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Oct
31
Today, the Cleveland Jewish News published a Q&A with Ohio statehouse candidates, incumbent Josh Mandel (R, Lyndhurst) and his Democratic opponent, Bob Belovich (Brecksville).
CJN: How can the General Assembly increase jobs in Ohio and improve the economy?
Mandel: All I hear when I knock on doors is the economy. I’m drafting legislation to keep young people here. If they commit to staying in Ohio for five years after college, the state would give them $20,000 in income tax credits for a bachelor’s degree and $30,000 for a master’s.
If they stay here five years, they may fall in love, find a community and a job, and we may keep them here for 50 years.
Belovich: We have a jobs infrastructure bill passed by the current legislature that my opponent voted against. The state can raise money for bridges, roads and sewers by selling bonds. I support that.
We also can reform our home lending laws. Much of that has to be solved at the federal level. But we can strengthen our state laws to protect individuals in real estate transactions and provide better disclosure on both sides of the ledger.
CJN: With tax revenues falling in a faltering economy, what would you cut in a tight state budget?
Belovich: Several years ago, the legislature changed Ohio tax laws, with more tax cuts to come in 2009. The problem is not only declining revenue (due to lower income-tax receipts); the tax rates are declining. We have to look at all unnecessary expenditures. One I’m opposed to is the experiment with (for-profit) charter schools. It’s been costly and in large measure unsuccessful in terms of academics.
Another big expense is prisons, which are housing many individuals because of drug violations. We should be looking at ways to treat individuals’ drug problems instead .
Mandel: It’s not responsible to propose cutting any specific program without seeing what Gov. Ted Strickland proposes in the next budget.
CJN: The Supreme Court has ruled four times that Ohio’s school funding is unconstitutional. How should the state fund its public schools?
Mandel: Republicans and Democrats are waiting for the governor’s proposal on school funding. I do not think we have the best school-funding mechanism now. But I do believe in local control of tax dollars. The more dollars controlled locally as opposed to having state bureaucrats in charge, the better.
Belovich: Strickland has started off the right way by finding out what people think are the proper aims of public education. Once we have consensus, we have to rewrite school funding laws. We may determine other taxes are superior to property taxes or should be used in conjunction with property taxes.
We also have to look at the recent tax changes (which caused schools to lose revenue) to see if those should continue or be altered.
CJN: How do you suggest increasing access to healthcare for the poor?
Belovich: I favor universal healthcare, more likely to happen at the federal level. In the meantime, the state regulates insurance within Ohio. I favor changing the standards of medical underwriting to emphasize primary-care medicine. Now, individuals may not get treatment until they see a more costly specialist, and by then the original condition may have gotten worse.
Mandel: There’s always more we can do. Everything is affected by budget implications.
CJN: What can the state do to ease the financial burden on the elderly?
Mandel: I worked with Ohio Jewish Communities lobbyist Joyce Garver Keller to restore state funding for kosher meals through Meals on Wheels, which the state cut.
Belovich: The state’s Homestead Property Tax Relief Act should help our seniors. We should form buying groups so the elderly can buy prescription drugs at lower cost. We can promote healthy lifestyles such as walking through the design of our communities to make them pedestrian-friendly.
CJN: Where do you stand on abortion, civil rights for gays, and school prayer?
Mandel: While I respect people’s opinions on all issues, I am focused on growing the economy and reversing the exodus of jobs and people from the state.
Belovich: Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land. There’s nothing the state legislature can or should do to change that.
We have a constitutional ban on gay marriage, which I opposed. I favor the fullest extent of civil rights for all individuals.
If prayer is in pubic school, it is intrusive on some members of the community.
I will not be voting for Mandel because his positions on political issues differ significantly from mine:
-Mandel voted in favor of special interest-driven restrictions on the adult entertainment industry. These restrictions replaced those that had just been passed by the Ohio legislature in 2006. That law had given local municipalities authority to regulate that industry. The law Mandel helped pass contributes to the erosion of the Ohio constitution’s home rule provision.
-Mandel supports for-profit charter schools while also receiving tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from charter school magnate David Brennan, a charter school operator who, just today, is being accused of accepting nearly $30 million from the state (read: taxpayers) on behalf of students who aren’t attending. From Scripps News:
Ohio, hardest hit by the trend [of paying for students who don't attend school], paid $29.9 million for absent students who were enrolled at 47 of these “dropout recovery” schools during the 2006-2007 school year, the most recent year that complete data are available.
