Sheriff's Chief Deputy Runs Drinking Establishment

Dear fellow tax hikers, we have spent the last several weeks investigating the inner workings of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.  We have discovered some fascinating information which we know you will enjoying reading.  In the name of ethics we must disclose our biases - we are HUGE fans of Sheriff Simon Leis and have fully supported his past campaigns to raise our county's Sales Tax and spend $200 million to build the Cincinnati streetcar.  Our findings only further our love and admiration for our great Sheriff. 

We tax hikers have secured a copy of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Operating Procedure Manual, which "establishes guidelines and standards for Sheriff's officers working outside employment...."  One of these guidelines states with no exception: "Certain types of outside employment are prohibited as follows:  1) Work for a liquor permit premise (bar), where the primary business is the sale of liquor."  Sheriff's Office General Rules and Regulations further state that, "Sheriff's Office Employees shall not engage in any other employment or business without the permission of the Sheriff."  So to sum it up, the Sheriff must approve outside business or employment, and absolutely no involvement with a liquor permit premise. 

We found it extremely interesting, then, that Hamilton County Chief Deputy Sheriff Sean Donovan is an owner of............a liquor permit premise, City Cellars.  Evidence of the liquor permit can be found by going to this site and searching for Donovan. 

This is the kind of integrity that we expect from Sheriff Simon Leis.   We're sure the Sheriff and Chief Deputy Donovan will claim they are in compliance with the rule because this place serves pizza too, or maybe they serve more of one thing than another, or his wife is the real owner.  We would call this defense Ethics by Technicality, if we could even claim that.  As tax hikers, we find this standard to be an incredibly compelling measure of Simon's character. 

But let's make sure we keep an eye on the important issues.  We need higher Sales Taxes.  We need streetcars.  And we need more Sheriff's employees running drinking establishments regardless of what the rules say.  These reasons and more are why we admire our beloved Sheriff Simon Leis and applaud his strong sense of integrity.  Tax us more!

Jean Schmidt for Congress

Dear fellow tax hikers, tonight your favorite blog Republicans for Higher Taxes begins releasing our choices for the 2010 general election. Our first endorsement was an easy one. With no hesitation, we strongly endorse the re-election of Jean Schmidt to Congress.

Her opponent in this race, whoever he is, has not been visible in any way. We would call him a ghost, except that some people would accuse us of making a racial slur.

Jean Schmidt has been one of the past decade's finest tax increasers. Consider the fantastic Jean Schmidt record:

1. Proudly voted for Bob Taft's 20% Sales Tax hike.  Our good friend Michelle Schneider also voted for this. 

2. Voted for Bob Taft's 27% Gas Tax increase. Gas prices were way too low and Jean knew the government needed to take action to raise them.

3. Sponsored the legislation to more than double Hamilton County Hotel/Motel Tax. This legislation was sponsored by Schmidt, endorsed by Virgil Lovitt, and signed into law by Governor Bob Taft - a legendary trio of tax hikers.

4. Has strongly supported great Republicans like 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt, 2009 Tax Hiker of the Year Michelle Schneider, and pro-tax Sheriff Simon Leis.

5. When not raising taxes, Jean Schmidt voted with Barack Obama to pass George Bush's $800 billion Bailout for Wall Street Billionaires.

Jean Schmidt legacy is daunting.  She has left Ohio with higher taxes and bigger government.  And by voting for the big government policies of George Bush and Barack Obama, Schmidt left America with massive debt that her great-grandchildren who haven't even been born yet will spend their entire lives paying off.  This is one fantastic record from our Jean Schmidt, who is one fantastic Congressman.  Re-elect Jean Schmidt to Congress!

Meet Tax Hiker David Pepper

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are pleased to show you an AWESOME video that celebrates David Pepper's excellence in tax hiking.  It reviews the many tax increases that Pepper has supported or implemented during his time as a Cincinnati City Councilman and Hamilton County Commissioner.  If you are not familiar with Pepper's excellent pro-tax record, after you watch this video you will understand why we love Pepper so much. 



What a fantastic list of David Pepper tax hikes!  Pepper did raise the hotel tax.  He fought to implement the jock tax.  Pepper is currently trying to raise property taxes to give more money to Mike Brown and the Reds, even after previously calling such an act "illegitimate".  And best of all, Pepper voted to raise the Hamilton County Sales Tax by $777 million over 15 years! 

