GRAPHICS A COMBO FROM OHIO CHANNEL, SENATE WEBSITE & BALLOTPEDIA
One of the most important issues that each and every Stark County should have an interest in is the fate of Republican governor Mike DeWine's proposal that the Ohio gasoline tax be raised by 18 cents.
On March 18, The Stark County Political Report (SCPR. The Report) published a blog featuring state Rep. Scott Oelslager (R, 48th) who as chairman of the House Finance Committee probably has/had the ability to do better on Governor DeWine's request for a 18 cent increase in gasoline taxes splitting the revenues 60%, the state; 40 % to local governments.
Instead, the Ohio House voted to increase the tax by 10.7% with a 55%/45% split.
A majority of Stark Countians appear to support DeWine's request for an 18 cent increase according to an ongoing poll being conducted by the SCPR.
A sizeable part of the poll supporting DeWine's request comes from Oelslager home base of Jackson Township and North Canton.
Only 27% of Stark Countians support no increase whatsoever.
Which, of course, means that a sizeable portion of Stark Countians seem to support (54%) some sort of increase (73%) with the percentage ranging from 11 cents to 18 cents per gallon with is at 54%.
Moreover, the DeWine plan is supported by Stark County commissioners Richard Regula, Bill Smith and Janet Creighton; all Republicans.
Here is a video response to the SCPR's questions put to the Commissioners Regula and Smith.
It is interesting that Representative Schuring was not interested in seeing the video before his vote on HB 62 last Thursday.
Undoubtedly, if the words of a C. David Baker (the HOF), Jim Porter (The Repository) and/or Denny Saunier (Canton Chamber of Commerce) were the subject matter of the video, Schuring at "breakneck" speed to look up the video. (see an account of Schuring's disinterest later on in this blog)
In his vote last Thursday, Schuring demonstrated that while he can expend great effort to grease the skids to put Ohio/Stark County money into the supposedly private enterprise Hall of Fame Village project, he could care less about putting adequate monies into Stark County's and Ohio's roadways.
It is interesting that Representative Schuring was not interested in seeing the video before his vote on HB 62 last Thursday.
Undoubtedly, if the words of a C. David Baker (the HOF), Jim Porter (The Repository) and/or Denny Saunier (Canton Chamber of Commerce) were the subject matter of the video, Schuring at "breakneck" speed to look up the video. (see an account of Schuring's disinterest later on in this blog)
In his vote last Thursday, Schuring demonstrated that while he can expend great effort to grease the skids to put Ohio/Stark County money into the supposedly private enterprise Hall of Fame Village project, he could care less about putting adequate monies into Stark County's and Ohio's roadways.
Also, strongly supporting DeWine's plan is Stark County engineer Keith Bennett, a Democrat.
Here are excerpts of what Bennett had to say about the matter :(large type for emphasis by the SCPR):
BENNETT SUPPORTS DEWINE'S REQUEST OF 18 CENTS
Myself and the County Engineers Association of Ohio (CEAO) are in support of the $0.18 per gallon originally proposed by Governor DeWine.
WHY?
REASON #1
Due to the rising cost of construction materials and labor in the past 14 years, our buying power has been reduced by 50%. Our revenue remains flat while prices increase every year. It has been determined that County Engineers have a funding deficiency of 60% comparing our current revenue to current needs.
SENATE BILL NOT INDEXED FOR INFLATION; (HOUSE VERSION IS)
BENNETT:
More importantly, it (the Senate bill which Schuring voted for last Wednesday) does not include indexed increases due to inflation. (the text about Schuring was added by the SCPR)
... [R]egardless of the final increase in gas tax, it is imperative that some type of inflation indexing be included. Without the indexing, the increased revenue would quickly be lost to inflation of materials and labor costs and we’ll be right back to our current situation – insufficient funding to maintain our current infrastructure.
CONSEQUENCES:
BENNETT:
ODOT has stated that at this level they will be able to continue to maintain their infrastructure but it would not provide sufficient funding to complete major projects necessary for safety and capacity that are planned around the State.
Apparently, the Ohio House part of the Stark County delegation (i.e. in the House: Oelslager, Stoltzfus, 50th [Republicans] and West, 49th [a Democrat] to the Ohio General Assembly is out-of-step with most of their constituents in supporting Oelslager sponsored (HB 62) transportation two-year transportation budget and rejecting DeWine's request which, to say it again, is supported by the Stark County commissioners and County Engineer Bennett.
