Mike Brown supports Roxanne Qualls

Dear fellow tax hikers, it's a great day as our beloved Bengals Owner Mike Brown has thrown his money and support behind Roxanne Qualls for Cincinnati Mayor. 

Mike Brown knows people.  Years ago Mikey installed Bob Bedinghaus as a Bengals Executive.  And now he wants to install Roxanne Qualls as Cincinnati's Executive. 

Mike Brown knows great plans.  The stadium plan that he promoted, along with Bob Bedinghaus and Roxanne Qualls The Stadium Queen, is the finest economic development investment this region has ever seen.  Roxanne's streetcar will be almost as great.  Roxanne's parking plan is another gem.  Roxanne's jail tax and her light rail Sales Tax increases were two more great plans. 

Mike Brown knows what is good for you.  He and Roxanne knew it was good for you to spend 40 years paying a Stadium Tax every time you buy something in Hamilton County.  He knows that Roxanne Qualls has the potential to be as great for Cincinnati as Bob Bedinghaus was for Hamilton County. 

Bengals demand new $10 million scoreboard

Roxanne Qualls and Mike Brown, very pleased with themselves

Dear fellow tax hikers, the Cincinnati Bengals are demanding a new $10 million scoreboard from the generous taxpayers of Hamilton County.  And they're going to get it, courtesy of the stadium deal that has brought so many benefits to this area.

This is the kind of economic development that Roxanne Qualls promised when she was the leading spokesman for the Bob Bedinghaus Stadium Tax.  This $10 million scoreboard is going to create a ton of jobs. 

We thank Roxanne Qualls The Stadium Queen from the bottom of our hearts for everything she did to pass the Bedinghaus Stadium Tax.  It was a great investment, just like the streetcar is a great investment.  This $10 million scoreboard investment will benefit our region for many years to come.

New taxpayer-funded carpeting for Mike Brown

Dear fellow tax hikers, get ready to send more money to Mike Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals!  Mikey needs new carpeting.  And according to WCPO, you're going to pay for it. 

This new carpeting will cost Hamilton County taxpayers a cool $1 million.  We endorse this expenditure and believe it's worth every cent.  We can't think of a better way to spend $1 million of tax money than to provide Mr. Brown new carpeting.

This opportunity is possible because of the great work done by Bob Bedinghaus and Roxanne Qualls to sell the public on the benefits of taxpayer-funded stadiums.  If it was not for those two fine leaders, Mike Brown would have to pay for his own carpet and we wouldn't want that. 

Hamilton County's new stadium tax

Dear fellow tax hikers, get ready to pay more taxes for the stadiums.  Our Hamilton County Commissioners are deciding which tax to raise to give more money to Mike Brown and the Bengals and we think that's fantastic!  Hamilton County's #1 priority is to enrich the Bengals and we will not allow our county government to put off that task anymore.  

Commissioner Todd Portune wants to raise the Sales Tax.  Commission President Greg Hartmann wants to raise your Property Taxes.  Republicans for Higher Taxes wholeheartedly endorses both a Property Tax increase and Sales Tax increase. 

Mike Brown needs that money.  You don't.  According to Forbes, the Cincinnati Bengals earned an operating income of only $44.7 million in 2011, and that's not enough.  You should be willing to pay more taxes to ensure our beloved Bengals earn a sufficient income, and after this Wednesday's Commission meeting you will. 

This stadium deal has been a rousing success for Hamilton County, just like Bob Bedinghaus, Stadium Dave Linnenberg, and Roxanne Qualls said it would.  It made Cincinnati a "major league city", led to great economic growth, made everyone richer, cured cancer, and grew the tax base.  That we need another stadium tax increase to bail out the first one is fine with us.  It's time to give Mike Brown and Bob Bedinghaus more of our money.  Raise those Sales Taxes and Property Taxes now.