…
The Ohio schools with the worst attendance are the 17 Life Skills Centers run by the for-profit company White Hat Management, founded by Akron, Ohio, businessman David Brennan. The company operates 20 more Life Skills Centers in Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Michigan, many of which also have high levels of absenteeism.
I believe in public school education and non-profit operation of charters with oversight.
-Mandel spent a great deal of time during his first six months in office pushing a state bill to force Ohio’s pension plans to divest from companies with ties to Iran. The bill ended up being tabled because House Speaker Jon Husted brokered a deal for the pensions to take voluntary action. I believe that legislative action regarding divestment is under the purview of the federal government, which, in this case, does not even support divestment (yes, GOP legislators are holding it up, the Dems want it to go through at the federal level), but here’s more from Mandel’s Republican colleague in the statehouse, Rep. William Batchelder who questioned Mandel’s bill because of concerns about its impact on drawing companies to Ohio.
Mandel’s dogged pursuit of his bill, HB 151, is in marked contrast to how he described his legislative priorities in early 2006:
…he’s running because he wants to help create an environment in Cleveland and Ohio so that “young people want to stay here. A lot of my friends don’t live here anymore.”
…social issues like gay marriage, abortion, and posting the Ten Commandments in public places, which have been important concerns in the Republican-dominated legislature, won’t be his priority.
“Politicians in Columbus are not focused on the right issues,” says Mandel. “I’m a strong believer in the separation of church and state. But the first and foremost issue is reversing the exodus of jobs and people from Cleveland and Ohio.”
Finding new ways to fund education and bringing integrity back to government are his other primary concerns, he comments.
Again, one of his own GOP colleagues publicly expressed concern about HB 151 because of its possible negative impact on attracting jobs and businesses to Ohio.
-Mandel supports John McCain, and has made statements that McCain puts “…the best interest of our country before all else.” To be fair, Mandel made that statement before McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his VP running mate, and I’ve not located anything on the record that Mandel has said regarding Palin.
Finally, a few comments on Mandel’s answers in the CJN Q&A:
CJN: How do you suggest increasing access to healthcare for the poor?
Belovich: I favor universal healthcare, more likely to happen at the federal level. In the meantime, the state regulates insurance within Ohio. I favor changing the standards of medical underwriting to emphasize primary-care medicine. Now, individuals may not get treatment until they see a more costly specialist, and by then the original condition may have gotten worse.
Mandel: There’s always more we can do. Everything is affected by budget implications.
If you’re going to admit that most Ohioans and most constituents are most concerned about the economy, then the topic of health care deserves more than one line from a sitting legislator who received thousands of dollars in campaign donations from insurance companies.
Next:
CJN: Where do you stand on abortion, civil rights for gays, and school prayer?
Mandel: While I respect people’s opinions on all issues, I am focused on growing the economy and reversing the exodus of jobs and people from the state.
Here is a little information on those issues from Mandel’s first-term record:
On abortion: Mandel is a co-sponsor of HB 280 which would require abortion clinics to:
post the following notice in a conspicuous location in the office or facility that is accessible to all patients, employees, and visitors:
“NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO HAVE AN ABORTION. NO ONE – NOT A PARENT, NOT A HUSBAND, NOT A BOYFRIEND – NO ONE.
Under Ohio law, an abortion cannot be legally performed on anyone, regardless of her age, unless she VOLUNTARILY CONSENTS to having the abortion.
Ohio law requires that, before an abortion can legally be performed, the pregnant female must sign a form indicating that she consents to having the abortion “voluntarily” and “WITHOUT COERCION BY ANY PERSON.”
IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO FORCE YOU TO HAVE AN ABORTION AGAINST YOUR WILL:
DO NOT SIGN THE CONSENT FORM
IF YOU ARE AT AN ABORTION FACILITY, TELL AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FACILITY THAT SOMEONE IS TRYING TO FORCE YOU TO HAVE AN ABORTION.”
