Monzel opposes property tax increase

We are very disturbed that Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Monzel is continuing his long-time efforts to block property tax increases on city homeowners. Monzel just doesn't get it - Cincinnati's homeowners should be paying higher taxes. Imagine the horror in our faces when we read Monzel's press release vowing to oppose efforts to raise the city's property tax.

Monzel Stands Firm with Taxpayers
Vows to Oppose Elimination of Property Tax Rollback

(Cincinnati, Ohio) Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Monzel vowed today that he will stand firm with the City’s taxpayers and oppose any efforts to eliminate the annual property tax rollback. Monzel said that he believes citizens are overtaxed and that he will not support any effort by members of Council to increase the amount of property taxes collected by the city. The issue will be discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Finance Committee and will be voted on by the full Council at Wednesday’s regular meeting.

According to the city charter, the City of Cincinnati can levy of to 6.1 mills of property tax for general fund use. Since 2001, Council has “rolled back” that rate to collect a flat amount of $28.9 million. In 2008 that rate was 4.53 mills and for tax year 2009 the rate would remain the same. Any increases in this rate would result in collecting more tax dollars from property owners across the city. If the millage rate is not annually adjusted, a form of “tax creep” would affectively impose an automatic tax increase each year, annually compounding. One mill (1/100 of a cent) translates into $1 of tax per $1000 of a property’s valuation.

Councilman Chris Monzel said “by maintaining the tax rollback, we send a strong signal to homeowners recognizing that their tax burden is too high and shouldn’t be increased.” Monzel further stated that “Simply stated, the property tax rollback policy puts the brakes on un-voted tax increases and acknowledges the fact that this isn’t Council’s money, it belongs to the taxpayers.”

This press release is incorrect. The tax burden on city homeowners is not too high. It is too low. Most of our Council understands this and because of that they believe you should be paying much higher taxes. Why doesn't Monzel?

In tough times like these, it's important to make sure the government gets everything it wants, even if it means Cincinnati families get less of what they need. For that reason, we endorse the Chris Bortz property tax increase and call on our eight tax-and-spend friends on Council to vote against Monzel's ploy to freeze property taxes.

Mustache power

We at Republicans for Higher Taxes have discovered the real power behind the local political scene - mustache power. Bill Seitz, our 2007 Tax Hiker of the Year, has a mustache.  Virgil Lovitt, our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year, also has a mustache.  Todd Portune, the leading Democrat for higher taxes, proudly wears his mustache everywhere he goes.  Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner, two leading Republican tax-and-spenders, sport a neat 'stache themselves.

And then there's Leslie Ghiz and Jean Schmidt.

This is one of the key differences between us and the COAST clowns.  You don't see any of them with mustaches.  Even the candidates they've supported - Steve Chabot, Chris Monzel, Pat DeWine, Robert Goering - there's not a mustache between them.  It's the mustache that gives our side - the tax and spend Republicans - the advantage over those no-mustache anti-taxers! We will continue to exploit this advantage for our pro-tax purposes.

Mustache power is everywhere.  You cannot fight the 'stache.  Don't even try.

Bill Seitz endorses new tax increase

When we awarded Bill Seitz our 2007 Tax Hiker of the Year, we knew that was not the end but merely a middle chapter in his inspirational tax-hiking career. Our Green Township sources have reported to us, and we have confirmed, that the man we affectionately call Tax Hike Seitz has endorsed a brand new tax increase for 2008!

We are so proud when one of our Tax Hiker of the Year winners goes on to endorse bigger and higher tax increases. We are happy to see that Seitz, after receiving our prestigious award, continues to feel a responsibility to see the government consume an ever-larger portion of your income. Seitz has proven to us that his 2007 Tax Hiker of the Year award was no fluke.

Our message to Green Township voters: follow the lead of Tax Hike Bill Seitz, and vote for all the tax increases on your ballot. And make sure to vote for Seitz too, so he can continue to promote higher taxes and higher spending for us all.

Governor Bob Taft's 2008 Endorsements

28th Ohio House District - Virgil Lovitt

I give my strongest possible endorsement in this race to our man Virgil Lovitt. Virg has been a strong and consistent supporter of real Republican values of higher taxes. Don't be fooled by claims to the contrary. Virgil is the real deal when it come to tax hikes. That's why he was named him the 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year. Please vote Lovitt for the 28th District. Let him do for the 28th District what he's done for Sharonville, which has become a bastion of prosperity under Virg's leadership.