Summer Reading List

Dear fellow tax hikers, many embark on an ambitious reading plan for those summertime months.  Being extremely intelligent and well-read, we do this too.  It's time for us to pick up those books so we can be the smartest tax-hikers we can be.  With that, we introduce to you:

The Republicans for Higher Taxes Summer Reading List

1.  Serving with Honor and Integrity, by Jean Schmidt
2.  Giving Back to the Community that Has Given You So Much, by Mike Brown
3.  Running an Effective Campaign, by Julie Matheny
4.  Staying Sane in an Insane World, by Simon Leis
5.  Getting Over the Bitterness of Losing an Election, by MS. Vicky Zwissler
6.  Working Hard for the Citizens who Elected You, by Tax Hikin’ Rick Bryan
7.  Effective Weight-loss Tips, by Tabitha Hochscheid
8.  Telling the Truth About Anything, by Jon Husted
9.  Being a Good Parent, by Lynn Larson
10. Keeping Taxes Low, by Virgil Lovitt
11.  I Will Win an Election Some Day Before I Die, by Martha Good
12.  Hiring Qualified Employees, by Tracy Winkler.  With a forward from Alex and Jennifer Triantafilou

Jean Schmidt's Big Donors

Dear fellow tax hikers, today we will begin a new series: A Salute to Heroes.  We will recognize the financial contributions of the area's best and brightest to Jean Schmidt's losing campaign.

These selfless heroes forked over thousands and thousands of dollars without asking anything in return.  Not even that Jean use the funds to run an actual campaign!

With that, we present to you, the first inductees into our Hall of Fame:

George Vincent, Dinsmore and Shohl:  $1500
Mike Brown, Bengals Owner:  $2500

Robert Economou:  $1875

Charles Kubicki, Cincinnati United Contractors:  $1000

Gary Greenberg, Denlinger Rossenhl and Greenberg:  $1000
A. David Davis, Check and Go:  $1000

Jared Davis, CNG Financial Corp:  $1500

Michelle Schneider, 2009 Tax Hiker of the Year:  $1000

Anthony (Tony) Maas, JTM Provisions:  $5000

Barb Maas, JTM Provisions:  $5000
Joseph Maas, JTM Provisions:  $5000

Otto Budig, Parsec:  $1500
Thomas Avril, The G.A. Avril Co:  $3500
Diana Avril:  $5000
Frederick Bryan, Bryan Equipment Sales:  $4000
Wayne Carucci:  $2500
Michael Castrucci, Castrucci Automotive:  $2500
Donald LaRosa, LaRosa's:  $5000
Robert Coughlin, Paycor:  $2500
Ian Guttman, Hills Realty:  $2500
Gary Heiman, Standard Textile Co:  $2500
Keith Jensen, AFG:  $2500
Keith Lindner, Chiquita Brands:  $2500
Craig Lindner, Great American Insurance:  $2500
Thomas Quinn, ILSCO:  $2500
Ed Steiner, KMK Law Firm:  $1250

These are just some of the people that donated $1000 or more after that jerk Brad Wenstrup announced his candidacy.  They represent the true visionaries!  The people who, even in the face of our Jeannie's numerous ethics scandals, decided to double down in their support for our girl Jean.  For your loyalty to the cause of higher taxes and unethical behavior, we will never forget.

Over the next few weeks, we will be honoring more of Jean's supporters, including presenting awards to special friends of Jean.

Mike Brown's final thoughts

Dear fellow tax hikers, we close our primary coverage with a tribute to our Beloved Bengals Owner Mike Brown.  Mike Brown donated $1,000 to Peter Stautberg because Stautberg will carry out the Brown family agenda much better than Tom Brinkman ever will. 

Tom Brinkman opposed the Stadium Sales Tax in 1996.  Brinkman opposed the Bedinghaus lease deal that has made the Brown family wealthy beyond their wildest dreams.  After that, he co-founded that terrible anti-tax organization known as COAST.  Brinkman has been nothing but a thorn in Brown's side.

Brown knows he will get his money's worth out of Stautberg.  Bengals attorney Stuart Dornette also knows this, which is why he donated $500 to Stautberg.  Stautberg is the best State Rep that money can buy.

When you go to the polls today, please remember to vote Peter Stautberg for State Representative.  That's what Mike Brown would want you to do.

