farmers in Ohio is the regulation of the livestock industry. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) permitting process is one of the strongest and most comprehensive in the country. What is your knowledge of the ODA permitting process? What are the most important challenges facing the livestock industry in Ohio?
I have read a great deal about the ODA permit process. I am familiar with and have dealt directly with legal issues pertinent to hog operations. I believe the most important challenges facing the livestock industry in Ohio is dealing aggressively with concerns about animal waste. I believe that if animal waste can be converted to beneficial uses such as energy or other materials that may be looked upon as a resource, a great deal of the concerns about large livestock operations may be alleviated. I believe that the challenge of the livestock industry in Ohio is to anticipate difficult issues and meet each potential criticism with a positive contribution to the state and people who live in Ohio.
4. An important issue facing elected officials in Ohio is farmland preservation. What direction do you see Ohio going with respect to farmland preservation? Would you support increasing state funding of farmland easements?
I am concerned about the preservation of family farms in Ohio. The farms that I am most familiar with, while significant in acres are still family farms. I understand that much can be done with a few hundred acres of farm land; however, unless the land is used for specialized crops or concentrated livestock operations, maintaining the acreage may not be practical or cost effective. I also understand that smaller farm operations are increasingly pressured by larger operations when competing for land to expand. As farming becomes more competitive, it may only be expected that interests will compete for the same land with the prospect that the owner with the most to gain will also invest the most in expansion. I believe there must be some active support over the next several years to assist family farmers to remain in business. I would strongly consider farmland easements or other zoning measures as factors in the assistance of a complete agricultural economic plan that includes tax and fuel incentives to assist family farmers and farm operations.
5. Would you agree that one of the state’s top priorities in the next General Assembly will be developing a comprehensive energy plan including increased use and production of biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel?
Yes, I would suggest that one of the state’s top priorities for the past several terms of the General Assembly should have been the development of a comprehensive energy plan that includes biofuels, including ethanol and biodiesel. At the same level of priorities is the investment in agrifuel research to convert animal waste into usable fuel resources. Through research we can develop biofuel efficiencies competitive with petroleum based fuels.
I also favor the investment of state funds into research and engineering that will allow more efficient and effective use of technologies in planting and harvesting our crops. This includes using GPS plotting of fields and calculating the most efficient ways to run equipment to realize substantial fuel savings and greater crop yields. These technologies are here today and need to be expanded to their full potential.
6. A recent United State Supreme Court decision approved of a taking of private property for economic development by another private individual. In response, the Ohio General Assembly appointed a task force to study and clarify Ohio’s eminent domain law. Should the definition of “public use” in the eminent domain law be defined to include the taking of private property for economic development that benefits another individual?
I respectfully suggest that simply changing the definition of “public use” in the eminent domain laws of Ohio will not fully limit eminent domain laws from being used to include the taking of private property from economic development.
I believe that the use of eminent domain must be absolutely limited to a minimal level of government taking when necessary for new roads, schools and infrastructure. I do not believe the state should have any role in seizing private property to assist changes in ownership merely to accommodate private economic development. Simple common sense reveals a vast difference between a taking of private property for necessary public use and property used in private development.
My family was directly affected by the abusive use of eminent domain in a seizure of property. Elected governmental officials acted in the most crass and reprehensible manner without any reason. At times, simply the effort to stand up to defend owning property subject to eminent domain interests was questioned by elected representatives as un-patriotic. It is difficult to imagine this in a free and democratic society that values private investment in property; but, I do know this has been done in a number of cases as an effective way to assert undue pressure on land owners.
These experiences allow me to understand that we must change existing laws and re-direct our courts to focus on the critical importance of preserving private property as a Constitutional Right in the State of Ohio. At this time, the judicial presumptions in our state do not appreciably favor the preservation of private property interests in the context of eminent domain proceedings. Simply changing the definition of “public use” is not sufficient when viewed in the context of how cases are actually litigated.
It is my position that a public need must be shown to justify a public taking of property. If a taking is necessary, then the actual economic value of the property must be considered to compensate property owners before the taking can be justified. Far too often, property owners, particularly farm families, lose valuable property to allow for future governmental expansions rather than address current needs. Once private property is lost, its value is lost for generations. We must make sure that if property is taken, the property lost is dedicated to serve the public for generations or the taking cannot be justified. We must make sure that the taking of property is not done to assist private developers to realize indirectly what they cannot do directly.