That's the Pepper record.  Higher Sales Taxes.  Higher Property Taxes.  Higher Hotel Taxes.  Higher sports taxes.  Where David Pepper is concerned, there is always a tax that needs to be raised.  We need Pepper to do for Ohio what he's done for Hamilton County - raise our taxes! 

Double Dipper Dusty Rhodes backtracks

Dear fellow tax hikers, Democratic Double Dipper Dusty Rhodes has changed his position once again on the controversial practice of "double-dipping" - when an employee retires to draw their monthly pension check, then about 10 seconds later returns to their job where they continue to collect their taxpayer-funded salary.  Many unimportant peons says it is unethical to collect two government checks for the same job.  But to us tax hikers, it's another fantastic government expenditure just like the streetcar, Bridge to Nowhere, and subsidies to The Freedom Center. 

Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes has spent the last two decades as County Auditor sharply criticizing this practice.  That is, until it was his turn at the trough.  Earlier this year, Dusty filed paperwork to start double dipping himself if he is re-elected Hamilton County Auditor next month.  Kind of like John Kerry, Rhodes was against it before he was for it.

Earlier today Double Dipper Dusty announced he is now taking his 3rd position on this issue.  He says he will still double dip but will donate most of the proceeds of his retirement check to charity, and that this was always his plan.  We are glad that Dusty finally got around to announcing this great plan. 

Double Dipping Democrat Dusty filed the paperwork to retire as Hamilton County Auditor in February.  Now it's October.  We completely believe that Dusty meant to announce this plan back in February, but he just kind of forgot about it for 8 months. 

We support Dusty's Double Dipping.  We believe him when he says he will donate much of this money.  We are not deterred by the fact that Dusty said he was always against double dipping but is now participating in it.  This time we believe him.  If you support double dipping as much as we do, then be sure to support your Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes.

Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes

Dear fellow tax hikers, we have never been more proud of Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes than we are right now.  Recently it was discovered that Rhodes has filed to join the ranks of the Double Dippers.  If Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes is re-elected, he will first "retire" at the end of his current term to start collecting an annual retirement check of $94,248, then he will start his new term the very next day where he will happily take his salary to collect another $94,248/year. 

Prior to becoming a double dipper, Dusty stated:

"It would be cheaper if I stole money from my neighbor, but that doesn't make it right," Rhodes said then. "This is an abuse of the system. You can put all the lipstick you want on the pig. But at the end of the day, it's still a pig."

Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes is our kind of pig.  He is a pig who takes every opportunity to take more money from the taxpayers regardless of whether it is right.  But according to Dusty, his motives for this are pure:

"If this gets people talking about it, let it rip," he said. "I'm willing to fall on my sword if that's what it takes. I'm not even sure I'm going to do it, but if this gets the issue out there, that's good."

That's right, Double Dipper Dusty knows this is wrong, but he isn't doing it for his own benefit.  Oh no, he's doing it for YOUR benefit!  Dusty doesn't WANT to take that extra $94k per year.  But he'll do it if he has to! 

We call on everyone to immediately stop referring to Double Dipping Democrat Dusty Rhodes as a hypocrite.  Dusty is doing what good, tax-hiking politicians do best - find every possible way to take the taxpayer for a ride.  The more government workers who double-dip, the quicker that we can drive these pension funds into insolvency.  And then, we get to raise your taxes to make them solvent again. 

The only way to stop Dusty Rhodes from double dipping is to vote for his Republican opponent Tom Brinkman.  If Brinkman wins this race, then Double Dipper Dusty would have to actually retire to collect his retirement check!  That would be completely unfair.  Say yes to Double Dipping....Say yes to Dusty Rhodes!

Cincinnati installs more scooter spaces

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are excited by the news that Cincinnati City Council will be spending up to $192,000 of taxpayer funds to install more parking spaces for scooters!  The city will raid the fund for neighborhood speed humps to pay for this important project.  This vote continues the positive trend in Cincinnati government that we've seen throughout the Mallory/Bortz administration - putting downtown and Over the Rhine first, while letting the neighborhoods fend for themselves. 