Columbus insider to rescue Stautberg campaign

(Shawn Kasych at closing time)

Dear fellow tax hikers, please join us in welcoming Columbus Statehouse insider Shawn Kasych to Cincinnati to help save our friend Peter Stautberg's campaign.  Stautberg is our endorsed candidate for State Representative due to his advocacy of Bob Taft's tax increases and the $1,000 donation he received from beloved Bengals Owner Mike Brown.  Kasych has been dispatched to Cincinnati for the rest of the campaign to make sure Stautberg gets the W. 

Shawn Kasych - no relation to Governor John Kasich - is Policy Advisor for the Ohio House of Representatives.  As such, he has a vested interest in ordering voters across Ohio to send good, moderate, establishment Republicans to Columbus to make life easy on insiders like himself.  He could not have found a better candidate than Stautberg.

His opponent, COAST founder Tom Brinkman, has fought tax increases his entire life.  While serving as State Representative, Brinkman voted against all of Bob Taft's tax hikes.  Even worse, he strongly opposed the Bob Bedinghaus stadium deal and campaigned against the $777 million Democratic Sales Tax increase in 2007.  When Republicans raise taxes, Brinkman says no and that is completely unacceptable to us and other Republican insiders. 

Mike Brown and the Columbus insiders are pulling out all the stops to defeat Brinkman.  That's why they have dispatched Mr. Insider Kasych to Cincinnati.  We want all you tax hikers to know we are working hand-in-hand with them.  Together, we will stop Taxkiller Tom Brinkman and return establishment Republican Peter Stautberg to Columbus where he will continue to do as he's told.

Peter Stautberg for State Representative

Dear fellow tax hikers, we proudly endorse Mike Brown's friend Peter Stautberg for State Representative.  This is one of the most important races we'll face this year.  It's vitally important that Stautberg, a friend of Bengals ownership and Columbus lobbyists, defeats the anti-tax conservative Tom Brinkman.

To highlight the importance of this race, Bengals Owner Mike Brown recently donated $1000 to Stautberg.  Mike Brown needs an ally in Columbus.  So do we.  We both have found a great friend in Stautberg.

Peter Stautberg is perhaps the best representative that money can buy.  The City of Cincinnati already knows this.  After all, when they wanted to dodge state law and avoid paying taxes on their golf courses and convention center, they hired a lobbyist who got Stautberg to insert a provision in the state budget exempting the city from those taxes.  As a result, the communities who were due to receive those tax dollars will simply have to go to the voters and pass a wonderful tax increase earlier than they expected!

Stautberg doesn't stop there.  At a recent debate he criticized former State Representative Tom Brinkman for voting against HB 66 in 2005 when he was in the State House.  HB 66 brought to our movement a large number of wonderful high-tax victories including:

1)  Raised Ohio's Sales Taxes by 10%
2)  Implemented a brand new Commercial Activities Tax (CAT), which is loathed by businesses with low profit margins
3)  More than doubled the Cigarette Tax
4)  Permanently extended the "temporary" Trust Tax
5)  Eliminated the rollback of the Real Property Tax
6)  Permitted counties (such as Hamilton) that already had a lodging tax to raise it another 3%
7)  Raised 55 different fees

Mike Brown's friend Stautberg was right to criticize Brinkman for opposing these excellent tax and fee increases.  We needed bigger government and this legislation delivered.

Tom Brinkman is by far the worst choice in this race.  His history of anti-tax activism before joining the Legislature, and voting record of opposing all tax increases while in the Legislature, is completely unacceptable to our movement.  Peter Stautberg is the best choice due to his support for higher taxes, close relationship with Columbus lobbyists, and most of all, the big support he has received from Bengals Owner Mike Brown.  Stautberg for State Representative!

Mike Brown supports Peter Stautberg

Dear fellow tax hikers, we have uncovered some FANTASTIC news about superb State Representative Peter Stautberg.

Cincinnati Bengals Owner Mike Brown recently donated $1000 to the great Peter Stautberg!!!!!!!!

Mike Brown is one of Hamilton County's greatest leaders.  He is a phenomenal owner who has done wonderful things for our beloved Bengals and our region.  Mike Brown believes Stautberg is a great State Representative.  If that's what Mike believes, that's what you should believe too.