7. How do you think the legislature should approach the challenge of funding K-12 education as well as higher education and research?
First, education must be approached as a priority rather than simply another budgetary segment. I have suggested that if we demand our state government to act with the same stewardship and efficiency as we expect of modern farms, this would contribute substantially to producing funds for public education. We must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. I believe a great fault of our civic and political leaders has been to discuss education without a deep respect for the work of our teachers and the teaching profession. I would also suggest that many times, education is discussed as in academic study only in contrast to the practical skills necessary to operate equipment and maintain a farm operation.
The challenge of education is one of respect. We cannot expect to educate every child to become a nuclear or computer engineer. We can educate each child to accomplish the highest level of their individual potential. We must make the task of education one that makes sense to the people involved and fund them with the resources to accomplish the task.
Next, I believe we must relieve our property from the burden of funding public education. It does not make any sense for politicians to say they have reduced our income or personal property taxes only to find even greater burdens in local school levies and increased county sales taxes. We must follow the directions of the Ohio Supreme Court and relieve property from the burden of funding education. The fair way to fund education is a proportionate and balanced income tax. We can reduce property taxes and allow our teachers and educators to return to education rather than levy fund raisers. We all share an interest in the education of our children, each person, business and investor in our state. It is only fair that we share in the investment of our children’s future and the future of our state.
8. Why should the Farm Bureau support your candidacy?
I believe my background that combines civil, commercial and property law; representation of financial and business interests and agriculture gives me a unique and broad view with a practically understanding to represent issues important to Farm Bureau members. I have a long record of supporting business interests through nearly 25 years in civil law practice. Over that time, I have represented many farm families in difficult circumstances, resolved land issues and estates. My direct family focus on farm operations has helped me understand the ideas and concerns that face farm families. When I combine my skills from years of law practice, experience and desire to serve the interests of the citizens in the 76th Ohio House District, I can only think that through my representation the members of the Farm Bureau will feel they have a strong and fair voice in Columbus.
Thank you -
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Border v. Homeland Security
With all respect, I suggest the discussion about securing the borders of our country is misplaced. By public statements, our political leaders appear to give substantial attention to our border with Mexico and wink at Canada. While there is a critical problem with “illegals immigrants” crossing borders, our focus fails to acknowledge the actual issue of our homeland security. Once again, we miss the point.
The 19 participants in the 9/11 attacks came into our country through a security checkpoint system that they had analyzed and knew how to defeat. “The 9/11 Commission Report” reveals narratives about how the 19 al Qaeda operatives could have been watch listed; presented passports manipulated in a fraudulent manner; presented passports with suspicious indicators of extremism and made detectable false statements on Visa applications. Each of the 19 operatives made false statements to border officials to gain entry into the United States. Each of the 19 operatives violated immigration laws while in the United States. None of these 19 operatives were stopped.
I believe the American people do still remember how we felt on 9/11. It is time to target terrorist travel; invest in intelligence and security strategies that engage the lessons learned from 9/11. There are millions of illegal people who come into this country with passports and visa’s. They are now lost in America with little risk of detection. Let us pay these “illegals” the attention we failed to give before 9/11.
Perhaps sending “illegals immigrants” back to their country of origin provides a sense of comfort and feeling of success in short term political problem solving. Yet, these actions cannot be accepted as a responsible defense of our national security. There is a genuine difference between a person who violates our borders to become an illegal worker and an individual who enters our country illegally for purposes of commiting terrorist acts. We must recognize the difference in the enactment and administration of our border security laws. It is time our political leaders attend to necessary specialization in an integrated national security workforce; meaningful inter-agency cooperation and assurance that we have developed an institutional structure with sufficient expertise in intelligence and real security.
As a people, we cannot solve actual problems by allowing ourselves to be distracted by partial solutions that do not address the lessons left. Perhaps, with great regret, the lesson that should be learned from 9/11 has yet to be acknowledged and it is just easier to look south.
The 19 participants in the 9/11 attacks came into our country through a security checkpoint system that they had analyzed and knew how to defeat. “The 9/11 Commission Report” reveals narratives about how the 19 al Qaeda operatives could have been watch listed; presented passports manipulated in a fraudulent manner; presented passports with suspicious indicators of extremism and made detectable false statements on Visa applications. Each of the 19 operatives made false statements to border officials to gain entry into the United States. Each of the 19 operatives violated immigration laws while in the United States. None of these 19 operatives were stopped.
