News Intelligence Analysis
J. (John) Kenneth Blackwell's Profile
Akron Beacon Journal: Posted on Mon, Nov. 28, 2005
Age: 57.
Party: Republican.
Hometown: Cincinnati.
Family: wife, Rosa, superintendent of Cincinnati schools; three children.
Education: bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology, Cincinnati Xavier University.
Work experience: Ohio secretary of state, 1998-present; frequent commentator on Christian radio; state treasurer, 1992-1998; U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, 1991-93; undersecretary at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1989-91; Cincinnati City Council 1979-1989, except for two years as mayor, 1980-81; also a founding partner of a radio broadcasting company.
Top three priorities for the first year in office: Secure passage of tax and expenditure limitation amendment on the 2006 statewide ballot to limit growth of government; control Medicaid spending by allowing less expensive alternatives to nursing homes, such as in-home care, and continued tort reform; redirect education spending from student services into classroom instruction.
What should Ohio be doing for its young people that it is not doing today? Give them reason to believe and hope in Ohio's future.
Political and personal strengths: Experienced in public office, education, finance; conservative in economics, role of government and values, including positions regarding abortion, same-sex marriage and right to carry guns. http://www.kenblackwell.com/OnTheIssues/Default.aspx
A person facing a very difficult ethical decision asks: What should be the guiding principle in making my decision? What would you answer?
A spokesman for Blackwell suggests
reading a 20-point code of ethics, called ``UncommonSense,''
and Blackwell's ``declaration of character,'' posted at his Center
for Civic Character on the Ohio Secretary of State's web site.
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/initiatives/occc.aspx?
Key concepts are finding and applying truth, maintaining good
relationships with others and growing as we learn.
© 2005 Beacon Journal and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved.
http://www.ohio.com
From Blackwell's web site at:
http://www.kenblackwell.com/OnTheIssues/Default.aspx
Ken
Blackwell's Platform on the Issues
As a public servant, Ken Blackwell has served as Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio Treasurer and currently serving as Ohio Secretary of State. After running two state-wide offices and making those offices more efficient and productive, Ken Blackwell will bring his strong leadership to the Governor's office.
Pro Business Environment:
Jobs & the Economy
“Job creation requires a business
friendly environment with a tax structure
that is not punitive and a state government designed for efficient
use of fewer tax dollars.”
Ohio’s prosperity and future depend on our economy and job creation. Ohio has been devastated by an economic downturn, manufacturing layoffs, and population loss.
Government cannot create wealth. However the actions of government are inextricably tied to the economy. Our current state government fiscal policy restricts job growth and capital investment. The result of our tax and spend policy over the last 10 years has resulted in record job loss, companies fleeing the state, and a declining population.
Our kids and grandkids are counting on us to do the right thing.
As Ken Blackwell says, “No state or nation has ever taxed and spent itself into prosperity” and Ohio is no exception. The strength of the Ohio economy is based on private individuals and businesses. Although government cannot create jobs it can create a business friendly and pro-growth environment. By lowering taxes and limiting government spending the barriers to job creation and investment are removed.
Read more on Ken Blackwell’s fiscal positions on:
Ronald Reagan once said that the status quo was Latin for "the mess we are in".
The status quo is destroying Ohio’s economy. Out of control tax and spend policies have created the mess we are in.
What the State government has imposed on Ohioans is a travesty.
In the last ten years, under Republican leadership, our state budget has increased by 71% and thrown our economy and its citizens into economic turmoil. Ohio leads the nation in increased government spending.
The current fiscal policies have failed. Ohio has moved from eleventh to the third most tax burdened state in the union. And it’s getting worse! The new budget raises taxes $4.24 Billion and claims to be tax reform because in four years, Ohioans will receive $1.96 Billion in tax decreases.
This is not tax reform. This maintains the status quo and we need a change.
The new budget proposed by the Governor and approved by the House, continues to uphold the tax and spend policies supported by my Republican challengers. The current budget proposal includes the second largest tax increase in Ohio’s history which continues to smother job growth.
The out-of-control spending of the state government has to stop.
Ken Blackwell’s Fiscal Agenda
“In order to spur economic growth we need to put the brakes on out of control spending, lower Ohioans tax burden and create a most efficient and effective government.”
I. Control Government Spending
Ken Blackwell is leading the charge to enact the TEL (Tax Expenditure Limitation) Amendment that limits state spending to 3.5% or the rate of inflation, plus the increase in population. This amendment requires the state government to live within its means; something all Ohioans must do. This common sense approach to spending control will curb politician’s appetite for unlimited spending, and will reduce the need to increase taxes. Betty Montgomery and Jim Petro oppose limiting government spending through the TEL Amendment.