Stautberg is running against our anti-tax enemy Tom Brinkman.  Brinkman has long been a leader fighting for lower taxes and limited government.  We oppose limited government, we want higher taxes and the biggest government we can get.

If you believe in Bengals Owner Mike Brown, then you must support Mike Brown's candidate Peter Stautberg.  If you oppose Mike Brown and oppose higher taxes, then you'll probably support the fiscal conservative Tom Brinkman.  We encourage all you tax hikers to honor Mike Brown by voting for Peter Stautberg.

Hartmann's Property Tax Hike Fails

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are extremely mad at Hamilton County Commissioners Chris Monzel and Todd Portune for voting to keep their promise to the voters by maintaining the Property Tax Rollback.  We are disgusted that they refused to support the fantastic property tax increase championed by Commissioner Greg Hartmann.  Because of this awful 2-1 vote, Hamilton County homeowners will not be paying higher taxes for the Bengals and Reds stadiums. 

This is a terrible day for the tax-hiking movement.  It was a great chance to raise taxes.  Tax Hike Hartmann knows higher property taxes are needed to ensure Mike Brown and the Bengals are provided everything they want.  Tax Hike Hartmann knows our property taxes are too low and must be raised.  Tax Hike Hartmann knows that the Property Tax Rollback was a promise made to be broken. 

We at Republicans for Higher Taxes are officially withdrawing our long-standing support for Portune.  He has betrayed our movement time and time again this year by refusing to supporting higher property taxes for the stadiums and museums, supporting a stadium ticket fee so that those who use the stadiums pay for them, and opposing new gifts to Mike Brown.  Portune no longer understands that the taxpayers should always come last. 

We also call on our beloved Republican Chairman Alex Triantafilou to throw Monzel out of the Republican Party.  We're the party of higher taxes and Monzel isn't respecting this fact!  He was ordered to obey Tax Hike Hartmann and refused, just as he disobeyed Simon Leis in 2007 by opposing the Leis Sales Tax increase. 

We applaud Tax Hike Hartmann for his fantastic pro-tax leadership.  We hope his staff took the time to visit their favorite OTR bars and enjoy their favorite beverages.  We will work tirelessly to find good tax-and-spend Republicans to replace those awful fiscal conservatives Monzel and Portune.

Help pass Hartmann's tax hike

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are down to two days left to raise taxes on Hamilton County homeowners.  Tax Hike Hartmann is working furiously to gather a second vote to increase property taxes to give more money to Mike Brown and the Bengals.  This tax increase is too important to worry about what the voters want. 

If this tax increase doesn't pass, the Bengals might have to pay their own electric bills.  If Tax Hike Hartmann doesn't get his way, the Bengals might have to pay for their own stadium upgrades.  If homeowners don't pay more taxes, suburbanites might be able to spend money on their own schools instead of subsidizing the Cincinnati Public Schools.  Could you imagine this?  As you can see, it is urgent that we join Tax Hike Hartmann in passing his big property tax hike. 

We are the party of higher taxes.  Raising taxes is what Republicans do best.  It is Republicans who proposed the Stadium Sales Tax.  It is Republicans who voted for the Stadium Sales Tax.  It is Republicans who negotiated the stadium leases that have done so much good for our county.  It is Republicans plus David A. Pepper who raised property taxes last year to give even more money to the Bengals. 

We call on Commissioners Chris Monzel and Todd Portune to end their support for the Property Tax Rollback.  It is time to break their promises and join Tax Hike Hartmann to pass this important tax increase.  Now is the time for higher stadium taxes and more stadium spending.  Tax us more!

Hartmann's Tax Hike fails to gain support

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are facing a moment of truth.  Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann had planned on passing his big property tax increase at today's Commission meeting, but failed to find a second vote.  This fight continues.  Tax Hike Hartmann is working very hard to raise your taxes and we will stand behind him 100%.  

This is the most important tax increase we have faced....than at anytime in the past two weeks.  Mike Brown deserves that money.  Mike Brown needs that money and he needs it more than you do. 