I believe the American people do still remember how we felt on 9/11. It is time to target terrorist travel; invest in intelligence and security strategies that engage the lessons learned from 9/11. There are millions of illegal people who come into this country with passports and visa’s. They are now lost in America with little risk of detection. Let us pay these “illegals” the attention we failed to give before 9/11.
Perhaps sending “illegals immigrants” back to their country of origin provides a sense of comfort and feeling of success in short term political problem solving. Yet, these actions cannot be accepted as a responsible defense of our national security. There is a genuine difference between a person who violates our borders to become an illegal worker and an individual who enters our country illegally for purposes of commiting terrorist acts. We must recognize the difference in the enactment and administration of our border security laws. It is time our political leaders attend to necessary specialization in an integrated national security workforce; meaningful inter-agency cooperation and assurance that we have developed an institutional structure with sufficient expertise in intelligence and real security.
As a people, we cannot solve actual problems by allowing ourselves to be distracted by partial solutions that do not address the lessons left. Perhaps, with great regret, the lesson that should be learned from 9/11 has yet to be acknowledged and it is just easier to look south.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Thanks - The May 2nd Primary
I offer my sincere thanks for all who took the time and effort to write my name in as the Democratic Candidate for the 76th Ohio House District. With each person I have met while visiting neighborhoods, events and organizations, I realize the great desire for change in the course of our state government. I believe there is a great desire in our district to return the purpose and focus of our government to the people.
The focus of my campaign is to address and serve the needs of people who live in the 76th Ohio House District. We have a district diverse in people, communities and pursuits but united in the necessity to find a single future. I see our future in the proud wisdom of our past acknowledgement that "In God, All things are Possible." We are called to begin again to make what is possible a part of our every day lives. We can and must do this -
Once again, my thanks to all who have supported me to this point and a focus on the great opportunity ahead. John F. Kostyo
The focus of my campaign is to address and serve the needs of people who live in the 76th Ohio House District. We have a district diverse in people, communities and pursuits but united in the necessity to find a single future. I see our future in the proud wisdom of our past acknowledgement that "In God, All things are Possible." We are called to begin again to make what is possible a part of our every day lives. We can and must do this -
Once again, my thanks to all who have supported me to this point and a focus on the great opportunity ahead. John F. Kostyo
Statements on the Issues
Agriculture: My first plan to serve agriculture in the 76th District is to take the demands made on our farm families and apply them to our state government. We must take those values that allow stewardship of the land and place them into a stewardship of public trust. In this, I believe we must demand that our state government operate in an ever increasing efficient and cost effective manner.
A first step to accomplish this would be to require firms that seek to conduct business with the state engage in competitive bidding for the work. If we demand competition at every state level from those outside firms that seek to do business with the state we will realize a savings of millions in our state budget.
I strongly favor efforts to expedite the development and production of alternate fuels in our District that pass cost savings to our agri-business. These fuels include soy diesel, ethanol and other bio-fuels.
I favor the investment of state funds into research and engineering that will allow more efficient and effective use of technologies in planting and harvesting our crops. This includes using GPS plotting of fields and calculating the most efficient ways to run equipment to realize fuel savings and greater crop yields. These technologies are here today and need to be expanded to their full potential.
Eminent Domain: I believe that the use of eminent domain must be absolutely limited to a minimal level of government taking when necessary for new roads, schools and infrastructure. I do not believe the state should have any role in seizing private property to assist changes in ownership merely to assist private economic development. Simple common sense reveals a vast difference between a taking of private property for necessary public use and property used in private development.
My family was directly affected by the abusive use of eminent domain in a seizure of property. Elected governmental officials acted in the most crass and reprehensible manner without any reason. This experience allowed me to understand that we must change existing laws and re-direct our courts to focus on the critical importance of preserving private property as a Constitutional Right in the State of Ohio. At this time, the judicial presumptions in our state do not appreciably favor the preservation of private property interests in the context of eminent domain proceedings.
It is my position that a public need must be shown to justify a public taking of property. If a taking is necessary, then the actual economic value of the property must be considered to compensate property owners before the taking can be justified. Far too often, property owners lose valuable property to allow for future governmental expansions rather than address current needs. Once private property is lost, its value is lost for generations.We must make sure that if property is taken, the property lost is dedicated to serve the public for generations or the taking cannot be justified. We must make sure that the taking of property is not done to assist private developers to realize indirectly what they cannot do directly.