8th Ohio State Senate District - Bill Seitz

Not to be outdone, the 2007 Tax Hiker of the Year deserves an equal amount of support. Bill Seitz has never met a tax he didn't hike. From supporting money for the Freedom Center to pushing the Taft tax and spend policies all the way to supporting the jail tax last year, Seitz has been a long-time supporter of higher taxes and spending. Please vote Seitz for State Senate. The Republican party needs him in Columbus to continue pushing for higher taxes.

Hamilton County Commissioner - Todd Portune

Todd Portune may be a Democrat, but he's my kind of politican. Todd has supported higher taxes and increased spending for every level of government at which he has served. Todd understands how important higher taxes are to our local economy. That's why he pushed the Issue 27 Super Sized sales tax increase last year. We must support Todd and oppose the evil Ed Rothenburg, who fought against taxes as a private citizen. We can't have citizens fighting the high-tax establishment! Vote Portune for higher taxes and the prosperity that will come along with them.

Hamilton County Sheriff - Simon Leis

This man needs no moustache to distinguish him as a true tax hiker. Perhaps no elected official in Hamilton County history has spent more taxpayer dollars than Semper Si Leis. Si has drained the County coffers for nearly 50 years, and has amassed an army of taxpayer funded toys. True to form, Simon fought tirelessly for Todd Portune and David Pepper's $777 million tax increase last year, and proudly used taxpayer funds to advocate for higher taxes. Please keep Sheriff Leis on the public payroll for four more years. We need more Si.



United State Congress, 2nd District of Ohio - Jean Schmidt

Jean Schmidt is perhaps my all-time favorite Republican tax hiker. Mean Jean supported every one of my Taft tax increases while serving in the State House. I was proud when she moved up the ladder to the Federal Government, where she can raise taxes and increase spending at a whole new level. Unlike many constituents in the 2nd District, I'm not embarrassed by Jean at all. I'm proud of her high-tax record. Jean also bravely voted for the $700 bailout bill. I knew she'd never let us down when bigger government was on the line.



Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas - Norma Davis

Like 99.9% of voters, I know nothing about Norma Davis, but I do know plenty about her opponent - Pat DeWine. DeWine was the 2007 Enemy of the Treasury for his opposition to the Portune/Pepper tax increase. He has fought higher taxes and spending for almost a decade, and worst of all - he promises to carry his fiscally responsible mindset to the courthouse. We can't have yet another branch of government infiltrated by DeWine's insidious low tax policies. Please support Norma. Send a message that fighting for smaller government will not be tolerated.



Hamilton County Engineer - Bill Brayshaw

Bill Brayshaw has been a fixture as Engineer for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I can remember he's fought against innovative cost-saving measures in the Engineer's office. Just this year he bravely refused to participate in a cost-cutting managed competition effort that would save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, preferring instead to balance the books by not buying road salt. We need to keep people in office like Old man Brayshaw. He's a staunch defender of the status quo. Keep Brayshaw Engineer!




Honorable Mention - Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner

Neither of these fine gentlemen is running for office this year, but I wish they were. Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner have long histories of support for higher taxes and spending. I sincerely hope that the Hamilton County Republican Party will begin to take notice and push these guys for higher elected office. How about a Bryan/Sumner Presidential ticket in 2012? I can only hope.

The following republicans did not receive my endorsement this year-

John McCain/Sarah Palin (President/Vice President) - A guy who's against earmarks and a reformer who worked to fight corruption even amongst her own Party? Need I say any more? Why couldn't the Republican Party put together a Lincoln Chafee/Susan Collins ticket?

Steve Chabot (United States Congress, First District of Ohio) - Steve is one of te few true conservatives in Congress. He consistently fights against increased spending, wasteful earmarks, and high spending. He even voted against the great $700 Billion bailout. What nerve! Kick him out of office so we can get a real Republican tax hiker in there.

Greg Hartmann (Hamilton County Commissioner) - Greg has done a horrible job as the Clerk of Courts. Can you believe he has the nerve to actually turn money back to the Treasury each year? He has an obligation to spend every single taxpayer dollar he gets. Everybody knows that the government knows how to spend your money better than you do. Keep Hartmann off of the County Commission!