This property tax increase only affects the stupid homeowners in Hamilton County.  It doesn't affect people like me and my civil domestic partner, or our Section 8 landlord.  Just because the voters were promised this money when they passed the Stadium Sales Tax increase doesn't mean they should get it.  Promises are made to be broken, especially promises made to the lowly taxpayers. 

We condemn Commissioners Chris Monzel and Todd Portune for standing in the way of this fantastic property tax increase.  Monzel needs to learn his role.  Republicans are the party of higher taxes.  It's time for Monzel to stand in line and obey Tax Hike Hartmann and his other superiors.  Contact your Commissioners and ask them to please raise our taxes.  Tax us more!

Support Hartmann's Property Tax Hike

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are delighted to endorse Commissioner Greg Hartmann's property tax increase on the homeowners of Hamilton County.  Tax Hike Hartmann knows that we need higher taxes to give more money to the Bengals and Reds.  Sadly, Tax Hike Hartmann lacks a second vote for his excellent tax increase.  We call on all of you to get busy advocating for more taxes.

When the voters of Hamilton County approved the Stadium Sales Tax increase in 1996, they were promised that 30% of these Sales Tax revenues would be refunded to homeowners in the form of a Property Tax Rollback (PTR).  Through 2009, this promise was kept.  Thankfully in 2010, Commissioners David Pepper and Tax Hike Hartmann broke this promise, knowing that Mike Brown and Bob Bedinghaus could spend that money better than you.

Here we are again facing this same issue for 2012.  Except now, serial tax hiker David Pepper isn't on the Commission.  He's been replaced by Chris Monzel, who stupidly believes that this PTR promise should be kept.  Amazingly, our formerly ally Todd Portune also believes the full PTR should be maintained.

We fully support breaking this promise.  The stupid voters don't deserve this money.  Bob Bedinghaus, Mike Brown, and Jeff Berding should get to spend that money for you.  Promises to the lowly taxpayers are made to be broken.  

This situation leaves Tax Hike Hartmann without a second vote to pass this absolutely necessary tax increase.  We call on all you tax hikers to lobby Monzel and Portune.  Encourage them to break their word to the voters so we can send more money to the stadiums.  We also want you to contact Tax Hike Hartmann's office and thank him for everything he is doing to raise our property taxes.  You don't need that money; the Bengals do.  Tax us more!

Stadium Dave Linnenberg Bails Out

Dear fellow tax hikers, our movement suffered a setback today when Green Township Trustee David Linnenberg announced he would not be in the running to replace Bob Mecklenborg in the State House.  Just yesterday we gave Stadium Dave our enthusiastic endorsement due to his key leadership role in passing the Stadium Sales Tax hike to give Bengals Owner Mike Brown a free stadium and millions per year in subsidies. We thought we had found a hero. 

Stadium Dave's withdrawal has forced us to restart our search.  We promise you tax hikers, we have resumed our search and promise to find a qualified tax-and-spend Republican to send to Columbus.  We expect to post a new endorsement in the coming days.  We hope that person won't exit the race a few hours later like Stadium Dave did.

David Linnenberg for State Representative

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are beaming with pride to endorse tax-and-spend Republican David Linnenberg for State Representative.  Linnenberg was the Volunteer Coordinator for the successful Stadium Sales Tax increase that has provided Mike Brown with a free stadium and many millions in subsidies at taxpayer expense, and he has supported several other necessary tax increases over the years.  With his proven record of raising taxes, Stadium Dave Linnenberg is without question the top choice to represent us in Columbus.  

The stakes are too high to get this wrong.  Governor John Kasich is doing a terrible job for Ohio.  We will never forgive him for closing an $8 billion shortfall without raising taxes!  Where were our legislative Republicans to insist on the tax increases that all Ohioans deserve?  We badly need a qualified tax hiker like Stadium Dave to infiltrate the Republican Caucus and undermine Governor Kasich's limited government agenda. 

When Bob Bedinghaus, Tom Neyer, and Roxanne Qualls said it was time to raise taxes for Mike Brown, Stadium Dave enthusiastically joined them in taking a key leadership role to get this tax hike passed.  Hasn't that worked out so well for county taxpayers?  We need Stadium Dave to do for Ohio what he has done to Hamilton County. 