Tax Expenditure Limitations: I do not support tax and expenditure limitations in our state. These measures are traps cloaked in political gimmickry. I believe self control is always better than legal control. As a result, I strongly favor self-imposed aggressive tax and expenditure restraints. It is a sad statement when those who have failed to restrain taxes or spending over years in office somehow suggest voters conceal their irresponsibility and failures under an ill advised and badly worded amendment to our state Constitution.
TEL is a thinly veiled excuse offered to compensate for financial mismanagement and a political spree from years of pay-to-play politics in our state. This political gimmick, from evidence of its disastrous effects in other applications, will result in frivolous lawsuits; expensive special elections and take money from local communities, education, public safety, health care and child protections. Ohio needs real answers for real problems, not proffers that cover Republican mistakes and mismanagement. We need real change in our state now.
Education: This state must make the funding of education a priority. We must return professional respect and esteem to teachers and the teaching profession. My parents were teachers, my wife is a teacher, my sisters are teachers and I taught at the University of Findlay for over 15 years. While education and the teaching profession may be good political sport, most professional teachers have far more education than many of our esteemed politicians.In education we find the singular key to open the door to Ohio’s future.
We must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. I believe a great fault of our civic and political leaders has been to discuss education without a deep respect for the work of our teachers and the teaching profession.We must remember that there should be as much respect for the professional who builds our schools and those who teach there; as much respect for those who plant our crops as those who process and serve us; we need to return respect to good working people as much those who excel at math and science. With this said, if we make educational funding a budgetary priority, we make every thing else fall in line.
Next, I believe we must relieve our property from the burden of funding public education. It does not make any sense for politicians to say they have reduced our income or personal property taxes only to find even greater burdens in local school levies and increased county sales taxes. We must follow the directions of the Ohio Supreme Court and relieve property from the burden of funding education. The fair way to fund education is a proportionate and balanced income tax. We can reduce property taxes and allow our teachers and educators to return to education rather than levy fund raisers. We all share an interest in the education of our children, each person, business and investor in our state. It is only fair that we share in the investment of our children’s future and the future of our state.
We must fund demands on education, find meaningful ways to measure the effectiveness of our schools and reward students and educators for superior efforts. I would support an end to voucher programs and charter schools that seek public money but are not subject to the same standards or demands as our public schools. These devices are clear evidence of the pay-to-play benefits derived from the corrupt Taft political culture. If a school falls below educational standards, I suggest using teams of experienced educational professionals who can go to the subject school or system, assess and determine reasons and needs then assist the school or system return to the level of education we want our state to achieve.
Health Care Reform: Our economy has hit a firm wall which necessitates responsible and focused reform to the manner and scope of health care. A basic level of health care must be considered a right of every citizen of our state and our country. No person should be left without the medical care, prescription drugs or preventive care necessary to maintain their lives. Small investments in preventive care can save costly visits to emergency rooms and prevent extended hospitalization.
As a society, we must recognize that the cost of extending basic health care to every citizen preserves life, liberty and allows all the pursuit of happiness. No person should be forced to choose between eating, paying rents or mortgages or paying for medical costs and prescription drugs. I suggest that providing a minimum level of health care to all our citizens will result in a far healthier population in our state with children and adults less dependent on emergency care when they do not have health coverage and then forced to file bankruptcy when they could not pay for the costs.
Ohio First - Economics and Jobs: The most important issue facing our state is the growth of business and jobs. We have an incredible range of opportunities in our state and it is time we seek to realize these dreams. My plan is called “Ohio First.” We must ask ourselves why in a state seeking business investment and growth, would we invest money somewhere other than back into the people and business who earned and paid that money? No farmer would plant seeds in another field hoping to realize a crop they could not harvest. We must become good stewards of our own resources and use those resources to realize our future.
If we want to grow business in Ohio, we must invest in ourselves. The very thought that Ohio fund managers would allow the investment of $215 million in an off shore hedge fund is incredible. Our first consideration for investment of Ohio dollars must be in Ohio. Even if that money is lost, the investment would create jobs and growth for the people and business who matter most right here at home. We are all too well aware that the sum of $215 was invested and lost in an off shore hedge fund. I believe that investing in Ohio First is far better than losing the money in Bermuda or the Bahamas.
