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THE WAY I SEE IT
KC Allen
Let me say, that this column is MY opinion and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by those who advertise or support Outdoor Ohio in any way.
Basically, the spin that supporters or detractors of state issues levy towards their causes do more to confuse the issues than to truly inform voters. As an Ohio business owner and tax payer, I feel that there's a need to clear the air.
My thoughts are in bold at the end of each issue.
Here are the Ohio State Issues on the ballot November 4th.
Issue 1: Petition Deadlines
Issue 2: Clean Ohio
Issue 3: Water & Private Property Protection
Issue 4: Health Families Act
Issue 5: Payday Lending Reforms VERY IMPORTANT TO READ THIS ONE
Issue 6: Clinton County Casino VERY IMPORTANT TO READ THIS ONE
Issue One is a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution to change the filing deadlines for future statewide ballot initiatives. If approved Issue I will require individuals or groups seeking to file constitutional amendments, initiated statutes, or referendums to file such petitions not later than 125 days before an election. Currently, petitions for such issues must be filed not later than 90 days before an election for constitutional amendments and initiated statutes and not later than 60 days before an election.
I have no opinion on Issue One. It's largely legislative, and it closes some pesky loopholes.
Issue Two was requested by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, and is better known as the “Clean Ohio” program for environmental conservation and revitalization. Clean Ohio is a $400 million bonds program that will permit the State of Ohio to use such funds for conservation and environmental revitalization efforts. The preservation and conservation of farmland, park and recreation areas, forest, water, and natural resources are among those areas potentially covered under the Clean Ohio program. Clean Ohio would also permit funds raised to be used for urban revitalization and environmental clean up efforts in urban areas.
Sounds good to me - the opposition has positioned this proposal as being a good plan at a bad time economically. My thoughts? You snooze you lose. Vote YES on issue #2.
Issue Three places a Constitutional Amendment on the November 4, 2008 to provide private property protections for landowners for the water under or flowing through that landowner’s land. State Issue 3 vests private property owners and Ohio municipalities and political subdivisions with certain property rights to groundwater and nonnavigable waterways situated on and/or under that private property owner's land subject to certain limitations.
Argument For: If you're a property owner, this constitutional amendment basically gives you full dominion over your land, the groundwater underneath and reasonable use of land or water next to your property.
Argument Against: That this proposed amendment basically bogs down the law, offers the landowner no additional protections than currently exist, adds tons of red tape to property claims.
My concern is that lakeside landowners will feel that they have the right to restrict public access along their property lines, eliminating public right-of-ways for anglers and waterfowl hunters. While there is no language that I've found to support this concern, it is in the back of my mind. To me, this amendment smacks of ME ME ME, but I can't tell you how to vote because I haven't investigated the language enough. PLEASE - investigate Issue Three BEFORE you vote November 4th.
Issue Four was a ballot initiative that would force Ohio employers to observe a mandatory number of sick days for their employees. Issue 4 has been removed from the November 4 ballot, so we really don't need to concern ourselves with this one - yet. As an employer, I'm pleased this was removed. Employees are a business's single largest expense, and I feel that any mandate of this kind will cause a loss of jobs in the long-run, especially with today's economic climate and a business's inability to rely on credit from banking institutions.
Issue Five revisits an issue that Ohio voters voiced their feeling on in the last general election. The Ohio General Assembly, with support of Governor Ted Strickland, recently passed Substitute House Bill 545. The law, enacted in June 2008, makes various changes to Ohio’s Check Cashing Lending Laws, commonly known as “payday lending”. The new law caps interest and fees on short-term loans to 28 percent APR, down from the 391 percent APR for an average two-week payday loan under the prior law. The referendum seeks to overturn a single provision in HB 545, which effectively would allow payday lenders to continue issuing loans with the higher rates and fees. A ‘yes’ vote on Issue 5 would cap interest rates on a payday loan at 28% APR. A ‘no’ vote would allow payday lenders to continue charging rates and fees that equal 391 % APR on a typical two-week loan.
