Maybe RTA should be a private business. It might get treated better by Democrats.
Squire & Sanders’ Fred Nance asked today for another public subsidy of $50 million for the Medical Mart. He wants an added 2 percent bed tax to go for the deal. He said Tim Hagan, Jimmy Dimora and Peter Lawson Jones could do that without a vote of taxpayers. Isn’t that convenient.
Would the Three Blind Commissioners again thumb their noses at Cuyahoga County voters by giving another tax gift (already near $1 billion in taxes) to help Forest City but not RTA?
It’s become Democratic tradition, giving to our wealthiest.
The State of Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher should be handing RTA millions of dollars in its time of need. Instead, they line up free money for private businesses, too.
That’s what they’re doing for numerous private businesses.
You may have noticed a lot about Norwalk Furniture recently in the news. Fisher, according to the Plain Dealer, has rushed the company a $2 million state loan. No telling what other goodies are in store for the company and many other private businesses in line.
I haven’t seen Strickland & Fisher running to Cleveland with loans for RTA.
Bridgestone Firestone in Akron can count on $18 million in state tax credits, meaning we pick up the cost in Ohio taxes.
Haven’t heard a peep from Strickland or Fisher about RTA’s troubles.
Another PD headline reads: “Cleveland-Cliffs lands tax break.” Well, naturally.
The Ohio Tax Credit Authority gave Cleveland-Cliffs $1 million in “tax breaks,” said the PD. It said it was for a $2.2 million expansion.
So, in other words, we are paying for about half of its expansion costs? That is if you can trust the figures.
I guess Strickland and Fisher only read the business pages and missed RTA’s dilemma.
Then the headline: “State throws a lifeline to Lordstown.” This one’s a whopper - $82 million in tax credits and a “guarantee for the future.” How would you like your future to be guaranteed by the state government?
These sweet deals are just in the last couple of weeks. However, this is standard business of government these days. Or should we say bribery by legal means.
None of the state’s leading Democrats down in Columbus, put into office by the votes of Cuyahoga County residents, seem to be rushing here to help the people who need it most – working stiffs that have to get to work daily.
Guess they’ve forgotten the elderly and the disabled who helped put them into office, too.
Instead, they’re paying attention to Republican business people who vote and contribute to their defeat.
I know, I know, there are jobs involved in those businesses drenched with free state gifts.
But there are jobs involved at RTA, too. Both in its operation and for the people they transport to work.
What we have become for private business is the Bribe Society.
Business leaders tell politicians, “Jump.” And the answer is always, “How high?”
Bribe me and I might keep some of your jobs in Ohio.
It’s time to help those who need help in this society. Something we’ve forgotten how to do.
Links:
[1] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/nance-should-forgo-bond-role-mart
[2] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/content/roldo-bartimole-0
[3] http://li326-157.members.linode.com/blog/roldo/new-york-times-piece-on-6-fallen-soldiers