It is possible to find some entertainment in Bob Taft's approval of his friend’s speculation in collectable coins. Collecting rare coins, stamps and baseball cards may be a lot of fun. My preference is for baseball cards and autographed baseballs. But these hobbies cannot be the place were Ohio Fund dollars are invested. Yet the amount of $50 million dollars of Workers Compensation funds was invested in rare coins. Of the $50 million dollars invested in rare coins, it appears some $13 million dollars got diverted with many thousands paid to Republican politicians. This money would go a long way if loaned to Ohio business entities for growth and repaid at market rate interest. Market rate interest is far better than the 2.5 % rate in which these funds are presently invested. Further, the 1 billion dollars reported lost in the form of potential investment returns during the last decade by relying on sub par investment managers for Ohio funds, as reported by the Oversight Commission, would go a long way to re-vitalizing business in Ohio.From this, comes “Ohio First.”
As the people and businesses invested in Ohio every day, why shouldn't Ohioans get the first preference for the investment of Ohio dollars - Ohio fund dollars - or at least a large part of the $15.7 or so billion dollars just in the Ohio Workers' Compensation fund. We can invest these dollars in new fuel resources like soy-diesel or ethanol or hydrogen fuel cells; new technology for business products, invite new business that promise family wage jobs and invite our children to return to our communities. These are opportunities we owe to the future of our State.My vision is to begin our future today.
It is time again to proclaim “With God, All Things Are Possible” and time to begin again making what is possible a part of our everyday lives - in Ohio.
A first step to accomplish this would be to require firms that seek to conduct business with the state engage in competitive bidding for the work. If we demand competition at every state level from those outside firms that seek to do business with the state we will realize a savings of millions in our state budget.
I strongly favor efforts to expedite the development and production of alternate fuels in our District that pass cost savings to our agri-business. These fuels include soy diesel, ethanol and other bio-fuels.
I favor the investment of state funds into research and engineering that will allow more efficient and effective use of technologies in planting and harvesting our crops. This includes using GPS plotting of fields and calculating the most efficient ways to run equipment to realize fuel savings and greater crop yields. These technologies are here today and need to be expanded to their full potential.
Eminent Domain: I believe that the use of eminent domain must be absolutely limited to a minimal level of government taking when necessary for new roads, schools and infrastructure. I do not believe the state should have any role in seizing private property to assist changes in ownership merely to assist private economic development. Simple common sense reveals a vast difference between a taking of private property for necessary public use and property used in private development.
My family was directly affected by the abusive use of eminent domain in a seizure of property. Elected governmental officials acted in the most crass and reprehensible manner without any reason. This experience allowed me to understand that we must change existing laws and re-direct our courts to focus on the critical importance of preserving private property as a Constitutional Right in the State of Ohio. At this time, the judicial presumptions in our state do not appreciably favor the preservation of private property interests in the context of eminent domain proceedings.
It is my position that a public need must be shown to justify a public taking of property. If a taking is necessary, then the actual economic value of the property must be considered to compensate property owners before the taking can be justified. Far too often, property owners lose valuable property to allow for future governmental expansions rather than address current needs. Once private property is lost, its value is lost for generations.We must make sure that if property is taken, the property lost is dedicated to serve the public for generations or the taking cannot be justified. We must make sure that the taking of property is not done to assist private developers to realize indirectly what they cannot do directly.
Tax Expenditure Limitations: I do not support tax and expenditure limitations in our state. These measures are traps cloaked in political gimmickry. I believe self control is always better than legal control. As a result, I strongly favor self-imposed aggressive tax and expenditure restraints. It is a sad statement when those who have failed to restrain taxes or spending over years in office somehow suggest voters conceal their irresponsibility and failures under an ill advised and badly worded amendment to our state Constitution.
TEL is a thinly veiled excuse offered to compensate for financial mismanagement and a political spree from years of pay-to-play politics in our state. This political gimmick, from evidence of its disastrous effects in other applications, will result in frivolous lawsuits; expensive special elections and take money from local communities, education, public safety, health care and child protections. Ohio needs real answers for real problems, not proffers that cover Republican mistakes and mismanagement. We need real change in our state now.
Education: This state must make the funding of education a priority. We must return professional respect and esteem to teachers and the teaching profession. My parents were teachers, my wife is a teacher, my sisters are teachers and I taught at the University of Findlay for over 15 years. While education and the teaching profession may be good political sport, most professional teachers have far more education than many of our esteemed politicians.In education we find the singular key to open the door to Ohio’s future.