Okay, folks. This is one of two state issues that has caused me to write this column, and it's one of the issues upon which spin has been used to confuse the truth (as I see it) regarding the issue. In an age when shady bank practices have run the nation's economic strength into the ground - mortgage companies giving half-a-million dollar loans to folks who can't afford it - credit card companies offering credit to people who are unable to pay it back, particularly college students and recent bankruptcy filers - it seems a great time to tell these predatory lenders that enough is enough!
The law that passed in June of 2008 CAPPED their interest and fees to 28%, which is still pretty high as far as an interest rate goes. If you borrow $100, you'll have to pay back $128. Pretty steep, but MUCH more fair than paying back $391 for borrowing the same amount of money. The industry is ticked off about it, and they're sending all sorts of messages out to voters... They say it's about jobs. They say it's about financial freedom. That's CRAP. It's about MONEY. They want your money, and they're upset that the Ohio government has finally taken some initiative and told predatory lenders that they're being greedy and unfair.
Here's my two-cents:
Vote YES on Issue 5 and keep the 28% caps on predatory payday loan rates!
Read the VOTE YES argument from those who wish to protect Ohioans from this predatory filth. (This is in PDF form...you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read it - it's free. Go here to get it.)
Issue Six would authorized one privately owned gambling casino to be built and operated in Clinton County, Ohio. The operators of the casino propose that the casino would be built on a 94-acre site outside Wilmington, Ohio, requiring an initial investment of at least $600 million. Taxes of up to 30 percent of the casino’s gross revenue, less gambling payouts, will be collected and distributed proportionately, based on population, to each of Ohio’s 88 counties for the county’s unrestricted use.
BS, all the way. This goes back to the same argument. This isn't about jobs and this isn't about a healthy economic Ohio. This is about a private, out-of-state casino baron who sees an opportunity to establish a casino monopoly in an untapped state, Ohio, and make millions on the backs of hard-working Ohioans. TV ads paint the neighboring Argosy Casino, which operates floating casinos on the Ohio River as the greedy opponent of the measure so they can keep the competition away. Perhaps they are, but they're not the only opponents. Our own Senator and former Governor George Voinovich is steadfastly opposed to the measure of bringing casinos into the state.
Read the VOTE YES argument from those who want your money, no matter the cost. (This is in PDF form...)
Read the VOTE NO argument from the people who know the hurt a casino will cause. (This is in PDF form...)
I don't know why this is, but there is an entire industry of low-life scum who try to get rich off the sweat and worry of Ohioans in the worst financial circumstances. The casino is one example. Rich people don't stand in line scratching lottery tickets and hoping for a better life... people with limited means do that. A casino in Ohio would destroy lives because the people who would go habitually are the people who really can't afford to go in the first place.
The pay-day loan people are next... fighting to charge interest rates of 391%, causing people to come again and again, just to pay off their debts with deeper debt.
The rent-to-own businesses are next in line. The price of a TV set at Wal-Mart or even Best-Buy is 3 to 5 times CHEAPER than the ultimate price of a TV set from a rent-to-own business. They have furniture, stereos, lamps, appliances - all are SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE when you are forced to rely on these places because you don't have the money to buy it right when you want it.
4th - try to buy a car when you have bad credit. Your interest is much higher than someone with good credit because "you're a higher risk". Seems to me that if you are really having trouble financially, charging a higher interest rate is a near guarantee that the loan will be defaulted upon.
These charlatans know that Americans have the WANT IT NOW mentality. Easy credit has fostered an unwillingness to save up for the things we want and to handle our money responsibly.
DON'T REWARD THESE VULTURES.
VOTE YES ON ISSUE 5 AND NO ON ISSUE 6.
Do something good with your money. Go buy a hunting/fishing/trapping license!
Then take your kids out and teach them about loving the land and taking care of it.
Banning Hunting Ammo...
Shutting Down Gun Shops...
Allowing frivolous lawsuits...
Requiring a license to buy firearms...
Limiting your freedom to purchase firearms...
Is this what you want?
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