Steve Johnson (31st Ohio House District) - Steve is running for the Ohio 31st House District. Worst of all, he's a professed protege of Steve Chabot. We can't have two anti-taxers in office on the west side of town. Please work hard to defeat Steve Johnson.
Rob Goering (Hamilton County Treasurer) - Goering used poor judgment when he bucked Party leaders and came out against the Portune/Pepper/Leis sales tax increase. What a jerk! We need someone in charge of the County's money who understands that higher taxes lead to economic prosperity. Vote against Goering.

Market still crashing - more government needed!

For the 7th straight day the market is taking a beating. We thought passing the George Bush/Nancy Pelosi/Barney Frank bailouts for billionaires would have fixed everything. Now we know better.

Their package wasn't big enough. What we need is another big bailout package. We need more government involvement to solve this. And to pay for it we must enact huge tax increases now!

With Virgil Lovitt, the Sky's the Limit

Our most sincere compliments to the Ohio Republican Party (of higher taxes). After sending the 28th district some mailings that undercut Virgil's message of higher taxes and more spending, the ORP has produced for Virg his greatest mailing yet. This one is titled, "With Virgil Lovitt, the sky's the limit" and it promises that our man Virgil will "make our economy soar" and "lift our community to a higher altitude".

No doubt. Virgil Lovitt will lift our tax rates to a higher altitude, higher than even Bob Taft and Jean Schmidt ever dreamed. And under Virg, our state government spending will soar.

With Virg running the show, the sky is the limit for higher taxes and higher spending. Virgil Lovitt for County Commissioner!

**Update - We made an error in the last paragraph. We meant to say "Virgil Lovitt for State Representative". That is what he is running for this year, though we know he is using this as a stepping stone to run for County Commissioner.

Jean Schmidt supports Virgil Lovitt

This picture speaks a thousand words, which means our entry for today will require few of them. Schmidt's support for Lovitt should come as no surprise to anyone as they share all of the same values.

They supported Bob Taft's tax increases. They supported Bob Taft's 3rd Frontier program. They share the same ethics. They have the same intellect. We are so proud to be able to support a great man like Virg to follow in the footsteps of Jean Schmidt.

If you like Bob Taft and Jean Schmidt, you'll love Virgil Lovitt. Virgil Lovitt for State Representative/County Commissioner!

Jean Schmidt supported Bush's Bailout Bill

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt must have heard our demands. When she voted against George Bush's and Barney Frank's Bailout Bill for Billionaires the first time around, we let her know our dissatisfaction. She knew she was facing the end of her career if she continued to cross us.

Fellow tax hikers, we can report that our efforts have succeeded. Congresswoman Jean Schmidt switched her vote and supported the bailout bill that just passed Congress and was signed into law. This bill spends another $800 billion to grow our government, most of it bailing out Wall Street leaders who otherwise blew up their companies.

This had to be done. If responsible taxpayers weren't there to bail out the irresponsible, then who would those people be able to take from? It's a fundamental question of fairness. It's unfair when Wall Street can take huge risks and be made to live with the consequences of their failures. They should know when they take these risks, that if they fail the taxpayers will be there to bail them out.

We applaud Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for recognizing this. Thank you Jean for your vote to subsidize risky behavior. Thank you Jean for your vote to force the responsible Americans to share their wealth with those who did not protect their assets as they should have. We know that we can always count on Congresswoman Jean Schmidt to pursue our agenda of higher taxes, more spending, and subsidizing irresponsible behavior. Jean Schmidt for Congress!

Virgil Lovitt for County Commissioner

Great news fellow tax hikers: Our investigative prowess has determined that Virgil Lovitt's run for the State House is a mere stepping stone to his real ambition - to be our next great County Commissioner. We all know that Lovitt would serve us proudly in the mold of Bob Bedinghaus, his pet Tom Neyer, and of course the great Todd Portune. This is great news for our movement. As a State Representative he is only one out of 99. But as County Commissioner, he would provide 50% of the vote needed to make sure we pay higher taxes.

We know everyone is asking, how did we discover this? Virg himself provided the answers. Since Mayor Lovitt is such an honest man, a man of unmatched integrity, and so big into transparency, he has chosen to do what few candidates do - refuse to protect access to the directory of photos on his website. Because our man Virg is so open and honest, we were able to go through his entire website and pull every single photograph they have in their site database!

Among these files include numerous examples of Lovitt's ambition to be our next County Commissioner. We have chosen to post one such photo here. But rest assured, we have saved all our favorite files from that open directory to our hard drive and will be posting more throughout the campaign to make sure that everyone can see why we love Virg so much.