Mandel was in Iraq when HB 314, the Ohio Ultrasound Viewing Option Law, was voted on in the House in 12/07. However, he lists the bill as one which he co-sponsored. The restrictions went into effect in 6/08:
Ohio’s Ultrasound Viewing Option Law became effective on June 20, 2008. The new law, H.B. 314, which was sponsored by Rep. Shannon Jones (R, Springboro), requires that, if an ultrasound examination is performed prior to or during an abortion, the abortionist must give the woman an opportunity to view the active ultrasound image of the unborn child and the opportunity to receive a physical picture of the ultrasound image.
“We are delighted that Ohio has adopted this common sense pro-life and pro-woman law”, said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. “Since women sometimes regret their abortions after later seeing an ultrasound of an unborn baby, this law will help some women avoid the emotional trauma of learning the truth about abortion too late. Just as x-rays are commonly shown to patients deciding on surgery, letting a woman see an ultrasound can help her make a more informed choice, and an uninformed choice is no choice at all”, Gonidakis said.
On gays: Mandel is not yet a co-sponsor of HB 502, an anti-discrimination law with protections for gays and lesbians. However, Equality Ohio is on the record saying that they are targeting Mandel as a “newly elected moderate Republican” whom they hope will support the bill. One current co-sponsor of the same measure in the Senate (SB 305) is term-limited David Goodman about whom Columbus Dispatch columnist Ann Fisher has written:
…Sen. David Goodman said his active endorsement of Senate Bill 305 was a no-brainer after a conversation in March with his father, a prominent Harvard-trained lawyer. That day, he reminded his son why Jewish law firms first opened in Columbus: No one else would hire Jewish lawyers at the time.
That sort of discrimination is illegal now in Ohio — unless you’re gay.
Later that day in March, Goodman received a call from a friend who is pushing for Senate Bill 305 and House Bill 502, companion measures that were introduced that month. His friend asked him to co-sponsor the Senate bill.
“How could I say ‘No’ after what my father had told me about my own family’s past?” Goodman said.
On the plus side, for district residents who side with Mandel on these issues, Mandel has the reputation of being a hard worker and his staffer, Michael Lord, was superb in keeping me posted on one specific issue of concern to me – funding for and infrastructure implementation of wireless 911 services.
However, those two factors are greatly outweighed by how much my policy preferences differ from Mandel’s policy preferences, and on multiple issues that our state legislators must consider. As was the case in 2006, I will not be voting for Josh Mandel to be my state representative.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:02 pm October 31st, 2008 in Abortion, Education, Elections, Government, Health Care, OH17, Ohio, Politics, Social Issues, Voting
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9 Responses to “Ohio House 17th District: Cleveland Jewish News Q&A”
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Jill, this is precisely why you should consider running against Mandel in 2010. With all due respect to Mr. Belovich, he has not been able to articulate these positions as well as you have.
Jill, he’s right! You would be a great state representative.
Thanks for your comprehensive look at Mandel — I knew there were stances of his I didn’t like, but I had no idea how divergent his views are from my own overall. I’m a little stunned.
P.S.
Please tell me that the CJN did not actually print:
“If prayer is in pubic school, it is intrusive on some members of the community.”
Jill:
See what you get when you ‘volunteer’ – even information and advocacy? Everyone wants to sign you up.
Actually, I think you’d rock too.
State government is so obscure, senate seats or house seats. The ratio is 1:3 there are ninety-nine representatives in the congressional house and then thirty –three in the Senate. The congress serves 2 years and the senate 4 year terms.
I wonder how many citizens in the state know what district they are in, let alone who is the elected representative.
When the poll is done within registered voters, the question should be asked, what state district are you in, and who would be your representative. Those responses will either be definitive, apologetic for not knowing, embarrassed and evasive for not knowing or defensive and not caring.
When these people run they run for those that are paying attention, the registered voters that know who represents them at that level of government.
Then they also run on recognition, getting your name out, many vote on that…oh I saw that name in the paper or on TV. I cannot vote for them in good conscious…I do not even recognize the name.
Its obscure…they have roles they assume, free loaders to high political aspirations to opportunistic whores.
The state has 88 counties, if each had a regional government, then each could have one representative in the state congress. Then as for the senate, we could have 18 and that could be set on redistricting the federal congressional districts. One congressional rep and one state senator that would represent a set of 4-5 counties, then the largest city would also be that local seat for that 4-5 county federal and state district.