This is not to say that Stadium Dave is the only qualified candidate in this race.  Tracy Winkler would also make a fine State Representative.  Tracy possesses several important qualifications:  1) Her last name is Winkler;  2) She lives in Green Township;  3) She's married to a Winkler;  4) Her mother-in-law was a State Rep;  5) Her last name is Winkler. 

Winkler is good, but Stadium Dave is great.  Stadium Dave's leadership in passing the Bob Bedinghaus Stadium Sales Tax sets him a cut above the rest.  If it wasn't for Stadium Dave, we might not be paying higher taxes to Mike Brown today and that would be tragic.  Due to his expertise at raising our taxes, we proudly endorse Stadium Dave Linnenberg for State Representative.

Mike Brown rebuffed

Dear fellow tax hikers, a grave injustice occurred at today's Hamilton County Commissioners meeting.  Bengals Owner Mike Brown wants $300,000 to upgrade the stadium's instant replay system and he didn't get it!  We are disgusted by this development.

The Bengals only earned $49 million last year, good for 5th in the NFL.  That's not enough.  Mike Brown needs more and we're going to make sure he gets it.  When the Bengals want something, it is the duty of all Hamilton County taxpayers to provide.

We don't care that the current instant replay system still works.  We don't care that the NFL is under a lockout and that there may not be a season next year.  We want to spend $300,000 to replace a system that isn't broken and may not be used for years.  Don't you?

We applaud County Commissioner Greg Hartmann for his support of this deal.  Tax Hike Hartmann endorsed this spending plan, defended it against the unfair criticism, and he expected it to pass.  Tax Hike Hartmann did not throw in the towel until those conservative Commissioners Todd Portune and Chris Monzel announced they would not support this expenditure.  This will change.  Your money is Mike Brown's money and he is going to get it.

ESPN says Bengals the worst franchise in sports

Dear fellow tax hikers, earlier today we were dismayed to read that our Beloved Bengals were ranked the worst sports franchise on the planet.  How could any franchise run by Mike Brown, Bob Bedinghaus, and Jeff Berding be so poorly respected?  We are so lucky to have Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann working hard to do something about this. 

Our Bengals would not be ranked last if they were receiving all the tax dollars they deserve! 

This proves that our Beloved Bengals deserve more taxpayer money.  We need to support Tax Hike Hartmann's efforts to raise taxes to give more money to the teams.  We need higher property taxes.  We may also need to raise the Sales Tax too.  The Bengals are entitled to this money.  You are not. 

We need to raise taxes to send more money to Mike Brown and the Bengals.  They need more.  We applaud Tax Hike Hartmann for understanding this.  Now get out there and raise some more stadium taxes!

Rally to support Tax Hike Hartmann's Tax Hike

Dear fellow tax hikers, this Noon Tuesday at City Hall the Hamilton County Republican Party is organizing a rally to support Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann's big property tax increase for the Bengals and Reds!  Do you support higher property taxes as much as we do?  If so we want to see you there.

This tax increase is necessary.  Hamilton County's stadium fund was due to run a large deficit in 2011 and 2012.  Spending cuts are never an option.  Without higher taxes, how could we give the Bengals and Reds all the tax dollars they deserve?  Tax Hike Hartmann recognized this injustice and joined with David Pepper to raise our property taxes.  For that we are extremely grateful.

The Hamilton County Republican Party has supported this tax increase 100%.  And that is not going to change.  They know how badly we need to send more of tax dollars to Bengals Owner Mike Brown and Bengals Executive Bob Bedinghaus. 

In 2013 the stadium fund deficit gets even worse.  That will mean an even larger tax increase for all county residents.  We are working closely with Tax Hike Hartmann and the Hamilton County GOP to determine which taxes we are going to raise. 

We want all of you tax hikers to stand with us this Tuesday and show your support for higher county property taxes.  Show us that you agree with Tax Hike Hartmann and the Hamilton County GOP that funding the needs of Mike Brown and the Bengals is our county's #1 priority.  Tax us more!