We condemn Chris Monzel for being the only Councilman to vote against this great plan.  He would rather spend the money from the speed hump fund on speed humps.  When is Monzel going to quit worrying about the neighborhoods and understand that his job is to do everything that downtown desires?  Do you see any other Councilmen giving a crap about the city's neighborhoods? 

Monzel's history of opposing higher taxes and supporting the neighborhoods is unacceptable.  He should be supporting higher taxes and opposing the neighborhoods, just like Leslie Ghiz and Roxanne Qualls.  He is an enemy of our tax-and-spend agenda.  Let's cut the neighborhoods loose for good by standing together against their #1 advocate Chris Monzel.  Tax us more!

Liz Ping goes on the attack

Dear fellow tax hikers, we were serious when we profiled up-and-coming tax hiker Liz Ping and gave her our pro-tax stamp of approval.  Ping Pong's candidacy is no joke.  And now she is taking the fight to her enemies. 

Recently Ping sent her declaration of war to the local GOP:   

Maggie Nafziger and the Hamilton County GOP; you've been PING'd!

We hear that the GOP is REALLY scared!  They've seen Ping Pong when she gets fired up and they want no piece of this.  They are petrified that they will suffer the same wrath as her many defeated ping pong opponents. 

It is undeniable that our Liz Ping is on the move and has gathered the momentum in this race.  Now that Liz has earned the support of the tax hikers, pro-abortionists, and gays, she is very close to clinching victory.  We are now elevating this contest to one of our target races.  We are so excited by what Mrs. Ping Pong has to offer.  Her victory will give us another strong tax-hiking ally in Columbus to help Ted Strickland continue his efforts to Turn Around Ohio.   Tax us more!

Strickland signals plans to raise taxes

Dear fellow tax hikers, our great tax-and-spend Governor Ted Strickland has given strong indications that he will propose a significant tax increase if he is re-elected this November!  For some reason Strickland will not come out and say it, but consider the following chain of events:

- Strickland acknowledged that there will be a budget shortfall of up to $8 billion.
- Ohio's budget must be balanced each cycle.  
- Strickland outright refuses to make $8 billion in cuts, even criticizing his opponent John Kasich for being willing to make these cuts. 
- Therefore, Ted Strickland will be proposing a multi-billion dollar tax increase to balance Ohio's budget.

We think this is a fantastic policy decision.  Ohio's taxes are too low.  Ohio must enact a significant tax increase to remain competitive.  We condemn John Kasich for stating that he will balance the budget by making budget cuts.  Government should not have to tighten its belt.  You need to tighten yours.  Tax us more!

Tarbell says Vote for Old People

Dear fellow tax hikers, at a recent debate between our enemy Chris Monzel and pro-tax Democrat Jim Tarbell, Tarbell dropped the bomb on Monzel.  Tarbell unleashed what he feels is his #1 qualification for being on the Hamilton County Commission:

"Our leaders in government are either too young to have the experience we need right now or don't have the courage to make the decisions that are needed."

That's right, Jim Tarbell is old.  Real old.  Tarbell will quickly raise the age of any room he enters, with the possible exception of the Blue Ash Republican Club.  Chris Monzel, who is in his early 40's, is just not old enough to be a good Commissioner. 

Tarbell's advanced age is one of his finest qualifications for Hamilton County Commission.  The old guys have done a fantastic job running our county.  Especially the old Democrats.  Democrats have run our county for the last 4 years and the city of Cincinnati for the last 2 decades.  Can anyone say that they haven't done a wonderful job?

Let's keep a great thing going.  Vote old.

Liz Ping for State Representative

(the Ping family crest)

Dear fellow tax hikers, it is our mission to support and promote the finest tax hikers in politics, wherever we can find them.  With that in mind, we offer our strong support to tax-hiking veteran Liz Ping for State Representative.  Mrs. Ping Pong has distinguished herself in the art of higher taxation.  She has compiled a fantastic record of supporting tax hikes for all Hamilton County residents. 

Ping Pong not only supports tax increases, she also donates her riches to the cause.  When we tax hikers needed help to support the $777 million sales tax increase passed by David Pepper and Todd Portune, Ping stepped up to the plate.  While reviewing the Issue 27 campaign finance reports we discovered that Mrs. Ping Pong was one of the generous donors to this campaign, which raised $1 million to help pass this important tax increase.  This is the kind of tax hiking leadership and dedication we need in Columbus.

