‘Have to end that dependence’

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8:59 AM Tuesday, July 21, 2009

For too long, America has been dependent on unstable countries for our oil. We have to end that dependence. We need to make our energy clean and make it American.

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step last month when it passed the historic American Clean Energy and Security Act. While John Boehner would continue to have us send hundreds of millions of dollars every day to Middle East countries, Steve Driehaus stood up to big oil and put our national security first. Thank you, Rep. Driehaus, for voting for energy independence and new jobs for Southwest Ohio.

Micah Vieux

Middletown

Columbus ‘big brains’ driving state off cliff

Woe is Ohio. The unemployment numbers for the private sector workers in Ohio has hit 11 percent, and the polling numbers for President Barack Obama have gone from 62 percent approval rating earlier this year down to 49 percent. Ohioans are frustrated with the Obama administration. The people feel as though the stimulus money was a mistake and is not working.

The facts as they exist are that the State of Ohio has had fiscal problems long before the collapse of the economy. The manufacturing base in Ohio has been hemorrhaging jobs for the past two decades. Our state officials, as well as the ones we have sent to Washington, have done nothing to entice companies to stay in this region.

The only ones who seem bullet proof in this economy are the state workers. In January of 2007, the State Office of Budget and Management issued a memo instructing Ohio Agencies, Boards and Commissions to impose a hiring freeze. The freeze was supposed to stay in effect until March 31, 2007. These hiring freezes do have exceptions.

In January 2009, we found the state facing a budget crisis complete with a huge deficit. Time to implement another hiring freeze, and once again there will be exceptions. The state is hiring essential personnel that will include two golf-course groundskeepers, 11 environmental scientists, 39 tax collectors, 17 administrators who are earning six-figure salaries.

The workers comp administrator will be the highest paid, earning $160,014 a year. Ohio’s natural resources agency was allowed to hire eight officers, with a starting salary of $33,800 a year, to patrol state lakes and rivers.

Who does not remember the Gov. Robert Taft magic coin scandal? Who could possibly trust a state government that thinks that keeping golf courses in good condition is infinitely more important than health care, feeding the poor and tuition for low-income students?

If you find yourself unhappy with the way things are going, don’t blame President Obama. Look to the big brains in Columbus. They are the ones driving this state off the cliff.

Paula Blankenship

Middletown

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Im just wondering if these two people have actualy been watching the news or reading the newspaper before they made these statements.Seems like they have missed whats going on in the Country lol.

fedup
9:50 AM, 7/21/2009

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