All this based on consolidation of municipal governments to the original townships, each with its own government and a representative for each on the county regional council.
All based on a standardized system of government, not necessarily shared laws, but the same processes used for recording and accounting of relative information.
Townships would be the smallest form of municipal government and have representation in the larger county regional government and then also in the state and federal all sharing the same districts.
That’s more than political its more about functional and relative efficiency.
This is change…each position is a node that would be held accountable for the statistics of that node, all the relative concerns, who we are what we do how we do it. Then shared though an interlinked system offering comparative analysis and relative results.
Ohio can only influence at four percent of the national votes in Washington. Our eighteen representatives should stand out and be submitting legislation that serves our State best. Our Federal senators should be seeking passage of our legislation if it reaches them and stopping anything we believe is not in the best interest of our state.
The flow of federal dollars comes in and out of the state, to the region from the region, to the district from the district, from you to you.
The goal is better for less…
I would not pay college gradates to stay, I would build a better system and seek out the best minds and pay them to come here and be part of it! Less government with higher standards, clear and concise.
By all means Jill take a seat in Columbus, for what it is worth.
You know that you can tax the rich higher at a national level, but it is not wise at a state level, because they can and will leave. The idea of cutting tax breaks for new money is what Mandell proposes, reduce the taxes on the collage graduate that stays in the state.
People do they look at tax codes after graduation?
Its an iffy maybe sort of kind good idea.
I know that it really needs to be addressed in sections, graduates, many are into environs, the neighborhoods and what they offer. The market as for jobs is primary, students do not all get multiple job offers.
It is today a role of the dice, as with all the mergers and acquisitions, and moving of operations to oversees venues. Locals with local degrees, locals with out of state degrees, they are not looking for short-term tax breaks. They are looking for longevity and other unique attributes that make them feel endeared to a city or region.
I suggest something that clearly defines, clear and concise statistic that have far less geographical overlaps. The confusing combination of districts results in the smoke and mirrors, the distort and deflect.
Labor and Statistics, if you graduate from OSU and with say an engineering degree in lets say architectural engineering, then you should be made aware of who within the state hires or employees these degrees. Then perhaps all employers should also see the list of potential grads coming down the pipe.
Then if real smart that data could be linked to other data, like if then else or Boolean programming, based on my degree and my potential income and relative debit structure, what areas with my unique criteria or desires are available to reside in. A reason to have linked data from the Board of Regents through a department of taxation through a relative department of labor and statistics. You could set it to lowest cost, or stretching my limits, to schools do not matter or they are imperative and must be within waking distance to the residence.
I got an idea lets set up a huge school for advanced Information Technology and then recruit the best minds from the world to teach and study there. Perhaps link it to urban planning and political science, maps and linked data bases.
Its not about discounting taxes, it is about creating education venues that link into the community at large. Begin with a venue that can define that need and create industry in the process.
We do know that Universities can sell what they create, and they can work with government in doing so.
I am not aligned up with Mandel…I am not a soldier, I am a logistical warrior.
Getting control of Washington will not happen until you get control of the state which will not happen until you get control of the region and get control of yourselves.
Thanks for all the thoughts and comments. I forgot to include another issue on which Mandel and I are on opposite sides: English-only bill. The one that the PD slammed as totally political nonsense? But still endorsed Mandel? Even though they didn’t like that the opponent is on the opposite side of the PD on a ballot issue?
Here’s the post about the English-only/Mandel position:
If you are political analyst and the government totally changes structure are you then in fact a historian? Where is my flag at I need to wave it…that always makes me feel better. I will be careful not to wave that flag so close to the raging fires, I could be arrested.
[...] at Writes Like She Talks, who lives in the District, did not support Mandel, and may have voted for the clown. The results of a WLST site search on her opponent’s name [...]
[...] Ohio House 17th District: Cleveland Jewish News Q&A – Today, the Cleveland Jewish News published a Q&A with Ohio statehouse candidates, incumbent Josh Mandel (R, Lyndhurst) and his Democratic opponent, Bob Belovich (Brecksville). CJN: How can the General Assembly increase jobs in Ohio and … [...]