When she isn't busy raising taxes, Ping can be found at the nearest table perfecting her mad clutch Ping Pong skills.  We know Ping can utilize these skills for our pro-tax benefit.  If Liz can destroy our anti-tax enemies with the same skill, dedication, aggressiveness, and efficiency as she does to her overmatched Ping Pong opponents, she would instantly be a tremendous tax-hiking asset in Columbus.

We tax hikers are facing a difficult time right now.  This makes it more important than ever to give one of our rising stars the support she needs.  Ping Pong has proven herself in the tax-hiking arena, and her election gives us a great chance to develop another great tax-and-spend leader.  Please do what you can to support her.  Liz Ping for State Representative!

Concerned about John Kasich

Dear fellow tax hikers, a common bond that unites us is the shared belief in former Governor Bob Taft as our biggest hero.  When we look for a Governor for our state, we want someone just like Taft.  Preferably, a Republican who loves higher taxes and bigger government just as much as we do.  However, we are increasingly concerned that John Kasich is nothing like Bob Taft and this is causing us to strongly consider an endorsement for our tax-and-spend Governor Ted Strickland.

Kasich disgusts us when he talks about how he balanced the federal budget in the 90's without raising taxes!  How dare he.  Where did Kasich ever get the idea that the federal government should control its spending?  We believe Kasich should explain to us why he opposes large federal deficits.  Is he saying that Obama's $1.5 trillion deficits are a bad thing?

In addition to his appalling work to balance the federal budget, we were recently appalled to learn that Kasich has come out against Obama's $400 million 3-C high-speed rail plan.  This fantastic plan would connect Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati (with a detour to Dayton) with a "high speed" train that will travel an average of 39 MPH.  It doesn't get any faster than that.  What Southwest Ohio resident doesn't dream of the day where you can hop a train in Cincinnati, head north to Dayton, and finally end up in Columbus 4 hours later?  We call on Kasich to change his mind and announce his support for this plan.

We are putting John Kasich on notice that he will be disqualified from the possibility of our support if he continues with his agenda of lower taxes, balanced budgets, and opposition to great programs like Obama's 3-C Rail.  We want a government that raises taxes and always finds new programs to consume our tax dollars.  Bob Taft was fantastic at this.  Ted Strickland has too.  We want Kasich to be just like them.  Tax us more!

Mrs. Lee Czerwonka donates to David Pepper

Dear fellow tax hikers,  if there is one thing we love at Republicans for Higher Taxes, it is when our fellow Republicans donate to liberal Democrat David Pepper.  While reviewing campaign finance reports, we were delighted to discover that local lawyer Christine Buttress, the wife of tax-and-spend Republican Blue Ash City Councilman Lee Czerwonka, recently donated $100 to proven tax-hiker David A. Pepper. 

We applaud Mrs. Butthead for recognizing the importance of donating to proven tax-and-spend Democrats.  With this donation the Republican Czerwonka family has donated $100 to Democrat David Pepper and $0 to his fiscally conservative Republican opponent Dave Yost.  These are the kind of Republican values that make us proud.

We also cannot understate the contributions that Lee Czerwonka has made to the GOP tax-and-spend movement.  When Blue Ash residents were being undertaxed, Lee stepped up to raise the income tax by 25%.  When Bob Taft, Jean Schmidt, and Virgil Lovitt worked to raise Hamilton County's hotel/motel tax by over 100%, our man Lee proudly endorsed that effort.  And when liberal Democrats David Pepper and Todd Portune implemented a big Sales Tax increase, Councilman Czerwonka supported this great tax hike and used his position with the Blue Ash Republican Club to promote it. 

In addition to all these wonderful tax increases, Czerwonka has generously donated money to fellow tax-and-spend Republicans.  In 2008, Lee donated $350 to our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt in his loser campaign for State Representative.  Not to be outdone, Lee surpassed his own generosity by donating $500 to 2009 Tax Hiker of the Year Michelle Schneider for her unsuccessful run for the State Senate.

We salute Beavis and Buttress for everything they've done to promote the tax-and-spend way.  The citizens of Blue Ash - no, make that all of Southwest Ohio - are lucky to be served by such quality tax-hikers.  Let's show our support for higher taxes by doing what we can to promote the great tax hiker himself David A. Pepper.  That's what Beavis and Buttress would want.