We must seek to educate each child from pre-school to the highest level of education each can achieve. I believe a great fault of our civic and political leaders has been to discuss education without a deep respect for the work of our teachers and the teaching profession.We must remember that there should be as much respect for the professional who builds our schools and those who teach there; as much respect for those who plant our crops as those who process and serve us; we need to return respect to good working people as much those who excel at math and science. With this said, if we make educational funding a budgetary priority, we make every thing else fall in line.
Next, I believe we must relieve our property from the burden of funding public education. It does not make any sense for politicians to say they have reduced our income or personal property taxes only to find even greater burdens in local school levies and increased county sales taxes. We must follow the directions of the Ohio Supreme Court and relieve property from the burden of funding education. The fair way to fund education is a proportionate and balanced income tax. We can reduce property taxes and allow our teachers and educators to return to education rather than levy fund raisers. We all share an interest in the education of our children, each person, business and investor in our state. It is only fair that we share in the investment of our children’s future and the future of our state.
We must fund demands on education, find meaningful ways to measure the effectiveness of our schools and reward students and educators for superior efforts. I would support an end to voucher programs and charter schools that seek public money but are not subject to the same standards or demands as our public schools. These devices are clear evidence of the pay-to-play benefits derived from the corrupt Taft political culture. If a school falls below educational standards, I suggest using teams of experienced educational professionals who can go to the subject school or system, assess and determine reasons and needs then assist the school or system return to the level of education we want our state to achieve.
Health Care Reform: Our economy has hit a firm wall which necessitates responsible and focused reform to the manner and scope of health care. A basic level of health care must be considered a right of every citizen of our state and our country. No person should be left without the medical care, prescription drugs or preventive care necessary to maintain their lives. Small investments in preventive care can save costly visits to emergency rooms and prevent extended hospitalization.
As a society, we must recognize that the cost of extending basic health care to every citizen preserves life, liberty and allows all the pursuit of happiness. No person should be forced to choose between eating, paying rents or mortgages or paying for medical costs and prescription drugs. I suggest that providing a minimum level of health care to all our citizens will result in a far healthier population in our state with children and adults less dependent on emergency care when they do not have health coverage and then forced to file bankruptcy when they could not pay for the costs.
Ohio First - Economics and Jobs: The most important issue facing our state is the growth of business and jobs. We have an incredible range of opportunities in our state and it is time we seek to realize these dreams. My plan is called “Ohio First.” We must ask ourselves why in a state seeking business investment and growth, would we invest money somewhere other than back into the people and business who earned and paid that money? No farmer would plant seeds in another field hoping to realize a crop they could not harvest. We must become good stewards of our own resources and use those resources to realize our future.
If we want to grow business in Ohio, we must invest in ourselves. The very thought that Ohio fund managers would allow the investment of $215 million in an off shore hedge fund is incredible. Our first consideration for investment of Ohio dollars must be in Ohio. Even if that money is lost, the investment would create jobs and growth for the people and business who matter most right here at home. We are all too well aware that the sum of $215 was invested and lost in an off shore hedge fund. I believe that investing in Ohio First is far better than losing the money in Bermuda or the Bahamas.
It is possible to find some entertainment in Bob Taft's approval of his friend’s speculation in collectable coins. Collecting rare coins, stamps and baseball cards may be a lot of fun. My preference is for baseball cards and autographed baseballs. But these hobbies cannot be the place were Ohio Fund dollars are invested. Yet the amount of $50 million dollars of Workers Compensation funds was invested in rare coins. Of the $50 million dollars invested in rare coins, it appears some $13 million dollars got diverted with many thousands paid to Republican politicians. This money would go a long way if loaned to Ohio business entities for growth and repaid at market rate interest. Market rate interest is far better than the 2.5 % rate in which these funds are presently invested. Further, the 1 billion dollars reported lost in the form of potential investment returns during the last decade by relying on sub par investment managers for Ohio funds, as reported by the Oversight Commission, would go a long way to re-vitalizing business in Ohio.From this, comes “Ohio First.”
As the people and businesses invested in Ohio every day, why shouldn't Ohioans get the first preference for the investment of Ohio dollars - Ohio fund dollars - or at least a large part of the $15.7 or so billion dollars just in the Ohio Workers' Compensation fund. We can invest these dollars in new fuel resources like soy-diesel or ethanol or hydrogen fuel cells; new technology for business products, invite new business that promise family wage jobs and invite our children to return to our communities. These are opportunities we owe to the future of our State.My vision is to begin our future today.
It is time again to proclaim “With God, All Things Are Possible” and time to begin again making what is possible a part of our everyday lives - in Ohio.
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