But, as signaled above with the main graphic to this blog, so is (i.e. being out-of-step with a majority of Stark Countians and core Stark County government leadership) Republican state Senator Kirk Schuring representing Ohio Senate District 29 which includes most of Stark County.
Schuring bested Oelslager, Stoltzfus and West (10.7 cents) in supporting a mere 6 cent per gallon increase (which, of course, is 1/3rd the DeWine request). One improvement in the Senate version of HB 62 is that the state/local government split is 55%/45%.
On the morning before the HB62 vote, the SCPR sent Schuring this e-mail on the Senate portal:
RESPONSE FROM SCHURING
Nothing, absolutely nothing! That is what happens when an elected official thinks he/she is invulnerable to being defeated at the polls at the next ensuing election.
One reason Oelslager had an opponent in the 2018 District 48 election was due to his
blowing off of 48th District resident Lorraine Wilburn.
One reason Oelslager had an opponent in the 2018 District 48 election was due to his
Moreover, Schuring and Oelslager are unwilling to subject themselves to the incisive questioning of the SCPR, the political cowards they are.
If one does not tell them how great they are, then, neither will subject themselves to possibly having to engage a critique of their work product or lack thereof in Columbus. This pair has been in the Ohio General Assembly a combined 50 years. Of course, they have some accomplishments over those years but not nearly at a pace one would expect over such a timeframe.
Oelslager refused, several years ago (when he was state Senator and Canton was in his district), to hear the plea of then Canton City Council president Allen Schulman to come meet with council about the devastation that the state of Ohio local government funding was visiting on cities, villages and townships in Stark County and across Ohio.
Oelslager's reported exact response: "I am too busy."
If one does not tell them how great they are, then, neither will subject themselves to possibly having to engage a critique of their work product or lack thereof in Columbus. This pair has been in the Ohio General Assembly a combined 50 years. Of course, they have some accomplishments over those years but not nearly at a pace one would expect over such a timeframe.
Oelslager refused, several years ago (when he was state Senator and Canton was in his district), to hear the plea of then Canton City Council president Allen Schulman to come meet with council about the devastation that the state of Ohio local government funding was visiting on cities, villages and townships in Stark County and across Ohio.
Oelslager's reported exact response: "I am too busy."
The point of this blog is that if over the next several years there is a decline in the construction of new roadways and the maintenance of existing roadways, then Stark Countians in deciding to vote for Oelslager, Stoltzfus and West in 2020 (Schuring, 2022) then one of the main components of that decision should harken back to their failure to support DeWine's proposal.
Only the SCPR holds Stark County politicians and government leaders accountable.
DEWINE'S REACTION TO THE HOUSE/SENATE BEATDOWN OF HIS REQUEST
For his part, DeWine says that he did not high-ball his request to he says 30 cents in order to get really where he wants to get to (i.e. 18 cents) in order to meet realistic needs for Ohio to add to existing highway construction for infrastructure improvement as a component for attracting new businesses to Ohio.
Moreover, he is reported to have said post-House/Senate rejection of his proposal GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said lawmakers have a “moral obligation” to fully fund the transportation budget – and his version of the gas tax ..."
Moreover, he is reported to have said post-House/Senate rejection of his proposal GOP Gov. Mike DeWine said lawmakers have a “moral obligation” to fully fund the transportation budget – and his version of the gas tax ..."
THE FUTURE
The Ohio House and Senate have until March 31st to reconcile their differences in the conference with one another.
THERE SHOULD BE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES
The Ohio House and Senate have until March 31st to reconcile their differences in the conference with one another.
THERE SHOULD BE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES
Even if the House bill prevails, the roads we Stark Countians drive on will "go to pot" because of a lack of legislative funding.
Every time we hit a pothole and scream out an oath we ought to remember on election day 2020 and 2022 that Oelslager and Schuring have once again failed not only Stark County but the entire state of Ohio.
And, of course, voters should remember come November 2020 that Representatives Stoltzfus and West joined in the smackdown of DeWine's effort to make Ohio's roadways competitive with the states which constitute the rest of the United States of America.
And, of course, voters should remember come November 2020 that Representatives Stoltzfus and West joined in the smackdown of DeWine's effort to make Ohio's roadways competitive with the states which constitute the rest of the United States of America.
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