For more information please visit: Citizens for Tax Reform
II. Lower Ohio’s Tax Burden
In a restrained and responsible government spending model, these are the tax policies Ken Blackwell is proposing:
First, over a four year period, Ken Blackwell would convert our income tax to a single rate system. This will simplify the tax structure and be a more growth oriented approach since capital gains are treated as income.
Second, Ken Blackwell will fight to eliminate the estate tax.
Third, Ken Blackwell will keep the promise made and repeal the sales tax increase so we return to a 5% sales tax rate. Ken Blackwell has led the charge to repeal the 20% increase in the sales tax while both Ken Blackwell's opponents supported the tax increase. It was sold to the public as temporary tax but a portion is now being made permanent.
Fourth, if the CAT tax is enacted, Ken Blackwell will push for its elimination.
III. Efficient and Effective Government
Effective government begins with a solid review of core competencies. What must the state do and what can it do well? What are the options for privatization? And, most importantly, what are the performance criteria for determining the success of government agencies? But before any government restructuring is possible, it must curb its appetite for tax dollars.As an example, when Ken Blackwell became Ohio's Secretary of State, Ken transformed the office's structure from a bureaucratic model to an enterprise model in their business services division. Ken Blackwell began by consulting with business leaders and the clients of the Secretary of State. The Ohio Secretary of State's office under Ken Blackwell's leadership made it easier for businesses to incorporate in Ohio by decreasing the turn around time on their filings from thirteen weeks to less than one week. And during this time, the Ohio Secretary of State's office reduced their reliance on taxpayer provided (General Revenue Fund) dollars by more than $4.7 million or 61% as his office moved to a fee-for-service system.
Over regulation of Medicaid limits health options and increases overall costs to an overburdened health care system and all Ohio tax payers.
One area of reform is nursing home reimbursements. The cost of nursing home care for our senior citizens is substantially higher than the alternative care of Assisted Living or Home Health Care. Because of the limitations placed on the type of care seniors can receive under the Medicaid Benefit System, seniors have no options when it comes to their living arrangements.
Seniors are looking for options. Our state government can offer options that will lower overall costs and increase care for our seniors. Ken Blackwell proposes that we reform Medicaid to do just that!
If the state government would allow Assisted Living or Home Health Care agencies to be reimbursed by Medicaid, the Nursing Home industry would broaden its care, reduce its overall cost to the Medicaid system and offer favored alternatives to a solid 20% of our seniors now living in Nursing Homes.
Advancing a Culture of Life
Ken Blackwell has always been pro-life. The
first obligation of government is to protect innocent life. As
Governor, Ken Blackwell would advance a culture of life, just
as he has for 30 years, as Mayor of Cincinnati, Ambassador to
the UN Human Rights Commission and in statewide office. Ken Blackwell's
grandmother made it clear to him when he was young when she said
birth is but a change of address. All
children in the womb or outside should be guaranteed the
right to life. We must promote a culture of life, and we start
doing so by defending defenseless unborn children.
Ken Blackwell is endorsed by the Republican National Coalition for Life.
Defending
Traditional Marriage
Ken Blackwell believes that marriage is between one man and one
woman. Ken Blackwell led the statewide effort for the passage
of Issue 1, the Ohio Marriage Amendment. This amendment was supported
by 73% of Republicans and helped re-elect President George W.
Bush. Ken Blackwell was surprised that one of his opponents,
Jim Petro, opposed this Amendment. Ohioans did not believe their
propaganda that keeping marriage intact hurts “non-gay couples”
or our economy. Ken Blackwell believes that marriage is the foundation
of our society and deserves our respect and protection. It does
not deserve a politician’s contempt.
Defending 2nd
Amendment Rights
While the US Constitution was being ratified, Samuel Adams said that the “Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.” He made it very clear that the founding fathers were not talking only about the right for militias to bear arms, but talking about the right of law-abiding citizens to bear their own arms.
As a life member of the National Rifle Association, Ken Blackwell is steadfast and resolute in his support for the right to bear arms. In 2004, Ohio passed a conceal carry law to allow peaceable citizens to carry their firearms. As Governor, Ken Blackwell will push for legislation to stop media access to the concealed carry list. Concealed carry permit holders should have a right to privacy and not be treated like criminals. Statistics show that concealed carry permit holders are only a threat to criminals.
Ken Blackwell is endorsed by the Gun Owners of America.
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