We are very excited by this development. We applaud Virgil Lovitt for having the openness and honesty to open up access to all his website files, something few campaigns do. We applaud Virg for letting us know in advance that he is using this race as a stepping stone to something bigger. We applaud Virg for wanting to be our County Commissioner. With Portune and Lovitt on the county commission, Lovitt can use his vote to guarantee that Portune can pass all his ideas and all his plans for higher taxes and more spending.

Virgil Lovitt donated $250 to Todd Portune

The more we learn about Virgil Lovitt the more we like him. While reviewing county campaign finance reports, we discovered that our man Virg donated $250 to the great Democrat Todd Portune through his Lovitt for Mayor committee. Reasons like this are why Lovitt is one of our favorite Republicans.

While some Republicans have criticized Lovitt for endorsing and donating to a Democrat like Portune, Lovitt has firmly refused to back down in his support of this tax-hiking County Commissioner. And why should he? Todd Portune has been a strong supporter of higher taxes and higher spending, just like Lovitt. Portune voted to implement a Sales Tax increase for the Sheriff and numerous special interests, even though the voters clearly said they didn't want it. Lovitt proudly endorsed this tax hike.

Portune and Lovitt share the same goals - to take as much of your money as they can and redistribute it to more deserving entities. For this, we salute them both and award Virgil Lovitt with our strongest possible endorsement for State Representative.

No more clowning around

Of all things that could go wrong, now our man Virgil Lovitt is under attack from a conservative clown! Andy Mellman, who spends his time working as a clown to raise money for burn research at Cincinnati Shrine Hospital, is criticizing Lovitt for using one of his clown photos to attack Lovitt's opponent Connie Pillich as a clown. What a horrible person this Mellman must be! No matter how much money you raise for burn victims or how many children you make laugh, nobody can be allowed to criticize our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt and get away with it.

This is not a three ring circus. Our ability to make sure we remain a party of higher taxes hinges on great tax hikers like Virgil Lovitt being able to get elected. Mellman is an admitted conservative and that's probably why he's criticizing Lovitt. Conservatives like Mellman oppose higher taxes and more government.

But Lovitt is one of us, a Republican who supports higher taxes and much more spending. Conservatives should feel free to not support Lovitt. We'll win this race by building our own coalition of tax hikers and big spenders. And these Shriner clowns will be back to putting on red noses and doing charitable work. That'll show them.

Sadly this circus act obscures the real problem with this flyer: it once again distorts the fine tax-and-spend record that Virg has worked his entire career to build. We cannot fathom why the Ohio Republican Party continues to insist that Lovitt will cut taxes. Virgil Lovitt has never supported cutting taxes. Moreso than probably anyone except Bill Seitz, Lovitt stands proudly for higher taxes and higher spending, especially for programs like Bob Taft's 3rd Frontier.

One thing that can't be distorted is our commitment to ensure Virgil Lovitt's election as State Representative, so that he can continue the tax-and-spend policies he's advocated for in Hamilton County. We are not clowning around. Lovitt for State Rep.

Save Bush's Bailout

Fellow advocates of big government,

We are calling on you to combat the unfair attacks from COAST on this wonderful plan put together by President Bush and our Democratic leaders to provide a $700 billion bailout to Wall Street financial firms. We need you to contact your Congressmen and Senators and let them know that we want this huge bailout for Wall Street's most unsuccessful businessmen.

Let's not allow any of this personal responsibility stuff to stand in the way of an unprecedented government takeover of the economy. Wall Street firms should not be held responsible for their failed policies that led to the destruction of their companies. Likewise, we should not hold homeowners responsbile for taking out bad mortgages that they knew they could never repay.

It is the job of responsible taxpayers to pay these bills. What kind of society would we have if responsible taxpayers could not be called upon to bail out the irresponsible homeowners and irresponsible financial firms that led themselves straight to ruin?

It is unfair to expect financial firms to properly manage their own finances. When they falter, they need the taxpayer to bail them out. What kind of economy would this be if we forced companies to live with the results of their poor practices?

Right now our great Congresswoman Jean Schmidt says she is undecided. Let's help her decide. We need to remind Schmidt that she has always kowtowed to Republican leaders, right or wrong. Schmidt supported all of Bob Taft's tax increases and supported Simon Leis' Sales Tax hike. Now we need her to support George Bush's $700 billion bailout. Schmidt must once again put party first.